What are you Thankful for this Thanksgiving?

As an American living in Australia I'm often asked this time of year what Thanksgiving is all about as it's not a holiday or event with Australian roots and there is certainly no Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade here though amazingly enough it is aired on the telly (TV).

Thanksgiving is a tradition that my family always cherished. Growing up, every Thanksgiving was spent with my Mother's side of the family. It was the one time of year I also got to see my Aunts, Uncles and cousins and sitting around my Grandparents ship wheel dining table (Grandpa was a tugboat Captain) eating ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and snap beans while trying to listen to the half-a-dozen simultaneous conversations at once. When my Grandmother passed 15 years ago Thanksgiving was a bit more sporadic and we often traveled to one of my Aunt's home or my Mother would put on Thanksgiving but it was never the same as when Grandma was alive. A few years later we moved away and started holding Thanksgiving ourselves usually inviting other friends over to share in it with us. Now it feels like it has more meaning as a part of me can relate to what it must have been like for those early pilgrims to have landed in a new world where the usual surroundings and even the food was so different from what they were use to.

Thanksgiving is now one of my favourite traditions and is something we will continue to celebrate and its full of the truest meaning of thankfulness as it also falls during the same time of year that my family and I made our big move to Australia, of which we couldn't be more thankful for. So every year on November 16th we celebrate our Thanksgiving and our Anniversary of landing in Oz together. Making sure we're all together as one, reliving those first amazing yet scary memories and of making new ones in our new world.  :)

Things have certainly evolved over the years as it seems the holiday is celebrated more as a reason to get together and eat a big meal with loved ones, not that there is anything wrong with that, but a lot of people really don't know how the holiday came about and I wanted to take a look at the real reason behind the First Thanksgiving and how its become what it is today.

In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith and other individuals lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. After a treacherous and uncomfortable crossing that lasted 66 days, they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River. One month later, the Mayflower crossed Massachusetts Bay, where the Pilgrims, as they are now commonly known, began the work of establishing a village at Plymouth.

Throughout that first brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in English. Several days later, he returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition. Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe, which would endure for more than 50 years and tragically remains one of the sole examples of harmony between European colonists and Native Americans.

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days. While no record exists of the historic banquet’s exact menu, the Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow wrote in his journal that Governor Bradford sent four men on a “fowling” mission in preparation for the event, and that the Wampanoag guests arrived bearing five deer. Historians have suggested that many of the dishes were likely prepared using traditional Native American spices and cooking methods. Because the Pilgrims had no oven and the Mayflower’s sugar supply had dwindled by the fall of 1621, the meal did not feature pies, cakes or other desserts, which have become a hallmark of contemporary celebrations.   (www.history,com/thanksgiving)

It's so sad that this is the only real time of peace between the European Settlers and the Native American Indians, because what followed afterwards was certainly far from peaceful and goes down in the Hall of Shame of America's beginnings. 

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln made the last Thursday of November a national day of Thanksgiving but since November doesn't always have 5 Thursdays President Franklin Roosevelt decreed it to take place on the 4th Thursday of November in 1939. It was always celebrated as a combination of a Christian Religious holiday of Thanks, as a Thanks at the end of a bountiful Fall Harvest and with rememberance to the First Thanksgiving all those years ago. 

It seems today's Thanksgiving is more about the Turkey and the Pumpkin Pie and only a few observe it as a day of Thanks for being able to be with their loved ones. So as I sit here and write this I'd like to remind you all to remember the meaning of Thanksgiving, to make it your own so the meaning holds true. To be thankful as you sit around the table with your loved ones, be thankful that they are with you. Be thankful for the journeys life takes you on, for the blessings you have in your life and the people in it.  Don't be afraid to tell those people how much they mean to you and how thankful you are for them.

This year we had friends from Church over to share Thanksgiving with us. It was a nice time to catch up and eat great food. I made some good Southern-American comfort food (because that is how I like to cook) of BBQ Pulled-Pork, devilled eggs, homemade rolls, tossed salad and brownies. Our lovely guests brought some wonderful fruit salad, ice-cream and several wines. It was nice evening had by all. I truly love to cook for friends and family. 

