It is time for my next adventure! One year ago, I returned from Central America, thrilled with traveling and hungry for more. So I secured a Working Holiday visa to travel and work in Australia for a year before I (a) turned 31 and ineligible, and (b) my traveling can-do spirit was tempered. It has been a ticking time bomb in my pocket ever since.

After a year in Seattle, I’m finally taking the plunge and bought a ticket to Perth, Western Australia. There’s nothing like the nerves right before pushing the “purchase” button for an international flight. I learned from my past mistake: when going on adventures, never book round-trip. Anything can happen, don’t overly plan if you don’t have to.

I am nervous. I’m never consciously bitten off a trip this big. How long will I stay in Australia? What will it be like to work in a foreign country? I’ve gotten comfortable in Seattle; will I get homesick? Will I get into the Outback? Will I scald myself on a meat pie before developing proper technique? Who are my future friends that I don’t know yet? How different *is* Australian culture and vernacular? What’s out there for me to learn? Does my travel insurance cover drop bear attacks? If I have a terrible horrible no good very bad day, where do I run away to? (See image below… yuk yuk.)

So many questions, yet I take solace: seems like a sign that I’m moving from one WA (Washington State) to another (Western Australia) and upon my arrival one of my favorite people is taking me on as a houseguest to soften my landing. Plus, the weather report for Perth looks drop dead damn gorgeous. [Deep breath.] Here goes nothing!

Alexander from “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”. Via Google images.