Return to Australia: 3 weeks in my home away from home 19 Sep 2015 10:05 AM (10 years ago)

Return to Oz

Three months ago we had just landed in Australia and had a three week trip ahead of us! I was thrilled to return to a country I love and had been missing for several years.

It’s hard to wrap my head around how much the trip meant to me leading up to our departure, how much I tried to enjoy every second of the 3 weeks, and how I feel now that it’s over. But I’m going to try below to share both the good and the challenging things. And I hope if nothing else, I hope you can walk away from this post knowing that this gal a) LOVES Australia and b) is so thankful for the experiences I’ve had there.

Travel Days

I’m not a full-time traveler, but I’d like to think by now that I’m a fairly savvy one.

For some reason, this (less-than) savvy gal figured that 4 flight segments and 36-or-so hours of travel, door-to-door, wouldn’t be that bad.

It all started well enough with a free visit to the United Airlines lounge at LAX. It was our 1st ever trip to an airline’s lounge (all thanks to a free pass), and we loved having a quiet place to rest before the 15-hour flight over the Pacific.

And as we were flying into Sydney, we were offered stunning sunrise views. I couldn’t stop taking photos, though the photos pale in comparison to the real thing.

It all got a bit tricky after landing in Sydney. We weren’t quite done traveling! Three hours later we flew 1.5 hours to Melbourne, and by the time we landed, I was exhausted and quickly became Grumpy McGrumpyPants.

Instead of paying for public transport, which would involve some walking to our Airbnb apartment with luggage, we booked an Uber ride for the 1st time, only realizing the app had defaulted to the luxury service after being dropped off. Starting off the trip by spending WAY too much money and being sleep deprived wasn’t the ideal start, but long travel days are rarely easy!

Food

If you followed the year I spent living in Australia, you’ll know I largely spent the year exploring the country through its food. This 3-week trip wasn’t too different.

As usual, I spent HOURS reading about cafes and restaurants we could visit. BUT, unlike any other trip before it, this time health issues limited the types of foods I can eat. I’ve largely avoided gluten and dairy for nearly a decade, but over the last three years, I’ve developed a host of food allergies and have been become very intolerant to entire food groups.

Thankfully I found delicious and safe places to eat, and I talked all about them on my NEW health and wellness blog Healthy Life Heather.

Coffee is a HUGE part of Australian culture. While I miss lattes and mochas with cow’s milk, plenty of cafes throughout both Melbourne and Sydney now make espresso drinks with almond or coconut milk.

Since adopting a Paleo diet a year ago, I still find myself missing carb-focused breakfasts on the weekend. This savory breakfast dish, however, hit the spot and became my fave cafe meal of the trip.

It’s hard to say no to dessert. While I was super sad to miss out on decadent desserts from my favorite patisseries, quite a few cafes served Paleo versions that (mostly) made up for their gluten and dairy filled counterparts.

While health issues currently have me on a strict diet, I wanted Gav to enjoy some of my old favorites! He was happy to take one for the team and try both savory and sweet pastries from Bourke Street Bakery and Black Star Pastry.

And of course he had to try FRESH macarons from THE Adriano Zumbo. Even though I can no longer have macarons, Gav willingly kept the No Macaron Left Behind Mission alive.

Friends

A return trip to Oz wouldn’t have been complete without catching up with friends! In fact, the main reason we chose Melbourne as our 2nd city is because of the people.

During our first week, we caught up with James, Darren and Cherril, Deidre of DecoyBetty, and Dan and Paul. We spent all of our time eating and chatting, and I managed to leave Victoria without a single photo of anyone!

In Sydney, caught up with Brooke at her Aroamas stand at The Rocks Market. I met Brooke early during the year in Oz, and when I got home, I spent a year writing articles for her (then new) site Her Packing List. I took a photo of Brooke!

I also met up with Jayne and Justin, who I met for the 1st time in London the same week I met Gav for the 1st time, Toni, who I’ve wanted to meet for ages, and Rebecca, a former coworker I’ve stayed connected with on Facebook.

We truly enjoyed connecting with everyone, and I regret not taking out my phone for a quick Instagram snap! And then there are 8-10 others we wanted to meet up with, but our schedules never aligned. Three weeks just isn’t enough!

