So yet again it has been a while since I have posted. I seem to find that life in Australia, is just starting to feel normal, and not quite so bloggable. Then when I remember that I am living in Australia, and you are not, I decide I might have something to share.
Let's start with my trip home. It was totally wonderful to be home and see everyone. It made me feel like I was grounded again. Like things were familiar again and like perhaps things just hadn't changed so much with out me. Yet when it was time to leave, I was ready to go. My life is not at home right now. People I care deeply about are, but they have lives in the states, and I don't. I have a wonderful life here in the land of OZ.
Although I will admit there was some reverse culture shock. Mainly while driving. The entire time I was home, every-time I went to turn I would attempt to turn on my blinker on whichever side of the steering wheel I was about to turn. This pattern continued for about 2 weeks after my return to Australia. I must say it is a bit alarming to have your windshield whippers start unexpectedly.
My other big culture shock as of late has been watching the Olympics. I have not seen any non-Australians compete in anything but swimming. As Australia is not very good at gymnastics, or diving I am finding it is like the Olympics aren't happening. If I paid for my tv coverage I could watch all the medal events, but as I don't I am stuck watching lots of swimming, rowing, field hockey and equestrian events. I did see part of one beach volleyball game and a bit of basketball. The announcers are great, but I don't even see the non-australian competition. It's a bit too much green and gold from this view.
Well that's all I have for now. Please comment if you have anything you would like to me write about, and I will try and post sooner next time.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Heading Home...and how to get there...
Wow it has been a while. Life is as crazy as ever. Since my last post I have celebrated my birthday, had many adventures, and had to put a blanket on my bed to ward off the now cooler nights.
My Birthday was amazing! I had a wonderful weekend in Brisbane for Rotaract training. I spent time with friends, who spoiled me with wine and chocolate cake, went to the XXXX factory, where I saw how they make lots of beer (Australians drinks lot's) and just had a generally good time. Each time I have been in Brisbane it has been raining, which makes it remind me of Seattle, but I don't like it quite as much. I spent my actual B-day in Bundaberg, where I received lot's of cards, emails, facebook posts, calls and flowers as well wishes. My host family had me over for dinner, where Rachael the 4 year old wished me happy Birthday about 25 times. It was perfect.
Life here has been really good in general. I am starting to be able to cook again with out messing everything up, grocery shopping isn't quite so overwhelming, church feels familiar and homey again and I feel like I am starting to get into a routine with things. I have switched over to medicare and Australian drivers license. I have friends. I have been spending lots of time at the gym, and when I am not there I tend to be working on something for Rotaract or talking to a certain someone. So I guess I really do live here.
In a week I head out to visit home. Before I go I will be spending 4 days at camp, which is good because my productivity seems to be weening every day, especially considering the gorgeous 75 degree weather. I have my tickets printed and my travel insurance purchased, and souvenirs all packed away.
I am excited but also nervous. I am afraid I won't want to come back, I am afraid it will make me feel even more homesick. On the other side I am worried that it won't be as great as I remember in my head, and that I will be disappointed and not refreshed. That I will find that I have changed too much and don't click with my friends or family. Silly I know, but I can say that I am at least very excited to find out one way or another how it goes.
<3 Beth
My Birthday was amazing! I had a wonderful weekend in Brisbane for Rotaract training. I spent time with friends, who spoiled me with wine and chocolate cake, went to the XXXX factory, where I saw how they make lots of beer (Australians drinks lot's) and just had a generally good time. Each time I have been in Brisbane it has been raining, which makes it remind me of Seattle, but I don't like it quite as much. I spent my actual B-day in Bundaberg, where I received lot's of cards, emails, facebook posts, calls and flowers as well wishes. My host family had me over for dinner, where Rachael the 4 year old wished me happy Birthday about 25 times. It was perfect.
Life here has been really good in general. I am starting to be able to cook again with out messing everything up, grocery shopping isn't quite so overwhelming, church feels familiar and homey again and I feel like I am starting to get into a routine with things. I have switched over to medicare and Australian drivers license. I have friends. I have been spending lots of time at the gym, and when I am not there I tend to be working on something for Rotaract or talking to a certain someone. So I guess I really do live here.
In a week I head out to visit home. Before I go I will be spending 4 days at camp, which is good because my productivity seems to be weening every day, especially considering the gorgeous 75 degree weather. I have my tickets printed and my travel insurance purchased, and souvenirs all packed away.
I am excited but also nervous. I am afraid I won't want to come back, I am afraid it will make me feel even more homesick. On the other side I am worried that it won't be as great as I remember in my head, and that I will be disappointed and not refreshed. That I will find that I have changed too much and don't click with my friends or family. Silly I know, but I can say that I am at least very excited to find out one way or another how it goes.
<3 Beth
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Settling In
Ever since my arrival it seems that everyone wants to know if I am "settling in." My response has been a consistent yes, but I always sort of wondered what exactly they meant. I think that now, three months after my arrival I am finally starting to understand what they mean, and I am not sure that I like it.
