After 2 long months, our personal items have finally cleared Australian customs and have been delivered to our apartment. Very few boxes have been unpacked, but it’s already starting to feel more like home. Already there are things that I wasn’t expecting to see in Australia…you know, things that should have gone to storage or […]
I’ve been having some difficulty getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I think perhaps because everything is opposite; it’s Christmas, but we’re gearing up for high summer and back to school shopping. To help get into the spirit, we went on a walking tour in search of Christmas decorations. Alright, this isn’t Christmas, but […]
Last weekend was finally nice, so we decided to head down The Great Ocean Road. We didn’t have a solid plan; we didn’t have a hotel room reserved; we didn’t really know what to expect. All I knew was what I’d seen on Pinterest and read in a brochure that I’d picked up at the […]
I thought I’d catch you up quickly on the state of Astrid and Gizmo’s import to Australia…. After the USDA reopened at the end of October, we were able to proceed with the process: 5. Official Government Veterinarian must complete the Rabies Vaccination and RNAT Declaration: Turns out the girl at the vet’s office was […]
…about immigrating to Melbourne. Pronunciation: Mel-bin, not Mel-born or Mel-burn, Mel-bin. I guess they forgot that there is an “R” in the second syllable. We’re just going to roll with it, since we already stand out enough. Banking: The banks here charge for everything (making a deposit or withdrawal, talking to the teller, having not […]
I had hoped and prayed that we would leave Minnesota before the snow flew, but, unfortunately, it snowed the night before we left. Not just a few little flurries, but full on heavy, wet, huge snowflakes. I’ve been so excited for this move, that I forgot to think about leaving my family and my dogs, […]
Today is the day we were SUPPOSED to fly out, but I’m already getting a little feel for the Australian culture. The relocation agent forgot to book the movers. How do you forget to do your job?!? I’ve been very clear for weeks that we need to be out of our apartment on 10/31, so […]
It would be a deal breaker if we can’t move our babies too. It turns out that we can, but it’s going to be a challenge. According to the official DAFF import process, it’s going to take 6 months! I really wish the recruiter would have said something much sooner in the process. We probably […]