I've noticed on Facebook that everyone is adding a daily status of what they are thankful for, so I decided I'd get it all out at once here, since I'm horrible at remembering to do something on a daily basis.

So here goes…

I'm thankful for my amazing husband, for the love and support he shows me, for the dedication to our family and kindness in his heart. For allowing me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, for fully supporting me and even joining in my decision to return to homeschooling. For always being there for me whether I need his guidance or his understanding. For the Faith he has in me as a Wife and Mother and for all the quirky new things I like to try whether it's wanting to learn to play the Cello or to teach myself how to Sew, he often gives a giggle and then finds a way to make it happen. For believing in me and helping me start up not one but three businesses. For giving me a loving shoulder to cry on or for simply cuddling on the couch together every night. But I think more than anything, after 17 years together he still looks at me as though he can't wait to be alone with me and that I still hold the key to his heart. 

I'm thankful for our beautiful children. For their kindness and wise understanding of the world. For accepting that oftentimes Mom and Dad know best. For listening and being respectful to me, to their father and to each other (most days). For no matter what wrestling match, squabble or disagreements may happen between them, outside of this home they have each other's backs totally and completely.  For the innocence I still see in them and the love of Family and of God that they share with us. For the love they give me touches my very soul and I know I could not survive without them.

I'm thankful for my parents, though things have been strained at times between us, I know that they love me and my family and that they are always there if I need them. I'm thankful that they raised a strong independent woman with a deep love of family. I'm thankful for the rest of my family too though its been years since we've all been together, I miss them too. I'm very thankful I have found out I have family here in Australia. Though we haven't met yet I'm looking forward to it and I love our conversations on the phone. She's been here for 25 years and I'm so thankful to have her in my life. She's amazing and has been so great at filling me in on how things are down here. I love that we have so much in common and can't wait to get to know each other even more. 

I'm thankful for my friends, though I don't have many here in Australia, the ones I do have are pretty awesome. They've helped me to adjust and they've been so supportive of the life we are building here. I'm thankful for my friends back in the States, that we still stay in touch, even though it's not as much as we would all like. I miss them so much and I appreciate all the things I have learned from them over the years. I especially miss my baking buddy Aimee, who taught me how to make homemade bread. I never make bread nowadays without thinking of her and all the fun we had baking together, along with our love of country living, raising chickens, homeschooling our kids and how much we enjoyed how alike our handy fix-anything hubby's were as well. We shared a love of many things and had very little we differed on, well she's a Ford girl and I'm a die-hard Chevy girl so that is a pretty huge difference lol. But we made it work as it's so rare to find a friend like that who really "gets" you on a true level. Leaving Alaska was hard simply for leaving her and her beautiful family. I miss them but am so thankful to have had the chance to know them.

I'm thankful that in today's world, economy and what seems like a revolution of sorts when it comes to things like our rights, food, money and way of life, that we were able to make our way here and start anew. I look forward to the opportunities on the horizon for us and the dreams to finally come true.

Oh and last but certainly not least I'm thankful for my dogs. Willow, my furry four legged soul-mate and her beautiful Mama, Myshka.

Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless

How Homeschooling is done legally in South Australia

I do hope this post isn't too dull but I've had a lot of people ask me about how it works down here in Oz with regards to homeschooling. So I wanted to cover the process of getting started and the legalities involved with home education in SA.

I know here in South Australia (and all of Australia) it is legal to home educate your children. But of course there's a process to it all. If your children are currently enrolled in school then you need to let the school's Principal know your intent to homeschool, verbally and in writing, to ensure sufficient documentation of your intent. Make sure to let the school's Principal know that you've already contacted DECS regarding home education.

