Where were you born and

[tristanznina]

where do you live now and did you live in another country other than where you were born? Give us some of your favorite memories.

We have an international board and it is really interesting to learn everyone's history. It is interesting to hear stories of where you lived because some of you are far away from home.

Laura lived in Edinburgh which is one place that I yearn to visit. One of the engineers I worked with, was born in the UK and lived for awhile in Edinburgh too. He shared beautiful pictures of the country and castle with me. The closest to Edinburgh that I've been is Glasgow. I was investigating a supplier for a project I was working on and they were located in Scotland. Our supplier made reservations for us a beautiful bed and breakfast near Troon as he didn't want us to stay in a "cement box" which he called the hotels in Glasgow. From my room at the B&B, I could see the beautiful rolling landscape and sheep in the fields. The next morning before we went to visit the supplier's facility, we stopped at the Troon Pro Shop for some souvenirs. There was no time for golf

I was born in Philly, the family home is in "Northern Liberties" which is center city. The neighborhood has improved especially in the past 25 years. I love going home to Philly to visit my relatives. When I was younger and we had more time, we would go to the "shore" Wildwood NJ and walked the boardwalk and ride the rides! Ooooh, that rollercoaster! What fun it was!

During the 21 years of military travel, we "wished" to be stationed to Scotland or Naples Italy. We were stationed to Argentia, Newfoundland in the early '60's. I really enjoyed living there. My father and I would go lobster fishing with our landlord all time to help him pull his traps. He also had a herd of sheep which would come down from the mountain in the spring and the village would come to his house to help sheer his sheep. He would then transfer them to a little island across the bay in his little boat for the summer.

My favorite state to live in was Alaska! Camping, fishing, hunting, the freedom! It is so beautiful!

Our last duty station was Warrenton OR. and I migrated to the "other" Vancouver in WA state. I love it when people think that I live in BC when I go to trade shows.
I always thought I would marry a military man - but when you don't live near a base (these were very small bases), the chances were slim since most of the coasties that were stationed in Warrenton or Astoria were already married My daughter Ana was born in Vancouver and has lived in the same house all her life, however; she knows there is more to life than Vancouver WA! I have ensured that she knows the states and many countries. She is a worldwide traveler as well as my grandson who is only 22 months.

When I retire, I will travel back and forth between Vancouver and Colima Mexico

[dutchgirl]

I was born and raised in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Never lived anywhere else. Actually I don't know if I want to live anywhere esle as I am very smitten to my city.

My maternal grandparents where born in the northern part of our country, a province named Friesland. I go to visit there sometimes. They are both burried near the little church in the village my grandmother was born.

My live hasn't been that exciting. When my parents took us on holiday trips we always went to Austria, often to the same place. But we've seen a lot of that country. I love the mountains. It is so peaceful when you are on top of a mountain, and the views are fantastic. My wish is to visit Vienna... and also I would love to make a roundtrip through the US and visit some of my MB friends.

[Saved]

So as Cheryle has said I was born in Edinburgh Scotland. As with most of my siblings I was delivered on the Kitchen Table. I was born the 5th child and my father had wanted to call me Chanell...thank goodness my mother won that one! We lived in Edinburgh til I was seven. We lived only about a 10 minute walk from Princes Street ( which is the mail drag so to speak ) and about 1/2 hour walk to the Castle. WE always went there when the Queen was there with her horses for the Tattoo.
Just after I was 7 we moved to a small suburb just outside of Manchester England as my father had a promption with the company he worked for that took us there. My father was into horse and dog races, and fishing. So we did this many times as well as attend Soccer Matches.
When I was 11 my parents decided to leave the UK as the economy was going down the drain. With at that time 7 children they saw no great oppotunities there for us. They applied to the Australian Embassey, the New Zealand Embassy, the South African Embassy and the Canadian Embassy. New Zealand turned us down as our family was too large. By the grace of God they heard back from Canada and made that decision. We later were so pleased as not long after they heard from the South African Embassy that it was a go! I so missed my relatives but would go to Edinburgh every summer for holidays.
My father had a job lined up at Ford with just the final interview to fgo when we came to Canada. We were supposed to move to the Toronto area but just before leaving Ford contacted him and told him they were opening a new plant in St. Thomas (ON) so here we came. My Grandparents (maternal) and my aunt came to Canada 2 years later. My grandfather Laidlaw was the person I loved the most in life so I was thrilled.
I lived at home til I was 17 and moved to Niagra Falls. I trained as a Sous Chef and enjoyed my work. ( No Gordon Ramsey screaming at me! ) I was talked into moving back here which i regreted doing for a long time and Managed a Reataurnt in town.
That is where I met my DH so I realised why I moved. And They All Lived Happily Ever After. <><

P.S. My heart still belongs in Scotland!

