Christchurch, New Zealand

Relaxing Christchurch

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The first day of our whirlwind tour of New Zealand and Fiji could be summed up in two vastly different words – chaos and calm. In my first really big trip since last year’s United States adventure, I’ve had a little bit of both and maintained a smile through most of it.

After getting in to Christchurch so late the previous night, we slept late in our surprisingly comfortable hostel beds. We’d accidentally awoken our Eastern European room-mates when we’d arrived, but they’d managed far more discretion in their early morning departure. With the room to ourselves Fallon slept in an extra hour or so, and I got up to get started on documenting things.

By the time we’d showered and dressed it was almost 11am, and we made a leisurely walk down towards Cathedral Square. As we walked I felt a cold trickle of water run down my back, and hurriedly shrugged off my backpack to discover it was leaking water. I quickly pulled it open and fished around in a full inch of ice cold water – snatching up my Canon Sx20 IS and my iPod from the watery mess. the iPod, durable brick that it is, was fine – but my camera hasn’t been able to power up since its first (and apparently last) bath.

The fault lay with me, of course. I’d filled my water bottle for the day ahead but hadn’t secured the lid. Lesson learned. I was more annoyed at myself for not managing to bring along my small point and shoot – because now I’ll be relying on Fallon’s camera for any photography until I can find an affordable second hand model.

Still, Christchurch had turned out a beautifully sunny day for us and I wasn’t going to let a waterlogged camera stop me from enjoying myself. We dawdled towards Cathedral Square and eventually managed to find a courtesy shuttle running in that direction. The strains of ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’ lifted my spirits just a little more.

I’d heard mixed reviews of Christchurch from our friends Dave & Jess, who only recently did their own tour of the shaky isle. But walking the sun dappled stones of the square and listening to cheery tune of a bone whistle – I was instantly enchanted. The Gothic cathedral, a sight in itself, is surrounded by all manner of eye catching things. A massive Christmas tree is flanked by a pair of London style telephone booths purporting to be a direct line to Santa. A large count-down clock ticks inevitably towards the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and a colourful array of market stalls immediately grabbed Fallon’s attention.

With our bellies rumbling we’d hoped to find a vendor, but instead happened upon a Scottish street performer enchanting a rapidly growing crowd with his charisma and cheeky sense of humour. We watched as he swallowed a balloon and brow beat his gawky volunteer, working towards the feat of having somebody stand on his chest on a bed of broken glass.

I'd imagine this particular Scotsman was most popular in prison

That someone, it turned out, was to be me. Looking for ‘someone with a bit of muscle and mass’, he picked me from the crowd and all 99 kilograms of me perched on his bare chest just a few moments later. Even stuck between an Aussie and a sharp place he still managed to keep the crowd laughing. It was a real treat to be a part of the show, and he was kind enough to pose for a photo with me afterwards.

I like to think I made his act

After the show we went back to the task of finding something more substantial than the snickerdoodle blondies Fallon had baked for the trip – and found a New York style sandwich bar in an arcade lined with garishly colored former terrace housing. I hadn’t been expecting much from my Little Italy slider, but the bread was hearty and the Elderflower flavored sparkling mineral water really hit the spot after we’d been out in the increasingly fierce sun.

Our bellies full, we headed back toward Cathedral Square to do a bit more exploring. We paid a visit to the iconic cathedral firstly. While it’s an Anglican cathedral, you’d be forgiven for assuming it was of the Catholic faith with its ostentatious decoration and decadence. I’ve been somewhat fascinated with churches ever since I read Ken Follet’s Pillars of Earth, and exploring the Christchurch Cathedral only further cemented that interest. I’d love to be able to tour different European churches, and cathedrals someday.

It was while walking through the church that I experience a feeling of complete peace. Despite all of the tourists bustling around and the distant sounds of traffic, the world seemed to quiet as I stood alone before the tabernacle. I’m not a particularly religious person, nor am I one taken to prayer, but I’ll confess to muttering a short prayer of thanks to whoever it is up there who watches over me. I’m healthy, I’m on my way back to doing what I love, my site has started to earn me a small amount of money, and I’m out traveling with one of the best friends I’ve ever had.

The moment was short lived, and soon we were off to explore the city again. It was time for a bit of boredom as I trailed Fallon through the markets with a frozen yogurt to keep me company. I should point out that she’s been most accommodating of my need to stay connected though – so I won’t begrudge her a little window shopping.

