Are we crazy?

We’re going to Australia, and people think we’re crazy.  Maybe crazy in a good way.  Maybe not.  Most people ask, “WHY Australia?!”  The real question here, though, is “Why not Australia?” 

While the number of US citizens with passports is increasing, it’s still at the low end.  Statistics vary (as they always do, of course), but the average number of Americans that have passports is 20% to 25%.  In Canada, the number is almost double at 40%.  I’m sure the number is even higher for Europeans. 

So, why aren’t more Americans venturing out?  Money?  Maybe.  Fear?  Could be.  No desire?  Possibly.  In our case, we want to go abroad for a bit simply because we want to gain experiences and learn. 

1. We want to learn about ourselves – as individuals, and as a couple.  Without the individual, the couple cannot exist.   The more you know about yourself, the more you can contribute to being a stronger couple.  (Ahh, there’s a Confucius in all of us.)

2. We want to learn about America - I want to know how Americans are perceived outside of the US, and there’s no way I’m taking what CNN, NBC, FOX, ABC or any other acronymed media giant has to say about it to heart.  The Depeche Mode song, Walking in My Shoes, is coming to my mind…

I’m not looking for absolution/ forgiveness for the things I’ve do

But before you come to any conclusions/ try walking in my shoes

How true.

3. Last, but not least, we just want to have fun and see how other parts of the world work.  

Post up!

Hey guys!  So, this posting comments thing….I finally figured out how to do it. 

1. Click “comment” on the bottom right of any blog section.  Actually, it may say “no comments,” or “1 comment” or whatever.  If there are other comments, you can check them out, and post your own.  

–OR– 

2. Click on any blog “header” to post

*Also, to increase page size: hold CTRL and press + until page size is increased (or CTRL and – to decrease) to your liking.

Hopefully, it works.  Post it up!

Aaarrgghh!

You know, sometimes the news makes me really mad.  I want to be informed and updated on events, and I don’t think that means giving me a play-by-play on every single detail, played back in slow motion, then broken down into sound bites.  The VT shootings has been, to say the least, awful.  Sad.  Disturbing.  All of the above.  And, I am more concerned with knowing how to help those grieving.  Or, what steps to take to reduce the possibility of an incident like this happening again.  Giving me every detail doesn’t make it better. 

(*cue Sports Announcer voice)

We have 10 dead, 50 wounded, all of which occured in a timeframe of 3 hours, 5 minutes and 25 seconds.  Amazing.  Shooter X covered an area of 5 square miles, using 500 rounds of bullets….

 Come on!  The media sounds like they’re reporting a football game!  Is it necessary to sensationalize every moment?  We have become a nation of people that want to think for ourselves, but we don’t have time to.  Every second we’re bombarded with information, opinions, bylines, sound bites, images…  There’s not a split second that we can take to form our OWN opinion.  Whether it’s headlines or podcasts, or blogs or radio, sometimes enough is enough.  Hopefully, we all know when it’s time to tune out for a second. 

Anywho, on to other – happier – things.  My friend Erica asked me how long Justin and I would be in Oz.  Well, Erica, the answer is: We don’t know.  We’re starting with 4 months, and then our work visa will expire.  US citizens used to be able to work in Oz for longer (6 months or so, I believe), but then the US government restricted AU citizens coming to work in the US to 4 months – so Oz reciprocated the terms for US citizens.  Ahh, friendly fire, eh?   Once the work visa ends, we have some options – leave the country for a second to renew our work visa, transfer to a Tourist visa (where you can’t work legally) or go back to the US. 

Here is a pic from Eliz’s wedding this past weekend - Me, Kelly W., Renee :) 

 

Group shot @ Eliz’s wedding!  The bride was beautiful (of course!), and the reception – nothin’ but good times!  

(Eliz, Lana, Kelly, Renee, Erica, Cara) 

Got condiments?

Ketchup, mustard and tabasco…oh my!!  

So, here is that picture of my friend Eliz’s fridge door – bahahahaa! Is this normal? Are condiments that popular? I can’t really say because I’ve grown up pretty much a ketchup-only person. Maybe this was only funny because it was @ 3AM…

Anywho, you know I love you Eliz! And your fridge!