How was your Christmas? Mine was very pleasant. I spent it with family and enjoyed a Hawaiian themed Christmas with a lot of food – pork, lamb, prawn, crayfish, veggies, potatoes, rolls, and, of course, Christmas pudding with cream, custard, and ice cream. The next day, Boxing Day, I called my parents and sister in the US … Read more
Last month, Diane over at Oui in France wrote a piece about shopping carts, or shopping trolleys, as they’re called in Australia. I realised that this has become part of normal life here in Melbourne, but it’s something I never did until I came here. In Melbourne, shopping trolleys refers to two things. One is the kind … Read more
When I stepped out of Victoria Station and caught my first glimpse of London during a 2006 vacation, I immediately decided I wanted to live there. A few days later, when I traveled to the quaint Shakespeare-happy town of Stratford-upon-Avon, I decided I wanted to live there. When I visited New England for the first … Read more
I had a consultation with a migration agent this week and discovered something very, very interesting. I hadn’t planned on meeting with a migration agent. I’d planned to do all the paperwork and lodge the visa myself as many expats do, but the process is complicated. When the opportunity to meet with an excellent … Read more
With my medical assessment, I have officially begun actively moving towards obtaining residency. I’m applying onshore (that is, from within Australia, as opposed to offshore) for a de facto partner visa subclass 820, which is a temporary visa. If granted, after two years, if the relationship is still intact, I would be granted a permanent … Read more
The trip from Miami to Melbourne was the longest journey ever. I travelled from Miami to Los Angeles to Auckland to Melbourne. The journey from Miami to Los Angeles on American Airlines Economy was as comfortable as could be. It’s depressing to say that because it’s actually not a comfortable flight, but my expectations of … Read more
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We aim to provide an inclusive service.