Travel Log #1 Made it to Sydney

Long Flight

I learned a few things about flying for long periods of time on my 14 hour flight. Take some sleeping drugs with you. After the seat belt sign goes off, walk the plane 3 or 4 times, then take the drugs. You will sleep 6 to 7 hours with no problem. I missed the movies but very important to sleep. It does help if your plane is empty and you can lay across three seats to sleep. I guess when you fly to Australia during the winter, which is a benefit. (small side note: Winter in Australia is 40 degrees maybe at night, then 60 degrees in the day. I left Utah during the spring/summer and it was colder there.) I really enjoyed the plane food. I had three meals. We left Raleigh at 5 pm, flew to Denver, flew to San Francisco. Our flight left San Fran at 10 pm on Sunday night. We arrived in Sydney at 6 am on Tuesday morning (international date line). I had some caffeine to wake up for the morning adventures. Customs was not bad. The first thing I noticed after I got my baggage, was the Krispy Kreme sign. I can’t believe. A little bit of heaven (and NC) in Sydney.



The first day in Sydney was sleeping and grocery shopping with my mom. Shopping for food was fun. The mall is not the same. There is a little market inside the mall. I already love the accents. I went to bed at 7 pm. I couldn’t stay awake. I spent my second official day in the church administrative offices in Sydney. I met all my parent’s friends at the office. It is right next to the temple, too. Funniest thing is the temple is across the street from a huge mall. Many of the church office employees eat at the food court for lunch. Again, I fell asleep at 8 pm. Jet lag is hard to break coming here.

Reflection

I am leaving today to go to another continent. It will be my first time west of the United States. I have been to Europe and Central America, but never west of California. As I am making final preparations, (calling my bank, sending bills through US mail), I have reflected back on the past four months. Sometimes, you don't realize everything that is happening until it is over. In my family in the past four months, not only did we have a wedding for my younger sister (which is finally done and over with), we also have lost three important family members, both grandmas (Bartholomew and Robison) pass away and just recently my uncle Dale Hull. (3 funerals and a wedding)
My parents have been serving a mission in Australia and have made two trips to the U.S. in the past four months. My brother and sister-in-law graduated from college. I completed my first year of graduate school. My older brother has been accepted to graduate school. My sister, Jill, is expecting twins and moving. (take a breathe, I did) When we gathered together, this week, it was fun and intense. We celebrated my sister, Annie and Dad's birthdays and mother's day. We spend four days doing yard work and cleaning our house to get ready for the reception for my younger sister, Colette. We are all ready to take a week or month off of traveling and try to have normal lives for the summer. I won't be doing that, after my trip to Australia, I will be doing EFY (especially for youth) all summer in the northwest. It is a good thing, I am not dating right now, I don't think anyone could keep up with me. heheheheh. I am grateful for my family strengths and weakness. In time of need, we gather and protect each other.

Siblings as Adults

Well, getting ready for my sister's wedding has been fun. My family has gathered together. Colette is the youngest of the Seven of us, she is 25 years old. As the stress of the wedding and getting ready has taken its toll, I reflect on sibling relationships.

It is hard for sibling as adults to retrain themselves to how they respond to their siblings. We carry burdens, past experiences, and natural reactions and tendencies from our siblings. You have to reestablish your relationship with your siblings as adults. You can't react the way you used to. Your natural reactions to their reactions. You know how each of their buttons are pushed.

It is nice to know that these things take time and communication. I am impressed with my family, because we communicate although it may not be perfect, but definitely open.

Only in the South.

Ok, so my family and I have been super busy getting everything ready for my sister's wedding. We have been blessed with amazing weather, like around 70 degrees with a light breeze and low humidity (not typical for May). Needless to say, get to the point of today's post. I was running errands and noticed a gentleman wearing a light blue white pin striped suit. I realized that only in the South do men wear light colored suits, such as gray, light blue, and white. I love it. The gentleman look super sharp. I wanted to take a picture, but I didn't have my camera. So I found a light colored suit online.
Also, I found myself on Sunday with the serious thick accent. I didn't even realize it, until some one pointed it out to me. I sound like a southern belle.

Warm Rain

I have missed Spring in the South. I completely had forgotten about warm rain, maybe that is because of Seattle. I walked outside and it was super humid, raining, and hot. I miss it. When I was younger, I would play in the rain barefoot. I loved it. Today I sat in the Gazebo and watched the thunderstorm roll in, the wind, the clouds, the thunder, the lighting, and it is not cold. I miss southern thunderstorms. I miss the downpour of rain, serious downpour, as in step in step out, soak downpour. Good times.

