MERRY CHRISTMAS

This is the first Christmas that I have been away from my Family & Friends. It has been hard because I miss everyone so much! Christmas is just another day and the sadness will pass, but I really wish I could be with you all right now.

Merry Christmas Love Jennifer xo

Eat Pray Love

I just finished reading the "Number One Bestseller that everyone is talking about" this book was incredible, I couldn't put it down -- and for those who know me know that I'm not much of a book reader. When I flipped to the last page of the novel I was so sad, I didn't want the novel to end, I just wanted to keep reading.

I am quite like Liz; I can't sit still for long, I am always busy doing something new, I am the social butterfly of a group and I just need to learn how to relax and take time for myself. This book was so inspiring to me because I love to travel, and all of the travel experiences were so inspiring and made me want to go to each place even more then I already initially wanted to. Just seeing how much someone can grow in a rather short period of time amazes me.

This book has inspired me to do all 3 things that Liz did:

- Eat (Italy)
I want to go and experience a new culture and learn their customs and language. I will land off the plane knowing next to none of the local language and not knowing much about the country. I think that being so out of my element when I first land there will make me become accustomed to the culture and language that much quicker and I will adapt and feel at home must faster. When I am in the country of choice I want to attend a school and learn the local language, this is also a way that I could make friends who have the same interests as me from all around the world.

-Pray (India)
I need to learn to relax and slow down, I always have 1 million thoughts and plans going through my head at once and I need to relax. I would love to learn to meditate and clear my mind and get rid of all the negative. One of these meditation retreats that she did interests me so much. She met all different kinds of people from all over the world and all different walks of life. This is what I love so much about traveling; you meet all sorts of people from all different walks of life, all different ages and religions and there is just so much to learn about each person as an individual. I did jump on the internet when I was finished the book and start researching a meditation retreat in rural India.

-Love (Bali)
What an incredible story Bali was, so moving. Since I have been in Australia my desire to go to Bali has doubled because it is so close. When I go to Bali I don't want to be a typical tourist, I would rather experience Bali like locals do. I would love to visit a medicine man and make friends with all sorts of people who have all different spiritual beliefs. I would love to go to all of the different places around Bali that tourists don't usually invade such as where Liz went on her "American" Road trip around Bali with her new Brazilian love.

I highly recommend this book to anyone! I'm scared to see the movie because I don't want it to ruin the story for me.

Friends are Forever

So as I sit here in Australia soaking up the rays I can't help but here all of the Christmas Carols and there is no way to avoid all of the decorations that are around. My news feed on Facebook is blown up by all my friends making plans over the holidays and saying how excited they are to see each other.

So I start thinking about what my friends are going to do when they all get together and chat about whats been going on over the past few months in their lives. I'm wishing so badly that I could be there with them to go on all of the winter adventures that we take; Christmas tree hunting, gingerbread house making, Christmas baking, Christmas get togethers.

December 18th will mark the day that I have been in Australia for 4 months. 4 months of not seeing my friends, family and home. This is the longest that I have ever been away from home in my life!

So girls and guys I really miss you all. I really wish that I could be there with you all over Christmas. Don't get me wrong the hot weather is amazing and I will be laying on the beach on Christmas morning which isn't too bad but I'll still be missing the crap out of you all!

I am so thankful of the solid group of friends that I have, none of you could ever be replaced! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a FANTASTIC New Years! I'll be celebrating in Sydney on the Harbour watching the multi million dollar fireworks show but you know what I think if I could I would rather be with my friends!

I miss you all so so so so so much. I think about you all everyday. I love you all!!!

With Love from Australia -- Jenn xo

Breakdown #1

Well I've been through it. I had my first breakdown while being in Australia; this is how it went...

It was a Monday morning, Mondays are always the worst its back down to reality day, anyways, I was sitting having coffee with T,S&D remembering all the fun we had over the weekend and laughing so hard. Then we started talking about the dramas of Tooleys and we went on bitching and complaining about the place. D&I currently work(ed) at Tooleys and T was recently fired. So inevitably the Tooleys dramas came up. D was talking about how his hours were cut and he decided to call Ian and ask what was up Ian told us that we were fired. Alright this is a first...I've never been fired from a job before.

D decided to leave and go beg Ian for his job back.

So I got fired from my job, first time that has ever happened to me I was devastated. I don't get fired.

So I went out on the job hunt I went to the Internet cafe and printed off 30 resumes, that should be sufficient, I should have a job after giving 30 resumes out. "Alright Porter get your game face on were going to get a job," is what I said to myself. I came home that night disappointed and frustrated. 30 resumes and all I got was 1 trial, better then nothing I guess.

I went to the trial at a restaurant called Yellowfin, I did my trial and they asked me to stay 2 hours after my trial was over. "Yes I aced the trial" I thought. At the end of the night the most senior person told me that John would be in contact with me, he wasn't. I called them and asked how the trial went. They told me I got the job, YES!!!! Alright here's the catch...it doesn't start for 2 weeks!

