Indian Ocean

Okay...this is just a quick one. Most of you know the story behind my beautiful new SONY camera--which we took kayaking in 2002 and saved from a watery grave, only to have me drop it in the lake during a boundary waters trip. The camera still works...just never shuts off.

So, when we made the big move to Australia, we decided our Christmas present would be a new camera...WATERPROOF! Just wanted to show you the Indian Ocean.

Impatient for "Normal"

I know that Nathan and I left Minnesota seeking new experiences, breaking out of our "ruts", yearning for learning....but strangely I find myself impatient to reach normal again. I am impatient for our house to be "set-up," our paper-work finished, and our social and work networks in place. It's been just over a month, with a huge portion of that time dedicated to our to-do list and work. It took 3 years to complete the Visa paperwork, and 1 year to get our house etc in order to leave, why should 1 month be sufficient to get it all up and running again?

When I moved to London, Nathan had already been there for a year. He had friends, a bank account, knowledge of the city, school sorted out, essential paperwork done. When I arrived, he had already found a furnished place to stay and all we had to do was move in. We had Nathan's friends, but I was still lonely for my own the first few months. By November, I was working and had a social network of my own.

It seems harder this time, because it is. This time we are both starting from scratch. No furnished apartment. Everything is new--for both of us. So both of us are going through the emotional ups and downs at the same time (instead of a year apart).

Maybe because its our second time, I expected this move would be easier. The to-do list is harder, but the cultural adjustment is easier. I am embracing new language, friends, experiences much more readily than before. We are already travelling to new places (we've seen more than some residents who have already been here 1 year) and are talking to hockey, band, and church groups to develop our community connections.

I know that in 3 months, we'll be less worried about the "have-to-do" list (like health insurance, taxes, internet connection etc) and more focused on the "get-to-do" list (snorkelling, bushwalking, travelling) but I am impatient. We've been waiting for this for years, I'm ready to get to the fun stuff and stop working so hard!

Who knew that after a search for adventure that would take us half way around the world, I would be craving my rut?--Kristin

Explorer

Found this in my wallet today--it was part of a mural in the Auckland Airport in New Zealand.

Each flyer who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer;
in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged adventurers of old to set forth in sailing ships for distant lands.

For some reason, that made this crazy trip to Perth part of a grander legacy of exploration and discovery. But then, those adventurers of old were probably pretty crazy too.

Kristin

I think it's a conspiracy -- every time I am ready to post this, a little ready-to-post sensor in the keyboard demands internet shutdown, thereby increasing the time and money that I spend in the internet cafe. Clever, but evil.

Well, it's hot again. It cooled down into the 70s, and we didn't know what to do! We almost needed both the sheet AND the bedspread. Today, it's back up in the mid-90's, so the world is back to normal.

There are almost too many things to do and try here. I still haven't been golfing, although I bought us some cheap used clubs. We haven't been out trekking, although I have found out some good trails. We have only visited one winery, haven't gone skating yet, and have only watched as others kite-surf in the evenings. I haven't even got a fishing pole yet, and here you don't even need a license!

Our new digs have some seriously nice yard out back. Of all the places that we looked at, it felt the most Australian, with a mix of native eucalypts, melaleuca, bottle brush plants, gravillia, and a large body of plants known as wattyl. It also has bouganvillea, hibiscus,roses, and the new favourite, frangipani. Not to mention figs, grapes (seeded -- alas!), locquat (new one to us), lemons, almonds, thyme, pepper tree, and peaches. It's been pretty fun just in our backyard! For those of you who remember a 7 year old nathan counting palm trees for a summer, you will be pleased to know that it was just foreshadowing. There are 3 different kinds of palm trees at this place! The guy who owns it is a horticulturalist, I guess.

it's trying to close explorer again, so the rest of the update goes -- i've got a new driver's license, a chance to try out for a play, and a new job (3 shifts a week at the university ER -- some instruction of students required, but no grading!). Kris had her first big corporate meeting last week, and all is going well, but is more challenging than she had thought.

New cyber-cafe -- and no USB ports to upload photos. They do, however, have electricity, so that's different from the other place right now, and fractionally more important.
Today we learned that some things are universal. When you're late for church, no matter what continent or hemisphere, the lights are all red, the driver in the fast lane is going 10km/H below the legal speed limit, and you take the wrong exit off the freeway. These are the facts, and they are immutable.
It's cooled off to about 100 degrees today, and the power (and air conditioning) is out in the holiday accomodations, so here we are at the cyber-cafe. Some days it's actually too hot to go to the beach. Other than the weather, which is as big a focus here as it is in Minnesota, everything is progressing apace -- Kris is next to me phoning people about kitchen tables for sale, and we're anxiously awaiting our final move tomorrow into the new place. Our last move was from one holiday spot to the other, and it took us a whopping 40 minutes, including cat. New Mannix record!
Anyway, I think we're going to drive out to look at some couches, but more later!
-nm-

Happy Australia Day!

Australia Day marks the days the First Fleet (British Ships) sailed into Port Jackson and Sydney cove. In Perth the whole city turns out for a fireworks show over the river with the City in the background. Despite being VERY HOT (41.5 C (roughly 106) at 5:00 pm!) it seemed like everyone had pulled up a picnic on the river shore, greeting stangers walking by with HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY. The "skyshow" was amazing. Felt good to be an Aussie.

The picture on the right is Thrombolites.
These "Blob Rocks" are the highlight of Nathan's Australia Day. Impressive huh? Thromobolites are mineral structures left behind from a microorganisms that are thought to be the oldest living thing on the planet. These are thought to be the key to producing oxygen for the atmosphere. Australia and all its creatures are old, old, old. But sometimes old isn't very impressive.

Updates -- again.

Argh. This is the third time that I've written this (I'll need Kris to show me what i'm doing wrong), so you get treated to the disorganized photos and a brief update.

Update: Nothing much, just that we bought a car, sign a lease on a house tonight, got social security cards, signed up for national health insurance, Kris is working hard, I got a job offer, and the cat arrived (in one piece, although starved for affection).

Photos -- I'll try to get these on this time.

In no particular order:

Us outside Casa de Freo (temporary housing) with our 10th anniversary wine from Jess and EB.

Sunset over the Indian Ocean, with comet visible. Note: This ocean is warmer than the Southern by about 12 degrees, good for bathers, and less hospitable to sharks -- a good combo.

Black swan in the park, with Perth in the distance. Lots of really nice parks!

Beer in the park. They have free to use outdoor barbeques at most of the parks, and lots of folks head down to cook dinner outdoors and have a leisurely and social meal.

It looks like these have loaded in reverse order -- please bear in mind that i'm a novice. But the photos are okay, huh?

More soon!