I woke up to a call from the RCMP this morning. I couldn't have been happier. Let me explain...
Last night at around 2am (this morning I guess), I was driving home from work and as I stopped at a red light a block away from home, I saw a lady crossing the street and a man chasing after her. I watched them for a minute as she tried to get away from him. He kept trying to grab her and pull her back and I could tell that he was yelling at her. I immediately felt a knot in my stomach. He got back in his car and she continued to walk up the street. I decided to go around the block and come back.
As I drove by again I saw her walking by herself so at the next intersection, I turned around to go ask her if she was okay. I came back around and she was on the other side of the street and the man was there yelling at her again as she tried to walk away from him. I didn't want to call 911 because I didn't think it was an emergency so I drove to the pub near by and asked for the number for the RCMP. As I came out of the parking lot, she was there by herself. I rolled down my window and asked her if she was okay. She nodded her head yes as she started to cry. I told her that I had seen what had happened and offered her a ride home. She gladly accepted.
As we began to drive she told me that he had hit her and that he was being verbally abusive towards her. I told her that she needed to report it to the police. She was a bit hesitant to do so and never told me if she would. Her boyfriend had taken her phone as well. She told me the only reason she got in the car with me was because my voice was the same as her sisters. Because of that, she trusted me. I'm glad she did. I drove her home and we chatted along the way. I gave her my number and asked her to call me if she needed anything and that she was free to give my number to the police if she decided to report him.
And that's where the call came in. This morning the RCMP called and asked me to give a statement of what had happened early this morning. I did so with a smile on my face. I never asked the police officer if she was okay, but I have her number and might give her a call in a few days.
That call was an answer to my prayer. I thankful that she was brave enough to call the police and report her boyfriend. If only everyone was as brave...
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
World AIDS Day
I wrote this a year ago and meant to post it then, but never got around to it. It's a day before World AIDS Day, but who's counting?
A Prayer I Don’t Have To Pray
It is December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. When I think of AIDS my thoughts immediately go toward the time I spent in Zambia, back in 2006. Faces pop into my head; my brothers and sisters who have HIV/AIDS.
There is little Agness, the little girl that warmed my heart in Kabwe. She is a free spirit that is broken inside. All she wanted was someone to talk to, so in her native tongue, she told me her life story. I simply smiled and nodded to tell her that I was listening, although not understanding. We took her to the clinic for HIV testing and prayed that it would come out clean. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
There is Jane, our trooper in Lusaka. Her body falling apart as a result of HIV/AIDS. On top of that, she also has TB. It hurts her to simply walk, yet she presses on. She even walked for more than an hour on our fundraiser walk through the city. Her smile lights up a room and she inspires many, including myself. We prayed for her body to be healed from two deadly diseases. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
Bergham. The little boy that broke me down inside and made my eyes well up with tears. His mother died of HIV/AIDS and his father lives in a different city. He is all alone. He prays to God that he would just get one more day to spend with his earthly father before HIV/AIDS takes him as its next victim. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
A little girl. A funeral. Her father in the coffin. One of the most heart wrenching experiences of my life. Having to physically hold back the little girl before she jumped in the coffin with her father, just wanting to be with him for one moment. She prayed her father would be healed from AIDS. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
A widowed mother praying for work in order to feed her children. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
A starving child praying for another meal just to survive. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
We all have different things that we pray for in our lives. It could be the healing of a loved one who has cancer. It could be a promotion at work. It could be finding work. It could be for a friend who has lost his/her spouse and is raising their children alone. It could be for money for school. It could be for wedding preparations.
Whatever prayers you may be praying for in this season of your life, I just ask you to put them into perspective. I am not saying that your prayers are not any less important that others, just be thankful that there are certain prayers that you don’t have to pray.
A Prayer I Don’t Have To Pray
It is December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. When I think of AIDS my thoughts immediately go toward the time I spent in Zambia, back in 2006. Faces pop into my head; my brothers and sisters who have HIV/AIDS.
There is little Agness, the little girl that warmed my heart in Kabwe. She is a free spirit that is broken inside. All she wanted was someone to talk to, so in her native tongue, she told me her life story. I simply smiled and nodded to tell her that I was listening, although not understanding. We took her to the clinic for HIV testing and prayed that it would come out clean. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
There is Jane, our trooper in Lusaka. Her body falling apart as a result of HIV/AIDS. On top of that, she also has TB. It hurts her to simply walk, yet she presses on. She even walked for more than an hour on our fundraiser walk through the city. Her smile lights up a room and she inspires many, including myself. We prayed for her body to be healed from two deadly diseases. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
Bergham. The little boy that broke me down inside and made my eyes well up with tears. His mother died of HIV/AIDS and his father lives in a different city. He is all alone. He prays to God that he would just get one more day to spend with his earthly father before HIV/AIDS takes him as its next victim. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
A little girl. A funeral. Her father in the coffin. One of the most heart wrenching experiences of my life. Having to physically hold back the little girl before she jumped in the coffin with her father, just wanting to be with him for one moment. She prayed her father would be healed from AIDS. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
A widowed mother praying for work in order to feed her children. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
A starving child praying for another meal just to survive. This is a prayer I don’t have to pray.
We all have different things that we pray for in our lives. It could be the healing of a loved one who has cancer. It could be a promotion at work. It could be finding work. It could be for a friend who has lost his/her spouse and is raising their children alone. It could be for money for school. It could be for wedding preparations.
Whatever prayers you may be praying for in this season of your life, I just ask you to put them into perspective. I am not saying that your prayers are not any less important that others, just be thankful that there are certain prayers that you don’t have to pray.
Monday, November 02, 2009
How Things Have Changed...
**Warning: Long (but highly overdue)**
It is amazing to me when I look back on the last few weeks, months and even the last year of how my life has changed.
12 Months Ago… I was traveling around Australia with Kim, on Fraser Island actually. We had an amazing conversation on our second night there. What a blessing that woman is!
11 Months Ago… I had said goodbye to Kim and I was living with Kira and Kaila in Sydney trying to find work in the city. It was during this time that I felt that I really learned how to trust God. I had no job, no money and I couldn’t stay in Australia much longer if something didn’t come up. God gave me this verse: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” –Psalm 40:1-2
According to my journal, I also had a dream that I had twins. One boy and one girl. I hope that one comes true :)
"Moon Art" In Australia, we went to watch a moonrise. Very cool and worth experiencing. I was having fun with my camera :)
10 Months Ago… I was finding my wings as I wrote in one journal entry. “I do feel that being here (Australia) on my own, growing and learning, I am staring to find my wings. It’s time to be pushed out of the nest and learn how to fly on my own.”
9 Months Ago… I have found a solid Christian friend and we begin our friendship. I am living a very simple life in my small town and have come to enjoy it. I feel that there is no stress and I feel healthier because of it. “Life is good down under!!”