The Scottish entertainer had been replaced by a small troupe of local girls raising money for their Irish dance recital and a local crazy preaching nonsense to an audience of none. The way the square plays host to a whole host of community spirit is just so enchanting. You get that festival vibe wandering in Darling Harbour or even Circular Quay, but this was a far more sedate kind of festivity. Buskers were spaced far enough apart that they didn’t clash, and rather than rushing too and fro – tourists seemed content to loll in the great leafy shade of the trees that dot the courtyard and just soak in the day.

Giant chess sets make any park or gathering place cooler
All tuckered out in Christchurch

 

Fallon’s shopping bug continued as she investigated a string of local souvenir shops, so I stretched out on a comfortable looking bench and pulled my hat down over my eyes for a mid afternoon nap. With the tree shading me from the sun and the slightest of breezes to cool the sweat on my brow, I drifted off for a good half hour before the awkwardness of my angle woke me up and I went off in search of Fallon.

Dinner found us exploring Christchurch in search of the Twisted Hops Pub. Fallon and I have always shared a love of a good microbrewed beer, and we weren’t going to turn down the opportunity to sample some New Zealand flavour while we had the chance. The brewery lies down Poplar Lane with about four other similarly cute eateries and pubs. It all felt as I’d imagine it must feel to eat in an Italian city – with clientele seeming to mingle in the open courtyard that existed between the Vespa and the Twisted Hops.

A cute wine bar in Poplar Lane
Super excited about the local Kiwi drop
One of the two breweries in Poplar Lane
Sitting area outside of the Twisted Hops Pub

We took up the six beer sampler and ordered up meals – Fallon grabbing beer battered fish with sweet potato fries and me opting for the BBQ ribs with fries on the side. Our healthy eating begins anew in Queenstown, but for the time being we indulged ourselves. We’re on vacation after all!

A little sleepy from the beer and the food, we made our way back to the hostel to get ourselves packed for our 8am flight to Queenstown. A beer in front of the TV with a few of our fellow backpackers was a fitting end to a very chill day, and now it’s off to bed before the fun and adventure of New Zealand’s adrenaline capital.

Australia, New Zealand, Sydney

Farewelling Sydney

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Fallon and I came to Sydney in March of this year hoping and praying that it was going to be the place for us. We’d already had failed attempts to kick start our Australian life together in Newcastle and in Armidale, and our dream of exploring the country together was hanging on by a thread. What little savings we’d had when Fallon had touched down were long gone, and if we’re being honest, our relationship was in a pretty terrible place as a result of the stress.

We spent our first few weeks In the city house-sitting for my friend Anthony while he and his girlfriend were off in Laos and came precariously close to breaking up in a tense few weeks in the big smoke. The strain of living on a very tight budget (we were living on my $400 fortnightly Newstart payment) and spending every waking hour together due to having no jobs and no money pushed us to the very brink of going our separate ways.

But Sydney proved to be the right tonic for us. After talking our way through our rocky patch, Fallon and I both found ourselves stumbling into jobs almost immediately. By the time our two week house-sitting stint was up, Fallon had already worked a handful of days temping in various offices around the city and I’d lined up a job working in a call centre.

We’d arranged to stay a month or two with an old friend from my University days, and St. Leonards on the North Shore was going to become our base of operations to save some money and find a place of our own. As it turns out, we never did get that place of our own – and for the remainder of the year Fallon, Grant, and I become house-mates and drinking buddies.

We came to Sydney hoping it would be the right place for us and, nine months later, we left it having been treated very well by the city. Fallon found a wonderful job working at Macquarie University and despite my doubts about the call center job, I left it yesterday was a lot of fond memories and the door open for a return should I ever breeze through again. I took to sales a lot better than I’d ever have imagined and made a lot of friends in the process.

I don’t think I’m out of line in saying that we fell in love with Sydney – from its iconic scenery to its warm climate to its multicultural foods. I’ll always remember our Harbour Bridge runs, my first competitive run, karaoke nights at the Shark Hotel, the thrill of finally having spending money, and a slew of other fun nights and days in the big smoke. Sydney was home to me, and while I’m excited to finally be back on the road – I will miss my apartment in St Leonards, my workplace, and the friends we made during our time there.