You will have to register your children with the Department of Education and Children's Services (DECS). The Ministry of Education's Project Officer will mail you a packet of papers including the "Application for Exemption from Attendance at School." Once the forms are completed and mailed back to her she will then contact you to schedule an in-home interview to further discuss your application and how you'll go about homeschooling. Once permission is granted (which it usually is) then you have a 12 month exemption allowing you to legally homeschool.

However before the 12 months is up, in order to be approved for the next year, you will need to complete a review process to show samples of work and discuss how your children did during the year.

Technically children are suppose to remain in school until the entire process is complete however it is my understanding that once you've made contact with both DECS and your children's school regarding home education that DECS does not have any issues with you beginning to homeschool immediately.

Some people (so I've heard) simply skip registering their kids with the Dept. of Education. The idea of possible Gov't interference doesn't sit too well with some people. Not because they have something to hide, but because they simply don't want anyone telling them how to raise or educate their children.

As for us we're keeping all our ducks in a row and following the rules. I guess I really don't mind as I have found the process rather straight forward and easy. The Dept of Education seems to just want to make sure that as a homeschooler you will make sure to cover the 8 areas of the Australian Curriculum Standards with your children, which are:

English
Mathematics
Science
Design & Technology
Studies of Society and Environment
The Arts (Music, Art, Dance, Drama)
Health & Physical Education
Language Other than English

Honestly with keeping to those subjects, children will get a well rounded education. And as parents we can always add more if there is something else our children want to cover. You'd be surprised at what you can teach your children and yet it would still fall into the 8 subjects that must be covered often taking care of more then one subject at a time. Say for example you want to teach your kids a bit about the Human Body and Anatomy, that fits easily under both Health and Science. If you want your babies to learn a bit of French, well you can teach them about France with maps, history, and about the culture (that takes care of SOSE) then you can have them learn to speak some French with Rosetta Stone - a computer based total immersion Foreign Language program, they even have a homeschool version. That takes care of Technology and Language other then English.

Parents often get so overwhelmed once they start to see how many subjects must be covered during the school year. The idea is to keep it simple, keep it fun and keep them learning.

The Big Move

Originally posted 2 years ago, some things are being reposted due to some reorganising, sorry.

This is the story of how we made the biggest move of our lives. Our Permanent Migration to Australia!

Step 1

So how does one go about moving to a different country? RESEARCH!!! First for obvious reasons make sure it's got what you want, don't assume just because it's a different place, that all of your problems will be automatically solved simply by changing your geography. As stated above we researched the economy, the government, the climates and geography, the culture, the job market, etc. Also planning a visit before finalizing such a major move would not be irrational.

I must say one thing I absolutely love about Australia... they won't let just anyone in! You have to be able to offer them something, like a job skill or business investment. Being that we aren't at all rich people, we looked into qualifying skills that either my husband or I possessed. Every year, usually in July, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (also known as DIAC) publishes a list of Skilled Occupations currently in demand. Click here for the 2011 Schedule, it does change from time to time as do the qualifications for even applying for a Visa. So make sure to stay up to date with any current changes, even though they are pretty good about announcing any major changes months prior.

As I have only worked a few years as a Dental Assistant and a short time as a Veterinarian Assistant my skills were not in high demand. Alan has been a carpenter since the age of 15, other than his 4 years in the US Navy Seabees as a Construction Mechanic. So we were rather pleased to see "Carpenter and Joiner" as a highly demanded skill shortage. Next to each occupation on the list is the Assessing Authority, basically this is who you submit your information to so they can tell you whether or not you are "qualified" for the corresponding occupation. Alan's was TRA which stands for Trades Recognition Australia as they oversee the assessment of all Trade Qualifications in Australia. Click here for TRA's current Assessment guidelines. There is also a code known as the ANZSCO code, which stands for Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations codes next to each job title. This is the number you would use for all qualifying references once your skills are positively assessed.

We contacted all of my husband's previous and current employers asking them to write up a letter of reference for him that had to be signed and notarized on their company letterhead regarding his skills while under their employment, the tools he was capable of using, 5 specific duties performed at each job, along with his job title, rate of pay and how long employed with them. We submitted them along with his completed application and $300 AUD payment. After only 2 weeks we received our letter of a successful skills assessment.