So I was down on myself, I hated living never having any money, I was frustrated and I missed home. My first solution to the problem was I'm going home. I rang up Mum and Dad and said, "I'm coming home in January, I'm going to get a job out west and go out there." Alright they said we'll be happy to have you home. Excellent! I looked at the weather and it was -12, alright a little chilly. Later that day I thought to myself what am I doing going home in January, its too cold. So plan B was created. I was going to stay and finish out my lease until February and then travel the coast and go home in April. This would enable me to get a job in Musoka for the summer and then head Out West for the winter season. Wow this is sounding better and better.

After no luck with a job, shedding millions of tears, and feeling really down, I just didn't know what to do. So I went on Facebook to creep pictures of the summer, which I miss so much! I had a message from Michele, she told me about these Backpacker Recruitment websites. I logged in and created a profile and immediately I was sent job opportunities all over Australia. Wow a whole new world has opened up to me, Thank you so much Michele. There were places offering me work in places I didn't know could be so beautiful.

Alright so I collected my thoughts and came back down to reality. I can't go home, I can't give up, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I have being able to live here, travel and work in Australia. I am going to give it my all and show the world whose boss! I'm staying in Australia until the bitter end.

As my parents told me when I was going through this breakdown, "Life is an adventure, there are always going to bumps in the road, when you fall down you gotta pick yourself up and get back on the adventure and give it your all."

I have the most amazing and supportive family I could ever ask for!

keep on rockin in the free world

The Backpacker Budget

Well I think it is long over due but I am now on the backpacker budget. I should have been following this from day one, but I had to learn somehow.

I knew that I started the budget today when I was standing in the grocery store staring at the wall of shampoos and conditioners. First of all I looked for the yellow sale tag, I scanned the rows looking for the cheapest one, YES! I found it $2.93 I thought to myself, "What a deal mate!" I remembered that the bottom shelf always has bargains on it, so I took a scale of the bottom shelf. Yep I found the winner here, $1.90 for shampoo. Now thats what I call a bargain. These days pantene pro v and herbal essences is a luxury.

Its now down to everything that I think I want to buy I ask myself, "Is this a need or is it a want?" Usually it is a want to I set it down and say to myself, "Porter, you will survive without it....unless its a bottle of Bundi" Haha joking!

Speaking of alcohol...I have found a pretty close comparison to my favourite Sailor Jerry Rum. Its Queensland's own, Bundaberg Rum. Its so tasty. Although I usually have to find a few friends to go in and split the bottle with because 40 some odd dollars is outrageous for a bottle of alcohol.

I did splurge today and buy myself a Lonely Planet Australia book. I justified it because I will get the most out of my Australian experience with this book and I will have heaps of memories to look back on.

Off to plan my next adventure!
Cheers Mate!

Hey Girl!

T&S.....

I can’t believe in such a short time I became such good friends with these girls. I remember first meeting them one night that I was working at Tooleys. Tierney had applied for a job there and was coming in for a trial and I was giving her all the pointers. Her friend Steph was sitting at the bar and I started chatting it up with her and we did the number exchange and the rest is history. Both Tierney and Steph are from Colorado so we know we will be seeing each other again very soon, and planning our next adventure.

I knew when I first started talking to these girls that we would be instant friends and that we were. From the day we met we haven’t stopped hanging out and spending heaps of time together. We have had so much fun together from randomly meeting, to going to Byron Bay together for the night, to hanging out on the beach, going out and getting silly together, laughing until we start crying, and so much more.  I have never laughed more then when we are all hanging out.

Tomorrow they are leaving the Gold Coast to continue their travels to New Zealand. I am so sad that I have to say good-bye to them. That’s the one thing about traveling you meet people and they move on or you move on and you are forced to say good-bye, this is the first time since I have been in Australia that I have had to say good-bye. I know that I will be seeing them again; we are meeting up in Sydney for a New Years Eve Harbour Cruise which we are all super excited for! After Sydney the next time I will see them is back in North America.

Trust me girls if I had the ability right now I would drop everything and come traveling with you, you have no idea how much I want to come. I am so glad that I have met you both, it has been an awesome month we have had together. The best part is we still live pretty close to each other back in our “homeland” I can't wait until we plan our next adventure, what a blast that will be!

It’s not good bye…its see ya later mate!

Cheers to all the good times we had and plently more to come.

Love Ya Girls!

At Cheeky Monkeys In Byron Bay

A day out on the Broadwater

A very random night to say the least

On the Broadwater

Sunday Session @ Fishos -- Awesome Day!

give in, give up, or give it your all

I have just been through another bump in the road in my Aussie adventure.

I had been working at Tooleys Bar and Restaurant for about 2 months. I had just gotten comfortable with all of the regulars, the people I worked with, and the regular runnings of the restaurant. I got word on Monday that I was fired! I couldn't believe it, I had just been told by one of the managers that I was one of the best. Boggles my mind.

