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| An old, yet patriotic photo of me that I felt was appropriate for this occasion :-) |
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| This is where I would be if I were at home in Brisbane, Australia tonight |
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Happy Australia Day!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Home
Home is more than a place in which one lives, home becomes an instinct. Just as birds are instinctively homing to their summer nesting grounds, so do we eventually feel drawn to the one place that becomes our home. We associate our homes with comfort, warmth, happiness, familiarity and predictability, each creating our own order and way of life.
I have had three very distinct, very precious homes. And a sweet story from a friend on Facebook has made me want to share a little about these homes.
The first was the rental on Annie St in Brisbane city, where my parents, brother and I lived when we'd first arrived from Kazakhstan to Australia. I was here until I was 11 years old. This home was surrounded by a community and network of almost all the kids I was at school and church with. Most of us were foreigners with complicated names and parents that were studying and working hard, which enabled us to have practically unsupervised afternoons on week days and get into all sorts of mischief as a result. Our different backgrounds taught us from an early age to embrace cultural and language differences and we each were able to grow confident in ourselves as a result. Our teachers encouraged very healthy unison through multicultural fusion and days were we would each bring a plate of our traditional food, or teach the classroom several words in our native languages.
To this day I maintain bonds of friendship with the kids and teachers from that school and in that suburb, whether forged through mutual punishments for convicted mischief, or through the difficulty in international acclimation and the tenacity it took to simultaneously learn English and keep up with the educational curriculum. I will always recall this home and these years of my life as some of the very happiest and best.
Age 11 brought much heart ache and misery, when the house my parents built was completed and I was forced to move across town to the South Brisbane suburb of Kuraby. A new suburb, new school, new teachers and kids; most of whom were Australian with the same culture, simple names and trouble saying mine. I felt very ostracized and instinctively gravitated toward the only other foreign girl there. We are still great friends, but she would be the last true friend I made during my adolescence in the south of Brisbane, for the following year brought high school and after that college, both adding more loneliness and misery.
I lived in this house until I was 19 and I've often wished I could call it a home, yet I can't. Family is one thing, but I was always happier when we were at the beach for holidays or away on weekends. I struggled keeping friends during these 8 years and begun to brood about a lot. It was excellent for my creative writing, since I wrote some of my best work up the stairs in that little back bedroom, but I was becoming a social recluse and developing some kind of depression as a result. All of this would, over the years, increase my negative associations with this house further.
My second home was in Rockhampton, QLD; where I moved at the age of 20 to pursue my college major and attempt independence. Rocky (as it's known in Aus) saved me! Here I met my sister and best friend for life, as well a multitude of other great friends and a family that quickly embraced me as their own; one that I could never now function without. I guess my attempt at independence failed, since I went from one family to another, but there is definitely something to be said for being loved unconditionally by a family that's not related to you: it grows your confidence immensely (while studying and slaving away in the hospitality industry helped too!).
I had believed that I would grow old in Rocky, preferably close to my bestie and the beach, yet at the age of 23, I was forced to give up my comfort zone, my bubble and home in Rockhampton due a force not to be reckoned with. It was one that had defeated me, body and soul: love. As I've previously mentioned, I'd fallen in love with a travelling American boy who was stationed temporarily on the other side of Australia. Despite fighting tooth and nail to deny the reality of my feelings and our future - I was overcome.
We lived together on the beautiful Scarborough Beach in Western Australia for six months, before an utter miracle took us back across the country to my beloved Rocky, where we were married less than two months later. It wasn't long hereafter (and by no great surprise) that we were uprooted again. In September 2010 (as most of my readers know), I made my second international migration, to the USA; and here, I have found my third home.
Although we've only just moved into a new apartment in Midtown Atlanta, and we're not fully settled in yet, I've now moved around so much that I'm not as attached to dwellings as I am to people. I've learnt that it's never the house that becomes a home - but rather the people in or around it. Having just celebrated our second wedding anniversary, I've realized that my love has only grown for this ungrounded, travelling boy and my third and final home is by his side. As my friend said today in his touching story:
I have had three very distinct, very precious homes. And a sweet story from a friend on Facebook has made me want to share a little about these homes.
The first was the rental on Annie St in Brisbane city, where my parents, brother and I lived when we'd first arrived from Kazakhstan to Australia. I was here until I was 11 years old. This home was surrounded by a community and network of almost all the kids I was at school and church with. Most of us were foreigners with complicated names and parents that were studying and working hard, which enabled us to have practically unsupervised afternoons on week days and get into all sorts of mischief as a result. Our different backgrounds taught us from an early age to embrace cultural and language differences and we each were able to grow confident in ourselves as a result. Our teachers encouraged very healthy unison through multicultural fusion and days were we would each bring a plate of our traditional food, or teach the classroom several words in our native languages.