But enough retrospective sappiness – we’re here in beautiful Christchurch and about to embark on our first day of exploring New Zealand. Fallon’s asleep above me in her bunk at the quaint Kiwi Basecamp and we’re planning to eat a light breakfast before kicking on to Adrenaline Forest later today for some flying foxes, rope swings, and other adventurous stuff.

The last thirty six hours have been a flurry of packing, goodbyes, and last minute errands. Amidst all of the excitement of finally arriving at our destination after months of planning and saving, it figured that we’d both be slightly panicked at the eleventh hour as we tried to sync iPods, post things home, and see everybody who needed to be seen. While I’ll be back in Sydney for a few days between Fiji and South Korea, Fallon’s journey downunder is over now.

Due to a system glitch at work, my final week of employment didn’t feature a single phone call. In fact, it barely featured any meaningful work of any kind. Without the ability to even log on to a computer, I spent my last three days doing floor support and coaching a few of my former team members. I also wrote a bunch of Christmas cards and spent a lot of time dinking around on my iPhone. Best last week of work ever.

Farewelling the two coolest trainers at Salmat Surry Hills

Thursday rolled around with me handing out contact details and snapping photos of my friends and co-workers. I never would have thought working in a call centre would have been for me, and while the work was sometimes tedious, the cool people I worked with meant that it was a rare day that I actively dreaded going to work. That’s about as close as I’ll ever get to loving a job. I’m allergic to work.

My farewell drinks were a suitably drunken affair. We started the evening at the Madison (right by Central Station). The Maddo, as its affectionately known at work, is the site of nightly post work drinks and it was no different on my final day in town. $8 happy hour cocktails certainly helped to move things along.

Saying goodbye to my co-workers at The Madison

Dinner was had at the recently refurbished and re-opened Strawberry Hills Hotel, which really has stepped its game up. At the start of the year it was the kind of dingy pub relic in which you’d expect to find lecherous old men perched precariously on stools blowing their pensions on the pokies – but it’s now a glitzier venue with an open air roof-top dining area and all of the bells and whistles. Their $15 dinner menu is simple, but surprisingly good. I had a delicious chicken burger with lemon aioli. My good friend Toni continually informed me that eating is cheating when out on a bender, but I didn’t much fancy spending my final day in Australia hugging the porcelain.

After dinner at the Strawberry Hills I met up with my mate Brendan back at the Madison. I met Brendan earlier this year when Fallon and I were taking Spanish classes at The Spanish Cat, but hadn’t seen him since our final lesson. It was actually a surprise that he came along – but as the night would prove, we make a pretty decent drinking team.

With happy hour’s end rapidly approaching Brendan made an executive decision and purchased six Long Island Ice Teas. That’s three each for those playing at home.

Brendan and the Long Island iced teas. I blame these, the soju, and the tequila shots for my hangover on Friday

We were soon joined by my house-mate Grant, my best friend Dave, and a few others including Popee, Toni, Carlton, and Alex. The beers (and Long Island iced teas) began to flow and soon it really was a party. We hung out at the Madison chatting and drinking and soon decided it was time to move on to our next venue.

That venue would be the Shark Hotel, and we hopped a cab over to the backpacker hot-spot for a bit of late night karaoke. I’ve got a lot of affection for the Shark Hotel. When Fallon and I first arrived in Sydney it’s $10 buffet and cheap drinks were a Godsend, and we spent every Thursday night there with a few friends just unwinding and rediscovering our social feet.

On this particular Thursday night the place was packed to the gills, but that didn’t stop us from queuing up a few songs and belting them out. I performed my signature version of Electric Six’s ‘Gay Bar’ with lewd backing from my three companions; Dave belted out Minnie the Moocher; and Brendan even got in on the act with his rendition of The Killers’ Mr. Brightside.

We had a few beers and, with a lot of coercing and begging on my part, even managed to convince one of the bar staff to let us do tequila shots despite the establishment apparently not allowing shots. What is the world coming to when a foursome of drunken revelers can’t do a harmless tequila slammer!?

We could have stayed at the Shark Hotel a lot longer, but the line to sing was far too long for our tastes and we ventured off in search of a Korean singing room or noraebang. My usual selection, a little place above BBQ City was closed, so we managed to find another one whose name escapes me. The two young Korean guys on duty there were friendly though, and plied us with dried squid and shrimp crackers for the duration of our stay there.

David and I serenade one another. I have no idea what we were singing.