Sports

No trip to Australia would be complete for me without attending a sporting event. Thankfully we were able to buy tickets for rugby’s State of Origin match between the Queensland Maroons (my team since 2006!) and New South Wales Blues at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Maroons lost the match, but they went on to win the series!

Home

Australia is my home away from home.

After my first trip in 2006, I couldn’t wait to return for an entire year in 2010. I absolutely fell in love with Australia while living there, and I missed it terribly when I had to return to the USA in 2011.

This 3-week trip was my first opportunity to return to Australia since 2011, and I wanted so much from this trip. I wanted to reconnect with everyone I knew who was still there. I wanted to feel that special mix of excitement, comfort, and HOME that I felt last time. And I wanted Gav to love Australia too.

While I LOVED reconnecting with friends in-and-around Melbourne, it wasn’t until we flew to Sydney for weeks 2 and 3 that we felt like we were on holiday and I finally felt like I was home. Melbourne has a lot to offer, but it’s doesn’t click with me like Sydney can and does. Gav found the same to be true for him.

Walking along the streets of Sydney and strolling around the Harbour felt like a massive hug, a summer thunderstorm, and a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy winter’s day. Sydney is one of my favorite places in the world.

We paused a while to enjoy the views and had a drink at the outdoor bar near the Opera House. A sparkling pink moscato seemed festive!

Although it was winter, we wouldn’t have asked for more beautiful, sunny days. I’d never seen Bondi Beach look so beautiful.

One day, we took the train to my old stomping grounds in the Inner West suburb of Petersham. I showed Gav my bus stop, the Portuguese eateries along the main road, the shop where I cashed in my winning bet in the Melbourne Cup, and my old apartment building. Petersham is a quiet little neighborhood, but it was a big part of my year in Oz.

Holiday

During our time in Sydney, we took a 2-day city break to travel to the Hunter Valley, a wine region I’d wanted to visit for ages – and it didn’t disappoint! Though Sydney feels like home, the Hunter Valley made us feel like we were both on holiday AND at home. I plan on writing one more post about our time in the Hunter – it’ll likely be the next post.

Until next time

As much as I love Sydney and it welcomed me back with open arms, something was different on this trip. A few questions and fears popped up that I couldn’t quite shake. Above all, I wondered when I’d have the opportunity to return to Australia again.

When I left Oz in 2011, I dreamed big travel things and imagined I’d return every 2 years for 3 months at a time. I never imagined 4 years would pass. And since it took 4 years this time, how long will it be until the next trip?

I know I’m INCREDIBLY fortunate to have visited even once. Lucky me has been 3 times, and the 2nd time was for an entire year.

But it was that second year that spoiled me. I LIVED in Australia FOR A YEAR. I worked, traveled, made friends, discovered a new love for food, and grew as a person. I found a place outside of Virginia that I could just as easily and happily call home. And then I had to leave it.

Australia will always be very dear to my heart, and it hurts to think that Australia may be a chapter of my life that is finished. Closed. Done. I’m crying just typing this.

My health issues have certainly taken up a lot of our money and time over the last few years. Kind of makes saving up for travel difficult.

Even if we could save more, we each have 3-4 weeks of vacation each year. Of course we want to return to England often to see family and friends, and with most of my friends living across the US and around the world, there’s just not enough vacation days or money to make all of the trips possible.

Though I may not know what the future holds for me and Oz, I’m grateful for every moment I’ve had in the country, from the friendships to the delicious food, gorgeous scenery, and life lessons learned.

Our Hunter Valley getaway: Hunter Valley Resort review 20 Jul 2015 8:15 AM (10 years ago)

Hunter Valley Resort review

As soon as we began discussing our recent 3-week trip to Australia, I knew I wanted to include a visit to the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s well-known wine regions. Just 2-3 hours from Sydney (depending on traffic), the Hunter Valley offers Sydneysiders, Aussies, and travelers alike a getaway from city life.

We were fortunate to stay in the Hunter Valley Resort overnight during our 2-day getaway and were surprised to discover how much the resort has to offer guests. After an enjoyable 2-day, 1-night trip to the Hunter Valley, I plan on returning for a 3-5 day visit the next time I’m in Australia.