Step 2

My family and I have all felt as though our lives have been on hold for the last several years with deciding on what direction we wanted to take our future in. There seemed to be many different options for us to go with next. Should we hire a migration expert? Do we have enough points (I'll explain this further down) to go as Skilled Migrants independently or should we seek sponsorship? The three best options we had were to go independent, employer sponsored or state sponsored. We wanted to compare each options waiting list and regulations if any.

When Alan turned 40 we lost 5 points, so qualifying for Skilled Independent Migration, could be a bit  more difficult, plus the process could take upwards of 3 years to receive our visas. Employer sponsorship had its perks, a guaranteed job and the absolute fastest way to get there, usually anywhere from 4-6 months. State sponsorship gave a timeline of up to a year before receiving a visa and not as many regulations as the Employer sponsorship.

*** On a special note, as of July 1, 2011, DIAC has completely changed their Visa requirements. Age requirements have now gone from 45 to 50 years old, and the points system has changed drastically. All of the information I am providing is relevant to our experience and application prior to July 1, 2011. For complete and up to date information please visit www.immi.gov.au and click on the "Finding a Visa" to take the up to date Visa quiz to see what Visa you may qualify for. ***

So let's break each option down...

Skilled Independent Visas 175, must be under 45 yrs of age, have an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List, meet recent work experience requirements, meet the English Language Requirement. (That's right Australia won't let you in unless you have conversational level English) Must score 120 points on the Points Test. This is a Permanent Visa however this one takes the longest time to acquire but you're a free agent in Australia, meaning you can live and work anywhere you please.

Current 175 Skilled Independent Requirements

Skilled Sponsored 176, same exact requirements as the 175 visa, however you must be sponsored by an Australian State or Territory. Each state/territory has their own list of skills in demand, if your skill is on their list, they may agree to sponsor you. Must score 100 points or higher on the Points test. This is a Permanent Visa. You must live in the nominating State or Territory for at least 2 years.

Current 176 Skilled Migration Requirements

Employer Sponsored 121, the same requirements as the State Sponsored Visa, however you must be employed with the nominating employer for at least 2 years. If you are fired, or laid off your visa will then expire within 30 days, unless you find another employer willing to sponsor you. This is also a permanent visa and the fastest Visa to get but incredibly risky if you lose employment.

Current 121 Employer Sponsored Requirements

The Points test:

The points test is a mechanism used to help select skilled migrants who offer the best in terms of economic benefit to Australia. The points test creates a selection process that is transparent and objective, awarding points to the skills and attributes considered to be in need in Australia. 

~ DIAC

At the time of our application, DIAC had a points test that every primary migrant must undergo. The applicant earned a certain number of points based on age, english language ability, nominated skill, available sponsorship, work experience, Australian study and work experience etc.  The passmark ranged from 100 to 120 points depending on the Visa applied for.

Current Points Guidelines

DIAC still has a points test but they decided not to include points for the applicants nominated skill, even though your nominated skill must be on the Skilled Occupation List and must be positively assessed. The new passmark is now 65 points. 

After all things considered we decided to go with the State/Territory Sponsorship Visa. This gave us time to apply and save up money, as well as some of the freedoms of the Independent Visa as far as work. Fortunately the state we chose, South Australia to apply for sponsorship from, is actually where we wanted to go to begin with. They have a wonderful migration scheme of their own and Alan's job skills are in high demand there...

Step 3

We made the decision to go ahead without a migration agent. My husband has given me the opportunity to be a stay at home mom throughout the years, so I had the time to read up on everything possible regarding the process. It's rather expensive to hire one and we truly felt we could go it alone as others had before.

Applying for South Australia's State Sponsorship was a relatively simple process. Everything was online through South Australia's Migration Site. We had to send in proof of who we are, Alan's TRA letter, job references, etc. Six weeks later we had it! Once we had our sponsorship we had 30 days to file our main Visa application. Once again sending in proof of identity (birth certificates & passports), marriage certificate, recent passport photos, even more current job experience letters and our custody order (which without our oldest two, Sherri and Wesley would not be allowed to move with us... NOT AN OPTION!)

