(note: i don't really like to put in-depth thoughts about my personal life on the internet, but this is something that many people have asked me in the past. i thought this was an easy way to explain myself.)
happy australia day. 26, january is a day of celebrating beautiful australia. it's a day of barbies, aussie flags, and pure smiles...followed by fantastic displays of fireworks. :) today, i am missing my favorite place, but am celebrating in my own way here in florida. :)
i'm usually in australia this time of the year, but i'm in america due to the end of my college career...finally. as i near graduation i am able to think that moving to australia is a realistic possiblility in the near future. all it takes is me working as a teacher for two years and then the government will sponsor me to come and work. sounds easy, but it's been a long and drawn out wait since january 2003, when i first visited this land of beauty. i knew then that it was my dream to settle there and that dream is still in full force.
i got an interesting comment the other day on here. i do not know who wrote it (i would like to know), but to whoever it was...i am not going to move to australia simply because some of my close friends live there or for a life of partying. it's more than that. i get this question a lot and it's a good question. why would i want to leave america where i have freedom and the ablity to do anything that i wish? i can live comfortably and be content. i can work and travel, but there is something missing from my soul. for the record, i am going to be happy wherever life takes me, but my complete happiness is in australia and i love australia as a country. i have since day one, when i knew nobody. there is not a day that goes by that i don't speak about this love of mine or daydream about the day that i'll finally get to settle. i have thought about this in depth comment over for the past day and have come up with a list. this list is not so i can to try and prove something to you or come up with excuses why i should move, it's more of a reminder of what is so wonderful about this place that i dream of settling to. maybe it will help you understand. the simple thought of these wonderful things make me smile and isn't happiness what we are all constantly reaching and striving for? being happy is what makes life so amazing. :)
so here are a few in no particular order:
*the beauty and variety of landscapes
*the culture
*the laid back lifestyle
*the slow pace of living
*the kind "g'day's" and "how you going's" from strangers
*the diversity
*the food...yes, the food is amazing food
*the small coffee shops to meet friends for a daily cuppa
*the public transportation
*the fact that it's a fair go for all
*the unity
*the education system
*the kangaroos, koaloas, platypus, fairy penguins, and wombats
*the bush
*the country...and the country pubs :)
*the gum trees
*the travel bug that most people have
*the open minded outlook
*the old plus the new
*the game of footy
*the sound of trams
*the remote-ness
*the safety
*the unique-ness, nothing compares
*the way that people live to be happy
*the way that i feel the moment that i touch ground on the airplane
*the simplicity
so, there you go. now, i do understand that moving to the opposite side of the world will take me away from family and close friends. it is expensive, but i'll deal with it. when something is important to me, i'll make it happen. no if's, ands, or buts. i've somehow made my way back to australia five times in the past five years haven't i? this will probably be the most challenging thing i'll go through, but i shouldn't let that hold me back. yes, i grew up here in america and these people have been in my life forever, but why does moving to a far away land make me unavailable? i'm going to be a teacher, which makes time for travel. i plan to visit the states as much as possible. the only people that i see on a regular basis right now are my mum and dad and very few friends. florida is not for me, so i feel that making this move is the right decision. i can always move back, but i will never know what's right until i try. what's wrong with that? i'm almost 25 and i have many, many years ahead of me to test out differnt opportunities to see what's right. life is about taking chances and facing the challenges that come our way. i'm challenging myself to be an independent adult and take the chance of moving to a place that makes me happy. these many things that make me happy are only a few, but i don't feel that i need to go on and on about why i'm happy in australia. i just am and that's a good enough reason for me.
i plan to start the visa process one year after i begin teaching. that plan could change if i decide that i like where i am when the time comes, but this is what i have been waiting for. it's been five years and five trips. that seems pretty reassuring that this is what i'm meant to do. in two weeks i will be attending a recruiting fair for international schools. i am going to let this event guide me in where i will be teaching in august. maybe it will be in asia, maybe europe, maybe africa, or maybe i will decide to stay in the states. whatever happens will be whats meant to be until i am able to move to the beautiful land down under.
there you go...
happy australia day. 26, january is a day of celebrating beautiful australia. it's a day of barbies, aussie flags, and pure smiles...followed by fantastic displays of fireworks. :) today, i am missing my favorite place, but am celebrating in my own way here in florida. :)
i'm usually in australia this time of the year, but i'm in america due to the end of my college career...finally. as i near graduation i am able to think that moving to australia is a realistic possiblility in the near future. all it takes is me working as a teacher for two years and then the government will sponsor me to come and work. sounds easy, but it's been a long and drawn out wait since january 2003, when i first visited this land of beauty. i knew then that it was my dream to settle there and that dream is still in full force.