8 Months Ago… I was in a bit of a rough patch. Dealing with some unexpected dramas with a coworker led me to be a bit down but I soon got out of it. At this point I have also started running daily which is something I wish I had time for now that I am back to work. Oh well!!
Sunset overlooking Soldiers point just before watching the moonrise
7 Months Ago… I smile just as I write that because I know what this time of year brings without having to look back on my journal. The day before my 22nd birthday is when I got to know Barnaby for the first time. We had a beach bbq with 20 friends. He brought his new puppy to the beach and my heart melted for her! She was so cute and of course this forced me to get to know Barnaby more as well. And I’m sure glad I did.
This time in my life still brought some bad days (who doesn’t have them) but this is what I wrote: “I’m trusting that everything will work out the way its supposed to. Even on my bad days, it still feels so right being here in Australia.”
It still feels so right.
6 Months Ago… I was attacked my one of my coworkers when he was drunk (and off his meds and using other drugs) as I tried to take away his keys because he was going to drive home. It was scary at the time but I was fine. Barnaby and I have also been dating for a few weeks now. It has been a bit of an adjustment as it is my first real relationship but so far so good!
5 Months Ago… I am in love.
Sydney Sign in Queenstown, NZ
4 Months Ago… I am in a battle. Over the last few months my relationship with God has taken a shift due to putting my work ahead of my church life. I decide to make more of an effort to attend church weekly and get my relationship with God back to where it was. I trust Him completely with my life; it’s in His hands. Nothing, not work or a man, is more important that God because in the end, He will always be there and will always provide for me.
3 Months Ago… I have started a new job. My 6 month contract at my first job ended and I had to make a switch. Through some connections I easily get a new job and start right away. Once again God provides!!
2 Months Ago… I was in a town called Ubud in Bali and I went to a monkey forest and had monkeys crawl all over me. Scary. It was a great day full of exploring town, eating the most amazing ribs ever and going to the spa for a full body massage that cost a mere $8 Canadian Dollars. Got to love Bali!! As our time in Bali runs down, the realization that Barnaby and I will be saying goodbye to each other becomes real… too real. Plain and simple it sucks!
1 Month Ago… I was in Auckland, New Zealand. Several weeks earlier I had to say a very tearful and emotional goodbye to Barnaby. As I prepare to head to Vancouver, I am anxious about my transition home and the even bigger gap between Australia and Canada. Plain and simple, long distance sucks. Although the distance between Barnaby and I is great and the next few months will be a difficult journey, I know it will be worth it when we see each other again.
On the way to the Milford Sound in NZ
Today… I am in Vancouver but I don’t feel that I am home. I once felt that I would always come back to Vancouver and be happy here. All of my family and friends are here, it’s a beautiful city and I have my old job back, gearing up for the Olympics but it just doesn’t feel right anymore. I think that I have always been a small town girl at heart. Growing up I would always love our family trips to Houston BC and I think that small town living has never left me. I think this is one of the reasons why I felt more at home in little Shoal Bay Australia. It is a small town, I know a lot of people, there is a great sense of community, I never once felt any stress; it’s beautiful. I long to be back there for this reason and of course, the obvious one. I left many special behind along with everything else.
The plan from here on out is to work up until the end of May when all of the Olympic busyness is over. I am planning to move back to Australia in the end of May, after one of my dear friends gets married. Of course, this is not all up to me, it depends on where God leads me. We’ll see what road I take now.
Barney and I at the Gitgit waterfalls in Bali
It is amazing to me when I look back on the last few weeks, months and even the last year of how my life has changed.
12 Months Ago… I was traveling around Australia with Kim, on Fraser Island actually. We had an amazing conversation on our second night there. What a blessing that woman is!
11 Months Ago… I had said goodbye to Kim and I was living with Kira and Kaila in Sydney trying to find work in the city. It was during this time that I felt that I really learned how to trust God. I had no job, no money and I couldn’t stay in Australia much longer if something didn’t come up. God gave me this verse: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” –Psalm 40:1-2
According to my journal, I also had a dream that I had twins. One boy and one girl. I hope that one comes true :)
"Moon Art" In Australia, we went to watch a moonrise. Very cool and worth experiencing. I was having fun with my camera :)
10 Months Ago… I was finding my wings as I wrote in one journal entry. “I do feel that being here (Australia) on my own, growing and learning, I am staring to find my wings. It’s time to be pushed out of the nest and learn how to fly on my own.”
9 Months Ago… I have found a solid Christian friend and we begin our friendship. I am living a very simple life in my small town and have come to enjoy it. I feel that there is no stress and I feel healthier because of it. “Life is good down under!!”
8 Months Ago… I was in a bit of a rough patch. Dealing with some unexpected dramas with a coworker led me to be a bit down but I soon got out of it. At this point I have also started running daily which is something I wish I had time for now that I am back to work. Oh well!!
Sunset overlooking Soldiers point just before watching the moonrise
7 Months Ago… I smile just as I write that because I know what this time of year brings without having to look back on my journal. The day before my 22nd birthday is when I got to know Barnaby for the first time. We had a beach bbq with 20 friends. He brought his new puppy to the beach and my heart melted for her! She was so cute and of course this forced me to get to know Barnaby more as well. And I’m sure glad I did.
This time in my life still brought some bad days (who doesn’t have them) but this is what I wrote: “I’m trusting that everything will work out the way its supposed to. Even on my bad days, it still feels so right being here in Australia.”
It still feels so right.
6 Months Ago… I was attacked my one of my coworkers when he was drunk (and off his meds and using other drugs) as I tried to take away his keys because he was going to drive home. It was scary at the time but I was fine. Barnaby and I have also been dating for a few weeks now. It has been a bit of an adjustment as it is my first real relationship but so far so good!
5 Months Ago… I am in love.
Sydney Sign in Queenstown, NZ
4 Months Ago… I am in a battle. Over the last few months my relationship with God has taken a shift due to putting my work ahead of my church life. I decide to make more of an effort to attend church weekly and get my relationship with God back to where it was. I trust Him completely with my life; it’s in His hands. Nothing, not work or a man, is more important that God because in the end, He will always be there and will always provide for me.
3 Months Ago… I have started a new job. My 6 month contract at my first job ended and I had to make a switch. Through some connections I easily get a new job and start right away. Once again God provides!!
2 Months Ago… I was in a town called Ubud in Bali and I went to a monkey forest and had monkeys crawl all over me. Scary. It was a great day full of exploring town, eating the most amazing ribs ever and going to the spa for a full body massage that cost a mere $8 Canadian Dollars. Got to love Bali!! As our time in Bali runs down, the realization that Barnaby and I will be saying goodbye to each other becomes real… too real. Plain and simple it sucks!
