Life Update 2019

Hi, folks!

It has been awhile since I've updated you on my whereabouts. The last time was in 2017, and the time before that was in 2015.  Apparently I like odd numbers.

We are still in Florida, enjoying the sunshine, palm trees, and occasional hurricane. In 2017, Hurricane Irma, the strongest hurricane in terms of maximum sustained winds in the Atlantic, unbecomingly graced us with her presence. We evacuated our home for a few days, and then returned to repair the damage and clean up the debris.

Surprised Greg with a picnic in the spot where he proposed a few years ago.
Location: Sarasota, Florida, USA
Photo credit: camera, tripod and 10-sec timer. 

In 2017, Greg underwent spinal surgery. The hospital health care team had him up and walking that same day, and he has since recovered well, accompanied by a cute little tail (scar) on his lower back. I have also had ongoing lower back issues, so we are both taking life a little slower these days. Yoga, stretching, and hiking have become our new best friends. While we're on the topic of surgery, I recently had all four wisdom teeth removed. Fun times!

My journey as a Speech Language Pathologist transitioned to a school-based setting. If you're interested, here are links to read about how to transfer degrees/licenses internationally and obtaining state licensure in America. I'm currently placed at an Elementary (Primary) School and Preschool, providing assessment and therapy for the communication needs of school-aged children from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. Learning to cater to varying needs in small-group settings, rather than on an individual basis, has been a challenge. A shorter commute, an opportunity to brush up on my Spanish skills, and developing relationships with my sweet kiddo's has been a blessing. Oh, and the school holiday schedule is a bonus. 😉

A couple of 2017 highlights included a fleeting trip to Australia to visit family, friends, and a special mother-daughter trip to Tasmania, Australia. In December of that year I officially became a U.S. Citizen, and am now honored to officially call myself a dual citizen of Australia and America. If interested, you can read about my transition from Resident to Citizen. 

Location: Honeymoon Bay, Tasmania, Australia
Photo credit: Maree Richardson

2018 was the year of adventure: a road trip through the Wild West, hiking various National Parks and Monuments in Texas and New Mexico; a bridesmaid for my bestie's wedding; a wonderful mother-daughter trip through the forests, oceans, and delectable wine country in south-west Western Australia; roughed it through our "first-timers" #vanlife trip through the breathtakingly beautiful National Parks of California and Oregon. Wow - what a year!

Aside from traveling, we renovated our guest bathroom. Our house was built in 1958, so the original tiling was ... mature. We started with the intention of completing the entire renovation by ourselves. Too high of expectations, perhaps? An enormous thanks to my colleagues' husband, who helped us finish the drywall and tiling - what a legend! The guest bathroom is now sparkling, modern, and minimalist. It's our favorite room in the house!

BEFORE Bathroom Remodel

AFTER Bathroom Remodel

Now, we find ourselves in the depths of 2019. We spent New Years with family in Wagga Wagga, Australia, followed by an awe-inspiring trip to Thailand. I'm continuing to learn and work as a Speech Language Pathologist in the local school system. Greg is continuing to work as an I.T. Consultant for an international company. We attended a beautiful Greek/Italian wedding, and are completing some minor repair jobs around the house.

Bring on the rest of 2019!

Please feel free to reach out to me with any comments or questions regarding working and/or living abroad, transferring degrees/licenses internationally, travelling around America, or just to say "G'day!". I would LOVE to connect with more friendly faces. 😊

Have a great day,

Maree

How to Survive a Long Distance Relationship

Wow! You did what?! How did you do it? That must have been hard!

These are just some of the reactions we receive when people find out that Greg and I committed to an overseas long-distance relationship for 4 years. 15,288 kms (9,500 miles) between us, but who’s counting. 😉

"Distance means so little, when someone means so much." - Tom McNeal.

Window Seat Photo #1 by Maree Richardson

Whether you and your partner are commuting between countries, states, or towns, distance is distance, no matter how large or small. Over the years, many people have asked for advice on surviving a long distance relationship. Here are some common suggestions that arose:

1. Sweet Surprises 
Send each other gifts every now and again, for Birthdays, Valentine's Day, or simply "just because".  It could be sexy underwear, a personalized stubby holder, a golden rose, you name it.

2. Communication
This may sound cliche, but communication is KEY to any successful relationship. Be open and honest with your partner. Keep it natural and unforced. Talk when you want to talk, not because you have to. In difficult conversations, approach your partner calmly and respectfully, ensuring you listen to and acknowledge their ideas and point of view. You might learn something.

"Our separation of each other is an optical illusion of consciousness." - Albert Einstein.

3. Explore Different Platforms for Communication
Capitalize on all of this amazing technology that we are offered today. FaceTime and Skype are life-savers! Text messages and phone calls are great, but don't forget about the old hand-written letter. So romantic! Who doesn't get excited by personalized letters in the mail?! Much more satisfying than bills, I say. Other ideas include cute cards, drawings, photos ... get creative!

4. Plan your Next Visit
This gives you both a common goal to work towards, and something to look forward to. It increases the excitement as you count down the days until you get to see your partner, from triple digits to double digits to single digits. A bit like an advent calendar!

"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." - Khalil Gibran.

Window Seat Photo #2 by Maree Richardson

5. Sacrifice 
Relationships are all about give-and-take, 50-50. However, at some point in time, one person may need to contribute a little more to make things work, such as packing up and moving to a new town, state, or country. Remember to be patient, and keep things in perspective. The favor may be returned.

