RIP, blog

I think I'm done here. I've been thinking about it for awhile, and now seems like a good time to make the switch to a new space. I'm a bit attached to this one; we've been together for six years. But at the same time I've been ready for something new and fresh, so here goes...

Find us here now:

Aussie + American

Sorry if that makes you gag. Ha ha

Megali Evdomada

(That's Greek. Remember Greek?) It's holy week, or "great week" as the Greeks like to call it. I'm sitting here in Adelaide, South Australia and remembering my last two Easters in Greece. The slaughtered goats everywhere, the bells tolling for hours on end (does your head in, that), the priests in their long and severely black robes chanting (also for hours on end), lighting candles at midnight, cracking red eggs, watching the goat's head with its teeth and eyes still gleaming at you as it turns on the spit over the fire. Ah, the Greek Easter.

Fast forward ... Easter in Australia doesn't have quite the same ring to it. I am thankful to be spared the commercialism of bunnies and eggs, for the most part, but it's feeling a bit anticlimactic. An Australian ITeams coworker made the comment that the long weekend is more sacred for many Australians than is the actual reason for Easter. It's a camping weekend, or a few days to catch up with all those things around the house that need doing.

I'm startled (that says "startled," not "starting") to realize that I'm more comfortable in Greece with pagan rituals and Orthodox celebrations than in this country where there is not much happening. It's challenging my views and my perception of what is cultural and what is truly biblical as we remember Christ's death on the cross. To me, observing Aussie culture, the lack of a special Easter service at church or not having a big family dinner feels like an affront to Christianity! :) And then it nearly does my head in to realize that those are cultural things - my whole view of Easter is American.

Our church here celebrates the Lord's Supper every month with a special service. They believe we should be mindful of what Christ did on the cross every day of the year, not just one weekend. So rather than have the traditions occupy our focus, or our attention taken with making sure everything looks right for the Easter holiday, they choose not to give it special attention. It's controversial, in my mind and others' - we don't fully agree with it, for a few reasons. But it's making me think long and hard about how much of my perception of Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter are rooted in American culture. Scripture doesn't prescribe that we celebrate Easter. It does tell us to remember his death through communion, which we do regularly. In fact, Easter started as a pagan holiday, until the church decided to Christianize it and put it on the Christian calendar.

I won't lie - I've felt angry this week and even shed a few tears as I'm confronted with my cultural view of this holiday, which to me means that I feel I am totally missing out on it. It's not WRONG to celebrate Easter as we do in the States, with special services and dinners and spending time thinking about what it means. I think that's good, for the most part (though obviously the customs can usurp the meaning and value of it - like in Greece, but also in American commercialism and ritualistic traditions). But it's also not wrong to NOT have an Easter service, instead choosing to remember what Jesus did with as much weight in July or November as in April. Some might call it "bold" - not bowing to the pressure of having a special service just because everyone else does.

Like I said - it's doing my head in. I see their side yet I am still very much entrenched in my own (since, you know, I'm American). I'm bothered, and I do feel like opportunities are being missed - and that I'm missing out! :) Yet I am also thinking through what Easter truly is - and that's not American Easter, or Greek Easter, or Australian Easter. It's not about the church service (or lack thereof). Even though every American fiber in me cries out for that.... :)

I miss bananas

What a poor deprived country I live in. Because of the hurricane in Queensland in February, our banana prices have been soaring - because most of them were destroyed. I think they are about $13/kilo at my local supermarket at the moment. I can't argue with the prices as the markets try to support the farmers who lost so much of their crops. It just means that bananas are truly a treat these days.

Oh, to taste that sweet, starchy, firm ... uh ... how do you describe the taste of a banana?!

Step two...

The nice people at the Greek consulate have submitted the proper form and copy of my passport to request a penal certificate to affirm that I am not a criminal in Greece. Hurray! It was so much easier than I ever dreamed. The last thing I'll need to do is get fingerprinted in the States to have a background check and then it should be smooth sailing for my work visa. I hope I have black fingers in my wedding.

P.S. My dress came in today! It was made especially for me and it's too big. On to alterations ... better not lose any more weight ;) But, I love it! :)

(my second choice; decided in the end to go with another)

Step one...

Thanks for your prayers! I got a temporary visa today that will allow me to travel outside the country and re-enter for up to three months. After that I have to stay until the decision is made on the work visa. But YAY they are letting me go. :) We can attend our wedding!