1 Month Ago… I was in Auckland, New Zealand. Several weeks earlier I had to say a very tearful and emotional goodbye to Barnaby. As I prepare to head to Vancouver, I am anxious about my transition home and the even bigger gap between Australia and Canada. Plain and simple, long distance sucks. Although the distance between Barnaby and I is great and the next few months will be a difficult journey, I know it will be worth it when we see each other again.
On the way to the Milford Sound in NZ
Today… I am in Vancouver but I don’t feel that I am home. I once felt that I would always come back to Vancouver and be happy here. All of my family and friends are here, it’s a beautiful city and I have my old job back, gearing up for the Olympics but it just doesn’t feel right anymore. I think that I have always been a small town girl at heart. Growing up I would always love our family trips to Houston BC and I think that small town living has never left me. I think this is one of the reasons why I felt more at home in little Shoal Bay Australia. It is a small town, I know a lot of people, there is a great sense of community, I never once felt any stress; it’s beautiful. I long to be back there for this reason and of course, the obvious one. I left many special behind along with everything else.
The plan from here on out is to work up until the end of May when all of the Olympic busyness is over. I am planning to move back to Australia in the end of May, after one of my dear friends gets married. Of course, this is not all up to me, it depends on where God leads me. We’ll see what road I take now.
Barney and I at the Gitgit waterfalls in Bali
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
#12
In one week, I will be visiting my 12th country: Indonesia. More specifically, the province and island of Bali.
It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. It has been 3 years since I have traveled to a developing nation and I'm sure there will be some culture shock. I honestly don't know much about the place. Some of my siblings traveled there many years ago and I remember they had a good time.
With the recent bombings (killing 2 Australians I believe) I am a bit hesitant but I know God is with me and will look out for me. It also helps that Barney is already there scouting things out and planning out our itinerary.
I was reminded today of how blessed I am that I have the opportunity to travel like I do. One of my friends here told me she has never been out of Australia. I'm sure she isn't the only one. I understand that some people don't have the desire to travel or the means to do so. I just hope that everyone who wants to will one day get the chance to step out of their own country and see a new part of the world. It's a big place and the diversity is unfathomable.
It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time. It has been 3 years since I have traveled to a developing nation and I'm sure there will be some culture shock. I honestly don't know much about the place. Some of my siblings traveled there many years ago and I remember they had a good time.
With the recent bombings (killing 2 Australians I believe) I am a bit hesitant but I know God is with me and will look out for me. It also helps that Barney is already there scouting things out and planning out our itinerary.
I was reminded today of how blessed I am that I have the opportunity to travel like I do. One of my friends here told me she has never been out of Australia. I'm sure she isn't the only one. I understand that some people don't have the desire to travel or the means to do so. I just hope that everyone who wants to will one day get the chance to step out of their own country and see a new part of the world. It's a big place and the diversity is unfathomable.
Monday, August 10, 2009
A Long Ten Days...
This afternoon Barney headed down to Sydney to catch his flight to Bali. I had been dreading it for the last few days because I know I wouldn't see him for ten days. The longest we have been apart since we starting dating 4 months ago is 24 hours and even that was tough. It sounds silly I know.
I think if our situation was different things would be easier. Saying goodbye to him for ten days is just the beginning of what is to come next month when I say goodbye and head back to Canada. Whenever I think about saying our goodbyes at the airport, I get emotional. I don't want to leave him, but due to immigration, I have to.
I think the unknown makes it worse as well. I am going to try and get a second visa to return to Australia early next year. We are willing to have a long distance relationship as we wait to find out what our next steps are, but even then, we just don't know what is going to happen. Plain and simple, this situation sucks.
I think if our situation was different things would be easier. Saying goodbye to him for ten days is just the beginning of what is to come next month when I say goodbye and head back to Canada. Whenever I think about saying our goodbyes at the airport, I get emotional. I don't want to leave him, but due to immigration, I have to.
I think the unknown makes it worse as well. I am going to try and get a second visa to return to Australia early next year. We are willing to have a long distance relationship as we wait to find out what our next steps are, but even then, we just don't know what is going to happen. Plain and simple, this situation sucks.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Traveling
Yup... in just a few weeks I will be back at it.
Barney had already planned to go to Bali with some of his mates for two weeks so I decided to join him at the end of those two weeks and stay 10 days. We went to the travel agent and got a great deal on a flight which made the decision that much easier! I will be in Bali from August 21 - September 1. I am so excited. I never had any intentions of going to Bali but am glad that I am now going.
I will be 'home' in Australia for just two weeks before making my month long journey back home to Vancouver. I leave here on September 14th. From here I will make my way to New Zealand where I will travel across both islands before spending some time in Auckland. Following Auckland I will fly to Beijing where I will be for just a few days. After climbing the Great Wall and all that jazz, I will make the highly anticipated flight home to Vancouver, arriving in mid-October.
It sure is good to have some more travels in the plans. Traveling is one of my passions and I am so blessed to have the opportunities that I do.
Cheers
Barney had already planned to go to Bali with some of his mates for two weeks so I decided to join him at the end of those two weeks and stay 10 days. We went to the travel agent and got a great deal on a flight which made the decision that much easier! I will be in Bali from August 21 - September 1. I am so excited. I never had any intentions of going to Bali but am glad that I am now going.
I will be 'home' in Australia for just two weeks before making my month long journey back home to Vancouver. I leave here on September 14th. From here I will make my way to New Zealand where I will travel across both islands before spending some time in Auckland. Following Auckland I will fly to Beijing where I will be for just a few days. After climbing the Great Wall and all that jazz, I will make the highly anticipated flight home to Vancouver, arriving in mid-October.
It sure is good to have some more travels in the plans. Traveling is one of my passions and I am so blessed to have the opportunities that I do.
Cheers
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Enjoy
Here is a sweet picture of two dolphins that Barney took. Just thought I would share it as I love it. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Two Months To Go
Yup... two months to go until I leave Australia. I won't be home for another three months as I will be traveling.
Many people have asked how I feel about it and plain and simply, I don't want to leave. I look forward to seeing my friends and family, but I can't imagine leaving here when I feel so at home. Hmmm...
In other tings, I have still been going to the beach daily. We went to Wreck beach (optional clothing, just like Vancouver) where we had the beach to ourselves. Thankfully there was no one else there! We were sitting up on the rocks and saw a pod of dolphins in the distance. They slowly made their way towards us and gave us a show. They were chasing fish, jumping in the air, and surfing the waves. Man I love it.
I was hoping to head to Byron Bay this week but because Barney is working, we are going to try to go next week. Kim and I never made it there on our travels although we wanted to so I am excited to go soon.
That's all for now! Enjoy some more pictures.
Cheers
Maybe if you click on the above pictures you will be able to see the dolphins. That's the best pictures I could get.
Big waves at Zenith Beach
Camels at Stockton Beach
This is a bluebottle, a type of jellyfish. Their stingers (if that's what they are) can be up to 3 meters long.