i got an interesting comment the other day on here. i do not know who wrote it (i would like to know), but to whoever it was...i am not going to move to australia simply because some of my close friends live there or for a life of partying. it's more than that. i get this question a lot and it's a good question. why would i want to leave america where i have freedom and the ablity to do anything that i wish? i can live comfortably and be content. i can work and travel, but there is something missing from my soul. for the record, i am going to be happy wherever life takes me, but my complete happiness is in australia and i love australia as a country. i have since day one, when i knew nobody. there is not a day that goes by that i don't speak about this love of mine or daydream about the day that i'll finally get to settle. i have thought about this in depth comment over for the past day and have come up with a list. this list is not so i can to try and prove something to you or come up with excuses why i should move, it's more of a reminder of what is so wonderful about this place that i dream of settling to. maybe it will help you understand. the simple thought of these wonderful things make me smile and isn't happiness what we are all constantly reaching and striving for? being happy is what makes life so amazing. :)
so here are a few in no particular order:
*the beauty and variety of landscapes
*the culture
*the laid back lifestyle
*the slow pace of living
*the kind "g'day's" and "how you going's" from strangers
*the diversity
*the food...yes, the food is amazing food
*the small coffee shops to meet friends for a daily cuppa
*the public transportation
*the fact that it's a fair go for all
*the unity
*the education system
*the kangaroos, koaloas, platypus, fairy penguins, and wombats
*the bush
*the country...and the country pubs :)
*the gum trees
*the travel bug that most people have
*the open minded outlook
*the old plus the new
*the game of footy
*the sound of trams
*the remote-ness
*the safety
*the unique-ness, nothing compares
*the way that people live to be happy
*the way that i feel the moment that i touch ground on the airplane
*the simplicity
so, there you go. now, i do understand that moving to the opposite side of the world will take me away from family and close friends. it is expensive, but i'll deal with it. when something is important to me, i'll make it happen. no if's, ands, or buts. i've somehow made my way back to australia five times in the past five years haven't i? this will probably be the most challenging thing i'll go through, but i shouldn't let that hold me back. yes, i grew up here in america and these people have been in my life forever, but why does moving to a far away land make me unavailable? i'm going to be a teacher, which makes time for travel. i plan to visit the states as much as possible. the only people that i see on a regular basis right now are my mum and dad and very few friends. florida is not for me, so i feel that making this move is the right decision. i can always move back, but i will never know what's right until i try. what's wrong with that? i'm almost 25 and i have many, many years ahead of me to test out differnt opportunities to see what's right. life is about taking chances and facing the challenges that come our way. i'm challenging myself to be an independent adult and take the chance of moving to a place that makes me happy. these many things that make me happy are only a few, but i don't feel that i need to go on and on about why i'm happy in australia. i just am and that's a good enough reason for me.
i plan to start the visa process one year after i begin teaching. that plan could change if i decide that i like where i am when the time comes, but this is what i have been waiting for. it's been five years and five trips. that seems pretty reassuring that this is what i'm meant to do. in two weeks i will be attending a recruiting fair for international schools. i am going to let this event guide me in where i will be teaching in august. maybe it will be in asia, maybe europe, maybe africa, or maybe i will decide to stay in the states. whatever happens will be whats meant to be until i am able to move to the beautiful land down under.
there you go...
3 comments:
OK, first of all, I have never been to Australia but LOVE it because of your passion and love for it. Second of all, my dear friend, it is YOUR LIFE!!! Go out and live it!! I think you have the biggest balls for going out there and doing all that you have done! Not many people can say that they have gone to all the places that you have and seen all the different things that you have seen. Michelle died at 24 and did not have a chance to live her life to the fullest like she wanted to, but she sure tried while she was still here. Life is too short to not do what your heart truly wants to do. Your family and friends will miss you dearly, but would want you to be happy!! Plus, it gives me an excuse to go to Australia and visit!! Love you Taura!! :)
Good for you, honey. I think it's respectable and amazing that you devote yourself to a life so far from your roots, and I believe more people should consider it. Your friends and family will always know where to find you, but more importantly, you need to know where to find you....
OBSESSION Vs LOVE FOR 'AUSTRALIA' IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DEFINE AS YOU HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET. REMEMBER WORKING LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT COMPARED TO THE TIME YOU HAVE ALREADY SPENT THERE. ONCE YOU DEFINE WHETHER IT IS LOVE OR OBSESSION ONLY THEN CAN YOU BEGIN THE EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL JOURNEY IN PREPARING FOR THE BIG MOVE. WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND WILL SUPPORT YOU ON WHERE EVER YOU MAY HEAD. I WILL REMAIN UNKNOWN FOR FRIENDSHIP REASONS.
GOOD LUCK AND WISH YOU WELL.
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