6. Trust 
This is so damn important. Don't be clingy and controlling. Don't send text after text asking where your partner is. Stay cool, man! If you are in an honest and trusting relationship, than both partners should be allowed to do what they want (within reason), to go where they please (within reason), and be trusted. If you cannot trust your partner, than perhaps they are not worthy of you ...

"I believe in the immeasurable power of love; that true love can endure any circumstance and reach across any distance." - Steve Maraboli.

7. Long Distance Dates
Have you ever tried to "Netflix and chill" simultaneously via long distance? Our fabulous Insta-friends Erika and Dale introduced us to Rabbit, an App that enables you to sync your Netflix with somebody else's around the world and chat to each other long distance. A total game-changer. 😊 Obviously it's not as good as the real thing, but you do what you gotta do, right?!

Window Seat Photo #3 by Maree Richardson

8. Enjoy Time with Family & Friends 
Make the most of your time with family and friends, as you may never have this much time to spend with them again in your life. Their company may help to keep you happy, positive, and distracted from feeling sorry for yourself.

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?" - A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh.

9. Money 
They say money does not mean anything. Well, it kinda does! [insert Russell's voice from Rules of Engagement]. Particularly if you partner lives overseas! Airfares are not cheap! You may need to work an extra shift or second job to make the money to visit your partner. I worked in a coffee shop (and I hate coffee!), and Greg worked the night-shift at Walmart (and he is a morning person!), until we could save enough money to purchase airline tickets to visit each other.

10.  Celebrate!
Even the little things. 1 month on the countdown? Celebrate! Next visit booked? Celebrate! Ya know what I mean. And yes, it is totally viable to "wine and dine" over FaceTime or Skype.

"You can't just give up on someone because the situation's not ideal. Great relationships aren't great because they have no problems. They're great because both people care enough about the other person to find a way to make it work." - Unknown.

Window Seat Photo #4 by Maree Richardson

If you're looking to add a little spice, or needing some reassurance, hopefully some of these suggestions were helpful.

Side note: Greg and I have now been together for 8.5 years, so we must have been doing something right. 😉

Please share your thoughts and ideas.

What would you recommend to others who have just commenced a long distance relationship? How did you and your partner get through the tough times?


Have a great week!


Maree

Florida's National Parks

Hi, folks!

One aspect I love most about the U.S. is its National Park system.  I am borderline obsessed!  I have read Lonely Planet USA's National Parks from front-to-back, and love to daydream about potential National Park trips to take during my work holidays and long weekends.

Florida is home to three (3) U.S. National Parks, which will be the focus of this post.

On a long weekend in January I attended a one-day work conference in Miami, and spent the following two days down south to explore the following:     

Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park is 95% underwater, and thus holds the record as the largest marine park in the National Park system.  There is a short, paved walkway and boardwalk alongside the water, although to really appreciate the beauty of this park, it is best to get out on the water, whether that be by boat, kayak, paddle board, snorkel or dive.  Entrance to this park is free!

I spent one day at Biscayne National Park, and took a boat tour to Boca Chita Key.  The guides were very knowledgeable and taught us lots of fun facts about the parks' ecosystems, and also about the somewhat dark history of Boca Chita Key and its lighthouse.  We were given an hour to walk around the Key and climb the stairs to the top of the lighthouse.  The view from the top was amazing!  The wind was so strong that it blew my sunglasses off!  You could also see the stunning Miami skyline in the distance.  I would love to return to this park someday to snorkel/dive the coral reef.

View from the Lighthouse - Boca Chita Key - Biscayne National Park
Photo taken by Maree Richardson

Top of the Lighthouse - Boca Chita Key - Biscayne National Park
Photo taken by Maree Richardson

Miami Skyline from Boca Chita Key - Biscayne National Park
Photo taken by Maree Richardson

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S.  The wetlands cover a large portion of southern Florida, and are home to many plant and wildlife species including the Florida panther, the manatee, and of course, the American alligator and crocodile.  Additionally, the Burmese Python, an invasive species, are said to roam these waters. 

I took the Shark Valley entrance and spent one day at Everglades National Park.  It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so entrance was free that day, however it is usually $25 per vehicle.  I biked the 15 mile trail and was astonished at the number of alligators sunning themselves on the side of the road.  Never had I been that close to wild gators before!

In my opinion, the right-side of the trail (if you're looking at it from the Visitor's Center) was the most scenic with a larger variety of plants and visible wildlife.  At the half-way point there is an Observation Tower.  Most people returned the same way they came, however I was curious to see what was on the left/opposite side of the trail.  I had most of it to myself ... for a reason.  This side was long and challenging, with numerous twists and bends.  I rode into a strong wind and felt lactic acid building up in my legs.  At one point I thought that the Visitor's Center should be around the next corner, however was disheartened to see the mile marker on the road indicating I still had 5 miles to go.  Needless to say, I made it to the end, but it certainly tested my physical and mental abilities! 

Sorry, Mum! Look how close the alligators were to the road.
Everglades National Park. Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Staring Competition! Everglades National Park.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson.

Soaking up the Sunshine. Everglades National Park.
Photo taken by Maree Richardson. 

Dry Tortugas National Park 
I have not yet been to Dry Tortugas National Park, but it is on my list!  It is approximately 72 miles offshore, thus is only accessible by boat, ferry or seaplane.  A couple of years ago we were in Key West and had planned to take the ferry across, however the weather did not cooperate.  Guess I'll have to save it for another day ...


Have you been to any of Florida's National Parks?  What was your experience like?

Also, if anyone has any tips for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park, please let me know. 😊


Have a great week!


Maree