Many people have asked how I feel about it and plain and simply, I don't want to leave. I look forward to seeing my friends and family, but I can't imagine leaving here when I feel so at home. Hmmm...
In other tings, I have still been going to the beach daily. We went to Wreck beach (optional clothing, just like Vancouver) where we had the beach to ourselves. Thankfully there was no one else there! We were sitting up on the rocks and saw a pod of dolphins in the distance. They slowly made their way towards us and gave us a show. They were chasing fish, jumping in the air, and surfing the waves. Man I love it.
I was hoping to head to Byron Bay this week but because Barney is working, we are going to try to go next week. Kim and I never made it there on our travels although we wanted to so I am excited to go soon.
That's all for now! Enjoy some more pictures.
Cheers
Maybe if you click on the above pictures you will be able to see the dolphins. That's the best pictures I could get.
Big waves at Zenith Beach
Camels at Stockton Beach
This is a bluebottle, a type of jellyfish. Their stingers (if that's what they are) can be up to 3 meters long.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Magical
(See the dolphin in the wave?)There is something magical about nature. I have been incredibly blessed to live where I live for the last 7 months. Endless beaches, the wide open ocean; nature at its finest.
I love going to the beach everyday even in the middle of winter. I could sit and listen to the waves crash for hours at a time. It is a raw beauty.
Christians connect with God in their own way. I connect to God most through His creation.
For the last few days while on my daily trip to the beach, I have spotted humpback whales as they migrate north. Having never see whales in the wild, its taken me back. They are a enormous animal, yet so graceful and beautiful. The other day, the came really close to shore so I got to see them up close. There was about 5 or 6 of them. I didn't have my camera but Barney did so he took some pictures. Just when we were about to leave with the camera off, one of the whales breached three times. It was incredible and needless to say, I had a huge smile on my face.
God really put so much thought into His creation. How the moon, something thousands of miles away in the sky, could affect the ocean's tides. How humpbacks know its time to migrate north to have their young during the summer. How dolphins team up to surround a school of fish in order to get a good meal. These are just some things I have observed while living here in small town Australia.
I am blessed to be living amongst some of God's magical creation.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
It's about time...
Reflections at Stockton BeachThis post is long overdue yet I still don't know where to begin.
Work: I have finished working at the resort as my 6 month contract is up. I'm glad I left when I did as things seemed to be falling apart at the resort. We had new management come in, staff quiting and things just in general not going well. With that said, I do really miss my coworkers. They became my family over the last few months and I wish I could still see them daily. We always had a lot of fun at work. I have since been hired at another resort but haven't started working yet since the whole area is dead. Got to love winter... I'm going to start job hunting again soon to try to get as many hours as possible.
Men: I've been dating a guy name Barney for about 3 months and he is great. We are very happy together. He takes very good care of me and I am thankful for him in my life. What happens when I go home? I don't know yet. Will cross that bridge later.
Barney and I at Mt. Tomaree
Life: Life is good... I have about 75 more days left in Australia and time is flying by. I am trying to make the most of my time here. I am planning on traveling to Bali with Barney in the end of August for about 10 days. It will be a nice holiday and good to quality time together before I head home. Plus, its another country I can check off my list.
My reflection in the tide pools at Boat Harbour
I'm going to be giving immigration a call in the next few days and see if I can find a way to stay longer in Australia. I call this place home now and I don't want to have to leave. We'll just have to wait and see what doors God opens for me.
I'm excited to see what my future holds. Until then, I'll just keep living!
Sunset at Shoal Bay
Friday, May 08, 2009
It's Been A While...
An old fort taken down by the crashing of waves in Shoal Bay
The sunset from a hike that Barney (the guy I am seeing) and I took last week.
He takes me to places in the area that I have never been to. This is a view from some rocks at one of the local beaches. It took a lot to get up to that point, but it was worth it.
Fingal Bay sand dunes
Where has the time gone...
Its been over a month since I last wrote and I do apologize. Life has had some interesting turns and I continue to take each day at a time.
Last Monday I went to a going away party for two of my coworkers who have decided to move back to Sydney to change jobs. It is sad to see them leave as we had a lot of fun together. At their going away party, which was at my work, one of my coworkers in particular had way too much to drink. He was very insistent on driving home so someone took away his keys then passed them on to me so I could put them in my bag. I had them in my hands at one point and he wanted his keys but I wouldn't give them to him. He kept demanding that I give him his keys and I kept saying no, trying to explain to him that he shouldn't be driving. Something snapped inside his head and he attacked me. He grabbed me from behind and starting scratching and grabbing me, trying to get his keys out of my hands. It took 4 others to peel him off of me, then he turned on another girl and grabbed her by the throat. He ended up getting freaked out by some of the other guys and took off. I was quite shaken up, but was fine. He was fired on the spot and is banned from the resort for life. I was just worried about him because later that night he tried to kill himself and ended up in the hospital. It was a long night but everything turned out fine. Talk about drama in the workplace!
I have also been going to the beach a lot lately which has been great. Not to swim or anything, just going for long walks. I've started seeing a guy and he has taken me to all of the beaches and places in the area that I haven't been to. It's been a lot of fun. Last week he took me for a hike up a small mountain in the area to watch the sunset over the area. It was absolutely beautiful. Later that evening he cooked me a fabulous dinner and we watched a movie. It was a good day. He is a great guy and treats me very well, but at the same time, he isn't a Christian, so it puts me in a tough position. Oh life...
Overall things are going very well. My work contract is up in the first week of June so I am going to try to find work in the bay until mid-September. I leave Australia on September 15th and will be home mid to late October after travelling to New Zealand and China. I am looking forward to travelling again but I am going to have a really hard time to say goodbye. I don't want to think about that though, for now I am just taking one day at a time!
That is about it from here.... I am off to work once again. Hope you are all doing well and to all of those who have just finished university or college.. congrats!!!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Twenty Two
The Fingal Spit where we went walking on my birthday
The pointiest "mountain" is Mt Tomaree, the one that I hike. This is just the view from the other side
Beach Cricket!
Us Girls...
Trucks on the beach and the sports begin... it was a great day!
*Warning... long post!*
Twenty Two Memories From March 24, 2008 - March 24, 2009
1. March 24, 2008. I spent the morning of my 21st birthday at Whiterock Beach alone. It was such a peaceful time and I spent time in prayer about my future. It was during this prayer that God gave me the 'okay' to go to Australia. This is what I wrote on that day in regards to going to Australia: "On October 13 I leave for Australia to work then from there I'll go to New Zealand and Beijing, China. How do I feel about this? It's exciting, thrilling, all those things. But, is it the right thing to do? As the sun breaks through the clouds, I feel God looking at me and giving me the "okay". "Here am I; Send me" I believe that no matter where God sends me, He can and will use me, as long as I say "yes, I'll go"'. I am so blessed to be here and I know it is the right thing in my life at this point in time. That evening my siblings had me over for a wonderful birthday including icecream cake. Can't go wrong there :) My parents also called me from South America. It was a great day.