Hunter Valley 2-day getaway

I’ve wanted to visit the Hunter Valley ever since I lived, worked, and traveled in Australia for a year on the Work and Holiday Visa (2010-2011). Somehow, despite living in Australia for a year, I never made it to the Hunter!

I also couldn’t pass up a visit to the Hunter Valley after recently becoming more involved with a local organic winery back home. In the last few months, I’ve helped bottle 750 bottles of wine and plant 100+ new vines. I have a whole new appreciation for the wine-making process and wanted to explore another of Australia’s wine regions.

When I think of the Hunter Valley, I also think of one of my favorite reality shows from when I lived in Australia — Farmer Wants a Wife. Each season of the show began and ended in the Hunter Valley, and I always thought the views were so beautiful.

Above all, Aussies and fellow travelers often referred to the Hunter Valley as a special, romantic destination, and since this is Gavin’s first trip to Australia, I wanted us to have a special trip-within-the-trip.

Hunter Valley Resort: something for everyone

It didn’t take long after leaving Sydney to arrive in the Hunter Valley! We enjoyed tastings at two cellars doors as well as lunch before arriving at the Hunter Valley Resort for our 2:00pm check-in.

After checking in and settling into the room, we explored the grounds and quickly realized that the resort wasn’t just a place to sleep for the night! The resort offers various activities and tours to meet a variety of interests. We could have easily stayed a third day just to take advantage of everything the resort has to offer. In fact, the resort has its own tasting room, offering wines from several boutique wineries, so it’s possible to have the whole Hunter Valley experience without leaving the property.

With so many options, it can be difficult to choose which activities to include when your time is limited:

• onsite vineyard and winery tours (Guided Vine Experience)
• wine tasting
• Wine Theatre (30 minute experience)
• Wine School (2 hour experience)
• beer tasting at the Matilda Bay Brewhouse
• cooking class
• candy making class
• grape stomping experience
• horse riding
• massage
• segway tours (which proved to be popular)
• and yes, more!

I wanted to book a lomi lomi massage after experiencing an incredible lomi lomi massage in Hawaii, but sadly we were too short on time. If I could do it over, I’d stay longer just to enjoy this style of massage in such a relaxing place.

We walked past the tennis courts, along the walking trail, and eventually popped into the library, which was unexpected but warm and inviting. If the staff had not been busy setting up the room for an event the next evening, I would have curled up with a good book once the sun set. The room was so cozy.

After chatting about the options, we decided to enjoy breakfast at the resort the next morning (lunch and dinner are also available on site) before participating in the Guided Vine Experience.

If you have the time, I highly recommend the Guided Vine Experience! Our guide Bill was very knowledgeable and passionate about the Hunter Valley and the wine making process. We began outdoors near Shiraz vines with an interactive discussion about the vines themselves – I learned so much I couldn’t help taking notes! We later moved indoors and learned about the small differences in how white and red wines are made. I gained much more from the tour than I was expecting.

Hunter Valley Resort: Vineyard room stay

The Hunter Valley Resort offers several types of rooms and cottages to meet different needs. We enjoyed our one-night stay in a Vineyard Room, which offers views of the vineyard and a king size bed.

The exterior of the Resort offers a rustic, natural feel, which I thought was in perfect harmony with the vineyards, valley, farm land, and wine country. Before we arrived, somehow the word “resort” had brought to mind images of modern, sleek designs. Instead, the exterior wood-cabin-like feel blended into the surroundings naturally.

Inside, we found a large, comfortable room, with a mix of modern and rustic features. While the king size bed and bathroom offered more modern features, the rest of the furniture contributed to the rustic cabin feel.

I was appreciative of the extra touches that the room offered, like a kettle to make tea and coffee, and a mini-refrigerator, which we used to keep meals we packed (due to my food allergies) nice and chilled. Two bottles of water were waiting for us in the room, plus additional chilled spring water in the fridge.

Overall, the room was a wonderful place to stay. It was clean, comfortable, and cozy.

Hunter Valley Resort: vineyard views

Without a doubt, one of my favorite things about our stay at the resort were the beautiful vineyard and country views. They reminded me of the peaceful and gorgeous landscape we have back home in Virginia.

After checking in, we visited two wineries before returning to the resort for the evening. Though we’d missed sunset, we hadn’t completely missed that day’s light and color show. I wandered around for at least 30 minutes, soaking up the moment and taking photos.