Once we filed for our Visa's we waited to be assigned our case worker...amazingly it only took 3 weeks. Which was rather surprising since we know others through an Expat forum who have waited for months, so we were feeling rather fortunate. When our case worker had approved everything we had submitted at that time he then requested we go ahead and proceed with the Police and Medical checks.

Alan, Sherri and I all had to be fingerprinted and have letters from both the State of Alaska and the FBI stating that we had no criminal record. The FBI check took the longest so we proceeded with the Medicals. All 8 of us had to go to Anchorage and see the ONLY approved doctor for the entire state. DIAC has a list of approved panel doctors that have been allowed to complete the Australian Immigration Medicals on people, thankfully the doctor wasn't in Juneau. The youngest 3 boys had to be seen for eye exams, medical exams, and urinalysis. Our youngest daughter Alanna, had to have the eye exam, medical exam, urinalysis, and chest x-ray. Then Alan, Sherri, Wesley and I all had to have the eye exam, urinalysis, chest x-ray and blood test.  Everything is pretty self explanatory but the chest x-ray is to make sure none of us have Tuberculosis and the blood draw was to test for HIV, Hepatitis and some STD's.

The reason for such invasive test is because Australia has a rather nice public health care system compared to most countries. When DIAC is deciding whether or not to grant any Residency Visas,  one of those major deciding factors is the health of the individual or family. They want to ensure we are not going to place an undue burden on the health care system. Another policy of "one fail, all fail" is very true. If one person fails the test, we all do, especially with communicable diseases like HIV and TB.

So now that all of our test and checks have come back good, we wait.

Honestly this might be the hardest part...

GRANTED!!!

The big day finally came this week as we were notified by DIAC that our application for Permanent Residency was granted. I must say it was much faster than we ever anticipated. We were told a year or less from the date we filed our application, but 5 months was a wonderful surprise!  We couldn't be happier about it. Our son Ben was ready to pack and our daughter Alanna was already asking about Aussie citizenship...to say they were happy is a bit of an understatement.

Now the pressure really begins! There is so much that still has to be done in what will seem like very little time. We need to find a reliable international shipping company to send what belongings we are taking on a 6 week cruise across the vast Pacific Ocean. We have almost finished the dogs paperwork and testing to get them ready for their 30 days of Quarantine in Melbourne. Of course let's not forget to mention getting ready to have the biggest moving sale of our lives, continue downsizing the farm and save as much money as we possibly can!

According to our Visa we have to be in Australia within a year or we lose it. However once we arrive we will have it indefinitely. Our goal is to there by Christmas and hope that leaving winter in Alaska for summer in South Australia won't be too cruel on our unacclimated bodies! But considering the reversal of the seasons I'm not sure there really is a perfect time to go...although leaving our Fall to arrive in their Spring does seem pretty perfect...hummmm?

> Average daily winter (June-August) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 15.9°C, Min 8°C (60.6°F - 46.4°F)

> Average daily spring (September-November) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 21.7°C, Min 11.6°C (71°F - 52.8°F) 

> Average daily summer (December-February) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 28.3°C, Min 16.5°C (82.9°F - 61.7°F)

> Average daily autumn (March-May) temperatures, Adelaide - Max 22.4°C, Min 12.5°C (72.3°F - 54.5°F)

~Taken from www.southaustralia.com

Our oldest, Sherri, is now letting the collage she's been in communication with TAFE SA know about the Visa being granted so that she won't be considered an international student. I'm currently looking at schools for the younger kids in the areas we are considering living in, and Alan can now seriously start contacting possible employers about work as they like to hear we actually have the visa now.

