Happy Christmas

I’m not going to lie, I’ve been getting pretty homesick lately with the holidays coming and going. Thanksgiving was hard, seeing as it’s not even celebrated here in Australia, but Christmas has been even worse. I’ve been a bit moody lately, which I know hasn’t been any fun for either of my roommates…but I’d rather be mad than cry in front of them.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to even wrap my head around the fact that it’s Christmas right now since it’s summer here, and generally one hundred degrees! I’m not a fan of cold weather, but I do prefer a white Christmas. When I’m driving down the street, I might see one house with Christmas lights and decorations for every fifteen or twenty that I pass. And then there’s the fact that I’m about eight thousand miles away from my family! And trust me, that doesn’t make it any easier. I can’t tell you the last time anyone has missed Christmas in my family.

Little back story:

Growing up, and especially once we were all off in college, my dad has always tried to surprise us kids when he hadn’t seen us for a while. He loves driving, or at least doesn’t mind getting away from work for a couple days to come see us, but he always gives himself away when he starts asking too many questions about where we’re going to be or what are plans are for that particular period of time. You see, I’ve learned from the best, and I had this grand plan of flying home from Australia for a week to surprise my family for Christmas. I mean, who would’ve really expected that!? No one. Only my brother knew about my ‘potential’ surprise, I had to have somebody ask all the questions that I couldn’t!

I set up a Kayak alert to email me daily price changes in flights so that I could get the best possible fare home. Six weeks ago when I set the alert, prices were around $2700, a bit out of the price range I was willing to pay (not that I didn’t think seeing my family was worth that). Prices slowly started dropping, and would rise, and would drop again, but still they were a bit too high. So when my boss asked a month or so ago if I would be here over the holidays to work, I told her most likely yes.

First I want to say that I am EXTREMELY lucky to have the job that I have. I make way more than I expected to be making when I thought about working in Australia. Where I’m employed, if you work on a public holiday you get paid three times the normal rate, which is a big deal (especially for me since it’s pretty expensive living in Australia). And again, when my boss asked if I was going home for the holidays I told her I didn’t think I would be because it was still too expensive. She seemed relieved, so I was under the impression that I was going to be getting A LOT of work this week with it being Christmas (and Boxing Day) and knowing that most of the other people who work in the same program have families here to celebrate with.

Well, the roster came out for the week of Christmas and I only work TWO DAYS; not to mention only a couple hours on one of the public holiday days! I was particularly discouraged after seeing the roster because last week flight prices had been cut in half, and I was more than willing to pay that price to go home (with Aussie gifts in tow) but I had already committed to working by this point, and I’m not one who likes to go back on my word.

So instead, I’ll be spending Christmas here in Maitland, waking up at 2am to FaceTime my family while they open presents around the tree in Amarillo. It’s sad…but then again, who gets the chance to live in Australia for a year? Not many people. I just have to keep reminding myself to be thankful for this opportunity, and remember that I’ll be seeing my family in March :)

But until then, I’ll keep hanging out with this super cute Christmas pup:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

XO - Cristin

It's a Jeep Thing...

You know what's stressful??? Buying a car. There's registration, and insurance too...like, why are there so many questions to answer when I'm trying to buy insurance!? I need my dad...haha. But really. Thank goodness I know people who know people here in Maitland who can figure all this stuff out for me.

And let's not even talk about how thankful I am to have an international license and not have to go through the whole process that Australians do, because, lemme tell ya, it's ridiculous. Australia takes their driving wayyyy to seriously. I mean, I'm all for safe driving and all, but I mean, come on...you basically have to have a permit for FOUR YEARS before getting your full license here! Here's all the rules and conditions of each license, word for word from the website (if you don't care, you can skip to the next pictures...where I continue to talk about the car I bought).

First, you get your Learners Permit...

Steps to get a Learner's permit:

•       Minimum age 16

•       Pass a theory test or hold a driver's licence

•       Pass RiderSafe basic training

Learner's permit conditions and rules:

•       Zero alcohol/drugs

•       Must display 'L' plates

•       Must not exceed speed limit by more than 10kph

•       Must not ride over 100kph

•       Must not incur 4 or more demerit points

•       No pillions unless your passenger is a Qualified Driving Instructor

•       Learner riders who don't already hold a driver's licence must hold a learner's permit for at least 12 months (six months for over 25 years)

•       You must not use any type of mobile phone function

•       Holders of a learner's permit for R Date, who are under 25 years of age and who do not hold a P2 or full licence for another class must not ride a motorcycle between the hours of midnight and 5am unless they:

◦       are accompanied by a Qualified Supervising Driver (QSD) 

◦       hold a P2 or full licence for another class; or

◦       they meet the exemption criteria

The permit is valid for two years and you must carry it at all times whilst riding.