 

 

 

 

My memory of the noraebang is hazy. I couldn’t even tell you what songs I sang – although photographic evidence suggests that Wonderwall, Naïve, and I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing were belted out at some point. I remember there being beer. I remember shelling out $20 for a box of soju and grimacing my way through it. I vaguely remember harassing every Korean in the joint to inform them that I was moving back there in January.

In fact, much to my hungover embarrassment, I even remember harassing Koreans in the street about it. Good times.

By this point it was 1.30 and we were all to a point of drunk that required food, but my quest to find us a good Korean BBQ place were to no avail – and we settled on a greasy burger from Hungry Jack’s (Burger King to  my friends abroad) before calling it a night.

Fallon informs me I was particularly proud of my Soju scent when I got home, and that I insisted on attempting to sleep using my suitcase as a pillow. All I remember is waking up on the couch at 7am with Fallon asking why I hadn’t gotten into our bed, and spending my last day in Sydney feeling very sorry for myself: the mark of a good farewell if ever I saw one.

And so, after a three hour flight and a bit of stumbling around trying to find a place to eat that was open after midnight, Fallon and I are ready for our first day of exploring New Zealand.

Farewell Sydney and thanks for all of the fantastic memories. I’ll catch you briefly in 2011 and then again in 2012. Stay beautiful!

Activity Review, Australia, Newcastle

Swimming with Dolphins at Nelson Bay

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Swimming with Dolphins

Earlier this year Fallon and I were fortunate enough to share a house with a lovely couple in Valentine, a lakeside suburb of Newcastle. While the city didn’t work out for us long term due to difficulties finding work – the area itself was a beautiful one and ripe with photo opportunities.

With times a bit hard for us and money tight as we struggled to make my meager unemployment benefits stretch – we struck upon the idea of finding a cheap little travel activity to do to lift our spirits. The Newcastle region is not without its charms, and I detail quite a few of them in my post about the city’s unfulfilled potential.

After looking at several different options we came upon the idea on taking a short cruise to see if we could see some dolphins up close. I had the opportunity in the past to see and pet a dolphin at Coffs Harbour’s famous Pet Porpoise Pool, but this would be Fallon’s first chance to see the beautiful creatures.

Packing a picnic lunch and piling into Shane & Katie’s car, we embarked on the hour and a half drive from our neck of the region to beautiful Nelsons Bay. The day had not turned out the kind of weather we might have liked, but if nothing else, the grey skies meant we weren’t sweltering when we arrived. A little light drizzle only further cooled things down.

Ominous skies over Nelsons Bay as we prepared to embark. Photo by Fallon Fehringer

We weren’t going to let the weather dampen our spirits though, and we piled onto the boat with our fellow sightseers for the trip out into the bay. As we cut our way through the water we were informed that the dolphins in the region were not tame, but were quite comfortable with tourists and had become accustomed to surfacing and playing near the boats. Sure enough, it wasn’t too long before we had a small entourage of the amazing creatures playing starboard side.

The engines were cut and the boat came to a halt, and soon after a net was lowered off of the side of the boat to allow those of us brave enough to clamber down into the water to get closer to the dolphins. We weren’t alone out in the cool water, as others boats gathered around to watch the dolphins leap out of the water from time to time. It was really was something else, and it’s easy to understand how the dolphin is considered second only to humanity in terms of intelligence.

Soon it was time to move back towards the shore, and those of us in the net were treated to a strange experience as we were tickled by the water underneath and given an idea of what it might feel like to be a fish in a net. We’d grip the ropes for dear life or risk being tumbled unceremoniously back onto our fellow riders. Even with the dark skies overhead it wasn’t long before all on board were laughing and joking around.

The sun peers out on our ride back to the shore. Photo by Katie Spruce.

It was all over too soon, but as we made for the shore the sun peered out from behind the clouds and gave us cause for a little more optimism for our day. A late picnic lunch followed before we headed out to see some sand and surf at beautiful One Mile Beach – a place that warrants an entry of its own sometime.

Gorgeous One Mile Beach

All told it was a great experience, and well worth the $21 we each paid to go along. If you’re ever in the region pack yourself a picnic lunch, don’t forget to wear your swimming gear, and get out and see one of nature’s most beautiful sights.