[vicki7]

I was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in Leesburg, Virginia. Right after hubby and I got married, he joined the Navy and we have moved alot. Our overseas duty was Adak, Alaska. Don't know why Adak was considered overseas duty. I always thought that since the kids moved around so much, they'd stay put when they got out on their own. Oldest served 6 years in the Marines and though he was always stationed in North Carolina, he did serve time in Djibouti (which included time in Afghanistan) and went on one cruise on a Navy ship and visited several countries. He now lives in Kentucky (after working in Maryland for several years). Our daughter does live nearby, she has no plans to move again. Our middle son worked at FedEx in Memphis for a year and then joined the Air Force and is currently stationed in Germany with hopes of going to Korea next. He has taken advantage of being close to alot of different countries and has traveled. Our youngest son will be a senior in high school this year but he has plans of going to college elsewhere in Florida. I think he will be a traveler. I love seeing where everyone was born and raised.
Vicki

[tristanznina]

Jun 23, 2008 13:05:52 GMT -5 vicki7 said:

. Our overseas duty was Adak, Alaska. Don't know why Adak was considered overseas duty.

Hi Vicki, I know what you mean as "overseas duty". Could it be because it was not part of the "Continental" US? We were stationed in Kodiak AK for 6 years - Best 6 years of my life

Thank you all for participating! It is very interesting to hear your stories! Scotland is a beautiful country.

I hope NW doesn't cancel their direct flights to Amsterdam and I am still hoping to make there one day!

Mexicana airlines just canceled their direct flights between Portland OR and Guadalajara

[sparkle]

Laura, I had no idea you're really a Brit! Did you ever develop a Scottish accent during your time there?

My brother went to Mancester University in 1988 and I used to visit him there so I know it a little - being a student, he even lived in Moss Side - infamous for gang crime, shootings and drugs at the time!

I love Edinburgh. DH and I drove up many years ago and it took about 8 hours from Cardiff. We then drove up north and along the west coast and came back via the Lake District - it was such a scenic trip - apart from Glasgow!

I was born in Birmingham (UK not Alabama!) UK's second city! But between the ages of 8 months to 5 years old I lived in HK. We came back to the UK (Birmingham) in 1978 and I was there until I went to University in Cardiff in 1991. In 1997 I moved Bristol and have live there since.

[vicki7]

I think that is the reason, just doesn't make much sense, lol. Though sometimes it did feel like the end of the world. We were able to save alot of money in Alaska (nothing to do), spent alot of great quality family time together and hubby and the kids fished for salmon alot. He'd buy halibut from a fisherman for real cheap (I sure miss halibut). It was beautiful but too isolated for me. I'm glad we spent 2 years there but was glad to get back to the south (we moved to Alabama after AK). Hubby was in Scotland alot but never took 1 picture. He has such great stories, sure wish I could go there one day.
Vicki

[Dani]

I was born in San Jose, Costa Rica. I lived there until I went to college first in Baltimore and then NY. I met my wife in NY and finally decided to settle in USA. I do enjoy going back to Costa Rica but I have to admit I like USA better.

[Saved]

Hi Emma, Now I thought you knew that I was Scottish! I used to have a strong accent but because I was so young when I came to Canada I have almost lost it. When I go home to visit it comes right back and I get strange looks from my friends when I return to Canada! Oh! I haven't been home for a while and I so miss it. I am not fond of Glasgow either. I do love the Lake District and have cousins in Inverness. It is so beautiful up that way. You are so blessed to live where you do but I don't know how you all manage the cost of living! It has become so very expensive. Laura. <><

[Pamela]

I was born in Sallisaw Oklahoma but have lived all over Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. I had 8 Elementary schools and my older brother had 13. We were not military children but children of a Southwestern Bell Telephone employee. Any time the company told my dad we need you to go here....my dad said what day do you want me there. Then came the moving van and off we went. The joke between my brothers family and mine is we were born will bell shaped heads since we have since both gone to work in the telecommunications industries.

