I’ve experienced more culture shock here in Australia than expected.

Little bits of language surprise me constantly. Every shop you walk into give the same greeting: “howyagoin’?” with a smile. When putting together our Ikea shopping list, Nick laughed when I added ‘clothespins’… here they are ‘clothespegs’. More people have commented on my accent than I’ve ever experienced. It’s very weird feeling different, even in a country where you speak the language and don’t stand out visually.

Also plaguing me is homesickness. In the past, my time traveling has usually been at a natural pause in my life: moving or school break. I’ve always already said goodbye to a homebase for good or known everyone was to reconvene soon. Never have I spent a significant amount of time simply “away” from home. I know what my life would be like if I were still in Seattle, and I know it is going on there without me. I miss my family and friends. This all of course is natural, but still challenging. I am settling in and know it will get better, but there is a Seattle-sized hole in my heart currently…

Vintage Seattle flavor on the walls of a Freo pub, be still my heart! New vigor and strength indeed.