I have found a great group of people in OZ on a backyard chicken forum, they have been incredibly supportive and helpful. I find the best way to get the most honest information about the areas you want to know about, is by talking with the people who live there or are familiar with it. They've truly been great in offering up loads of helpful advice! Everything from the weather, information on schools, housing and even the different towns and villages. I look forward to meeting some of them after we get settled in. It's really wonderful getting to know like-minded people.  

It's also the one thing I will miss the most about leaving here.

Has it really been a year?

Time has really flown by...must have been having too much fun! I can't believe we've actually lived in Australia for an entire year now...well since November 16th. I keep meaning to get on here to write but life takes over all too often and it moves further down my to-do list.

We've had such an amazing year here. Hubby has found a good job (definitely not his dream job but it pays the bills), I've gone back to school, the kids have all finished their first year of school here and the older kids have good paying jobs...I sure never made that kind of money at 16 or 19 :(  and everyone has really settled into all the little differences between cultures.

Still a huge adjustment for us experiencing Christmas during the hot summer months as it is for most Northern Hemisphere migrants to Australia. We do love a white Christmas but heck even a cool Christmas would be welcomed. Even still we had a wonderful Christmas and New Years together, the younger 5 all participated in the Christmas exhibit at Church. The boys got to be Shepards and our daughter an Angel, even our oldest son Wesley got up in front of the congregation to do a reading...we are very proud of all of them.

Our garden has been a struggle. In early Autumn we began the layout and ground work on the veggie patch. Of course I'd never really gardened before in my life, unless you count 5 gallon buckets with Tomato plants in a plastic greenhouse in Alaska lol, though shockingly I seem to have had better results there. Even still I've discovered I really do love working in the garden just wish my garden felt the same way about me. It appears I'm often found mumbling a dirty four letter C-L-A-Y!. I have horrible soil, either too hard and dry when we don't get any rain (which is often) or its so boggy and saturated and won't drain worth a darn that my plants either drowned or bolted and all grew moss.

Needless to say my wonderful hubby and I decided to build up raised beds and bring in some good garden loam and mulch. But now I'm so worried my seedlings won't get far enough along to transplant into the raised beds in time to still get a viable harvest off of them. This has all been a major learning curve especially in realizing what we want out of a future property and climate. Summers are hot and incredibly dry here in SA, the driest of all of Australia's states/territories in fact. I'm worried that our goal of living rather self sufficiently are going to be 10 times more difficult here in SA especially during the summer months.

Our original plan when we visited Australia 5 years ago was to scout Tasmania for a possible future home. We even spent 6 weeks out of our 3 month holiday there. While we were only there during Springtime it was beautiful, green, full of life and cool. The only reason we came to SA was because at the time they had Carpenters listed on their State Sponsorship list. Don't get me wrong SA is a beautiful state 9 months out of the year, its green, it rains and it has relatively great weather! So we shall see what happens in the next year or so. The kids all seem to be up for a move to Tassie (well except for our almost 20 year old bound to stay and go to University of Adelaide here) and of course we can't leave until we fulfilled our two year agreement here in SA. So who knows what will happen. I think the first step is to plan a family trip down there and see if it's everything we remember.

Everyone talks about how cold it is there, which honestly makes me laugh! After living in Alaska for three and a half years, I find no place is actually really COLD in comparison. But I'll admit I do love cozying up to a fire in the wood stove sipping my coffee under a blanket with a good book! So the cold Tassie winters won't bother us at all, Lord knows our big Giant Malamutes will LOVE it and we do know what it takes to raise livestock during the colder months. Of course the benefit of warm but not hot summers will be wonderful for the garden too. As even here I have to worry not only about my plants getting enough water but also not being scorched to a crisp during our frequent heat waves.

Hmmm, Tassie is sounding awfully enticing...

Homesick...but not how you may think

I love it here in Australia, I really really do. Ask my hubby, every time we go out I'm constantly commenting on how pretty it is here!!

But every now and then I find myself having a moment...a moment where I feel almost homesick. It's been 8 years since we left Virginia so I've easily dealt with missing my family and friends from there. However after leaving Virginia and moving around a bit as we have, we were still within the United States. A lot of the food was still the same at least as far as what I could buy at the store. Some veggies we like were much harder to find up north such as Ford hook Lima beans but we managed.