Anyways I was back at square one again -- no job, and not too much money, great!

I got really down on myself because I have never felt so degraded as I sometimes do in this country. I know I am a good worker, I have letters of reference to prove it. Tooleys was just under bad ownership and the owner started clearing house with his employees I can't take that personally, I just have to deal with it and remember that I am a good worker with a tone of potential.

I thought that the best decision at this time was to pack up and head back to Canada and get a fresh start there. NO JENNIFER! that is not the best idea! I realized that "Life is an Adventure" and there are always going to be bumps and curves in the road that I am going to have to deal with and this is one of them. I have to learn to pick myself back up and get back on the road again. Off to the internet cafe I went to print off a heap of resumes. I walked to Broadbeach (5km from Surfers) because I didn't want to waste money on the bus. I got to Broadbeach and went to my favourite restaurant, Yellowfin, and spoke with the manager. I have a trial at 5:30 tomorrow night. I rock what I do so I know that I will have a job again in no time.

As Kait told me. In life you have 3 choices; give in, give up, or give it your all.
I am going to stay here for now and give it my all and pound the pavement until I get a job and just work and save my money. I cannot give up on this adventure that I am on yet.

Take it day by day and dollar by dollar......

Long time no Blog...

Wow I can't believe I let my obsession of blogging go this long -- 22 days! Unreal!

Well I guess its time for the big update!

I celebrated my first Halloween in Australia. The Australians really don't go all out for Halloween like I am used to. I went to a friend’s house for a party and I was dressed as Gold Coast Trash. Living in Surfers Paradise there is a huge tourist population so it’s inevitable that we have all these tacky souvenir shops and of course they are tacky. So I saw it somewhat fitting to go as Gold Coast Trash as a last minute costume. 

I have been bike riding; I did a big ride to Coolangatta that is about 30k. Although I had to leave Kait and let her ride solo home because I was about to die and I had to go to work. I took my bike and locked it up and went to the bus stop to take the bus home, we can’t take bikes on the bus. So I was standing at the bus stop and there were 3 other people there and we were waiting and waiting for the bus to come, busses here are always late. So the question came up as to where we were all going and the final destination for all of us was Surfers Paradise. We decided to all split on a cab, and I was so excited that I could take by bike in the cab. As we were waiting for the cab to show up we gained another passenger, the more the merrier and the cheaper! It was quite an interesting ride to say the least. 

Just a few days ago I went on an awesome back country 4 wheeling adventure. We went 4 wheeling in hills of the Australian Countryside -- through rivers and up hills and of course through the mud. By the end of the 2-hour tour I was covered head to toe in mud, I felt so accomplished! 

I have met some new friends, Tierney and Steph, and they are from Colarado. We have had a lot of fun together lately. We went to Sea World one day and we were sitting having a beer or course and decided that we were going to take off to Byron Bay for the night and party at the famous Cheeky Monkeys. This was so much fun! It was the first time I had stayed in a hostel and what a fun experience. We had an awesome night there! 

Me, Steph, Drake & Tierney @ our hostel in Byron

Other then that I have just been working at Tooleys in Main Beach to save money to start my actual travelling adventure in March. Hopefully from March to August I can travel for 6 months and see all of Australia, well as much as possible in that time period. I may have to stop and work along the way but that is the life of a backpacker! 

The Christmas decorations and the carols are all out in full force; this is such a weird feeling. This is the first Christmas that I have been away from my family and only the 2nd one that hasn't been white. It's such a weird feeling that everywhere is all decorated and I am walking around in 30+ degree heat and trying to wrap my head around the fact that Christmas is just around the corner. It makes me miss home, my friends and family a bit, but its just another day to me!

Today marks the day that I have been here 3 months, I feel like I just got here, time really flies. Only 9 more months until I'm home Mom! Ahh that time will fly and I'm just not ready for it yet. I still have such an exciting adventure ahead of me that I can't wait for!

Peace Love and Happiness!

the adventures of the lime green leisure bicycles

Yesterday it was another beautiful day in paradise; the sun was shining, the weather was great and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Kait and I were out by our pool bronzing and soaking up the rays, these UV rays here so so strong, it doesn't take long to get a nice bronze going on.
The weather here is finally getting nicer, temperatures of 30+ I really do live in paradise, I couldn't ask for a better life.
As the sun started going behind the buildings it was time for us to think what we were going to do next on this beautiful day. We decided that we were going to go biking. Kait and I decided that we were going to walk down the street and hire some bikes and go riding.
We hired the bikes and took off down the coast. Life is good. Bike riding down the coast of the ocean, sun is shining, I don't think life can get any better.
Kait and I biked from Surfers to Harbour Town, Harbour Town is an outlet type outdoor mall that has a discount fruit market which is so yummy! You can get heaps of fresh fruit for so cheap. From Surfers to Harbour Town is a 20k ride there and back. Yep you got it, I rode 20k in 30+ weather along the coast of the ocean. It was BEAUTIFUL!