2. March 25, 2008. Kim and I sat at Afterthoughts in Abbotsford drinking coffee and eating cheesecake. We had a conversation discussing life and asked each other many important questions. Our friendship deepened on that day. I could feel it.
3. May 27, 2008. I booked my flight to Australia.
4. June 21, 2008. I started writing my bucket list; my list of things I want to do before I "kick the bucket". Stepping foot in Asia and Australia were on that list and I am proud to check them off.
5. June 24, 2008. Kim and I took a drive through the Abbotsford mountains and to Cultus Lake. It wasn't anything special, but I remember it being a good day.
6. June 30. Going to the drive-in with good friends, staying up until 6am, then going to work on Canada Day at 8am. Fun times only to be repeated many times throughout the summer.
7. July 9, 2008. My nephew Reuben turned 4! He is becoming a little man and its such a blessings to watch him grow up. Love that little dude.
8. July 19, 2008. My sister Kristen married PJ. It was a beautiful day and I am glad to have gained another awesome brother.
9. August 13, 2008. Found this quote. "Lust promises what it can't deliver." -Rob Bell. Well put Rob.
10. August 23-24, 2008. Going to Stanwood with Kim to Ashley and Erik's wedding. Highlights include getting extremely lost, almost killing a rabbit, getting freaked out by people walking up right beside our car, spending the night with Ashley before the wedding, getting ready with her in the morning, and of course the big day. It was a beautiful wedding and a fun filled day. What an awesome couple.
11. August 28, 2008. Kim and I booked all of our domestic flight in Australia as well as many of other details. The trip was finally becoming a reality!
12. September 6, 2008. A highschool reunion of sorts. My friend Joel married Kortni. Another great couple and I am so happy for them. Many of my friends from highschool were there and it was good to catch up.
13. September 11, 2008. Today was a day where I felt incredibly empowered in my career life. "I know the price of success: dedication, hardwork, and an unremitting devotion to the thing you want to see happen." - Frank Lloyd Wright.
14. October 9, 2008. Kim, Tyler, Adam and I went bowling, had dessert at Red Robins, then came back to my house to hang out. This was the last time we all hung out together before I moved to Australia. It was a great night and I have never laughed so hard in my life. So much fun.
15. October 11, 2008. My brother Matthew married the woman of his dreams, Chantelle. The whole day was beautiful and great fun. It was so great to see many of my family members before heading off to Australia. It was an awesome day and wonderful to gain another sister.
16. October 12, 2008. Today I packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and got on the plane to go to Australia.
17. October 13 - November 6, 2008. Kim and I travelled all over Australia and created too many memories to count. Highlights included seeing so much of God's creation, deepening our friendship, hanging out with strangers only to gain friends, sailing for 3 days, and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. (Inlcuded in these days, my nephew Jesse had his 2nd birthday on October 15. He is growing up way too fast... love this little dude a lot as well!)
18. November 7, 2008. Although memorable, it was a sad day. I had to say goodbye to Kim at the airport in Sydney and it was tough. She's my best mate and I miss her dearly.
19. December 16, 2008. I moved into my house in Shoal Bay! It was such a good day as I finally had a place to call home. God answered so many of my prayers and I am thankful for that.
20. December 25, 2008. I worked all day long and it was exhausting, but it was the day that I also found out that I am going to be an aunty again!! I am so excited for Michael and Christina. Baby Crook is due in August :)
21. February 12, 2009. By this point I have fallen in love with Shoal Bay. I know that I want to call it home for more than just the 6 months. Today was also a turning point in my life in general. Without going into details about a situation, I started asking myself what is really important in my life. A very memorable day.
22. March 23-24, 2009. Having Mondays and Tuesday off have been great. On Monday, about twenty of us headed to the beach for a bbq. The weather was beautiful, the food was good, and the water was warm. We drove the trucks onto the beach (got to love Australia for that!), cranked the tunes and played some beach cricket. We took a break for a swim, then started playing beach soccer. None of the girls wanted to play, so it was me and all of the guys. Let me tell you... any sports on sand is hard work! We left the beach around dinner time then I had dinner with Stef. After that I headed to the pub with some friends for a drink, some pool, and good times. I ended up staying there until 1am hanging out with the guys. It was a fun day and I was exhausted when I hit the pillow. On my birthday, I got to sleep in and then headed to the spa for a deep tissue massage, compliments of my parents. Thank you! It was so good and very relaxing. Following the spa, I met up with some friends at work where they surprised me with a birthday cake that was from my Catch (work) family. It was so sweet and it tasted great. From there, we headed to the beach again to walk the Fingal Bay spit. Thankfully, it was low tide so we were able to go all the way across. At the other side we went for a swim before walking back. It took about 2 hours and was well worth it. It just feels so good to be out in the sun, enjoying nature. I got home in the early evening and spent the evening at home. It was nice to kick back and relax. These last two days have been great and very memorable.
I am blessed to say that in all of these memories I have of the last year, I can see God in all of them. He has been so good to me and I am thankful for that. It has been a year of learning and growing. It has had some great times and some crappy ones. I guess that is life. When it is all said and done, I am happy and that is what matters. To think that a year ago I was working in the heart of a big city with a population of over a million, while I am now in a small town that doesn't even have a post office, with the nearest stoplight being an hour away. Two very different worlds, both feeling very much like home. Its been a great year and there is only one person to give the credit to. Thank you God for such a great year and may you continue to bless me in the year to come.
To think of all my birthdays over the years, I have been so blessed. Many of my birthdays growing up were spent in Whistler, since this is where we usually went for Spring Break. I spent two of my teenage birthdays in Mexico, where I was on missions trips with my church. My 16th birthday was spent at home where I had a combined party with two friends also celebrating their birthdays. My 17th birthday I stayed at home.
My 18th birthday was spent in a hospital in Vienna (Im pretty sure thats where we were) since one of the girls was sick and I stayed with her. Two of the chaperones on the trip took me for dinner and everyone bought me a birthday cake that was also quite memorable since it tasted so bad. I guess that is what happens when you can't speak the same language as the person working in the bakery, or the whole country for that matter.
My 19th birthday was my most memorable ever. I was in Zambia and it was the day where I had a major attack from the devil. I went to church that night where the pastor had known everything that on with me that day, without even ever meeting me. It was crazy! The next day everyone through me a surprise birthday party where we had goodies and a bbq. I miss Africa a lot and just thinking about it brings a smile to my face.
My 20th birthday was nothing special and I don't remember much of it. I remember that I had to be in school all day and spent the evening doing homework assignments. Fun times... not! :)
My 21st birthday is described above and was a good one too... What I didn't mention is that my best friend Kim and I had a combined birthday party at my house with all of our friends and we had a blast.
