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!