What's Happenin'

It's been a while since my last post! Whoops, sorry about that! I just realized about an hour ago that I hadn't written anything on my blog for several weeks... that either happens when I'm really excitedly busy and don't have time (or am too exhausted) to sit down at my computer and put words together, or when I'm good and bored, and have not much to write about. It's probably a combination of the two, this time. Anyways... what have I been up to?
I just went ice-skating with friends tonight! That was awesome! I didn't expect that to be something I would be doing in Australia, but they were actually some pretty decent skaters out there. Not to mention me! Umm, yeah... I totally biffed it, but only once. And because I only fell once, I did better than I thought I would! We were going around the rink pretty darn fast there at the end of the two hours of skating. Big achievement night! I think my feet might be a bit sore tomorrow, but it'll be worth it!
Sarah had her 2nd birthday party a couple weeks back. It was amazing, with a GIANT (literally, giant. It was like 20 kilos) "Frozen" cake! Frozen the movie, not a frozen ice cream cake or something. The party was at an indoor playground and consisted of HEAPS of food and bunches of adorable toddlers running around. Completely awesome party!
I've joined a new (second) Bible study. Well, actually, it's a home group, but same difference. We're just getting going, but I already feel like it's going to be a great time! So, looking forward to that to pick up.
The rest of my previous activities are pretty straight-forward, but while they were great fun, there's not much to tell about them... I went and had fish n' chips with the host-fam, went to lunch with friends on Sunday after church, then went to a South African-ish church later that evening, and today, I also went to the cinema to see Rio 2! (The one with the birds) (It was great!)
As of last week, both my ticket to New Zealand and my ticket home are booked and paid for. This is definitely giving me mixed feelings! Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited to be home and see everyone and everything I've missed for the past 5 months. But I keep finding myself trying to think of excuses to come back to Perth. Maybe romance? No? Okay. Drat. I love my job, but I'd love to see what it was like to live in this place while having my own life and making my own schedule. Not that I don't have a life, now. In truth, I'm probably about 10x more social than I was back in California (Sorry, Californian peoples! I'll do better when I get back, promise!). Every week just about I'm going out for food or tea or coffee or just hanging out with friends, and it's wonderful! There is just something about chatting one-on-one or two-on-one with people over food or drink that makes me able to talk deeply about things. That's something I've never been particularly good at or comfortable doing in the past, but now I cherish those moments.
Anyhow, that's about all that's gone on as of late! There's my exciting but now normal life! Two and a half more months until it's turned around again!

USA DAY and Friends! And other deep stuff.

Thus commenced my first strictly American holiday outside of America. As I am not a hugely patriotic person, I wasn't expecting to really miss Independence Day. But as the 4th grew closer, I started feeling a little down in the dumps about missing out on the traditional barbeques, fireworks, and wonderful family get-togethers. Lucky for me, I have awesome friends!

 

What's more American than freshly baked apple pie? Anything? No, I thought not! And it was even better than it would have been back in the States because we weren't eating it in 100 degree heat! So ha! In fact, apple pie is best on rainy, winter evenings, watching movies! I know this now from experience. 

Besides this delicious pie, on Saturday I went to a BBQ (hosted by some other Americans. Go us!) with genuine American hot dogs and buns, chili, sparklers, and not one, but two USA flag cakes! Aaaand we sang "Happy Birthday" to America. Yup. I'm sure the other people at the park thought we were weird. But oh well.

Today (Sunday), the weekend finished strong with a friend's birthday party, dozens of new faces to become acquainted with, and, wouldn't you know it, MORE YUMMY CAKE! Wow. I'm only realizing this now, how much sugary stuff I ate this weekend. I think I'm going to have to diet next week. But it was worth it! Anyhow, I sat at a table in this bar (never been in a real bar, but have to say, I think Aussie ones are a lot nicer than American ones. It was pretty much a restaurant that just served more drinks than food.) and talked with a few different people for a good fours hours. The time flew by, and I listened and chatted and delved into several deep-ish topics of future careers, spiritual warfare, God's will, and faith in general. Super conversations with super people. I have come to realize that the friends I have made here have only known me, what, 3-4 months, and they already know me better than probably most of the people back home. I just connect so easily, and find it so easy to talk about myself and my feelings and fears and hopes and dreams. It could be (well, I pretty much know it is) because I basically forced myself to leave behind everyone and everything familiar, and in the chasm of my empty social life, my Aussie friends have filled the gap. I'm going to be so very sad to say goodbye in a mere three months, but am excited to go home and actually start taking advantage of the wonderful relationships I left behind. I have recently realized that I hardly put any value on relationships in the past. That is going to change, people back home! We are going to be so freakin' social you all won't know what time of day it is! 

There you go, my weekend in a nutshell! And a bit more from my soul. :) Hope you all had a wonderful Fourth, and that summer is not to terrible... 

... yeah, like that could happen. 

Loves! xoxo