No my homesickness is deriving from a lack of familiarity. A lot of things here are very different, more then the obvious like dialect and driving on the "wrong" side of the road. But as some know from reading here, I'm a Foodie! I love to cook and bake and try new recipes and of course feed it to my love ones. My family really loves the fact that I'm a Foodie as they often get to enjoy the fruits of my labour.

Over the years I've spent in the kitchen I have fallen in love with certain ingredients such as Nielsen Massey Bourbon Vanilla and Spice Islands Saigon Cinnamon and let us forget Ghirardelli cocoa chips. None of which I have been able to find easily here. I often feel lost when I go to the super markets to shop. While we do enjoy the bountifulness of the freshest produce (something not often enjoyed in Alaska) I'm still "homesick" for some frequently used ingredients.

There is absolutely some fantastic foods food here in Australia, visit any corner bakery and you;ll experience it first hand. So obviously culinary cuisines can be easily created with the local ingredients available....but I guess this is one of those adjustments I must make, even though it feels more like a sacrifice, to be able to be here without my normal cooking goodies.

Hopefully over the coming years I'll be able to find many culinary delights for cooking and baking with. In the mean time...I'll simply reminisce.

The Adelaide Hills

It is such a beautiful place to live. We feel so blessed now being able to call this our home. As we drive down country streets surrounded by flowing green Vineyards and gaze upon classic country homemade signs advertising local family owned Orchards full of Raspberries, Strawberries, Cherries and Apples...I wonder how it is, that we of all people came to be so blessed. 

Yes I know that we worked really hard to get here and I know we prayed a lot, went without and tried our hardest to give our children what we felt was and is a better place to grow up, but it just doesn't feel real yet. This lovely country community we now reside in is even better than we could have imagined. I always wanted to live in a town with "a main street" where you could find all your local shops...no Walmart or Costco here, but there is a butcher a few bakers and while there is no candle stick maker there is a candle shop. I walk down the street and I start to know the people I say "Hello" to as I walk our children to school and back everyday. Where there are 4 distinct seasons, cows and sheep roaming green pastures and a real community feeling among everyone. Gorgeous little heritage towns like Hahndorf and Lobethal to the bigger town of Mount Barker, we really have it all right here.

The Ocean is only 40 minutes away (much to my hubby's delight) and Adelaide with all the fancy shops, that I won't admit to liking - wink wink- is only 35 minutes away. We really love where we are and for the first time in my entire adult life I can actually taste a real chance of settling down on our own Hobby Farm full of sheep, cattle and chickens some day. With weeping willow trees dancing over geese filled ponds and our children running around with smiles on their faces...ok so they already to that, but you get my point.

Australia

I now live in AUSTRALIA... 

Words I've waited years to be able to say are now very true. It's beautiful here. The weather is warm with a constant ocean breeze. There are Palm trees and Eucalyptus trees everywhere with a colourful variety of birds on display. While the people are just as warm and friendly as the weather. Though I could do without the Cockatoos waking me up every morning at 5am.

My favorite Aussie bird, the Pink Gala.

From previous post you know this journey has taken it’s time and we’ve not been without our struggles to get here...but we’re here now.

Our two precious Alaskan Malamutes are currently being held prisoner in Quarantine. A standard procedure as all animals entering the country require a minimum 30 days Quarantine. I know they are being well looked after and the staff has been exceptionally wonderful in dealing with my worrisome calls regarding their well being and if their eating, along with all the normal (well I think so) Mommy concerns I have for our beloved family pets. 