Settling in has meant many things. The first of which seems to be finding a house, and getting everything unpacked to a place where it gets to stay. My suitcases are hidden away, and I have stuff in cupboards and shelves around the house. Although my bed is incredibly uncomfortable, it is still a home, and more than that, it is my home.
Settling in has meant major purchases in this country. The first of those has been a bike, followed by a car, and hopefully shortly a lawn mower. Some of the little things signify settling in too. Such as needing to buy toothpaste here. When you go on vacation, you take it with you. You don't buy nail clippers because you don't have time to both loose the ones you brought and have your nails grow long enough that you need to purchase new ones.
Settling in has involved getting involved with activities outside of work. When people take 6 months trip for a mission trip or whatever, they go for a purpose, a task and that is what they do. Here, I have come to work in a church, but because I am here for so long I have become involved with a Rotary Group, which I am now Vice-President, a Tennis League, and am hoping to join the Bridge Club. I am setting up a life.
Settling in means having to host people for meals and parties. I know this seems like an odd thing to say, but in my first month or so here, I received many invitations to meals and BBQ's, which was wonderful. Now that I am "settled in" I get to invite people my direction. My home. What's more, I actually have people to invite. I have 10 people coming over for a Cinco De Mayo party on Saturday, not only am I hosting, I have a circle of people to host!
Settling in has also meant making commitments here in Australia. As I realize that I am going to be here for a while, I can't just stall my life; I have to live my life like I would anywhere else, and part of that includes commitments and attachments. The most significant of these commitments is that I have made in starting to date Marc here. It means if I just run off, someone might just care.
Settling in has been great. It has given me routine. It has helped me to feel like I am on my feet again. I feel like I have found a part of me, that I didn't even know I had lost while in Tacoma. I have found an energy and a happiness, that I realize now was most certainly gone.
Settling in here is also one of the scariest things I have ever done. It means I am starting a life, a full and happy one, somewhere very far away from home. Far away from friends and family who mean the world to me. From the people who have supported my life and made it even possible for me to have to confidence to step out on this adventure. It makes me homesick in a way I have never been before.
So for those friends and family reading this, when I say I miss you, I really do mean it. Even with all the adventures and great things here, even if I stay here for a while, know that I couldn't be here without you. Without your support you've given me to help me be the person I am today, and without the constant support while I am here I couldn't settle in. So keep calling, keep sending mail, emailing and posting on my facebook, I sure do appreciate it!
Settling in has meant many things. The first of which seems to be finding a house, and getting everything unpacked to a place where it gets to stay. My suitcases are hidden away, and I have stuff in cupboards and shelves around the house. Although my bed is incredibly uncomfortable, it is still a home, and more than that, it is my home.
Settling in has meant major purchases in this country. The first of those has been a bike, followed by a car, and hopefully shortly a lawn mower. Some of the little things signify settling in too. Such as needing to buy toothpaste here. When you go on vacation, you take it with you. You don't buy nail clippers because you don't have time to both loose the ones you brought and have your nails grow long enough that you need to purchase new ones.
Settling in has involved getting involved with activities outside of work. When people take 6 months trip for a mission trip or whatever, they go for a purpose, a task and that is what they do. Here, I have come to work in a church, but because I am here for so long I have become involved with a Rotary Group, which I am now Vice-President, a Tennis League, and am hoping to join the Bridge Club. I am setting up a life.
Settling in means having to host people for meals and parties. I know this seems like an odd thing to say, but in my first month or so here, I received many invitations to meals and BBQ's, which was wonderful. Now that I am "settled in" I get to invite people my direction. My home. What's more, I actually have people to invite. I have 10 people coming over for a Cinco De Mayo party on Saturday, not only am I hosting, I have a circle of people to host!
Settling in has also meant making commitments here in Australia. As I realize that I am going to be here for a while, I can't just stall my life; I have to live my life like I would anywhere else, and part of that includes commitments and attachments. The most significant of these commitments is that I have made in starting to date Marc here. It means if I just run off, someone might just care.
Settling in has been great. It has given me routine. It has helped me to feel like I am on my feet again. I feel like I have found a part of me, that I didn't even know I had lost while in Tacoma. I have found an energy and a happiness, that I realize now was most certainly gone.
Settling in here is also one of the scariest things I have ever done. It means I am starting a life, a full and happy one, somewhere very far away from home. Far away from friends and family who mean the world to me. From the people who have supported my life and made it even possible for me to have to confidence to step out on this adventure. It makes me homesick in a way I have never been before.
So for those friends and family reading this, when I say I miss you, I really do mean it. Even with all the adventures and great things here, even if I stay here for a while, know that I couldn't be here without you. Without your support you've given me to help me be the person I am today, and without the constant support while I am here I couldn't settle in. So keep calling, keep sending mail, emailing and posting on my facebook, I sure do appreciate it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)