There they are.... my birthdays over the last few years. I have spent my birthday in 5 different countries over 4 continents. I hope to be able to spend more birthdays around the world and maybe on each continent of the world. For now.. I will stick to where I am because I am very happy here.
Sorry this is so long, I wrote it over a few days. Thank you all for the birthday wishes and cards that were sent here in Australia, I appreciate them all. Blessings!
"Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be because you only have on life and once chance." - Unknown
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Birthdays, beaches, and my future
Okay.. I am back although things really haven't changed much for me here...
I am fast approaching 22 and it is getting scary. Being 21, I still feel attached to my teenage years but now that I am turning 22, I finally feel like I am full blown into my 20's. I feel like I am getting old haha.... I'm sure some of you reading would love to be 22 again.
Plans for my birthday include a day spent at the beach with all of my mates. Since the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, it makes everyone ale to come out. Yay! We are going to spend the day playing beach volleyball and cricket, going for a swim in the nice warm ocean, and will finish the day off with a bbq. Sounds like a good day to me! This will be on the day before my birthday so on my actual birthday, I will be going to the spa and just chilling out. Can't complain too much :)
Life here continues to plug along. The weather is always nice here and I have been venturing to the beach more often now. Nothing like a quick dip in the ocean before going to work. Work was chill last night but will be extremely busy tonight. We have no weddings this weekend which is a nice change because it means my days are shorter. Next weekend we have weddings though and they will keep us busy for the next few months.
As for me staying in Australia... One of two things need to happen in order for me to stay here. One, I need to marry an aussie, or two, I need to move into a management position or become a chef so the resort is able to sponsor me to stay. My best option at this point, marry an.... haha just kidding. No, I need to move into a management position which may be tough, but hopefully it will all work out. If I get sponsored, I will without a doubt be staying for at least another two years. Scary to say that, but I feel more at home here than anywhere else.
There's the update for now! Cheers from sunny and hot Shoal Bay :)
I am fast approaching 22 and it is getting scary. Being 21, I still feel attached to my teenage years but now that I am turning 22, I finally feel like I am full blown into my 20's. I feel like I am getting old haha.... I'm sure some of you reading would love to be 22 again.
Plans for my birthday include a day spent at the beach with all of my mates. Since the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, it makes everyone ale to come out. Yay! We are going to spend the day playing beach volleyball and cricket, going for a swim in the nice warm ocean, and will finish the day off with a bbq. Sounds like a good day to me! This will be on the day before my birthday so on my actual birthday, I will be going to the spa and just chilling out. Can't complain too much :)
Life here continues to plug along. The weather is always nice here and I have been venturing to the beach more often now. Nothing like a quick dip in the ocean before going to work. Work was chill last night but will be extremely busy tonight. We have no weddings this weekend which is a nice change because it means my days are shorter. Next weekend we have weddings though and they will keep us busy for the next few months.
As for me staying in Australia... One of two things need to happen in order for me to stay here. One, I need to marry an aussie, or two, I need to move into a management position or become a chef so the resort is able to sponsor me to stay. My best option at this point, marry an.... haha just kidding. No, I need to move into a management position which may be tough, but hopefully it will all work out. If I get sponsored, I will without a doubt be staying for at least another two years. Scary to say that, but I feel more at home here than anywhere else.
There's the update for now! Cheers from sunny and hot Shoal Bay :)
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Another Beginning
March is here... It has almost been 5 months since I left home. How time has flown by!
When the crisp cool night meets the warmth of a new day. This is my favorite moment of the day. It brings me solace and peace. The thing is that I am rarely awake to enjoy it. Because I work nights, I tend to miss this moment of the day. This morning I had to be at work early and I got the joy of enjoying that moment of time.
I am currently writing this while I am on a break at work. We just finished a wedding and now have our regular dinner service, much like last time. It is sunny and hot outside bringing a renewed energy. It has been raining a lot lately so it is a nice change. The rains have been good though, especially for the bush fires.
I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a Christian. I would some it up with two words. Grace and Love. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 103). I think this is what I need to focus on in my life. I need to try my hardest to be gracious and compassionate with those around me. Slow to anger, especially with my coworkers, and rich, abounding in love. This has been my goal while in Australia. I need to learn how to love. It has been easy for some, and hard for others. I think this is what Jesus did in his life. Well, I know he did this. He ate with sinners. Why shouldn't I do the same? I will admit, I do this, but sometimes temptation gets the best of me. Where do we as Christians find the balance? It shouldn't even be a balance, it should be one sided. This may not make sense, but it feels good to gets my thoughts out.
God. Love. Compassion. Patience. Grace.
I have God. I'm learning to love. I'm learning to be compassionate. I'm learning to be patient. Grace. What God gave us by sending His Son to die on the cross. As I enter into a new Easter season, I am going to strive to achieve these things. They may seem simple words, but they are big tasks to achieve. I don't think I will ever be able to achieve them in this life time to the extent that I would like to, but where's the harm in trying?
I could keep writing more and more about this, but I will save you the boredom. Living on my own in a foreign land has really made me ask a lot of questions that I would ever have considered before. May I live and keep learning.
In other things, I have spoken to my boss about potentially having the resort sponsor me to work here for another 2 years. If this is the case, I would hopefully get a promotion and gain a lot of experience to take home with me. If I stay, I am making plans to be home for February regardless so I can spend time with my family and work during the winter Olympics. We'll see where God calls me!!
*I wrote this yesterday and posted it today. Several hours after writing it, my boss came to me and offered me a position as team leader. The pay doesn't change, it just means that I have a title to go with all the work I put in anyways. Always nice to be recognized for my hard work!*
Cheers from beautiful Shoal Bay!
When the crisp cool night meets the warmth of a new day. This is my favorite moment of the day. It brings me solace and peace. The thing is that I am rarely awake to enjoy it. Because I work nights, I tend to miss this moment of the day. This morning I had to be at work early and I got the joy of enjoying that moment of time.
I am currently writing this while I am on a break at work. We just finished a wedding and now have our regular dinner service, much like last time. It is sunny and hot outside bringing a renewed energy. It has been raining a lot lately so it is a nice change. The rains have been good though, especially for the bush fires.
I have been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a Christian. I would some it up with two words. Grace and Love. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 103). I think this is what I need to focus on in my life. I need to try my hardest to be gracious and compassionate with those around me. Slow to anger, especially with my coworkers, and rich, abounding in love. This has been my goal while in Australia. I need to learn how to love. It has been easy for some, and hard for others. I think this is what Jesus did in his life. Well, I know he did this. He ate with sinners. Why shouldn't I do the same? I will admit, I do this, but sometimes temptation gets the best of me. Where do we as Christians find the balance? It shouldn't even be a balance, it should be one sided. This may not make sense, but it feels good to gets my thoughts out.
