On our way to school this morning, I suddenly heard a lady nearby, who asked:
"Oh, are you the traveling family, you're Eero, aren't you?"
I knew she works in the school but didn't know that she has been helping my son in his reading group.
I was ever so pleased to hear that Eero has been talking about where we have come from and where we've been. The lady thought that it was interesting way to live our lives. I told her that the 'traveling' could stop any day, when we find the place we want to stay. We just haven't found it yet. Her curiosity was filled.
I started thinking about it. It's hard to make that decision, to move somewhere new especially if you haven't ever been there before. That's how all of our moves have been. We've moved to a different country, where none of us has ever been before. You have to learn all the everyday life things all over again because they most likely will be different than in the last place you lived.
We have settled in Australia, that's what most of the people keep asking. Settling is getting to know the area, how things are done, and getting yourself in to the everyday routine. Now, I can't say it has been easy, with all the animals, especially spiders and magpies, but it's challenging in a good way. You find out new things about yourself and how to overcome yourself in a new situation. Like I have never been scared of birds, let alone have an opinion about any birds, now; I hate birds. Yes, it's a bit harsh, I might settle down when the magpie nesting, or whatever it is that makes them swooping, ends.
I was very fortunate to be able to stay at home when the boys were little, I enjoyed every moment of it, and then when they both were in school I was even more fortunate to find a job that I fell in love with, not realizing, that it would be THE job for me. Now I'm between jobs, as you say when you haven't found a job yet after leaving your previous one, and hoping that I will find it again. Like I said to my previous boss, commuting to England is a bit too difficult, otherwise I would have stayed in that job. Meanwhile, my husband is doing what he knows and loves the best, cooking delicious (that's what I've been told) meals for everybody in his restaurant and I support his settling in by taking care of the household.
From the moment we landed in Australia, I just felt so welcomed. In the airport there was this man, who was greeting all the passengers who were coming from the airplanes saying:
"Welcome to Brisbane! If you were on holiday, welcome back, if you have come to visit, have a lovely time, G'day!"
He made me smile and less worried.
You can live anywhere you want to live. You just need to be open-minded that things can be different, some things are hard, some are easier and you can't know everything from the start. Do it with somebody you love.
I wouldn't call us the traveling family, like the lady that I mentioned in the beginning. I just don't like the word 'traveling'. I think we are just an ordinary family that seeks to explore and have an adventure and embrace every moment of our lives. We are finding out what life has to offer for us. We don't have a home to go back to, home is with us, wherever we go, it's our small close family, it's where our hearts are.
"Life is a journey, not the destination."
tiistai 27. lokakuuta 2015
sunnuntai 11. lokakuuta 2015
Week of "firsts" in Australia
Thursday morning at 8.35.
"Why are you standing here?" young school girl asked me.
"Well, I'm waiting for that tuck shop lady to not be so busy," I answered.
"Why?" she continued, and seemed to be very curious of me.
"I'm going to go and help her but just want to wait when she is not so busy to ask how I can get inside."
"I think you should hold those (pointing at some hand rails) and swing your legs through the hole." I smiled. That was one solution to my problem but I knew there was a door which I thought was better way to get in. So I answered back to the little curious girl:
"I think there's a door that I can use." She went to have a look on the side and came back saying: "Yes there is, go on then." The lady noticed me and asked me in. This is how my first volunteer day started in Australia in the school tuck shop.
Tuck shop, to the ones that don't know, is like a school canteen or shop. This is where you can buy your lunch or breakfast or snack during school day. Your lunch order is prepared daily and there's lots to choose from. Recently our schools tuck shop ladies retired and a new lady took the job. She is now running the tuck shop on her own.They have already told in the school newsletter that they are going to hire another tuck shop lady and that's why I thought of volunteering there first to see if I could do it.
It was a manic day, not knowing what I was doing but trying to get my head around so that I could be helpful. I left the tuck shop smiling that day. I thought it was fun and interesting way to work in a school and something I haven't ever done before. I'm sure I'll write more about it later.
Earlier that week, on Monday, we had something exciting planned. A photo shoot. Yes, a photo shoot of our family on the beach in Australia. This was for a Finnish bank magazine that wanted to do an article about a Finnish family abroad and our story was picked. We had such a fun time shooting these photos. It was an Australian photographer who came here to take the photos and we spend 3 hours with him. Never done that before, will post a pic later when we get them...
On Tuesday we went to see a homeopath. Our son has warts in his legs and they are quite painful to walk on. He has had them about 5 or 6 months and we went to a pharmacy to try and find something to help his pain. The pharmacist asked what were our thoughts about homeopath and we said that we were willing to find out. So she called the homeopath in town she knew and next thing, we had an appointment to see her. So on Tuesday, after school, we went to see this lady. She was very kind and helpful and we had a nice chat and she explained what she would do if our son would choose to go to her. We left her house, first visit to homeopath ever, knowing a little bit more about the subject but still not sure if we wanted do that. Later that week his warts started to look a bit better. It could've been the freezing method starting to kick in, that we've used, or my mother-in-laws advice that we tried this week. Which ever, I hope they will fall off and the pain can be rid off.