To this day I maintain bonds of friendship with the kids and teachers from that school and in that suburb, whether forged through mutual punishments for convicted mischief, or through the difficulty in international acclimation and the tenacity it took to simultaneously learn English and keep up with the educational curriculum. I will always recall this home and these years of my life as some of the very happiest and best.
Age 11 brought much heart ache and misery, when the house my parents built was completed and I was forced to move across town to the South Brisbane suburb of Kuraby. A new suburb, new school, new teachers and kids; most of whom were Australian with the same culture, simple names and trouble saying mine. I felt very ostracized and instinctively gravitated toward the only other foreign girl there. We are still great friends, but she would be the last true friend I made during my adolescence in the south of Brisbane, for the following year brought high school and after that college, both adding more loneliness and misery.
I lived in this house until I was 19 and I've often wished I could call it a home, yet I can't. Family is one thing, but I was always happier when we were at the beach for holidays or away on weekends. I struggled keeping friends during these 8 years and begun to brood about a lot. It was excellent for my creative writing, since I wrote some of my best work up the stairs in that little back bedroom, but I was becoming a social recluse and developing some kind of depression as a result. All of this would, over the years, increase my negative associations with this house further.
My second home was in Rockhampton, QLD; where I moved at the age of 20 to pursue my college major and attempt independence. Rocky (as it's known in Aus) saved me! Here I met my sister and best friend for life, as well a multitude of other great friends and a family that quickly embraced me as their own; one that I could never now function without. I guess my attempt at independence failed, since I went from one family to another, but there is definitely something to be said for being loved unconditionally by a family that's not related to you: it grows your confidence immensely (while studying and slaving away in the hospitality industry helped too!).
I had believed that I would grow old in Rocky, preferably close to my bestie and the beach, yet at the age of 23, I was forced to give up my comfort zone, my bubble and home in Rockhampton due a force not to be reckoned with. It was one that had defeated me, body and soul: love. As I've previously mentioned, I'd fallen in love with a travelling American boy who was stationed temporarily on the other side of Australia. Despite fighting tooth and nail to deny the reality of my feelings and our future - I was overcome.
We lived together on the beautiful Scarborough Beach in Western Australia for six months, before an utter miracle took us back across the country to my beloved Rocky, where we were married less than two months later. It wasn't long hereafter (and by no great surprise) that we were uprooted again. In September 2010 (as most of my readers know), I made my second international migration, to the USA; and here, I have found my third home.
Although we've only just moved into a new apartment in Midtown Atlanta, and we're not fully settled in yet, I've now moved around so much that I'm not as attached to dwellings as I am to people. I've learnt that it's never the house that becomes a home - but rather the people in or around it. Having just celebrated our second wedding anniversary, I've realized that my love has only grown for this ungrounded, travelling boy and my third and final home is by his side. As my friend said today in his touching story:
Home is where the heart is.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Perspective
Last week on my way out of the shopping centre where I work, I held a door open for a lady who turned out to be Australian. Once again reiterating the fact that we live in a tiny world, for she was practically my next door neighbour in Brisbane; when I’d lived in Kuraby, she lived in Salisbury.
We blabbed like old friends the entire walk to the train station and on the train through the three stops I make daily. As this was her very first week in Atlanta, she made me laugh as she pointed out the things she was noticing for the first time about America and Americans: things I had also experienced upon arrival but had long since forgotten about; things that don’t stand out at all anymore.
She pointed out (as I once had) that the sheer variety in retail over here is mind blowing. There is MORE of everything from shower curtains and tea strainers to furniture, makeup and clothing.
Another thing a fresh Aussie notices is the sky! Even in the summer months, the sky in America is a lighter blue –a faded blue, compared to the vibrant one in the sky above OZ.
The other major difference that is sure to disorientate is that –aside from driving on the opposite side of the road and having the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car – people even walk in the opposite direction! And I had never noticed back home that the direction in which our escalators ran was the same as the direction of the road system until I came to the US and noticed it in reverse.
And one of the funniest and most honest things she said was: “it feels so good to be able to swear! Americans are so polite all the time, it seems inappropriate to – but Australians love to swear, it’s who we are! We’re suppressing who we really are when we aren’t swearing… it’s liberating when we get to talk freely!”
While it was nice to get a fresh perspective, it unsettled me to notice the changes within myself that I had subconsciously made! How could I be losing my Australian accent after a meager year in the States, when I was always the first to discriminate about those Australian super-stars who move to the States and “sell out” their Australian-ness after a mere decade!