[sparkle]

Laura,

My DH says I start talking in a Brummie accent whenever I go to visit my mum in Birmingham! Funny how you never quite lose an accent.

As you say the downside of living in Europe is everything is SO expensive. Salaries just don't reflect the cost of living here.

It's why I have to buy my QK from Dani in the US! ;D

[househund]

Emma is that a picture of your cat to the left?

[Sheryl]

I was born in Jacksonville, Florida and have lived here just about all my life (we moved to Texas for two years when between the ages of 2 and 4). I actually live in Atlantic Beach. My father was a commercial fisherman and shrimped mostly. My brothers carried on the tradition. I love where I live.

[scrapkatze]

I was born in a small Bavarian village. My dad was the local vet, so no moves til I went to university, in Regensburg and later in Munich.
Short before we married DH got a job in Bale, Switzerland. As it was very, very difficult to get a permission to live in Switzerland back then, we settled down just across the border in Germany and have been very happy here ever since.

[sparkle]

Hi Ros,

Yes that's my cat! Minti. She's a Birman.

I did also have her mum and her sister too, but they have gone to kitty heaven now.

Only Minti left now. She has the most gorgeous saucer round blue eyes and like to show her affection by biting at us ;D

[navymom05]

I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and have lived here all my life. We have a beach and I think that I have maybe gone 2 in my whole entire life. Isn't funny people come from all over the world for our beaches, and I only go maybe twice.

Thanks, Betty/navymom05

[qkmary]

I was raised on a cattle ranch in Southern Oregon. The ranch was in Lake Creek but I was born 50 miles away in Medford. I grew up speaking Italian as my grandparents were from Northern Italy. I was able to visit Bolzono and Cavalese several years ago. I only wish Nona was alive so I could have asked her questions about her childhood home.

I have lived in Texas(Killeen), San Diego, Portland, Or and now I call Vancouver home. In the next 2 years we will most likely move to Seattle. If you can not find me at home, I am either at a Mariners baseball game (season tickets) or out shopping for scrapping supplies. (However, I don't do that much anymore since I am on a crusade to use what I have. DH says I could start my own store)

[dutchgirl]

Love your siggy Mary... I have to find something like that for my soccer team... for now I will just keep my QK siggy

[Virginia]

BBL 2 add my memories

[leader1]

I haven't strayed far from where i was born. I was born at the RAF hospital just outside of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire (UK). I still live in Aylesbury, can't see us leaving the town, most of our family is here. It is quite an expensive part of the UK to live in but being quite central it's great for getting to London in an hour on the train. Although we are a long way from the beach.
If i could move i'd love to go to Cyprus.

[sheri]

I was born in Ohio. I grew up thinking I would never leave there. No one in my family ever has. They don't even take vacations. I got married at 23 to my high school sweetheart, who was an air force brat, and we moved to New Hampshire. We stayed in New Hampshire for 13 years. He decided it was time for a change so we moved to Washington State. My husband gave me and our two daughters a love for travel and new adventures. Sadly, he passed away, far to young, 7 years ago from lung cancer.

Two years ago, I married a wonderful man, with two sons. He also has a love for travel and hopes to retire to Arizona after both sons are in college in 5 years. We love France and would like to spend part of each year living there also.

[irishshamrock]

I was born in West Virginia. Lived there until I was 12. My family moved to Florida, then North Carolina, then back to Florida. (Also a short time in Alabama). Then I married and we moved to Arizona - he was in the Air Force. Was stationed in Spain for 2 years. Came back to the states and decided to settle in Arizona. Have been here ever since. Love it here. Would love to travel more. I think there's a little gypsy in me. My heart belongs on the road.

[spenzalot]

I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and live 20 miles from there. I have lived here all my life. The only other country I have been to is Mexico and it was just for the day bc we walked across the border.

Lisa

[Pamela]

yea for South texas I lived many years in the Rio Grande Valley. In fact I will be on South Padre for 10 days starting July 7th.