"Why are you standing here?" young school girl asked me.
"Well, I'm waiting for that tuck shop lady to not be so busy," I answered.
"Why?" she continued, and seemed to be very curious of me.
"I'm going to go and help her but just want to wait when she is not so busy to ask how I can get inside."
"I think you should hold those (pointing at some hand rails) and swing your legs through the hole." I smiled. That was one solution to my problem but I knew there was a door which I thought was better way to get in. So I answered back to the little curious girl:
"I think there's a door that I can use." She went to have a look on the side and came back saying: "Yes there is, go on then." The lady noticed me and asked me in. This is how my first volunteer day started in Australia in the school tuck shop.
Tuck shop, to the ones that don't know, is like a school canteen or shop. This is where you can buy your lunch or breakfast or snack during school day. Your lunch order is prepared daily and there's lots to choose from. Recently our schools tuck shop ladies retired and a new lady took the job. She is now running the tuck shop on her own.They have already told in the school newsletter that they are going to hire another tuck shop lady and that's why I thought of volunteering there first to see if I could do it.
It was a manic day, not knowing what I was doing but trying to get my head around so that I could be helpful. I left the tuck shop smiling that day. I thought it was fun and interesting way to work in a school and something I haven't ever done before. I'm sure I'll write more about it later.
Earlier that week, on Monday, we had something exciting planned. A photo shoot. Yes, a photo shoot of our family on the beach in Australia. This was for a Finnish bank magazine that wanted to do an article about a Finnish family abroad and our story was picked. We had such a fun time shooting these photos. It was an Australian photographer who came here to take the photos and we spend 3 hours with him. Never done that before, will post a pic later when we get them...
On Tuesday we went to see a homeopath. Our son has warts in his legs and they are quite painful to walk on. He has had them about 5 or 6 months and we went to a pharmacy to try and find something to help his pain. The pharmacist asked what were our thoughts about homeopath and we said that we were willing to find out. So she called the homeopath in town she knew and next thing, we had an appointment to see her. So on Tuesday, after school, we went to see this lady. She was very kind and helpful and we had a nice chat and she explained what she would do if our son would choose to go to her. We left her house, first visit to homeopath ever, knowing a little bit more about the subject but still not sure if we wanted do that. Later that week his warts started to look a bit better. It could've been the freezing method starting to kick in, that we've used, or my mother-in-laws advice that we tried this week. Which ever, I hope they will fall off and the pain can be rid off.
torstai 1. lokakuuta 2015
Fauna of Australia
I'm listening to the dog on my new neighbors backyard and wonder where the owner is. The dog is howling like a wolf, sounds really sad, it must be missing his or hers mum and dad. I feel sorry for the pet.
We have now been living in the Sunshine State of Australia, Queensland, for two months. I can't believe how quickly time has gone. It has had moments of laughter, sadness, joy and some moments have been quite scary.
I was vacuuming the house and my boys (7 and 10 years) were helping. We are not used to having so many rooms so I appreciated some help. But the moment boys found a huge spider in mom and dad's bedroom, they didn't want to vacuum anymore.
There are other animals that a bit less scary. Like the geckos that always appear in our back garden in the evening. They walk on the ceiling of the covered area. Sometimes they run and hide, other times just stay very still until we go away. These little fellas are cute and don't do any harm.
We have also met some grasshoppers. Hubby has seen them or experienced them jumping, but I have only managed to see them being very still. Have heard that they taste good, haven't tried yet.
One day, hubby was walking outside the kitchen he works at when he came across this animal. It's a bit bigger lizard than in our backyard. It made him jump so it was a bit scary but made me laugh when he told me what had happened.
We have also found some kangaroos. We were out exploring one day and came across this resort nearby our town and there on the greens were a bunch of kangaroos. I managed to catch this lovely photo of the mommy kangaroo feeding the baby kangaroo.
Then we have also seen some birds. The interesting thing about the birds is that there are so many different kind of birds here that I haven't seen anywhere else or heard anywhere else. Yes, some of them sound quite extraordinary. But what I was most surprised by was how the magpies act. Yes, the common bird that lives all around the world. Never have had any problem with them but here, twice already. This is what happened.
Yesterday, I needed to take some letters to the post box that is about 15 minutes walk from our house. I asked my older son to come with me because he has been keen on going for a ride with his bike that safely arrived from England few weeks back. So we went, but didn't get far until it happened.
A magpie swooped very close to me from behind and went very close to my son, who jumped off his bike and panicked. What didn't surprise me was my son's reaction because it happened very quickly and caught us by surprise. We weren't expecting that to happen. My son walked the bike across the road, still catching his breath. I told him to get on his bike so we could continue our way to the post box. As soon as he did it, magpie came again. He wouldn't ride the bike anymore, he was too scared then. We didn't have to walk very far when it happened the third time. I told my son to give me the helmet as I thought this was what the magpie for some reason wanted. It worked, magpies didn't come anymore as I was holding the helmet.