God. Love. Compassion. Patience. Grace.
I have God. I'm learning to love. I'm learning to be compassionate. I'm learning to be patient. Grace. What God gave us by sending His Son to die on the cross. As I enter into a new Easter season, I am going to strive to achieve these things. They may seem simple words, but they are big tasks to achieve. I don't think I will ever be able to achieve them in this life time to the extent that I would like to, but where's the harm in trying?
I could keep writing more and more about this, but I will save you the boredom. Living on my own in a foreign land has really made me ask a lot of questions that I would ever have considered before. May I live and keep learning.
In other things, I have spoken to my boss about potentially having the resort sponsor me to work here for another 2 years. If this is the case, I would hopefully get a promotion and gain a lot of experience to take home with me. If I stay, I am making plans to be home for February regardless so I can spend time with my family and work during the winter Olympics. We'll see where God calls me!!
*I wrote this yesterday and posted it today. Several hours after writing it, my boss came to me and offered me a position as team leader. The pay doesn't change, it just means that I have a title to go with all the work I put in anyways. Always nice to be recognized for my hard work!*
Cheers from beautiful Shoal Bay!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Work Work Work
I thought I would be good and update, so here I am. The problem.... not much to say. I could ramble for a while about something tht is pressing on my mind, but I think I will save that for another day.
Yesterday was a very long day! It started rough by not being able to sleep the night before. I maybe had an hour of sleep. I was at work at 9am to set-up for an afternoon wedding. The wedding ran from 11-4 and ran really smoothly. Then, we had until 6 oclock to tear down the wedding and reset the whole restaurant for regular dinner service. Having just started a new menu the day before, we are all little rough with things. We ended having a really busy night. After regular service, we had to reset again for another wedding that we have tonight. I ended up working 14 hours and was exhausted, especially since I got next to no sleep. Needless to say, when I got home last night, I was asleep within minutes.
The weather here is once again hot and beautiful. As I write, i am looking out at the blue ocean watching the boats sway in the wind. Bliss.
Now, its off to work once again. Got to love wedding season!!!
Cheers
Yesterday was a very long day! It started rough by not being able to sleep the night before. I maybe had an hour of sleep. I was at work at 9am to set-up for an afternoon wedding. The wedding ran from 11-4 and ran really smoothly. Then, we had until 6 oclock to tear down the wedding and reset the whole restaurant for regular dinner service. Having just started a new menu the day before, we are all little rough with things. We ended having a really busy night. After regular service, we had to reset again for another wedding that we have tonight. I ended up working 14 hours and was exhausted, especially since I got next to no sleep. Needless to say, when I got home last night, I was asleep within minutes.
The weather here is once again hot and beautiful. As I write, i am looking out at the blue ocean watching the boats sway in the wind. Bliss.
Now, its off to work once again. Got to love wedding season!!!
Cheers
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Big City and Small Town Girl.
I can be both. I am soon getting on the bus to head back to the small town of Shoal Bay. I am excited to go back home as I miss it already, and because my parents sent me flowers for Valentines Day that are waiting for me at work :) Thanks!!
I love the life of a small own like I have mentioned many times. It just so simple. I also love the life of a big city. The thrill of all the people hustling and bustling to get where they need to go. I am pretty sure that I could live either type of place.
It has been so incredibly refreshing for me to be back in Sydney, staying with some great friends. I got to go to chapel at Hillsong and it was so renewing. I feel ready to conquer the world. :) It was also nice to walk around the city and not run into someone I know. I could just be in my own little world.
Its back to reality now and I go back to work tomorrow. I;m excited to go back to work. Work is something that I really enjoy doing, something I get from my father.
That is all for now. Blessings to all!!!
PS: I'm going to be an aunty again too! My sister Christina and her husband Michael are expecting :)
I love the life of a small own like I have mentioned many times. It just so simple. I also love the life of a big city. The thrill of all the people hustling and bustling to get where they need to go. I am pretty sure that I could live either type of place.
It has been so incredibly refreshing for me to be back in Sydney, staying with some great friends. I got to go to chapel at Hillsong and it was so renewing. I feel ready to conquer the world. :) It was also nice to walk around the city and not run into someone I know. I could just be in my own little world.
Its back to reality now and I go back to work tomorrow. I;m excited to go back to work. Work is something that I really enjoy doing, something I get from my father.
That is all for now. Blessings to all!!!
PS: I'm going to be an aunty again too! My sister Christina and her husband Michael are expecting :)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Comforts of Home
Its been raining buckets for days now.. things are flooded, you walk outside for a minute and you are drenched from head to toe. It makes me wish I had a fireplace so I could wrap myself up in a blanket and get cozy by the fire. I love this weather!!
Home is a funny word. A home is a place of residence or refuge according to wikipedia. With that said, I can safely call Shoal Bay 'home'. This small town of mine has become much more than a place of residence or refuge. It feels like I have found a place that is comfortable, safe, and somewhere I dont want to leave. I am hoping to talk to my bosses and see if I can extend my stay here. When I think about leaving, a part of my heart breaks. I know that if I go back to Vancouver, it will be okay. I have done it before after living in Africa for several months. I just don't want to leave here.
I am learning and growing so much here. More about myself, more about God. The one thing that I have learned the most is how to love people when it is very difficult to do so. Its been a challenge to say the least, but once bridges are burned down, things get easier.
In other things, work is still going good. I have the next 3 days off so I am heading to Sydney tomorrow morning to visit my friends there. I am excited to go back to the big city (and have a Starbucks) but I will also miss my work family here. If I can't handle being in Sydney for 3 days, how am I possibly going to go back to Vancouver?! The next few months will include a lot of decision making so I ask for your prayer. I don't want to be somewhere when God wants me somewhere else. I just want to do the right thing.
That is all for now... cheers from rainy Shoal Bay!!!
Home is a funny word. A home is a place of residence or refuge according to wikipedia. With that said, I can safely call Shoal Bay 'home'. This small town of mine has become much more than a place of residence or refuge. It feels like I have found a place that is comfortable, safe, and somewhere I dont want to leave. I am hoping to talk to my bosses and see if I can extend my stay here. When I think about leaving, a part of my heart breaks. I know that if I go back to Vancouver, it will be okay. I have done it before after living in Africa for several months. I just don't want to leave here.
I am learning and growing so much here. More about myself, more about God. The one thing that I have learned the most is how to love people when it is very difficult to do so. Its been a challenge to say the least, but once bridges are burned down, things get easier.
In other things, work is still going good. I have the next 3 days off so I am heading to Sydney tomorrow morning to visit my friends there. I am excited to go back to the big city (and have a Starbucks) but I will also miss my work family here. If I can't handle being in Sydney for 3 days, how am I possibly going to go back to Vancouver?! The next few months will include a lot of decision making so I ask for your prayer. I don't want to be somewhere when God wants me somewhere else. I just want to do the right thing.