Went to the Greek consulate as well but the guy who "may" be able to help me was out sick. I'm sure he was on strike. These are Greeks after all! :) I'm supposed to call back tomorrow to see if he's in and if I can come in and see if he can get me what I need. I also recalled Pepie my Greek lawyer friend, so she's standing by in Athens to offer assistance if needed. Hopefully we'll get this taken care of. Thanks for praying!!! (You can keep praying for the Greek police certificate if you want.) ;)

grr, Grrrrr, and GRRRRR!

Some disheartening news this morning...my work visa will not be granted by April 30. I guess they sent me a "request for further information" last month, but I am not sure where they sent that...I never got it. I need to supply police and background checks from every country I have lived more than 12 months in the last ten years.

I also need to figure out how I can leave this country in two and a half weeks without completely forgoing my visa application in process, since the "bridging visa" I currently have doesn't allow me to leave Australia (if I want to get back in and still get a visa, at least).

I am not sure what the bigger problem is ... getting a new bridging visa in the next 12 working days so I can go get married and be allowed back into Australia, or getting police reports from Greece. What little info I can find about that is that those reports are only given for residents, and that you must apply in person. Ha ha. Trip to Athens, anyone?

Tomorrow I can go apply in Adelaide for the correct bridging visa; hopefully if I pay the fee and offer my valid explanation, that could be granted right there in the office (fingers crossed). Then I'll go the Greek consulate and see if there is anything they can do for me by way of a background check that would appease immigration (fingers, toes, legs, arms, etc. crossed). I can also add fingerprinting and FBI background check to my not-at-all-busy week before the wedding when I get to Seattle.

Raaaaahhhhhhhhrrrrrgh.

Cluck.

I attended my first ever "hens' night" last night. We would call it a bachelorette party, but being in the spirit of the queen as they are here (they drive on the wrong side of the road, for goodness' sake), it was a bona fide hens' party. And it was for me! :)Andrew's mates took him out for his "buck's night" - they went paintballing and for dinner afterward. (I've never understood the appeal of being shot at and returning home with welts and bruises, but boys like it, I guess.) So his mates' wives and some of the other girls in the church, as well as some of Andrew's "rellies" decided to throw one for me as well. It was a combo hens' party and kitchen tea (I guess that's like a shower), so we got all dressed up and went to high tea. I love that, and it was so fun! They made a nice little book for me full of notes and advice and recipes, and they each had to write a poem about Andrew and I, all of which were quite amusing. Andrew's sister's note to me in the book includes "On a serious note though - if you hurt my brother ............ he probably deserved it! :)" Ha.

Anyway, it was a fun afternoon and evening, and I feel blessed to have had time with these girls here in Adelaide. It's a bit of a bummer to have to start from the beginning AGAIN in Sydney, but at least we'll be doing it together this time.

Me with Deb B, Jeannie (part of the family I live with), and Deb F

My new "in laws" - Kate (cousin), Margaret (aunt), "Mummo" (Grandma in Finnish),
and Mum Marja-Leena

Cathryn, Adele (Andrew's sis), and Amy

Deb and Cathryn attempt the "Kelsey smile"

new record: 2 days

I may have caught up with my reading plan! Just finished The Road of Lost Innocence in two days. So it's a quick read, but I am feeling good about myself. :)

That said, much of it was difficult to read. Somaly Mam has an organization in Cambodia (and now in surrounding countries) rescuing and restoring women and children in the sex industry. This was her own story of being sold into a brothel as a child, the abuse and violence she suffered, and how she used her experiences to help other women and girls with her same plight.

It was good to learn more about the beginnings of her foundation and what they are doing in this region of the world, and though I'm familiar with the industry and the violence and exploitation, it's still hard to read the terrible and unbelievable stories of little girls being sold by their parents into prostitution, their virginity being sold, and even some situations where parents fight to get their kids back from the shelter so they can sell them again. In this culture, a woman's value is nothing except what profit she can bring to her family. It's still really sad for me to think about how whole cultures can hold such wrong views. As a Cambodian, Somaly can speak to this fairly and in an unbiased way. (Our own cultures have wrong views too, of course.)

It is an engrossing, quick read if you want to learn more about this situation.

A few faves...

Now that some of you have already seen these... lots to choose from but here are some highlights:


(hot!!!)

