We purposely arrived in Australia on the last day of winter. We wanted to have two summers in a year and thought this would help with the adjustment. It was still quite cold when we arrived but we didn’t have to endure it for too long. I recall it being a difficult first year for me and feeling very isolated staying at home looking after Nicholas. Things improved once Phil found a job he enjoyed, I started working part-time, and we were meeting more people. Each year got better and we’ve got more comfortable. It’s also different now that Nicholas is in school. We’re a part of a wider community than before.
I still have moments when I miss my hometown. I wonder if that feeling will ever go away. I miss my Filipino-American culture and family, the big gatherings with too much delicious food. I miss the anonymous feeling of living in a big city and not recognising a face when being out and about (unless it’s a celebrity). I miss the variety and amount of options for food. And I miss the warmer temperatures that stay for most of the year.
But Canberra has definitely grown on me. I love our natural surroundings, the lack of traffic (when there’s no roadwork), the abundance of open space, the proximity of family, our family-friendly city and the beauty of spring and autumn. Life is more relaxed and most Australians make the time to go on holidays.
So I’m happy to report that the move worked out well for us. We’ve settled into our Australian life. We are keeping busy with raising our family, going to work and school, enjoying some extra-curricular activities and spending time with extended family and friends. Check out our photos from last month.
From Aug2013
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