Australia, Countdowns, Sydney

Top 10 Things I’ll Miss About Australia

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It’s hard to believe that I’ve got just nine days left in Australia. That’s three days before Fallon and I jet off for New Zealand and Fiji this Friday, and then six more between when I touch down on January 14th and when I head out to Busan on January 20th. It’s all come along pretty quickly, and I’ve found myself frantically rushing to get everything done on time.

Tomorrow I’ll pick up the last of my documentation for the Korean E-2 visa and post them off via express courier to my future employer and then report in for the second last day of work at Salmat. I’ve had a really wonderful experience working there since May, and it will be sad to say goodbye to all of the familiar faces and good friends I’ve made there.

After work it’s off to have a farewell drink or three with my good friend Dave, who’ll be overseas when I return in January. Thursday night sees me having farewell drinks with work-mates, and then Friday has me hitting the doctor for one last check-up and to have a year’s prescription set up for me.

With so little time left, I’ve been packing all night long. I’ve got a big pack set for New Zealand and Fiji, and a lot of my Korean packing is ready to go. It’s about the most organized I think I’ve ever been.

With things moving so fast it’s perhaps easy for me to forget about what I’m leaving behind, but as the night cools down and I settle in after some sweat inducing sorting and packing – I’ve got a little time to reflect on what it is I’ll miss most as I head out until at least January 2012.

#10 – Multicultural Food

Delicious Malaysian food enjoyed at the Night Noodle Market

While I’m a big fan of Korean food and have no qualms about subsisting almost entirely on it for the majority of 2011 – there’s something to be said for the broad variety of food available all over Australia. Whether it’s delicious authentic Thai (Thai restaurants are a dime a dozen in nearby Crow’s Nest), spicy Indian, exotic Malaysian, or a greasy Turkish kebab – you’re spoiled for choice in multicultural Australia. It’s true that Korea has a growing variety of foods – with Indian, pizza, and generic Western cuisine gaining ground on the market, but it often requires a special trip rather than a short walk from the front door.

After a few months of post bar twigim or a toastie from Isaac as a hangover remedy – I know I’ll be pleading for a good old fashioned meat pie or a potentially stomach churning kebab being bought from a dodgy looking guy on a darkened street corner.

#9 – The Laid Back Attitude

Good times with random people. Shelly Beach 2008.

The phrase “No Worries” really does a lot to sum up the general mindset you’ll find in Australia. While it’s true you’ve got your occasional racist bogans and angry old people, the prevailing attitude in the country I call home is a friendly one. It might not be as evident in crowded Sydney – but having just returned from a few days out ‘in the sticks’, I was reminded how common a friendly smile and a good natured ‘G’day’ will come your way from a complete stranger.

There’s definitely laid back people and friendly people abroad, and I’ll mention the things I won’t miss in another post – but there’s a lot to love about the attitude of ‘She’ll be right’ when it comes to Australia.

#8 – The Beach

Post surf beers at Freshwater Beach. October 2010.

Granted, I’ve not seen beaches from every country on earth – but as far as sheer quantity of quality beaches, Australia has got to be right up there as one of the best beach nations in the world. From the idyllic stretches of the NSW south coast to the glamorous, club studded strips along the Gold Coast to the hidden gems like Nelson Point’s stunning One Mile Beach – you’re just spoiled for choice when it comes to sun and surf in Australia.

Every time I am away from Australia I vow to spend more time on the beach when I get back, and every time I leave I realize I’ve not made good on that promise. But there’s a lot to be loved about white sandy beaches, big breakers to play in, and bikini clad beauties – and you’ll be hard pressed to find that combination anywhere else in the world without a dozen resorts perched atop it.

#7 – The View on the Harbour Bridge

Silliness atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge. October 2010.

Ever since I started work in May I’ve had to ride across the Harbour Bridge twice a day as I made my way to and from work. You’d think that in that time I might have grown tired of the stunning view the trip affords. On the way into town it’s the glittering blue water, the gleaming white of the Opera House, and the view of what I believe is Australia’s most beautiful city – and at night it’s the sparkling skyline and the gaudy beauty of Luna Park.

There’ll be other views, but the one I saw twice a day, five days a week is one I’ll never fail to appreciate.