34 days: married and staying in free missionary housing

I'm thankful God didn't let me be anxious for too long! :) We were praying about this housing last night, and this morning I called a woman whose information I got from International Teams regarding an apartment that they have for missionaries. I booked it for up to two months when we arrive at the end of May. It's fully furnished, self contained (on their property) and FREE for missionaries (that's me!). Wow, totally relieved and grateful.

34 days: married & homeless

How comforted and encouraged I felt when Andrew announced this information today. [Yes, that is sarcasm.] As of last week we had a place in Sydney to house sit for two months when we arrive at the end of May, straight from wedding & honeymoon. A needed blessing and time for us to find our own place. Then this week that offer fell through. So we'll be moving out of our places in Adelaide, pack up to go to America to get married, and have just a hotel to come home to in Sydney.

Cue stress-induced anxiety attack now.

since you asked...

Here's my hair (since Andrew cut it). And a funny face. :)
(This means we got our engagement photos back! I'll post our favorites soon.)

February reading

Today, on March 26, I finished my book for February. Woohoo! Only 26 days late. I am considering revising my goal to one "need to read" book every two months, rather than one. I believe in setting myself up for success. ;)

"Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Day Slavery" by Siddharth Kara is what I just finished. It's been a long time since I have learned new information about human trafficking - being in my circles and having articles, etc. sent to me all the time there is never really any new information. So I appreciated this book and would actually really recommend it. It did cover the business side, focusing on the product (victims), wholesalers (slave traders/traffickers), retailers (slave/brothel owners), and consumers and his recommendations for decreasing the high numbers of sex trafficking that is taking place across the globe. But the author also took several extensive research trips and examined trafficking trends and patterns in many regions of the world. I gleaned a few pieces of information from some of his research.

Anyway, if you want to read more about trafficking and learn about what it looks like around the world, I'd recommend this one. Some parts are understandably difficult to read, and he shares his own personal reactions, feelings, and reflections throughout. But as we know it's a very important humanitarian and justice issue, and this book will give lots of good info.

I guess if I am revising my goal I have until the end of April to finish the next one...I wonder what it shall be??

waiting and celebrating

I was in Sydney for a week for meetings and planning. I caught up with a new friend who is going to Europe for several months - and letting Andrew and I house sit for June and July when we get to Sydney. A tiny studio apartment, but free rent in a great neighborhood and a soft landing as we arrive in our new city after the wedding!

Still waiting for that dang work visa to come through so I can plunge in and get to work. The fun and flexibility of working from home in Adelaide is losing its novelty - I need to get out! :)

That said, I am quite happy to still be able to be here, since Andrew is here. We had a fun week this past week here - engagement photos, engagement party - but I have no photos to share with you yet. This fabulous girl did our photos, and we had a rockin' party last night at this cool pub! A friend took photos for us at the party, so I can't wait to get both sets soon. What an odd but warm feeling to have a party in a new country and have over 100 people show up to celebrate us - all new friends to me but so many who love Andrew dearly and are so excited for him (us!).

Heading to Sydney again on Monday for more work, meetings, and a conference... I'll probably be absent here for a little while again. :)

mad blogger

Everything you ever wanted to know about hair loss and hair replacement... Check out Andrew's blog, where he is posting like a fiend!

(They say the more external links to a website, the higher it ranks on Google. Just doing my part.) :) x

Today I met Betty, the volunteer director of Lavender Lads & Ladies at the Adelaide Royal Hospital in the Oncology ward. The LLL help patients who lack family assistance and support throughout the hospital. In Oncology, they operate a wig borrowing and renting service. They subsist on wig donations to help those who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. I went to see her to see how we might be able to help their clients with wigs and hair consultations. (And by "we" I mean Transitions.) :) I am learning all I never knew existed about hair loss and restoration. :)

Thanks, Google maps

For some odd reason, this map from Google was of NO help whatsoever to me this morning.... !?!?

Athens

It's hard to describe how I feel for Athens these days. I miss my friends and bits and pieces of life there, for sure. I miss our group of girls and coffee dates and meeting up on a whim in the evenings for a walk or a glass of wine. I miss our chats and the depth of relationship I was able to create with several people in a short time. There's something about sharing common circumstances in life (being a foreigner, single girl, in Greece, etc.) that forges bonds quickly.

Occasionally when I see friends' photos or hear stories from there, I feel this pang of familiarity and loss. It's strange; I can't say I miss the city, to be honest. I do miss the lifestyle, the feeling of being somewhat familiar with and being "at home" in another culture, and aspects of what life was there for me. But I don't miss the city, the dirtiness, the drug addicts, the brothels, the hardness and apathy and rebellion, feeling of always being a foreigner, the struggle with language. I don't really miss Athens at all.