Today I went again, only this time with my younger son as he was eager to go on a ride too. We put some tape sticks on his helmet pointing upwards as we have seen others having cable ties used the same way. We didn't have any at home so had to improvise. We went past the place we were attacked previous day and no birds swooping. I thought: "This must be working", but still kept my eyes open if any birds were nearby. When we were coming back the same route, two magpies were waiting. At least that's how it felt. One swooped and other one was just watching, ready to attack if needed, almost. I told my son to take off the helmet and give it to me. I clapped my hands and the birds flew off. But for the short moment I was standing in front of my son, protecting him from the birds when he was taking off his helmet, the birds were staring at me, ready to "fight".
Luckily we didn't get any injuries. Yes, that sounds funny, at least to me, but they can cause some serious injuries, I read, when I got home. Magpies are nesting and protecting the chicks is what they do when they swoop on people. The nesting time is roughly from August until the end of October. So few more weeks to go. If they do cause serious damage to people, we must inform the council, but other wise all we can do is follow the instructions how to deal with magpies. Unfortunately, you can't kill them as they are protected animals.
I didn't take a picture as was too scared to do so. But I'm sure we all know how magpies look like, but it is not however, related to the European magpie. But they do look a like.
We have now been living in the Sunshine State of Australia, Queensland, for two months. I can't believe how quickly time has gone. It has had moments of laughter, sadness, joy and some moments have been quite scary.
I was vacuuming the house and my boys (7 and 10 years) were helping. We are not used to having so many rooms so I appreciated some help. But the moment boys found a huge spider in mom and dad's bedroom, they didn't want to vacuum anymore.
There are other animals that a bit less scary. Like the geckos that always appear in our back garden in the evening. They walk on the ceiling of the covered area. Sometimes they run and hide, other times just stay very still until we go away. These little fellas are cute and don't do any harm.
We have also met some grasshoppers. Hubby has seen them or experienced them jumping, but I have only managed to see them being very still. Have heard that they taste good, haven't tried yet.
One day, hubby was walking outside the kitchen he works at when he came across this animal. It's a bit bigger lizard than in our backyard. It made him jump so it was a bit scary but made me laugh when he told me what had happened.
We have also found some kangaroos. We were out exploring one day and came across this resort nearby our town and there on the greens were a bunch of kangaroos. I managed to catch this lovely photo of the mommy kangaroo feeding the baby kangaroo.
Then we have also seen some birds. The interesting thing about the birds is that there are so many different kind of birds here that I haven't seen anywhere else or heard anywhere else. Yes, some of them sound quite extraordinary. But what I was most surprised by was how the magpies act. Yes, the common bird that lives all around the world. Never have had any problem with them but here, twice already. This is what happened.
Yesterday, I needed to take some letters to the post box that is about 15 minutes walk from our house. I asked my older son to come with me because he has been keen on going for a ride with his bike that safely arrived from England few weeks back. So we went, but didn't get far until it happened.
A magpie swooped very close to me from behind and went very close to my son, who jumped off his bike and panicked. What didn't surprise me was my son's reaction because it happened very quickly and caught us by surprise. We weren't expecting that to happen. My son walked the bike across the road, still catching his breath. I told him to get on his bike so we could continue our way to the post box. As soon as he did it, magpie came again. He wouldn't ride the bike anymore, he was too scared then. We didn't have to walk very far when it happened the third time. I told my son to give me the helmet as I thought this was what the magpie for some reason wanted. It worked, magpies didn't come anymore as I was holding the helmet.
Today I went again, only this time with my younger son as he was eager to go on a ride too. We put some tape sticks on his helmet pointing upwards as we have seen others having cable ties used the same way. We didn't have any at home so had to improvise. We went past the place we were attacked previous day and no birds swooping. I thought: "This must be working", but still kept my eyes open if any birds were nearby. When we were coming back the same route, two magpies were waiting. At least that's how it felt. One swooped and other one was just watching, ready to attack if needed, almost. I told my son to take off the helmet and give it to me. I clapped my hands and the birds flew off. But for the short moment I was standing in front of my son, protecting him from the birds when he was taking off his helmet, the birds were staring at me, ready to "fight".
Luckily we didn't get any injuries. Yes, that sounds funny, at least to me, but they can cause some serious injuries, I read, when I got home. Magpies are nesting and protecting the chicks is what they do when they swoop on people. The nesting time is roughly from August until the end of October. So few more weeks to go. If they do cause serious damage to people, we must inform the council, but other wise all we can do is follow the instructions how to deal with magpies. Unfortunately, you can't kill them as they are protected animals.
I didn't take a picture as was too scared to do so. But I'm sure we all know how magpies look like, but it is not however, related to the European magpie. But they do look a like.
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