This a a quick map of the route of where I biked to and from yesterday.

Me on the leisure bike riding down the costal highway.

Some of the beautiful scenery we saw along our ride

Bike path along the coast

The lime green leisure bikes, LOVE THEM!

Now that Kait and I have realized that we love to bike and apparently we like to bike substantial distances we are going to invest in our own bikes and go riding all the time. I want to work up to being able to ride from Surfers to Coolangatta and have breakfast at my favourite place called Raw Energy.

This is a map from Surfers to Coolangatta, its a bit more of a ride on a bike. Its 24km one way.

This gives us something to work up to and we know that there is a yummy treat at Raw as a reward for us haha!

Life is Good.

2 Months...Can you believe it?!

So I have been in Australia for 2 months now. I actually can't believe it. I feel so at home here!

I'm going to let you all in on a little inside info now! (Mom, Dad, you're not going to be happy about some of this but its life)

So over the past 2 months that I have been here I have; met a lot of really cool people and made lots of new friends. I have been to the wildlife centre where I pet and fed a kangaroo, and saw koalas and dingos. I have driven on the other side of the road, and well thought I was in Canada at one point and actually went down the wrong side of the road and came you know head to head with a yute. Thank gosh we were both going at low speeds in a residential area. I have rented a moped and went places you would never think a moped would go, I was about a good 45 minutes from a town on an empty tank of gas...I made it home with just enough gas. Kait and I tipped the moped and between us we had to pay the moped guy $200 each for him to fix it. We don't talk about that much anymore, we are still quite bitter about that. I have had about 8 jobs while I have been here, I am now down to 2 and I really enjoy them. I have bought a 26er of Smirnoff vodka for about $50, yes alcohol is very expensive here, I now drink very cheap wine or even stoop as low as drinking goon. I have been to Melbourne for the weekend where we explored the city, went to local wineries and did wine tastings, and bought some local bottles of wine. I have been down the Great Ocean Road and it is absolutely beautiful. I have almost missed a flight back to the Gold Coast, running through the parking lot with the McDonalds family pack in hand we made it to the check in just as they were closing it off. I have been to Byron Bay three times now and have come to the conclusion that is so far my favourite place on earth. I have went to pay for something and gotten my card declined. I have had $44 to my name. With that being said I have spent about $5 000 in 2 months.  I have asked someone to borrow money at the bar to buy a bottle of wine. I have worked a 17-hour work shift. I have taken over 1 000 pictures since I have been here. I have been to a rainforest and hiked through it. I have been to caves where there were glowworms. I have tried hitchhiking but didn’t get picked up. I guess karma has gotten me there because I don’t pick up hitchhikers either. I have been locked out of my apartment for hours and had to hang around the pool where some family asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner. I declined. I have gotten a new tattoo, it is on my foot, and it is the most painful tattoo I have gotten so far. I have been on a rollercoaster here that I think is the scariest one I have ever been on. I have become a Chai Tea Latte addict, its very hard for me to pass by a Starbucks and not indulge in one of these yummy drinks.

There are still lots of things I want to do like learn to surf, I want to skydive in Byron Bay for Christmas, I want to go camping in Noosa or anywhere on the Sunshine Coast for that matter, I'm planning on going to Fiji in February with my roomies and some friends before I leave the Gold Coast and there is heaps more but I would be here for hours writing it all out.

My plan from the Gold Coast as of now is to go farming in a little town outside of Perth, apples will be in season at this time. I figure I will get a sweet tan, get fit and really learn how to ruff it. This will enable me to extend my Australian Visa for a year. Don't worry I just want to extend it so I can make sure I can see everything in Australia I want to see before I have to come home. This side of the world is so beautiful!

Personality Colour

Today I was laying on the couch kinda bored and yes I was creeping Facebook. I saw that one of my Facebook friends did a quiz on what their "Personality Colour" was. Laying here bored I was like what the heck I'll take the quiz too. Here are the results....

My Personality Colour is...

RED

You have incredible will-power and you are capable of overcoming obstacles that would stop others. You enjoy a pleasant and colorful environment. You are capable of bursts of high energy spontaneity, though generally more "laid back". You are energetic and interested in many areas of life. You are capable of accomplishment when consciously focused and persistent.

Wow! I think that this is quite accurate to what kind of personality I have. Capable of bursts of high energy and spontaneity -- I think that sums me up right there! I am also very laid back and I take things very lightly. I know that some people find this incredibly annoying that I am very passive about some issues that are quite serious but to me I feel that I can't stress about things that are out of my control. Whatever happens, happens and you deal with it!

 

I miss you...

