Highlights from Cali

I had lived in Oz for 10 months before we traveled to California for a 3 1/2 week holiday. I had grand plans of blogging about all of our adventures while in the States. But, once there, I barely found the time to check my email, let alone write blog entries about all the fun things we were doing. I have decided to compile the highlights of our trip into one, easy to read, bulleted list. Below are the things that made me smile during our trip home!

• Hanging out with mine and Ryan's families live - Skype is great, but live is even better.
  

• Target, Taco Bell and Tri-tip all in one day... I had the trifecta, and it felt like Christmas!


• Buying two books for $10 less than the cost of one book in Oz


• Going to the Frank Raines Dirt Bike Race and having my friends meet Ryan

• Seeing my nephews, JJ and Mark, REALLY take a liking to Ryan. JJ wanted to hold both of our hands and my heart melted.

• Shopping, Shopping and more Shopping since things are so much cheaper in the U.S.! Jeans for $30 never felt so good :)


• DSW = Shoe Heaven!!


• Spending quality time with Ryan's dad, who I've adored since I was 5

• Watching the SF Giants win the World Series

• Celebrating Halloween with my sister, Jamie, and her family ~ 6 adults and 3 kids, and we were ALL dressed up!!

• Spending a few days alone with Ryan in our Nevada City cabin in the woods

• Going hiking in Bridgeport with Ryan, my niece, Casey, and nephew Ty and their dog Jasmine.
  

• Eating dinner at Friar Tuck's with my Dad and my sister, Dayna, and then the next night having an even larger family dinner at Dayna's house

• Staying the night with Herschel, my friend and former colleague, and his wife, Teresa (also my friend) Thanks again you two. It was so much fun!

• Spending a day driving along Hwy 1 From Half Moon Bay to Monterrey with two of Ryan's friends from Oregon. Fun day!
  

• Dirt Bike Camping at Franks with my sister, Jamie, and her family. I sure have missed riding.

• Playing cards with my Parents and Grandparents. I can't believe I finally won a game.
  

• The combined Family dinner at Alberto's Cantina, where we had a table for 12. And we wondered why they put us in the back room : )
  

• Being able to laugh and hug and talk to our families in person
  

It was a GREAT trip home, and although we were sad to leave we were also happy to return to Oz and continue our adventure. Until next time....

Homesick Blues

I don't understand it. I haven't been homesick once since moving here. Instead, I have happily and effectively adjusted to my new life abroad. Don't misunderstand me. If it weren't for Skype, Email, IM and Facebook, I'm sure I would have had bouts of homesickness by now. But, I haven't... that is until the day I took my sister to the airport.

My older sister, Dayna, spent three weeks with us. We had a great time showing her around our corner of Oz. We spent most of the time in or around Brisbane, but the last four days of her trip were spent at a friend's beach house north of us on The Sunshine Coast.

Sunrise at Marcoola

Seeing the Sunrise over the Pacific on the East Coast of Australia


Sisters enjoying the beach at Marcoola

With the exception of two days, we were on the go the ENTIRE time. You name it, we did it! I can't say that Dayna and I were the most adventurous kids. Anyone who knows our mom, will understand why. She was/is a little overprotective (Love you, Mom) For this reason, I think we are both more cautious than we'd like to be. During Dayna's trip, we threw caution to the wind. Hell! You only live once right?

We zip-lined through a ropes course on Tamborine Mountain






We rock climbed at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs












We hiked in the Rainforest at Mt. Glorious






...and the coastal track at Noosa National Park






We kayaked in the Boondall Wetlands


We rode our bikes for miles and miles through neighborhoods and along the coast at Redcliffe






We took a 12 mile cruise up the Brisbane River on the Miramar II to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary






We pet some wallabies




We got a little more comfortable with the giant Aussie lizards






We ate a Bindi Burger at the Australia Zoo




Where we saw heaps of crocodiles and other animals native to Australia








We pet a Koala and some more wallabies






And we watched as a koala, who had been hit by a car, had surgery on his broken jaw at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.




During her trip, we seemed to gravitate towards places with superior views (which in Oz, is not difficult to do)






And we had delicious lunches and superb coffees.








All in all, we had a fabulous time. When the time came for her to leave, it was a little surreal. She and I had been looking forward to her trip since before I moved here, and now it was coming to an end. I reluctantly dropped her off at the airport and solemnly drove home. I felt a bit sad on the drive home, but it wasn't until I walked through the door and saw Ryan that I began to cry. Poor Ryan had to wring out his shirt when I was done. I've lived here for almost 10 months, and until that moment I hadn't felt heartsick for home. Thankfully, Ryan is taking a 3 1/2 week holiday from work next month, and we are headed home for a visit. Based on my reaction to my sister leaving, this trip home couldn't have come at a better time.