Our darling girls Myshka & Willow

There is a long list of things to do once one arrives in Australia. The Department of Immigration even sends you this list once you’ve been granted a Visa, though I think they forgot a few things like the REAL first thing to do is to establish some kind of an address, so that you can then get your mail or post delivered. There are also the basic communications such as a mobile phone. Opening a bank account (because EVERYTHING here is direct deposit, I’ll touch on that in a few), registering for Medicare (Australia’s free/low cost health care system) as well as Centrelink and of course applying for one’s Tax File Number. Oh and of course let the State of South Australia know that yes we’re here and where we are, since they were kind enough to sponsor us...it’s also mandatory for the next two years lol.

We are currently awaiting Tax File Numbers so we can go to work, it could take a few weeks as the Dept of Taxation here will verify that we’re legal with DIAC. If we start work prior to receiving our number or fail to give it to our employer then they can take 46% of our income and put us in the highest tax bracket...ouch! So in the mean time we’re camping at a Caravan park soaking up the sun, enjoying the local beaches and exploring the vineyards and hills and otherwise getting a good feel for our new surroundings.

So as I mentioned, everything here, as far as the money you get, goes through the bank. When you open an account the bank automatically gives you credit slips to give to your new employer with all of your direct deposit information on it, as far as we’ve learned everyone’s check/salary gets direct deposited. Medicare also likes this information in case you overpay for any service that may or may not be covered initially, then they can reimburse you. Centrelink, which is a very broad ranged system that covers many different services from Social Security payments, to the Baby bonus also wants your bank info because, you guessed it, they will direct deposit any and all payments. I guess all in all it really does make sense but it’s weird for me to give out such (what I consider) private information. Guess that just means it's time to adjust.

It's a little funny, since we were here four years ago (almost to the day), our youngest child Liam who was only 18 months old our first trip, has no memory of the beach. So when we finally stopped to play at the first beach we saw, it was like his very first time. He loves the beach now and it's so funny to watch him have all of his "first" experiences over again. Almost as if it's cheating for us getting to do it all over again with him :)

The kids surprisingly don't miss Alaska at all, well except for Liam as it's really the only home he's ever known. But he said he does prefer the sand over the snow, so I suppose he'll adjust in time. But while we don't miss Alaska, we do miss our friends. That was the hardest thing I think I've ever done was saying a very tearful goodbye to my beloved Best friend Aimee and her beautiful family. Though I know we will see each other again for visits and Skype, I still miss her terribly.

Anyway we’ve really enjoyed our journey so far, and we know it’s only beginning... 


And remember

I generally don't look this bummy but when a Mom of 6 travels 1,000km down the Great Ocean Rd in 2 days, the beauty routine goes right out the window!!

Making the best of it...

Well, I must admit I really hate the way the economy effects my family from time to time, as I'm sure many of other American families in these tough and miserable economic times do as well. My husband has been laid off for the 4th (yes you read correctly, FOURTH) time in 3 years. My husband is by no means a slacker or someone who simply likes to laze around day in and day out, so being laid off again isn't exactly a vacation. Like many of hard working people out there, my husband has been working since the age of 15. He's the type of man who likes to stay busy and productive.

Now as everyone knows we've kind of been "a little" busy with an upcoming move to Australia. We were originally going to ship belongings and save up a ton of money...now we are faced with the further evidence of a lack of work and realization that we can either stay here and "struggle" and eat away our savings OR sell it all and go now. We know there is work for my husband. The economy is strong in OZ and his field of Construction seems to be booming, especially in the area we are heading to.

This wasn't what we had intended as we were planning on going by the end of the year, not the end of next month, but really what choice do we have?

Now fortunately we have settled on a great shipper and are still planning on taking about 1,500 pounds worth of belongings...ever wonder how much Cast Iron and Stoneware weighs... eek!

Things have surely been busy here but we're absolutely fine with that. It just means we're getting closer!! Organizing and preparing belongings for shipping, finishing up the "Motorhome Makeover" to get it ready to sell, setting up the final test and exams for the dogs and of course trying to keep up with homeschooling our kids.

I'm ever grateful to our oldest who graduated High School herself this past May. She has really helped out with keeping the kids on some kind of schedule in all of this craziness.

All in all we are all incredibly excited for what the next month holds in store for our family!