I found myself thinking today a lot about home and my family because I looked at the calendar and realized that this weekend would be Thanksgiving if I was back at home in Canada.
When I get thinking about my family I was thinking a lot about my Grandpa. I miss him so much everyday! He brought so much joy to my life everyday and was such an influential part of my life; it is sometimes so hard to think that he isn't still here with my Grandma today. It doesn't seem right. I sometimes get so excited that when I get home from Australia I will rush over to my Grandparents house and it is just my Grandma there waiting for me.
This is all the journey that we like to call life. You are placed on Earth, you live your life, and you move on. I was so lucky to have my Grandpa in my life for as long as I did, and to have such a special relationship with him. I have no regrets, I would just like to tell him one more time how much I loved him.

Global Gypsy

I was in Byron Bay, yes I truly do love it there, and I was in a little shop and I came across this book called Global Gypsy by Gerar Toye. The words "Global Gypsy" caught my eye first and I picked the book up and skimmed through the pages. This book is full of beautiful black and white photos and beautiful quotes. 

Gerar Toye is a kiwi that has been roaming the planet for over twenty years. He has been living his dream to travel and he has spent more than half of his life traveling alone always avoiding winter. 

When I opened the book and came across the first paragraph that was in it I knew that I had to buy this book. The first paragraph in this book is. "I traveled twenty thousand kilometers before I realised the best journey was within. I could not have begun my spiritual journey had it not been for my constant desire to explore my potential. That desire was stronger than the fear of the unknown."

I have done pretty much exactly this. I traveled about twenty five thousand kilometers from home, to find myself in Australia. I have always had a constant desire to travel and explore all of the amazing things that this world has to offer. As I have been traveling I have come to realise that the best journey is within. When you travel so far from home and you are virtually on your own you really start to learn a lot about yourself. I have learned so many new things about myself that I had never known before. I am capable of a lot more then I ever thought I could be capable of. I am a much stronger person than I thought I was. I have been able to clear my head and get rid of all the negative and fill my head with only positive things. Anything bad that ever happens to me I think of the good in the situation. Sometimes it is very hard to find good in some bad situations but if you dig hard enough you will find it. 

Gerar also mentions that writing in his journal was a necessary part of his personal growth. Writing in a journal really helps to clarify any confusing thoughts of feelings you may have and you always feel safe writing in your journal. I don't know what I would do without my journal or my blog. I have always had a love for writing and I can express it freely through my journal and blog. There was one point where I was a bit insecure about my journal and blog because I was somewhat made fun of by a certain person, as I have traveled I have met so many people who have a journal and a blog. I am so proud of my journal and blog now! So screw you "certain someone"...excuse my French...

This book is full of quotes that I love but a few stand out more than others

"It's good to have a destination to journey towards but it is the journey that matters in the end" 

- Ursula Le Guin

"Travel is fatal to prejudice bigotry and narrow mindedness."

-Mark Twain

"We cannot discover new oceans until we have the courage to loose sight of the shore."

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Lao Tsu

This is how I want my passport to look...covered in stamps! 

Who doesn't have the travel bug?

Well I have had the travel bug since my first trip to Florida when I was about 2, correct me if I'm wrong Mom.
So I went from having a nice $44.07 to my name and then I got 2 nice pay checks from working. It feels good to have money again!
I can never save money so I needed to work out some goals so that it helps me save money and that I did. I spent about an hour yesterday planning my Australian Adventure. I picked up a book on my flight to Melbourne and it has all the spots that I want to hit in Australia so I planned around that.

The places I want to visit are;

• Adelaide - the visit some wineries
• Alice Springs - THE OUTBACK!
• Brisbane 
• Canberra - Australia's Capital
• Cairns
• Darwin
• Hobart - Tasmania
• Mackay
• Melbourne - I'd like to do some more sightseeing there if time and money permit
• Perth
• Rockhampton
• Sunshine Coast
• Sydney - For New Years with Jessica
• Broome

I am planning on leaving the Gold Coast in the middle of February when my apartment lease is up and doing something like this.

Gold Coast  - Sunshine Coast - Rockhampton - Mackay - Cairns - Darwin - Broome - Perth

Places like Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, and possibly Hobart I can visit while I live on the Gold Coast. I love living in Australia because domestic traveling is so cheap. I can hop on a plane and head to Sydney for a few days over New Years and it is $178 round trip. I couldn't fly from London, ON to Toronto, ON for that cheap.

Jessica is coming to visit me in Australia in December, December 15th to be exact, so we will be together for Christmas and New Years! She is coming for a month, and during that month we are going to go to Thailand for a week and maybe spend a few days in Bali on the way back.

I can't wait to start my travels in Australia, this excites me so much! I wish that I could spend the rest of my life travelling the world and not having to work, maybe along my travels I will find something that can allow me to do so!

I have to leave Australia on August 16, 2011, that will be a very sad day, but I have 6 months to travel. When I decided to get a flight back to Canada no one will know when I am coming, I will just show up! It will be a big surprise!!