From the sunset views, to the comfortable room, wine tasting, and Guided Vine Experience, I enjoyed every moment at the Hunter Valley Resort and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to friends or stay there again. By offering something for everyone, I can’t think of a better place to spend a night (or more) while enjoying a Hunter Valley getaway.

You can learn more about the Hunter Valley Resort on their website or connect with them on Facebook.

Disclosure: We were guests of the Hunter Valley Resort. They didn’t ask me to take dozens of photos at sunset, feel like Belle in their cozy library, thoroughly enjoy the Guided Vine Experience, or write a positive review. I happily did all four on my own.

Heather the Fantasy Football League Champion 29 Jan 2015 5:13 PM (10 years ago)

I’ve loved football from a young age.

As the first born child of a sport’s lover, I was raised with an appreciation of sports, especially college football and basketball. For almost 20 years, I’ve loyally attended almost all of my team’s home football games, rain or shine (or snow and sleet…or win or lose).

But years of watching college football couldn’t prepare me for my first season of playing Fantasy Football.

Although I’ve attended a couple of professional football games, I rarely watch an NFL game on TV. Maybe one Jets game with my family and the Superbowl each year. That’s it.

In the fall of 2013, my dad, youngest sister, and husband joined a Fantasy Football league for the first time. They had so much fun (and finished at the top of the league with my sister winning the championship!) they invited the rest of the family to play in 2014.

I declined, saying I didn’t know enough about professional players to really play and make it fun. They worked on convincing me that you don’t need to know A THING about the NFL players to play. They worked on me for months. I finally agreed!

On draft day, I realized I truly didn’t know where to start, so I searched online for guides for first-time players, suggestions of who NOT to pick, and rating sheets by position. In addition to my dad raising me to love sports, he’s raised a gal with a competitive spirit.

After the draft, I received this lovely assessment from the NFL. I was both amused and proud! I may not have known what I was doing, but I fumbled through it well enough. I especially like the first bullet point.

Nearly halfway into the season I found myself in the middle of the pack with a 3-3 record. Our league of family and friends (plus one random guy who somehow sneaked in) were all in it to win it. Interestingly enough, one of the other two new Fantasy Football players claimed the top of the leader board for weeks and seemed unbeatable.

As the new gal, I started taking notes from my fierce, experienced competitors. And after the mid point of the season, I picked up a new player to replace one of my starters who had just suffered a season-ending injury. This player went on to be a huge contributing factor to me eventually winning the LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP!

Odell Beckham, thank you for your part in all of this.

In addition to thanking Odell Beckham, I need to thank my husband for not teasing me too badly when I agonized for hours over who to start on the tough weeks.

I’m looking forward to playing again with the same league next year and perhaps starting a league for first-time players.

Return to Oz 22 Dec 2014 7:25 AM (10 years ago)

I think most of us have seen The Wizard of Oz at least once.

But hopefully most of you have been spared the film Return to Oz.

When I was a little girl, my dad would rent a couple of movies for us to enjoy on snow days. And one cold, dreadful day, dad brought home Return to Oz. He assumed that I’d love to see more of Dorothy’s adventures, and as the opening credits began to roll, I assumed I’d like it too.

And then things, very quickly, went very, very wrong.

You’d want to hide under the covers too.

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Return to Oz is CREEPY. Granted, this is coming from a kid who was freaked out by E.T. and had to leave the room at the flying monkeys scene in The Wizard of Oz. But still, Return to Oz took creepy to a new level.

And bless dad’s heart, he didn’t realize how traumatizing I found the movie, so once a year he’d rent it again, and silly me, thinking that maybe, just maybe the film wasn’t as odd as I remembered, I’d watch it again. Yeah.

But. BUT. I have some FANTASTIC news that I think will redeem the words “return to Oz” in my mind forever.

Ever since I left Australia in 2011, I’ve wanted to return.

But seeing as how I’d spent almost all of my travel savings LIVING in Oz for a year, I couldn’t afford another trip. Until now.

Thanks to airline miles, accumulated through a combo of flights and credit card usage, Gav and I are bound for Oz in June! It doesn’t get much better than 2 free round trip flights — except business or first class. But I’m an economy trooper.