#6 – Sports on TV

2010 Festival of Football. Rangers vs. Blackburn. Taken on an iPhone.

While I’ve cooled a bit on my sports as travel, work, and the real world have become a bigger part of my life – I still find time to occasionally sit down with a beer in hand to watch a game of NRL or A-League. And while I’ve never been an avid fan of the cricket, there’s still something distinctly Australian summer about having test cricket on in the background regardless of what you’re doing. From the passion of 4am World Cup viewing to the over the top saturation we get whenever the Commonwealth Games roll around – Aussies love their sport on TV and as a result there is plenty of it.

Obviously all countries have their sports and their TV coverage, but it’s a hard task to find coverage for the Australian sports while abroad. Sites like Justin TV and Bet 365 do offer some respite, but it’s not quite the same as being able to come home after a tough day at work and cheer yourself hoarse as your side does battle with a rival on the TV.

#5 – Australian Beer

Sampling Microbrewed delights at Hart's Pub. October 2010.

Australia’s beer culture might lean heavily towards lagers; but Tooheys, VB; and XXXX are hardly the be all and end all of Australian beers. And don’t even mention that Foster’s shit.

With a growing microbrewery culture and a swathe of established boutique brewers, there’s a lot of hidden gems in the Australian beer drinking diet. Sydney alone boasts a variety of fantastic pubs that promote locally brewed beers. These include the Lord Nelson and my favourite Sydney haunt – Hart’s Pub. For a good wheat beer you can try Redback or Beez Neez, and then there’s a healthy selection of dark beers out there.

Avoid the temptation to join Australia’s yuppie demographic by shelling out for Crownies or the cliched Corona, and instead take a chance on one of the lesser known yeasty delights. A good Lord Nelson Three Sheets, 4 Pines Heff, or Little Creatures is a fine ending to any hot summer day – and a vast improvement on the Cass, OB, and Hite I’ll be subsisting on in 2011.

#4 – Sandwiches

Zombie Chris enjoying a sandwich. Gwangju 2008.

Korea doesn’t do bread. Not right, anyway. While it is possible to track down a good loaf of bread, the vast majority are too sweet for a good sandwich. Then there’s the utter lack of good lunch meats and the difficulty you’ll find in searching for appropriate condiments. It all adds up to making the humble sandwich the kind of treat you can only really afford when your bank account is full and you’ve got time to burn. It may have changed, but when I was last in Korea the sole Subway and Quizno stores were in Seoul – and the only places selling sandwiches were convenience stores and bakeries who felt uniting seafood extender and pickles was the height of culinary brilliance.

To be honest, while I’ll miss a good sandwich, it’s not the end of the world. There’ll be plenty of delicious galbi, saliva inducing bibimbap, and the secret shame of Paris Baguette croquettes and ‘ham croissants’ that look more like hot dogs wrapped in flaky pastry. I’ll get by.

#3 – My iPhone

It shames me to admit that I’ve become one of those people – but my iPhone has basically become an extension of myself. I check Facebook and Twitter from it at work; I listen to music on it on the train; I play games during my breaks; use it to track my runs on Run Keeper; keep a task list on Epic Win; track my calories on My Fitness Pal; search eBay; and text friends and family. Basically, I live on the damned thing.

Korea does have iPhones obviously – but to get one I’d either need to take my current one over and pay the 300,000 won to have it ‘approved’ before inserting a Korean sim (while still paying the $70 monthly fee back in Australia for the rest of the year), or I’d need to convince a Korean friend to sign up for the phone on a two year plan for me in their name. Neither is easy and neither is cheap. Alas, it looks like my humble bumble bee themed iPhone will be remaining behind when I jet off in January. Sad face.

#2 – My Friends

Random times at the 7th Annual Hobo's Ball. November 2010

It’s true that I’ll be reuniting with old friends in Korea and making dozens more, but it’s never easy to say goodbye to people you care about. When I jet out in January I’ll be saying goodbye to friends I’ve had since high school and friends I’ve made this year alike. Drinking buddies, work commiserators, D&D players, text friends, and good mates alike will all be left behind. They’ll obviously still be here when I come back, but I’ll miss the post work drinks and the junk food fueled D&D sessions at Dave’s place. I’ll miss the oddly themed house parties and the random journeys with Fallon.

That’s a goodbye I’ll have to make just a tad earlier, and something I think I’ll always associate with Australia. I might have met Fallon in Korea and she may well be American, but this past year living in Australia with her is probably the most ‘connected’ I’ve been to Australia in my life. Rather than being shut up in my room playing computer games and watching TV – I’ve been out experiencing it. I’ve been eating at new restaurants and trying new beers. I’ve seen new sights and met new people, and a good part of that has been with Fallon’s encouragement.