Will says now that I’m used to life over here, when we go home for our visit in November; it’ll be home that feels strange and different. It will be interesting to see what strikes me as “odd” about my home! I never thought that was possible, but then, I never thought I’d stop ripping this bloody paper currency either!
... Now if I could just learn to spell in "English” the American way…
We blabbed like old friends the entire walk to the train station and on the train through the three stops I make daily. As this was her very first week in Atlanta, she made me laugh as she pointed out the things she was noticing for the first time about America and Americans: things I had also experienced upon arrival but had long since forgotten about; things that don’t stand out at all anymore.
She pointed out (as I once had) that the sheer variety in retail over here is mind blowing. There is MORE of everything from shower curtains and tea strainers to furniture, makeup and clothing.
Another thing a fresh Aussie notices is the sky! Even in the summer months, the sky in America is a lighter blue –a faded blue, compared to the vibrant one in the sky above OZ.
The other major difference that is sure to disorientate is that –aside from driving on the opposite side of the road and having the steering wheel on the opposite side of the car – people even walk in the opposite direction! And I had never noticed back home that the direction in which our escalators ran was the same as the direction of the road system until I came to the US and noticed it in reverse.
And one of the funniest and most honest things she said was: “it feels so good to be able to swear! Americans are so polite all the time, it seems inappropriate to – but Australians love to swear, it’s who we are! We’re suppressing who we really are when we aren’t swearing… it’s liberating when we get to talk freely!”
While it was nice to get a fresh perspective, it unsettled me to notice the changes within myself that I had subconsciously made! How could I be losing my Australian accent after a meager year in the States, when I was always the first to discriminate about those Australian super-stars who move to the States and “sell out” their Australian-ness after a mere decade!
Will says now that I’m used to life over here, when we go home for our visit in November; it’ll be home that feels strange and different. It will be interesting to see what strikes me as “odd” about my home! I never thought that was possible, but then, I never thought I’d stop ripping this bloody paper currency either!
... Now if I could just learn to spell in "English” the American way…
Friday, January 13, 2012
Getting to know you
Over Christmas time, Will’s uncle Sean leant me a book on astrology called “Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs.” It describes the typical characteristics and traits of each signs’ woman, man, child, employee, boss – and I can’t put it down!
I’m now analyzing everyone I know based on their sign and frequently muttering “so true” as I turn a page. Everyone in my life from my parents, brother and husband to casual acquaintance and work colleague has been studied over the past fortnight – because thanks to Facebook, I know everyone’s birthday!
I am not exempt from my own analysis! Some of the horrible things brought to my attention about being an Aries are:
- we have very black and white opinions, no gray area: people are either good or bad (I am learning to curve this however!)
- and once we decide someone is bad – they typically don’t get another chance and stay bad forever (this is hard to change, but I’m working on this too!)
- if we’re mad at someone, those close to us have to take our side – or else we argue!
- we tend to “overload” periodically from society and seek solitude
- we’re not morning people
- we hate/ can’t abide routine: that includes our jobs, we can’t do 9-5’s
- sleeping problems, kidney problems, heart problems
- FIRE SIGN: our interest in places, people and things burn like hot fire and then go out again just as quickly once we’re bored – for this reason we struggle to commit to projects, assignments and people! We rarely see things through til the end
- impatient
- impulsive, impulsive, impulsive (gets me in trouble sometimes!)
Some of the things I love about being an Aries are:
- loyalty, honestly, complete faithfulness
- we would never stab someone in the back, since we tend to tell people exactly what we are thinking (even when we shouldn’t!)
- once we decide someone is a good person:
- there is no limit to what we do for them!
- we share 100% in friendship: money, our homes, clothes.. you name it
- and never hold a grudge
- we don’t stay mad long
- we defend, protect them and always take their side
- we are creative and expressive.... some of the world’s most creative peeps were Arians including Vincent Van Gogh, Charlie Chaplin, Bach, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quentin Tarantino , Elton John, Descartes, Hans C. Andersen , Harry Houdini and MANY more!... (if you want to see which famous people share your sign, check out: www.astrostar.com and search your sign.)
- impulsive, impulsive, impulsive (I love it also because my impulses are usually right!)
- can’t sit still, very active minded and seldom overweight
- not so much a love of travel as a constant need of change
- we are very spiritual and believe in miracles – because of our fervent belief, miracles tend to indeed happen to us Arians!
I have found this book and its “typical” descriptions of everyone in my life very accurate. If you’ve ever been curious about astrology, I’d recommend it! Now that everyone in my life has been analyzed (like the typical Aries I am), I am moving onto my next phase of interest: (and indecently the next book I’ve borrowed from Uncle Sean) the ancient astronaut theory.
But “Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs” will definitely be bought and filed on my bookshelf for instant reference as soon as a new person enters my life!
