Hey snodgrass, very nice blog... makes me homesick! ... 'cept for that piccie of Matheson Lake (memories of slugs in my sleeping bag and slithering across my forehead! ).

I experienced homesickness and culture shock quite badly when I first moved to the UK (I currently live in England but I'm from Victoria) and can appreciate what your wife is experiencing. It's not pleasant but it is a normal experience for a lot of expats. For me, what helped me the most of realizing that it is a normal response to a major life change. There's a lot on the net written about it. As an example: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/CGuanipa/cultshok.htm

Also another thing that helped me was talking to other Canadians and other foreigners about their perceptions of England or my Canadian friends who had moved to Oz and the US. It was comforting to share stories and realize that other people find similar things very bizarre, frustrating, maddening, etc...

From what I've read and heard, for most people who experience homesickness the first bout of it is always the worst... after that people can still get homesick but it's less and less often and less and less profound.

Maybe your wife might benefit by chatting to other people on this forum? I hope she feels better soon.

Thanks for asking the question and thanks to everyone who replied !!

We arrived in PEI (does anyone else from the UK actually live here ??!!) in July and homesickness is now really getting to me....

Sure it'll be easier once Xmas is over but since we'll be on our own and are still waiting to start our new business in the Spring so have limited funds it all seems very difficult at the moment and I'm feeling pretty down

What do I miss most ? Tesco home delivery (I hate supermarkets!) and broadband.....

Any more advice appreciated !

Another wonderful post Judy. It's always interesting to read your posts.

On the topic of feng shui... A friend of mine in Vancouver is from Taiwan and feng shui has been a significant part of her belief system her whole life (as opposed to a 'trendy home decor' thing - I'm not implying at that that is how you're perceiving it - just to be clear!) and it's been interesting learning about it from her. It's very interesting isn't? ...especially when you go deeper. The ideas in feng shui influence her whole approach to physical space, health and other many things. She has, to me, a very interesting way of seeing the world.

Feng shui... it's frightening though... cos if my outer landscape, my flat, is a reflection of my inner landscape, then I'm the home of 3 teenagers instead of one 37 year old woman. :scared:

Hi
We are joining you on PEI in the spring of 2006 Vi

Watch "Little Britain" on BBC Canada....Vicki P, should do the trick...and the memories why you chose a better life may come flooding back....Apart from that You will always miss family, friends and all the good things you used to do in the UK...If you crave these then it's only a flight away.

Thanks to everyone who replied here, and in PMs, you have helped us a lot.