Hey there Lovetomom,
I am a Canadian citizen & have lived here in the US for 15 yrs. I emigrated to the US in 1996 for adventure; I've always been fascinated with the US and wanted to experience as much of the country as I could. Luckily, I chose a profession that made it relatively easy to migrate (I am an RN), so I signed a contract with a large trauma center in North Carolina & off I went across the border.
I love living & working in the US; I've traveled extensively throughout the country & plan to continue this trend. I basically came to the US without knowing anyone; I had no friends or relatives here, which made it all the more adventurous.
Mind you, the US immmigration process was a bit challenging to tackle because I originally moved to North Carolina under a work visa. I knew I wanted to live in the US long-term, so I applied for a Green Card & that process was incredibly tedious , not to mention expensive. After 4 yrs and thousands of dollars, I finally received my Green card (permanent residency status), so I am esctatic! All the challenges were worth it for me because I really do love living here.
My advice to you is be very clear about why you're coming to the US & stay focused. If your goal is to work here, then be prepared to deal with the US immigration system which is definitely complex, particularly following the 9/11 attacks. If you plan on studying here, just make sure that your student visa doesn't expire; make sure you renew it well in advance to avoid any potential issues.
Overall, life here in the US is wonderful; I live in Texas now & absolutely love it; no snow to shovel, no endless winters, no winter tires or rusty cars. I live in sandals all year round & play on the beaches of coastal Texas any time of year. I've earned an advanced degree here as well & enjoy working in various settings within my field. One of the things I like most about the US is its diversity; each state has its unique culture, traditions, dialect, foods and history and to me, that's what makes this country such fun to explore.
Although I love Canada, I also love the US & will likely remain here. By the way, Seattle is an AWESOME city! I've been there several times & just love Seattle's liberal lifestyle and artsy culture. You'll really enjoy living there although it tends to be quite cool & wet most of the year. Best of luck to you & I'll be more than happy to answer any of your questions, ok? Hope everything works out for you!
Sincerely, DJ