BRING ON THE ADVENTURE!

no money...no worries

The other day I went to get my hair done, don't worry Mom I had a 50% off voucher, and it was all done and I went to pay with my debit card. I got declined. My immediate response to the girl was, "oh there must be something wrong with your machine." So we tried again. I got declined for the 2nd time. Alright so I guess there was nothing wrong with her machine, so I'm thinking to my self, "oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" so I give her my cell phone and tell her I will be right back. I am running franticly down the street thinking to myself, oh my gosh this can't be happening to me.

I get to the Commonwealth ATM, insert my card, enter my PIN number, and press Balance Inquiry, and press display balance on screen. My heart is racing at this point. My balance is now displayed on the screen..."Available Funds $44.07" OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! thats all I can say at this point. I repeat to myself many times, "Oh my gosh I only have $44.07 to my name!" This has never happened to me before in my entire life, what am I going to do. At this point there is nothing much I can do.

I walk back into the hair salon and whip out my Canadian credit card, and said "this should cover it" APPROVED! That was the greatest moment of my day! I walked out of the hair salon.

I'm walking to catch the bus home and I just can't get over this, I called my friend Drake and told him. He said "Oh don't worry we have all been through it, I've had zero dollars to my name before" I'm thinking to myself I feel like such a loser, like seriously I have $44.07 to my name. I start thinking to myself, well I am travelling across the world, I did arrive with a backpack on my back, I'm young wild and free, I have 2 jobs and there are people in a much worse situation then me right now. I'll deal with it!

I really can't get over this still once I arrive home. My mom works at a bank and she is always monitoring my accounts, sometimes I get a call, "Jenn, I think you should watch your spending, your account is getting a bit low." I always loved the times where I would check my account and $200 extra would just appear. Being across the world, on my own, and having no one monitoring my account has been quite the experience and now I really appreciate what my parents have done for me financially.

Now the joke is, "What would you do with your last $40?" I went to Macca's with my friends Lauren and Rohan and enjoyed a nice Macca's feast as some comfort food. For desert I took up $6 and said "How many sundaes can I get with this." The girl told me I could get 3, and I replied saying "Sounds great I'll have 3" I of course shared with Lauren and Rohan.

Later I sat thinking, I am living in one of the best places on earth, I am making my dreams come true, I am lucky to have the opportunities that I have, Life is Good!

Don't worry about me though Mom, I have a nice fat pay check coming my way!

tis the season to be jolly.....already?!

So I was at the mall today and I was at a department store called David Jones, and I saw the store directory that said "Christmas Shop Level 1". I said to Kait "Oh my gosh they are getting ready for Christmas already?" I mean it's only September 23rd and there are Christmas trees on display in this store along with ornaments and all the other fixings!

This also made me realize that this will be the 1st Christmas in 22 years (my whole life) that I haven't been with my family! That is just so weird to me. I will already be well into Christmas Day before it even reaches Canada. My brother will have to wake up all alone and open his stocking. We usually get up so early and rush to the living room and grab our stockings because that is the best part of Christmas, our Mom is the BEST at stockings!

This will also be the the 1st Christmas I have had that isn't white. I mean to me Christmas is 3 feet or more of snow on the ground, the traditional tree that we cut down in the bush out by my house, decorated with well what used to be all of my brother and my ornaments we made in grade school. My Mom put a halt to this a few years ago and now the tree is decorated in matching bulbs, beads and lights. It always looks so beautiful! 

As I grow older I have to accept the fact that I won't always be able to make it home for Christmas, also in the industry I have chosen to start my career we work on Christmas, so Christmas to me will turn out to be just another day in my life.

for the love of travelling

“Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese

I came across this quote surfing the internet. Since I have been travelling I have found all of these things to be so true. Strangers can become your best friends. Nothing is familiar to me; the culture is different, the food is different, the language is the same but there are some very distinct differences. I have learned to love these differences. The friends that I have made and the people that I have met are great people but none of them will ever be the same as my friends and family at home. My home on Lake Kashagawigamog will always be my home. I will always remain proud to be a Canadian. Travelling is what I love to do, I come across new experiences everyday and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to travel. Everything that is new and different to me I adapt to and learn to love. I am a chameleon. Travelling is my everything!

I have to thank my Mom & Dad for taking me travelling from a very young age and opening my eyes up to what is really out there. Without them I wouldn't have found my love for travelling. I thank them so much for all of the travelling that I have been able to do.