But whether it’s been Toni’s gossip at work, David’s crazy themed parties, or just a casual beer with Grant on the balcony after a rough week at work – 2010 has been by far the best year I’ve ever had on Australian soil.

#1 – My Family

Blast from the past. My siblings and I in Mooloolaba in 1999.

It’s the obvious answer, but I wouldn’t be the person I am without my wonderfully supportive family. My father is a good natured larrikin with a good sense of humour and more heart than he is probably willing to admit, and my mother and I share a closeness that I am so grateful for. I’m not a momma’s boy by any stretch, but I’m comfortable telling my mother most anything, and she’s always been there with a little extra money or some words of encouragement when they’ve been needed. She’s talked me through break-ups and talked my Dad into splashing a bit of cash on a trip for me on more than one occasion.

At the end of high school in 2001 I remember convincing them both to fund a one week trip to Coffs Harbour with a few of my friends as an alternative to the popular Schoolies festivities. I had to argue long and hard, and finally used the line ‘If I’m ever going to be a writer, I need life experience. Just think of this as an investment in my future’. My Dad didn’t buy it, but my Mum burst out laughing and the decision was made. I spent a very drunk and very fun week in Coffs Harbour that taught me quite a bit about life after high school.

My sister Heather and her husband David are cute together and always there for me as well. I like to think it goes both ways. When my sister and her husband were having a rough time in Korea, I took them away for a weekend on Bigeumdo and helped them plan their midnight run when things got to the point that they couldn’t stay any longer. Heather and I were close as kids and have drifted since, but she’s always been like a big sister to me despite being sixteen months my junior.

My brothers, Dominik and Leigh, are some of my best mates. Whether we’re watching a movie, playing WoW, or training for soccer or cricket together – we just have a good dynamic. I’m so excited to be introducing them to world travel when they accompany me to Fiji in January, and I’m hoping to lure one or both of them over to South Korea sometime next year to show them my adopted home.

And last, but certainly not least, is my little brother Izaak. He’s not so little now at eleven years old, but I saw him born and I’ve seen him grow up into a bright and curious kid. He idolizes me in a way that can get frustrating sometime, but never stops being flattering. It’s always hard to say goodbye to him and tussle his curly blonde hair one last time, but I know there’ll be plenty of Skype dates and plenty of webcam chats in 2011 to ensure I don’t miss out on his last year of primary school.

I’ve already said my goodbyes to Heather and David and I’ll be seeing Dom and Leigh in Fiji, but hopefully I’ll be seeing my folks and Izaak in January before I fly out. It wouldn’t be a departure from Australian shores without them there.

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So there you have it, my top ten things I’ll miss most when it comes time to board that plane to Incheon International Airport in January of next year. I sent off the last of my visa paperwork today, so it’s only a matter of time before I have my visa in hand and my ticket ready to go.

Watch this space for a post about the Top 10 Things I Won’t Miss About Australia in the near future.

ESL Teaching, Life on the Road, South Korea

Guest Post: How to Enjoy Christmas Away From Home

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I won’t say I’ve saved the best for last, since I think you’d all agree that there’s been a great series of Christmas related blogs over the past two weeks, so I’ll just say I’ve saved my favourite person in the world for last.

For the past almost two years Fallon and I have shared a wonderful life together that has spanned one Christmas and is about to span another. At the ripe old age of 27 I’ll finally be spending a Christmas with my significant other, and that alone makes it special.

Fallon keeps a blog on healthy living, healthy food, and travel over at Fallon’s Healthy Life and it was her who got me blogging in the first place.

So read on and discover a few tricks Fallon has learned spending Christmases away from friends and family.

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Fallon's family posing in their Idaho Vandals gear. Christmas 2009.

Christmas has always been a special time of year for my family and me.  In the earliest years of my life, it was a huge celebration.  Food, gifts, cousins, carols, trees, church, special drinks, sleigh rides, snow…each year it was eagerly anticipated and each year it was spent split between my two family trees.  Every Christmas Eve with my Dad’s family–20 grandchildren sharing the floor with our gifts–and every Christmas Day with my Mom’s family, sharing special traditions and a delicious Christmas brunch.