You must complete the RiderSafe advanced training course within two years. If you do not complete the RiderSafe advanced course within two years you may be required to resit the RiderSafe basic course.

Next you get your Provisional (P1) License...

Provisional licences are issued subject to conditions. If you breach a condition you will lose your licence and be disqualified from driving. This is in addition to any other penalty.

The conditions are:

•       You must not drive a motor vehicle with any concentration of alcohol in your blood or the presence of cannabis, speed or MDMA (ecstasy) in your blood or oral saliva.

•       You must not exceed any speed limit by 10km/h or more.

•       You must not accumulate four or more demerit points during the provisional licence period.

The following laws also apply. If you breach any of these laws you may incur penalties such as fines, demerit points or loss of licence.

•       You can only drive the class of vehicle stated on your licence.

•       You must carry your provisional licence at all times whilst driving.

•       You must not drive a high-powered vehicle while you are under the age of 25 (unless you have an exemption certificate).

•       You must not drive over 100 km/h even if the local speed limit exceeds 100 km/h.

Laws that only apply to holders of P1 provisional licences (these laws do not apply to P2) include:

•       You must display the correct size 'P' plates so that they are clearly visible from the front and rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycles).

•       You must not use any mobile phone function while driving, including hands-free mode and Bluetooth technology or loud speaker operation.

•       If you are under the age of 25 years, you must not drive:

◦       between midnight and 5am, or

◦       with more than one passenger aged 16 to 20 years (excluding immediate family members)

◦       unless a Qualified Supervising Driver is seated next to you or you meet the exemption criteria

Breaking the rules 

If you are disqualified from driving you will need to re-apply for your provisional licence. If you are returning at the P1 stage, you will need to hold your new provisional licence for three years (one year on P1 and two years on P2). If you are returning at the P2 stage you will need to hold it for two years.

Then, you get your Provisional (P2) License...

Provisional licence laws and conditions

•       You can only drive the class of vehicle stated on your licence

•       You must carry your provisional licence at all times whilst driving.

•       You must not drive a motor vehicle with any concentration of alcohol in your blood or the presence of cannabis, speed or MDMA (ecstasy) in your blood or oral saliva.

•       You must not drive a high-powered vehicle while you are under the age of 25 until you get your full driver's licence (unless you have an exemption certificate).

•       You must not drive over 100 km/h even if the local speed limit exceeds 100 km/h

•       If you commit a speeding offence of 10 km/h or more over the speed limit you will breach your licence conditions.

•       You must not accumulate four or more demerit points during the provisional licence period.

•       You must display the prescribed P-plates so that they are clearly visible from the front & rear of the vehicle (rear only for motorcycles)

Breaking the rules

If you break any of the P2 rules you could get a fine, demerit points, be disqualified from driving and have to go to court. If your licence is disqualified while holding a P2 licence when you return to driving your new P2 licence will be issued for a further two years.

Safer Driver Agreement

If you are disqualified you may elect to enter into a Safer Driver Agreement instead of serving the six month disqualification (unless it was a serious disqualification offence). The Safer Driver Agreement will apply for the duration of your provisional licence. If you choose a Safer Driver Agreement you will be issued a new provisional licence for a further two years. If you breach your licence conditions or accumulate four or more demerit points again:

•       you will be disqualified for 12 months (twice the original disqualification period)

•       you must serve the disqualification - you cannot appeal to the Court

•       you will not be eligible to apply for another Safer Driver Agreement for the next five years.

And FINALLY you get your Full License or "Blacks." Talk about serious business!

A few weeks ago I spotted this Volkswagen beauty on the side of the road...

...but, unfortunately it wasn't for sale. Even if it was, I probably (actually, make that definitely) couldn't afford it. But it did bring back nice memories of our old VW bus that my family used to have. Tell me why we ever got rid of it again?

I have started working regularly at my new job with SNAP, and generally my placement is an hours drive away. I felt I was becoming a nuisance to Mitch and everyone else who was having to take me to and from work. And since learning to drive a manual was proving to be a bit more difficult than I had anticipated, we started looking for an automatic for me to drive. Annddd we found one! A 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. 

The previous owner was a nice, honest guy. And he sold the car very well; he'd had it for three years, put a lot of work into it, and even told us about the few "glitches" it had. He kept it in good condition, too. So I bought it. Or rather, Mitch bought it. And I'm on a pay plan since I have minimal funds at the moment...