This picture was taken at Curtis Falls in Mount Tambourine

Why no I am not an American or an Irishmen

On a daily basis I constantly get asked if I am an American. I mean to people across the world maybe the accents all sound the same. Some people from Canada ask me if I am an American, common get a grip we have the same accent!
This is how it goes...I start a friendly conversation with someone and then they feel me out, I can see them doing it, and then clear their throat, and all confidently they say, "So where in America are you from?" and I reply with "I'm actually from Canada." and they say, "Oh I'm so sorry I know that is quite offensive to you." I reply with oh don't worry, I am a Canadian." and then some say oh yes I should have known now from your sincerity and friendliness!
Or sometimes I shut them down and say actually no I'm not an American and they get all excited and guess again. "Oh you must be from Ireland!" now it's funny to me. Let's play the accent guessing game!
I tell people, you can call me anything but an American.
Just a little something I find humour in while travelling so far away from home!

Life's Simple Pleasures

Today I went back to Byron Bay. It is my favourite place so far in Australia, and although I haven't seen much of Australia yet, my plan is to travel a lot in Australia, I still believe that Byron Bay will remain high on the list.
Byron Bay is the cutest little town I have ever been too. I would more or less describe it as a hippy town. There are so many interesting shops with a lot of interesting things in them.

I saw a "Fairy Lady" today. She sat and drew you as a fairy...how cool is that?!

I went back to the lighthouse lookout. It is some of the most beautiful scenery on Earth, and yes I'm pretty confident with that statement. This time I walked down to the beach, boy that was a hike!
It wasn't that sunny of a day but hey its just another day to enjoy. I was at the beach and I was looking out into the ocean and I saw dolphins. They were just playing around in the ocean jumping and showing off. As I stood there and took it all in I wondered what it would be like to be a dolphin. What worry do they have? Well I can think of one...who is going to consume them for a meal, but I could be someones next meal too. All they do is just play in the ocean together and create a show for us to watch. How amazing!

When I was on the beach watching this I asked some woman in a red bathing suit if she could kindly take a picture of me. Of course she could, have you ever come across someone who isn't willing to take your picture? So we had a but of fun she took some shots of me and I returned the favour. As I was taking pictures of her she was more interested in getting the dolphins in the background. She had mentioned to me that she had just finished swimming with the dolphins. This woman was... I actually don't think I have the words to describe her. I think eccentric would be a good place to start. She was so excited about her swim with the dolphins and as I was taking pictures of her she was in the ocean calling the dolphins. She was such an incredibly happy woman. All these little things in life that can make us so happy. We get so caught up in our busy lives that we forget to think about life's simple pleasures that can bring us so much joy. I really wish that I could have sat and had coffee with this woman because I believe that she would have an incredible story.

The lady in the red bathing suit

Today was my 2nd time to Byron Bay and the next time I go I think I'm going to take the bus there for the weekend, stay in a hostel and go and do something where I can enjoy life's simple pleasures. I need to take some time and let my mind be at ease and not always be thinking of what I am going to do next and just take a minute and have my mind at complete ease. Life is too short to rush through it.

I have really been neglecting my journal lately because I have been so busy, but I have actually been so busy doing nothing. I go to the beach with some friends everyday it seems or just hang out. It's about time I take some time and head to the beach alone with my journal in hand.

I was made fun of at one time by writing in a journal. I became a little hesitant to write in it and also tell people that I had a journal. I felt the need to write in a journal, its the only thing that will truly keep secrets, and not talk back to you. I found this book today called "global gypsy" it is about a man who travelled the world and while he did so he wrote in his journal, took lots of pictures and living by these quotes he came across. I feel very proud now to write in a journal, I love it in fact and I will never stop writing!

I am also very excited today because my good friend, Kelly, just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. I am so happy for her and Cody. You guys will make such amazing parents. Don't forget to sit back and take in life's simple pleasures because before you know it your little guy will be starting his first day at school!   I can't wait to meet Hayden, so weird to think that I will be meeting him when he is just about 1 year old.

Hayden Daniel Mills

All my love from Australia
xo

Australia = Love

Well I have now been in Australia for 1 month and I am in the best place on earth! I absolutely love it here, its beautiful, the sun is always shining and I live 2 blocks from the beach! Life is good!
I can't believe it was about 1 month ago that I said good bye to everyone back in Canada. Time flies when you're having fun! For everyone who missed me its 1 month down 11 to go. OMG that scares me so much. I don't think I have enough time to do everything that I want to. I can't imagine flying home...it makes me sad thinking about that.
In this month that I have been here so far I have been at complete piece of mind, and found this person inside of me that I love! So carefree and not a worry in the world. I mean why stress about things that are our of your control. I have just been living it up here and not worrying about anything. Rolling with whatever comes my way!
I have had humm 4 jobs but they are all a bit of a joke so I just don't show up the next day. I am feeling that it is becoming the time to get a bit serious and find a job. It sucks, I don't want to have a job at all but there are certain things in life that I have to suck up and this will be one of them. I have to realize my potential in life and chase my dreams. Theres no better time then NOW!
I have met a lot of really amazing people from all over the world. Each one of them comes with a new story. Its all starting to come together here and I'm getting a new life of my own without any direction from anyone except me! I love finding my own way through things and figuring it out for myself.