The year I turned 15, my family moved to northern Idaho, away from the familiar bustle of an extended family holiday.  The quieter, smaller family Christmas quickly began to hold a similarly special place in my heart.  We’d start the morning with the five of us opening gifts, then have Christmas brunch.  Often the afternoon would include a visit to one of our two family connections in the area for dinner or just drinks and snacks…then we would return home to relax, eat leftovers, and enjoy one another’s company again.

Stockings hanging over Fallon's family fireplace

And of course–I can’t forget that no matter where we were, there would most definitely be 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TBS.  Sometimes I feel like Christmas is simply not Christmas without watching Ralphie pine for a Red Rider BB Gun at least three separate times.

Now that I’m older, I still look forward to Christmas with almost the same amount of anticipation as I did as a kid.  My focus is more on the company and traditions and less on the receiving of gifts, but the excitement is there all the same.  The first time I spent Christmas away from home was in 2008 when I was teaching English in South Korea, and it stands out most in my mind for one main reason: it was not as terrible as I thought it would be.

A sad excuse for a Christmas tree in December 2008.

 

 

I’d been pretty pessimistic about Christmas in Korea; not only would I be spending the beautiful holiday away from my family, but I was spending it in a country where I felt the meaning of Christmas was completely lost.  Christianity in Korea is a fairly new thing in the scheme of it all, and it seemed to me like the Koreans had really only caught onto the consumerist part of the biggest holiday of the Christian religion.  Their shopping centers were decorated, albeit oddly at times, and there were candy canes and snowflakes to be seen in every coffee shop; but there was something missing.

I don’t consider myself religious any longer, but I truly love the beautiful spirit Christmas creates back home.  People are nicer, just because they can be; they smile, they give, they love, and you know what–I know everyone is complaining about how Christmas has become about materialism, and I agree to a certain extent, but I still don’t think it’s the biggest part of it all.  I see people feeling the Christmas spirit, strangers, friends and family alike.  That’s what I love about the holidays.

Korea did not have that.  Compare hundreds of years of Christianity instilling the Christmas spirit into descendants of Western culture to the last sixty or seventy years the Koreans have had…  It’s not their fault, but it is what it is.

Despite it all though, I had a wonderful, if different, Christmas in 2008.  Here are the tips I learned to help make it special.

1. Reach out to your fellow expats.  Most of you won’t have family around…make a new family together!  Don’t spend your holiday on your own.  It is surely the best way to ensure that you will have a miserable day.

2. Share your traditions.  On that Christmas Eve back in 2008, my then-boyfriend read a beautiful Christmas story his father read every year to his family on Christmas.  What started out seeming a little awkward to some of the group ended up being one of the best parts of a great night.  The memory of ten or so of us sitting in a circle, listening to the Littlest Angel, is one that I don’t think I’ll ever forget.  Then, the next morning, my boyfriend and I watched A Christmas Story.  More than once, because that’s how it has to be on Christmas (see above).

3. Go to church.  If you are into that kind of thing, anyhow.  I was raised Catholic and don’t consider myself so anymore; regardless, there is nothing more holy and beautiful to me than Midnight Mass.  The lovely, solemn but joyful hymns and the warm dark of the church, the candles and smells…it’s very soothing, and very familiar.

4. Listen to Christmas music.  Come on, you know you want to.  Nothing gets you in the mood for the holidays like some Christmas tunes!

5. Eat some familiar Christmas foods.  I think most people have some foods or beverages that are mainly reserved for the Christmas season; mine are sugar cookies and homemade Chex Mix, among other things.  It’s just not Christmas without those goodies.

6. Skype it up.  I opened Christmas gifts with my family via Skype.  It wasn’t as good as being with them, but seeing their faces as they opened my gifts, and vice versa, was the next best thing.

7. Decorate.  If you are not just backpacking through and have a semi-permanent place, decorate for the season.  A small tree and some tinsel, maybe some mistletoe…brighten up your surroundings and you’ll feel more festive in no time.

8. Make a new tradition.  If this is the first of many Christmases away from family to come…make a new tradition.  Something that will mean Christmas to you every year, something you will look forward to in place of the special time with your family.

A few good friends made all of the difference for Fallon's first Christmas abroad

That’s about it.  If you’re spending Christmas somewhere new for the first time, here’s hoping it’s as wonderful as Christmas at home.  And merry Christmas to the lucky ones spending it at home with their families, as well.