That is all for now... cheers from rainy Shoal Bay!!!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Alive and Well
I am alive and doing well! The lack of posting has to do with the fact that nothing too exciting ever goes on in this small town... I will try to write some things!
Shoal Bay with Mt. Tomaree on the right
We had the most beautiful thunderstorm the other day. The thunder 'roars' for a good 20 seconds straight and the lightning over the ocean was magical. Thunderstorms make me giddy. I wished I wasn't at work, otherwise I would have gotten out my camera to take pictures of the lightning. It was beautiful!
View of Shoal Bay from Mt. Tomaree
Yesterday was Australia Day. I chose to work so I could get paid double time. After work I headed to the Country Club which is the pub that is underneath our restaurant. I usually head there every night with my coworkers to hang out and watch them get drunk. Never a dull moment there. A few nights ago after going to the CC, myself and 3 coworkers headed to the beach so they could finish their beers. There was a crazy guy wondering the streets. The guys wouldn't let me walk home (nor did I want to), so they walked me home. It is nice that I have people looking out for me here.
Sunset at Little Beach, about 10 minutes away from where I live
I have developed a really bad sleeping pattern. I tend to fall asleep around 3-4am then sleep until noon. Now, its still about 8 hours of sleep, but it is just at stupid times. I don't know how to break the pattern, especially when I have no reason to be out of bed before then. Any ideas??
Zenith, Box, and Wreck Beach (Closest to furthest)
I have been having the weirdest dreams lately. Most of them involve my coworkers or friends from back home, but my relationships with them in my dreams are generally opposite to reality. Weird!
Now that the summer holidays here have come to an end, the town has become dead quiet again and it is nice. Although this means less hours in the restaurant for me to work, it is a nice change. I will be picking up more hours in other parts of the resort to compensate. Have I mentioned that I love my job? I do. I work with a great team and have a blast doing it. There is never a dull moment at work and its wonderful!
Well... that is all for now!! Hope this brings you well. I will try my best to keep updating more regularly, but a lot of the time, there isn't much to say!
Cheers.
Shoal Bay with Mt. Tomaree on the right
We had the most beautiful thunderstorm the other day. The thunder 'roars' for a good 20 seconds straight and the lightning over the ocean was magical. Thunderstorms make me giddy. I wished I wasn't at work, otherwise I would have gotten out my camera to take pictures of the lightning. It was beautiful!
View of Shoal Bay from Mt. Tomaree
Yesterday was Australia Day. I chose to work so I could get paid double time. After work I headed to the Country Club which is the pub that is underneath our restaurant. I usually head there every night with my coworkers to hang out and watch them get drunk. Never a dull moment there. A few nights ago after going to the CC, myself and 3 coworkers headed to the beach so they could finish their beers. There was a crazy guy wondering the streets. The guys wouldn't let me walk home (nor did I want to), so they walked me home. It is nice that I have people looking out for me here.
Sunset at Little Beach, about 10 minutes away from where I live
I have developed a really bad sleeping pattern. I tend to fall asleep around 3-4am then sleep until noon. Now, its still about 8 hours of sleep, but it is just at stupid times. I don't know how to break the pattern, especially when I have no reason to be out of bed before then. Any ideas??
Zenith, Box, and Wreck Beach (Closest to furthest)
I have been having the weirdest dreams lately. Most of them involve my coworkers or friends from back home, but my relationships with them in my dreams are generally opposite to reality. Weird!
Now that the summer holidays here have come to an end, the town has become dead quiet again and it is nice. Although this means less hours in the restaurant for me to work, it is a nice change. I will be picking up more hours in other parts of the resort to compensate. Have I mentioned that I love my job? I do. I work with a great team and have a blast doing it. There is never a dull moment at work and its wonderful!
Well... that is all for now!! Hope this brings you well. I will try my best to keep updating more regularly, but a lot of the time, there isn't much to say!
Cheers.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
President Obama
Last night I stayed up until 5am to watch the live coverage of Obama being sworn into office. I enjoyed his speech and I think he will be a great president and is realistic about what is ahead of him. I pray that he does well in his position as president!
Things here in Shoal Bay are going great and I am enjoying a simple life that a small town can bring. There is no stress here and I love it.
My supervisor asked me informally, but truthfully, to stay with the company long term. She said that the resort would sponsor me to stay. Something to think about for me, although I'm pretty sure I know where I stand.
Thts all for now... more to come. Sorry it was so short!
Things here in Shoal Bay are going great and I am enjoying a simple life that a small town can bring. There is no stress here and I love it.
My supervisor asked me informally, but truthfully, to stay with the company long term. She said that the resort would sponsor me to stay. Something to think about for me, although I'm pretty sure I know where I stand.
Thts all for now... more to come. Sorry it was so short!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Happy New Year!
It was weird being in 2009 yesterday when back home was still 2008. I spent my New Years Eve at work and managed to leave work by 11:45 when I headed down to the pub with my coworkers to ring in the new year. We had a lot of fun and I left around 12:30 because yesterday, New Years Day, I had to work 12 hours. It was a long day for sure, but when you are making double time, you can't really complain too much.
2008 was a great year. We had two weddings in the family and although they are a lot of work, both days were awesome and we had a lot of fun. My parents traveled to South America and in the spring, I had the house to myself for 2 months which I also enjoyed a lot! I made new friends and many memories were made in the summer.
The highlight of course has been traveling around Australia with Kim and now living and working here. It had begun to feel like home and I am really enjoying it here. It is hard not to love it when I walk to work and all I see is the beach and the crystal clear blue ocean. I am truly blessed.
Overall, I have learned and grown in ways I didn't think were possible. A quote I saw the other day kind of sums it up.
"Women are like tea bags. It is only when they are in hot water that you know how strong they really are."
I didn't realize how strong of a person I have become until being here on my own. Not so much that I was on hot water, but I have faced many challenges like finding a job and a home. It has been a great learning experience for me and I value it.
All the best to you in 2009!
2008 was a great year. We had two weddings in the family and although they are a lot of work, both days were awesome and we had a lot of fun. My parents traveled to South America and in the spring, I had the house to myself for 2 months which I also enjoyed a lot! I made new friends and many memories were made in the summer.
The highlight of course has been traveling around Australia with Kim and now living and working here. It had begun to feel like home and I am really enjoying it here. It is hard not to love it when I walk to work and all I see is the beach and the crystal clear blue ocean. I am truly blessed.
Overall, I have learned and grown in ways I didn't think were possible. A quote I saw the other day kind of sums it up.
"Women are like tea bags. It is only when they are in hot water that you know how strong they really are."
I didn't realize how strong of a person I have become until being here on my own. Not so much that I was on hot water, but I have faced many challenges like finding a job and a home. It has been a great learning experience for me and I value it.
All the best to you in 2009!
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