I was SUPER excited about having a car and driving again. The four months I lived in Brisbane without one wasn't bad because everything was walking distance, or there was easy/nearby access to the busses and trains. Maitland's a different story. And driving's not like "riding a bike" either, especially after five months cold-turkey; AND ESPECIALLY when you're in a county where everything is opposite (you're steering wheel is on the right, and you drive on the left side of the road). I feel like I'm doing pretty well though, I've only driven into oncoming traffic once! Old habits die hard, ya know...

So yeah, I bought a car, and the first day I drove my car to work, it broke down. Seriously!? Just my luck. We buy this car that seems like a sweet deal, drove absolutely perfect during the test drive, and then just so happens to do one of those glitches that the guy said happened to him maybe only twice in two years...sweet.

I had made it off the highway and to my exit, barely, before the car completely died. I tried and tried to restart it with no luck. I called Mitch, who called Lloyd, and told me that I just need to wait about ten minutes to restart it and then be sure to engage the immobilizer (which for this car is to press lock, then unlock twice in a row, and start it right away). I gave it a go, and THANKFULLY it worked and I made it to the house I was working at. I was an hour late to my first official day of work. Ha! Go me. Fortunately the woman I was changing over with was understanding, and gladly covered my shift 'til I got there.

For my job, it was a shift that I slept over, and once 8am rolled around the next morning it was time to head back to Maitland. But my car wouldn't start...again. I waited and waited, tried the immobilizer trick (with no luck), and after an hour of trying and hoping for the best, I called Mitch. He and Lloyd had to come pick me up and try and fix the car. When they got there I wanted them to get it to start but at the same time I didn't want them to get it started because then I would've looked like a dumba** who doesn't know how to start a car. They didn't get it going, so we left the car there and Lloyd called his mechanic friend who said he would go by and fix it the next morning.

Whatever his mechanic friend did fixed it. And it's been working just fine ever since! I still leave for work extra early to allow myself time to break down, just in case...

I Bought a Jeep Commercial...Fitting, or nah?

"The LORD protects the simple hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me." - Psalm 116:6

XO - Cristin

Happy Holidays?

I can't even believe it's almost the end of October. Like how is this happening?! I'm missing all the holidays this year, Fourth of July has come and gone, and now the three best ones are coming up: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

It's not that they don't recognize Halloween here in Australia, it's just not that big of a deal. From what I hear, some kids still get dressed up and go trick-or-treating, but as far as Halloween for the "older generations" it's just another normal day...Halloween parties aren't had, and bars don't have costume contests or anything. That being said, I'll be spending this year's Halloween on the couch watching heaps of scary movies with Mitch and Phil, while eating all the candy we should be giving out to little kids, but aren't...

I'm really most upset about not dressing up myself. The past few years I've been really into going all out and bringing out my dark side. For instance, here are my last four Halloween costumes: 

I love getting creative and spending minimal amounts of money on a costume. My favorite costume had to have been when I was the Corpse Bride and I wore my mom's old wedding dress. Thank goodness it was Halloween because that's one day of the year that if things are too small, it's "normal." I was by no means showing too much skin, but my mom was a lot smaller than me when she got married, and that dress wouldn't zip up...but that was okay...because, you know, it was Halloween. 

Thanksgiving isn't celebrated here either, for obvious reasons. So yeah, this year I am missing out on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, football (which I watch pretty much only twice a year...Thanksgiving and Super Bowl), and family get-togethers with loads of delicious food...foods Australia can't even offer. People here just don't understand how good Thanksgiving is; I think even I have taken it for granted in years past. The saying is definitely true, "you don't know what you got 'til it's gone."

And let's not talk about Christmas. A couple months ago I basically cried myself to sleep thinking about how this will be the first Christmas that I have EVER missed! I mean, even Lindsay flies home every year from New York to be with the family. It's weird, growing up and all, and having real responsibilities. I talk like I have real responsibilities...but I'm literally living the life in Australia right now. But really, the four of us kids have now all graduated college and moved on with life; so it's not like it's Winter Break and classes are out for a month so there is no reason/excuse that you can't go home. Lindsay works, Caitlin works, and now even Charlie works. It's not as easy to make it home anymore...still everyone seems to make it happen. But now I'm over eight thousand miles and a fifteen hour plane ride away from Amarillo...and I could catch Ebola if I hopped on a plane right now (jokes...but really...haha).

While I was in college I would go months and months without seeing my family, and wouldn't think much of it. Three weeks during Christmas break, and one month during summer break was generally the only time I was home. It's not until you're so far away, and when you can't drive home on any given day (if you wanted to), that you realize how much you can really miss your family. And I do, I miss them so much!

So happy holidays to all my friends and family back home in America. I have a love/hate relationship with seeing all the Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts about what everyone's wearing/eating/doing during these upcoming holidays...I miss it all, so enjoy it!

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." 

- Proverbs 22:6

XO - Cristin