The funny thing is, I hold so many fond memories and feelings for my time in Greece, but I know that if I went back it wouldn't be the same. A different blend of people, the absence of my fun apartment in my cool neighborhood, different work and social circumstances, and even more unrest and disruption. It will never be the same as it was while I was there. So I guess what I think fondly of is the time, the memories, and the friends and circumstances that came together to make my time there what it was. I'm glad I was there when I was. I like to think I made my little mark and others made theirs on me. :)

Wow, how life changes in a hurry. Life now looks nothing like it did even four months ago. Adjusting to a third culture (where I am SO SO SO thankful they speak English), new people, new job, and soon to be new marriage. It's exciting and feels like a grand adventure is just beginning. So Athens has become another place that I think of when I think of "home" and my friends there are others that I count as close and significant when I think of my important people.

I saw this video on a friend's facebook page a couple months ago. It brings feelings of familiarity and loss, but also of distance. Memories of what was, but knowledge that that isn't my life anymore. And ultimately - fortunately! - contentment and excitement about where I am now. :)

Athens...the Little Great City (I know it's big, sorry)

Winter to summer.... (my spider tale)

Winter gives way to summer...and millipedes give way to spiders. I'll take the millipedes crunching under my feet, crawling through my sheets, and covering any surface during wet weather to this, thank you very much. Any day.

Winter had me grossed out on a daily basis because of those nasty things. They are everywhere, in everyone's homes, on the ceiling, on the sidewalks, in the bathtub. I was so happy to see them fade to nonexistence in the warmer weather that spring brought. Yet, as we are now in summer, I am dismayed and horrified to see that the numbers of large, disgusting spiders has exponentially increased.

Particularly in my yard.

The other night at a friend's house for dinner, we sat on the patio outside and watched a big one spin its gargantuan web right in front of us. Fascinating...from a distance. There is one in Andrew's driveway, attached to some branches, that is as big as my palm and expecting babies with the nasty white pouch that has been hanging out in its web, undisturbed (!?!), for weeks. And then there is my yard.

Our friendly neighborhood spiders spin their webs at dusk every day, and by morning they have packed them all up to wait out the daylight in hiding. My nightly walk from the car to the front porch has become quite treacherous of late. I have developed a crazy arm-flailing, karate-chopping, bag-swinging walk to get myself safely to shelter each night. I no longer care what the neighbors think. These suckers are nasty and I am NOT getting their webs on me (the strands of which are, by the way, thicker than the coarsest hairs on my head). Once they choose a place, they are likely to rebuild their webs in the same location for several nights.

I've been successful so far. A few times I've seen the spider resting in the center of its web before I walked into it, and thankfully those were nights Andrew was bringing me home so he took care of it. But tonight it was just me. Me vs. the spider. That one spider who decided to spin its web right across the stairs, blocking my way to the front door.

I froze there for awhile, completely uncertain what to do. I was unarmed; my purse was not going to be sacrificed for this one, so blatantly standing between me and safety (not to mention my bed). My flailing got me only so far, tearing down some peripheral strands. A few flimsy sticks and long pieces of grass thrown in that direction only skimmed the edge or lodged themselves in the sticky web. I was sweating bullets by then; my ammunition was not even fazing the thing and I was certain I felt webs and spiders all over me.

Just as I was about to surrender defeat and go sleep in the car, I thought to check in the boot (aka trunk; it's an Australian car so it has a boot rather than a trunk, as I see it) of the car. There I found the long rainbow umbrella that would be my savior.

I seriously poked and prodded and threw stuff until the entire web was gone, and yet still that horrible beast dangled there on its final strand of web, hanging down face level right in the middle of the steps. I waved the umbrella around it for awhile, but still it dangled, clearly ready to throw itself in attack at anyone who tried to pass. Finally I whacked it with the umbrella and watched it scurry up to the roof overhanging the steps. My flailing ritual carried me to the door, and I was soon safely inside.

Until tomorrow night...............

[Note: if you need to be reminded of what I'm dealing with, click here.]

I got a sparkly

How cute is this? I just cut myself right out of the photo. :)
May in Seattle...we'll be the Mr. and Mrs. Apparently I was destined for a multi-continental life! :)

things that make you go hmm...