Cell phone trauma and flying

Monday was scary. I lost cell phone service, suddenly. I was in Provo and couldn't call anyone (from my cell phone). Talking about feeling helpless. I was terrifed that my cell phone decided to have its last day (one day before I was leaving the state.) For 5 hours, I couldn't do anything. I had to use friend's phones. Then, you hope your friends pick up a strange number. It is difficult when you have plans and things change or take longer. I had made plans, but was counting on the phone. You don't have a home phone, because you thought you didn't need one. I am scared that I have become so dependent on my cell phone. The question is what choice do I have. None, I have a great plan, that allows long distance for free and I am always on the the go. My trauma ended when I called the cell company and found out there was a massive power outage in Utah. My phone was working by morning. Phew, crisis over.

Today, I left SLC to fly to Raleigh, NC. I normally avoid flying through Chicago, because something always goes wrong and it is a crazy airport. Well, true to all things. My plane from SLC to Chicago was delayed, because Chicago didn't have room for us. Then, we were an hour late, missed my connection. BUT, the good news is that my airline automatically rebooked me on the next available flight (3 hours later) and I was able to eat lunch by 4:00 pm. I was not able to avoid the headache and tiredness, but grateful to finally arrive in Raleigh.

Happy Mother's Day

I love today. It is a difficult day not to be near your mother. I love the primary children singing. I miss that in a singles ward. I am going to post a picture of my mother, her mother and my dad's mother. I love my grandmothers, it has been a difficult year, because in the last two months, both of them have past away. They have been reunited with their husbands (my grandpas). They were both a huge example for me how to live my life and be an amazing mom.
My grandma Bartholomew and cousin Sam
Grandma Robison soaking in the sun!

Grades are in

I would like to make it offical. I am smart and funny. Another semester and another straight A's. Grade point average 4.00. OH YEH

Sad Sad Sad Day! A moment of Silence please

So, this past month, I made the switch from official Washington resident to Utah resident. I have a Utah Driver's License and changed my plates. I cried and mourned. It was very difficult.
A moment of silence.

Lagoon and Clogging

I was able to go to Lagoon for my first time. It is an amusement park in Odgen. My nieces had "Nationals" for clogging there, so I went to support them and ride rides with them. Halle went first, then Breelynn competed for under 3 group, and Taylor. They did really well. It was fun to ride a ride with each of them.

SHOUT OUT for Yearbooks

Ok, I am receiving pressure to send a shout out to all my school friends/cohort. The ladies I spent most of my time with this year. I will miss them for the summer. I looked forward going to class and talking with them each week. I will see them next year. We laughed because these are the kind of things you write in a yearbook.

Some favorite overuse yearbook phrases, they are probably still in your yearbooks;
It has been a great year in gym with you.
We should hang out sometime this summer, give me a call.
See you next year.
See you this summer.
You are so nice and kind.
You were alot of fun this year.
Remember Mrs. ____ and science class.
What a great year in English class.
Stay Sweet!
Don't change!
I could go on forever, but I would love to hear some favorites, please post them.

Mexican Food- it is not Cinco de Mayo yet

You will start to notice me blog more often, because I finally finished my last school assignment today. Done with the first year of graduate school.

After I got over the shock of snow today, I went and spent time with my Sister. For lunch we went to Cafe Rio. I had the Pork salad. Then, my friend, Celeste, came over after work to chill and gossip(good stuff not bad). We decided to go and grab some food. We went to Costa Vida, more Mexican, and I ordered a chicken quesadilla. She loves Mexican as much as I do. You can do Mexican twice in one day, but not Asian food. Since today was Mexican food today, I think I celebrated Cinco de Mayo earlier. whoooyoo (must be said loudly)

Southern Hemisphere?

I woke up this morning, thinking "yes, it is May 1st." Normally, in any place I have lived. I have worn shorts, because it is so hot. Well, I looked at the window and it was snowing. Not just flurries, but big flakes, sticking to the grass and rooftops. I thought do I live in the Southern Hemisphere and winter is starting? No, we have already put all the winter clothes away. I am pondering wearing shorts and flip flops to stick it to the snow. Hello, we are done with you. Stop snowing.