Life Is Beautiful Down Under

Wow! I have already been in Australia for almost a month, and...

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 23:12:00 -0400

Wow! I have already been in Australia for almost a month, and let me tell you, it has been a whirlwind of emotions!

I arrived on September 20th, and was extremely jet lagged, cranky, groggy, etc. I literally cried for my first 2 weeks here, was super depressed, and wanted to go home more than anything, mostly because I missed my friends, Outback, and my Mom.

My first week here, I went to Rye Beach with the family (they have a Beach House there), which was really nice. We went to the beach everyday (although it was far too cold to get in!). Also, I came to AU expecting the weather to be super hot…WRONG! It has been nothing but rainy/windy/and freezing (probably because they are just coming out of their Winter).

Week two of being here was a bit tough, because I first got into really working and hanging out with the kids. It was/still is somewhat hard because they don’t know me super well, and the three year old still wants “Mommy” ALL of the time. But we are making progress:) Riley (6) is awesome! We draw, paint, and play Monopoly together ALL of the time. Emma (3) is ALL about the fun! She constantly wants to play, draw/paint (ha, for only like 3 minutes at a time), ride her scooter, etc. I also had to do the VERY difficult thing of learning how to drive on the opposite side of the road! It was tough, and still is but I am making tremendous progress and can now drive to and from Riley’s school, to the Mall, etc. I also went to a “Playgroup” with Emma this past Friday which was fun! I was able to hangout with some of the Moms, and it gave the kids all a chance to play and hangout with people their age, as well as the Moms (and Nanny..ME) to hangout as well!

I finally was able to meet some other Au Pairs (all from Canada, Scotland, and France) and go out to a local Bar/Club with them! It was a lot of fun, but one thing is for sure drinks are VERY expensive here. Try the lowest level of Vodka being about $30, and for a 6 Pack of Beer, about $15-20!

This past weekend, I went to the Melbourne Zoo for the day with both kids! We spent about 6 hours there and had an AMAZING time:) I loved it! I was also able to fly a Plane! The kids Step-Grandfather is a Pilot and took me out flying/sight seeing yesterday (Sunday) around Melbourne, and it was AMAZING!

I am now finally almost adjusted! It has taken forever (in my eyes) to finally be somewhat okay with being away from home and what I am familiar and comfortable with. However, I am extremely thankful that I have this chance and opportunity of a lifetime! I know there will be times when I am sad and upset because I am homesick, or think that my friends and family have “forgotten” about me, etc. But deep down I know that I am definitely an unforgettable person, and that I have so much support from back home! Things will get hard, but at the end of the day all I have to do is stop and think “Wow! I am in Australia!”.

This is it...

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 01:50:38 -0400

This is it...:

Wow! The past 24 hours have been crazy/random/overwhelming/frustrating/fun/exciting. I left yesterday from Charlotte, NC not quite realizing just how hard it would be to say goodbye to my Mom. I go to give the really rude lady my Boarding Pass and Passport, and she wouldn’t let me Mom come back with me and said “you need to say your goodbyes here”. She gave us literally 2 minutes, rolled her eyes, and said “hurry up!”. Needless to say I was sobbing by the time I went through Security. I then set off the alarm because the bow I was wearing in my hair had a metal clasp, they rolled their eyes at me again. I FINALLY make it through Security, only to go to my Terminal which was A9. As I am walking I see A9, and directly under it was A11. So it read “A911” I freaked out.

I finally make it onto the plane from Charlotte to Dallas, which was delayed! So we get to Dallas, and I easily find my next terminal to LAX. We then had another delay which put me getting into LAX 30 minutes before my plane was suppose to take off for Melbourne! We arrive into LAX right when my flight is supposed to be leaving, and of course, they have left me! Sooooo to compensate, the Airport gave me two free nights in the Crown Plaza and meal vouchers! Woot! So I found my way and got to sleep in a nice Hotel for the night!!! I’m not going to lie, I jumped on the bed for a while because I was so excited <3

Today was AMAZING! I got to go out to Manhattan Beach and see Ariel (who used to work at Outback with me in SC). So we hung out for the day at the beach, and she brought me a Cupcake!!! Saying goodbye was sad, because I knew that this really meant it was/is almost time to leave America.

I arrive at LAX, only to discover that there is an issue with my Visa (which allows me to enter into Australia and to stay for the year), and my Passport! Finally after a good 45 minutes of calling Australia, hardcore looking at my Passport and Drivers License and asking me a gazillion trillion questions they clear me and give me my boarding pass! I make it through Security, only to discover that my flight (once again) has been delayed:( But, only for 45 minutes this time!!! If all goes well, and we take off at the time they say we should then I will arrive in Melbourne, AU at 8:45 tomorrow morning!

Needless to say it has been an adventure so far, but I wouldn’t trade it! Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as I make this next flight, and transition! I will keep you all updated:)

I can’t wait to meet Jason, Cassandra, Riley, and Emma!

It's Time...