I’m now analyzing everyone I know based on their sign and frequently muttering “so true” as I turn a page. Everyone in my life from my parents, brother and husband to casual acquaintance and work colleague has been studied over the past fortnight – because thanks to Facebook, I know everyone’s birthday!
I am not exempt from my own analysis! Some of the horrible things brought to my attention about being an Aries are:
- we have very black and white opinions, no gray area: people are either good or bad (I am learning to curve this however!)
- and once we decide someone is bad – they typically don’t get another chance and stay bad forever (this is hard to change, but I’m working on this too!)
- if we’re mad at someone, those close to us have to take our side – or else we argue!
- we tend to “overload” periodically from society and seek solitude
- we’re not morning people
- we hate/ can’t abide routine: that includes our jobs, we can’t do 9-5’s
- sleeping problems, kidney problems, heart problems
- FIRE SIGN: our interest in places, people and things burn like hot fire and then go out again just as quickly once we’re bored – for this reason we struggle to commit to projects, assignments and people! We rarely see things through til the end
- impatient
- impulsive, impulsive, impulsive (gets me in trouble sometimes!)
Some of the things I love about being an Aries are:
- loyalty, honestly, complete faithfulness
- we would never stab someone in the back, since we tend to tell people exactly what we are thinking (even when we shouldn’t!)
- once we decide someone is a good person:
- there is no limit to what we do for them!
- we share 100% in friendship: money, our homes, clothes.. you name it
- and never hold a grudge
- we don’t stay mad long
- we defend, protect them and always take their side
- we are creative and expressive.... some of the world’s most creative peeps were Arians including Vincent Van Gogh, Charlie Chaplin, Bach, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quentin Tarantino , Elton John, Descartes, Hans C. Andersen , Harry Houdini and MANY more!... (if you want to see which famous people share your sign, check out: www.astrostar.com and search your sign.)
- impulsive, impulsive, impulsive (I love it also because my impulses are usually right!)
- can’t sit still, very active minded and seldom overweight
- not so much a love of travel as a constant need of change
- we are very spiritual and believe in miracles – because of our fervent belief, miracles tend to indeed happen to us Arians!
I have found this book and its “typical” descriptions of everyone in my life very accurate. If you’ve ever been curious about astrology, I’d recommend it! Now that everyone in my life has been analyzed (like the typical Aries I am), I am moving onto my next phase of interest: (and indecently the next book I’ve borrowed from Uncle Sean) the ancient astronaut theory.
But “Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs” will definitely be bought and filed on my bookshelf for instant reference as soon as a new person enters my life!
Focus
Working in a shopping centre certainly has its disadvantages! Michael Kors was having a sale today, so of course I had to go in! $174 and a dream handbag later, I’m wondering how Will or I ever thought that my working in retail would be a good idea? Monkey see, monkey WANT!
Thoughts of decorating the new apartment, needing to visit the dentist or my dream month long trip back home, all fly out of the window when I arrive at work and see new merchandise displayed in a manner that suggests buying it would make my life complete… Aww temptation! If the Lord resides within a temple – the devil resides in retail!
I’m mentally adding “AVOID SHOPS – walk in and out of mall with head down” to my list of 2012 goals!
I’m determined to stay strong and think of… {below} instead!
Thoughts of decorating the new apartment, needing to visit the dentist or my dream month long trip back home, all fly out of the window when I arrive at work and see new merchandise displayed in a manner that suggests buying it would make my life complete… Aww temptation! If the Lord resides within a temple – the devil resides in retail!
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| photo credit: lov-3.net |
I’m determined to stay strong and think of… {below} instead!
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| photo credit: mrvpn.com |
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| photo credit: ngm.nationalgeographic.com |
Only 9 months to go!!
Monday, January 2, 2012
My 1st and 2nd miracles in 2012
2012 is already shaping up to be an amazing year! I awoke this morning and stood on the scales, (documenting my weight and being strict was a New Year's goal, remember?) eager to write down my weight and formulate an action plan of fitness to kick start immediately… when I noticed I am already at my goal weight! The hard-yakka I put in for the last three weeks of 2011 paid off!! This was my miracle #1! I get to start the New Year at my goal weight and everyone knows maintenance is easier than achievement, in weight terms.
Elated, I paced impatiently back and forth, waiting for Will to get off the phone so I could tell him my great news… when he abruptly hung up the phone and announced our miracle #2: that our planned two week trip back to Australia in November is being extended to a WHOLE MONTH!! Conveniently, his boss needs him to go back over for work – so another bonus? His ticket will be on the company!!
I can hardly contain my excitement and am so grateful and happy that I could burst! This reiterates how important it is to implement LOA (attraction) practices every single day!
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