I have done some really cool things since I have been here; day trip to Byron Bay, weekend in Melbourne, while in Melbourne went to a few local wineries and did some tastings, trip to the zoo to meet some new animals, day trips to different beaches, moped adventures with Kait and we end up 2 hours from home on an empty tank of gas, seeing Michele has been amazing I missed her so much and living it up at the beach body boarding in search of the perfect wave. I AM GOING TO LEARN TO SURF, but that involves money, and I need a job to get money so it will come soon! I have a new friend Drake, he is so hilarious and absolutely ridiculous. We go out together a lot and have a ball, laughing about everything and everything. We usually go out for a drink and that drink turns into a couple bottles of wine and some interesting shooters. Regardless we are having a ball! We went out last night to my new favourite bar, Melbas, and laughed so hard it was uncontrollable. Telling the stories this morning was just as funny! I asked some man at the bar last night if I could "borrow" $2 from him because I needed another bottle of wine. Yeah I probably needed it like a hole in the head. He "lent" me the $2 and life was great again!

I have quite a few tales to tell about my adventures here. I'll let them slip in time!
Kait, Line and I are a great trio we get along great and laugh together until we are crying or our abs are burning. Bed time here is so hard because Kait and I have our beds pushed together so we have more room for fun activities in our room and we go to bed and laugh so hard I get a 2nd wind and can't sleep. We really want a set of bunk beds but I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.
I really get scared at times that I won't be able to see everything that I want to see in Australia. I only have 11 months left, and I can only have this Visa that I'm on once in my life. I have to make everyday count and never look back on the coulda shoulda or wouldas.  I think I am going to go up North and farm for awhile. I need to do 90 days of farming to extend my Visa. I have heard that its very hard work and long hours and not too much pay but hey what do I spend money on when I'm on some persons farm slaving for them?! I might as well take this opportunity and go with it because I would rather open a door then close one.
Anyways thats my life in a bit of a nutshell! There isn't a day that goes by where I don't think about home, family and friends. You will all see me again and just remember time flies when you're having fun!
Love from Down Under xo

Meter Maids

Okay so during my first weeks here I saw these girls walking up and down the streets with bags full of dinky little tourist things; keychains, magnets, things to keep your beer cold and all sorts of junk. 
These girls were dressed in all gold and looked ridiculous if you ask me. So I kind of looked at them and laughed a bit and moved on. 
I kept seeing them and seeing them and then they asked me if I wanted to buy a beer kozy and I was like "um no thanks I'm good" and moved on. 
When I went home I asked the girls what the deal was with these girls dressed in gold and selling thing was all about. They told me they were "Meter Maids" like I'm suppose to know what those are.
So a few days later I was out again and got approached by one of them and I was like "oh god, what does she want to sell me now?" I declined her offer on the keychain she wanted to sell me but I asked her what her job was all about.
Meter Maids were introduced to the Gold Coast, hence why they dress in gold, in 1965 by Bernie Elsey to help beat the bad image created by the installation of parking meters on the tourist strip in December 1964. It was a controversial promotion, using young women dressed in gold lame bikinis and tiaras, who strolled the streets of Surfers Paradise feeding coins into expired parking meters. These girls work on commission only and the money that they make they put in the parking meters so people don't get parking tickets. 
Whether it is a good idea or a bad idea I still think that these girls look ridiculous.

And this is what a "Meter Maid" looks like......

Aussie Slang.

So since I have been In Australia I have been getting made fun of because of my lack of knowledge of Australian Slang and their meanings. Its pretty funny actually because I am almost clueless but I am trying my best to implement all of their slang into my daily vocab so I’m not such a Canadian here!

Here is some Aussie Slang and their meanings:

Chrissie – Christmas

Yute – Truck

Banana Bender – Someone from Queensland

Bathers – Swimsuit

How you going? – How are you?

Barbie – Barbeque

Hoon- Idiot

Tracky Dacks – Track Pants

Snag – Sausage

Chewie – Chewing Gum

Give it a burl – Try it

Away with the pixies - Daydreaming

Ankle Biter - Small child

Good onya - Good job; Well done

Happy as Larry - Very happy

To hit the turps - Go on a drinking binge

Hard Yakka – Hard Work

Lippy – Lipstick

Liar – Show off

He’s got tickets on himself – He thinks he’s the greatest

Have a yarn – Talk to someone

Trolley – Shopping Cart

Flat – Apartment; house

Lift – Elevator

Making Tea – Making a meal

Spa – Hot Tub

Just up the road or around the corner – You’ll be walking along way

Mate – Friend

Note – Paper Money

Toilet- Washroom

Washroom – Laundry Room

Macca’s – McDonalds

Mobile – Cell phone

I’ll give you a ring – I’ll call you

Lemonade – Sprite

Arvo - afternoon

Throwing a Bash - Having a party
Sunnies - Sunglasses