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 08:09:00 -0400

It's Time...:

Wow! The time has literally come to leave Rock Hill (well today is my last full day here). I cannot express enough how much this place and the people I have met here have impacted my life, for the better. It’s funny, but it’s because of working at Outback that I have the great friendships that I do. I can honestly say that I love my job and the people that I work with, and not many people can say that.

Last night, we all went out to our friend Erik’s house to have one last time of hanging out before I leave. It was fun, but literally everyone I love being around was there:( It soon went from fun hanging out, to me uncontrollably sobbing. I think once I saw how many people were there and the people that were there was when I just broke. Knowing that it was my last night of hanging out with these amazing people for a whole year. I awoke this morning, and it seriously looks like I have Pink Eye in BOTH of my eyes for how much I have been crying. I didn’t think it was possible to cry this much? I guess I find out something new daily.

As I write this, knowing that today is my last day at Outback for a year, I cannot help but cry again. It’s hard, and no one will fully be able to understand how I feel or what I am going through until they are in the exact same situation. I am literally leaving behind everything/everyone that I love dearly.

So what I want to say is thank you! Thank you to everyone who has made this past year amazing, and to all of the great people I have met. I can’t express how much you all mean to me, and the impact you all have made on me.

It really is the final countdown for me, as I will be boarding...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:40:24 -0400

It really is the final countdown for me, as I will be boarding my plane on Monday the 17th to leave for 12 whole months to the “real outback”. I am really overwhelmed right now with both good and bad emotions.

I know everything will be great, and that this truly is the opportunity of a lifetime; I mean who wouldn’t want to go live in Melbourne, AU have a nice house to live in/room, have nights and weekends off, and still get paid weekly and get to watch after two of the cutest kids ever?

I think my biggest problem is change. I don’t like it, and it is so hard for me to adjust. I mean I remember when I studied abroad in London (and I was only there for a month for a Janterm Semester), and I literally cried my whole first week there and wanted to go home so badly. However, I ended up LOVING it and even wanted to “misplace” my Passport to where I would just conveniently have to stay there rather than return home to America. So I know I will be fine, but it is just really really tough right now.

I wish I could just bring everyone I love and care about with me and then life would be perfect, but that sadly is not an option. However, I know there is a reason I am doing this and that God has a plan for me. So for this last week in Rock Hill, I am going to embrace it. I want to spend as much time with my friends as possible before I leave.

I am literally crying right now as I write this, because this is seriously the hardest thing I have ever done. But I do think it will be good for me, because I need to learn that change is okay, and that everything happens for a reason. I want to be the best possible role model for these kids as I can be, while still staying true to my awesomely, awkward, and unique spirit.

Also, this song is now my “theme song” for the next year, so I felt it was appropriate.

Love Love Love. I want to dance around to this all day long.

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 08:38:59 -0400

Love Love Love. I want to dance around to this all day long.

Cinnamon Challenge. Bring it!

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:33:56 -0500

Cinnamon Challenge. Bring it!

I remember when Facebook was The Facebook, and looked like this....

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:14:36 -0500

I remember when Facebook was The Facebook, and looked like this. I can’t decide if this makes me really really cool, or really really old.

Potential Husband?

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:47:55 -0500

Potential Husband?

Heyyy, Shark! Thanks cage!

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:45:01 -0500

Heyyy, Shark! Thanks cage!

Video

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:10:28 -0500

I love this with every single fiber of my being.

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:21:09 -0500

I love this with every single fiber of my being.

Meet my BFF Sommer. We liked to throw ourselves our own dance...

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:35:46 -0500

Meet my BFF Sommer. We liked to throw ourselves our own dance parties while attending Converse College, because the clubs just couldn’t handle us.

I don’t just WANT this, I NEED this. If I had this I...

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:21:33 -0500

I don’t just WANT this, I NEED this. If I had this I would:

Never ever get up
Study constantly
Sleep here
Eat here
Read here
Basically live here

The things I could do with this are endless.

LOVE of my life.

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:26:24 -0500

LOVE of my life.

You got that school smartness down.

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:20:00 -0500

Best comment ever said to me at work tonight *insert VERY southern accent/twang*: “I mean no offense to blondes or nothin’, but yall aint the smartest when it comes to that common sense stuff like directions and all. But that school smart, man have yall got that down! I bet you make them good grades, and are the smartest one up at Rock Hill High!”
Best almost compliment ever I think. Except I am not in high school, I am a Senior at Winthrop.

Can YOU Didgeridoo.

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:16:15 -0500

Can YOU Didgeridoo.

I am full of Yeet!

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:13:26 -0500

I am full of Yeet!

I want to be best friends with Joanna Newsom. #musicalgenius

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:08:05 -0500

I want to be best friends with Joanna Newsom. #musicalgenius

I was given this at work last night from one of our floating...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:26:19 -0500

I was given this at work last night from one of our floating managers she came up to me and said “Amanda, this is for you! Thank you for being a superstar, you rock!”

Made my night complete.

Kiss Me?

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:18:31 -0500

Kiss Me?