This will be my 3rd trip to Australia and Gavin’s 1st, so I’m also really looking forward to introducing him to my home away from home.

Carmen Sandiego was ready to hop a flight to Oz on Halloween!

While we’ve been brainstorming ideas for the trip for months, we’re only just now kicking off the research and planning.

After living in Australia for a year, I know three weeks will FLY by, and we don’t want to try to fit in so much that we don’t enjoy ourselves. We’ll probably use my slower approach to travel and focus on two cities (Melbourne and Sydney) with a few day trips here and there.

In Melbourne, I’m looking forward to catching up with a few friends, introducing Gav to the cafe culture (hopefully finding some paleo eats for me), and attending a couple of sporting events. We loved using Airbnb in Hawaii, so we plan on finding the perfect place and renting a car so we can enjoy the spots that are more difficult to reach on public transportation.

When we’re in Sydney, I want to show Gav all of my old favorites and find new places to explore. We’d also like a couple of days in the Hunter Valley as I’ve never been. And of course, there’s the people! I look forward to seeing Aussie and expat friends again, and maybe I’ll get to meet Adriano Zumbo! While I won’t be able to enjoy his treats (unless he has some grain and dairy free tricks up his sleeves!), I have to show Gav where the No Macaron Left Behind mission was born.

Weather permitting, I’d love a helicopter tour SOMEWHERE. A gracious friend offered me the opportunity to enjoy one last time, but I didn’t take her up on the offer and wish I had. We loved our tour over the Big Island of Hawaii during our honeymoon, so you know I’ll be researching our options.

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I’m so happy that Christmas came early and I’m using the magic of airline miles to return to Oz.

And because it’s been over 20-25 years since I last saw Return to Oz, I’m thinking of giving it another go. Maybe it won’t be so freaky this time?!

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My job search in Australia with the WHV 7 Oct 2014 10:24 AM (11 years ago)

Four years ago I was on a road trip, traveling along the east coast of Australia from Cairns to Sydney! As soon as I returned to Sydney, I kicked off my job search.

I wrote the following post a few weeks after landing a job, publishing it elsewhere. Since it hasn’t been online for a couple of years, I wanted to give it life again.

For six years before heading to Australia I provided guidance to 18-22 year olds, coaching and counseling them as they navigated the career decision-making process. Bright and engaging university students came to my office to share their hopes, discuss their fears, and take action steps in discovering what life may hold after graduation.

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One of the goals of many students was to live, travel, volunteer, or work abroad. With my strong interest in travel, I quickly became known as the “go-to” counselor for all things international. I was no expert by any means, but I loved introducing advisees to new resources and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

After several years of supporting others in following their passions, I decided it was time for me to take my own advice and chase my big dream — to live in another country for a year. Australia captured my heart in 2006, and the country’s Work and Holiday Visa made it the ideal choice for transforming a dream into reality.

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My primary aim in Australia was to live and travel with minimal emphasis on the work. However, no matter how much I had saved for the year Down Under, I knew the working portion of a working holiday would eventually become a necessity! And, I was slightly curious if I would be able to follow the guidance, tips, and advice I had shared with so many students to secure a new work experience of my own half way around the world.

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Looking back now on the job search quest, I am reminded of some valuable lessons and am glad I listened to my own advice.

Take advantage of the opportunity to explore different interests

Before leaving for Australia, many friends, family members, and colleagues asked if I intended to look for work at a university, particularly as a career counselor. I was surprised at their surprise when my answer was no. After all, I can always return to career counseling in the future, and there may never be a better time in my life to explore other interests. Why not try something new that I may not necessarily pursue as a long-term option back home?

I love food and have a rather even split between eating very healthfully and having a wicked sweet tooth. A commitment to exercise and interest in nutrition (yes, even with the chocoholic in me) reflects my desire to live a healthy lifestyle.

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With these interests in mind I looked into a few fitness centers, cafes, and restaurants, and started a list of “potential places to work”. In the end I did not apply to most of them, but it was a good exercise to help me brainstorm ways of trying something new.

Be open to unexpected opportunities, keep your eyes open, and tell people what you’re looking for

Several times through the first few months of travel, I was encouraged to apply for opportunities I would never have imagined! One of these intriguing offers presented itself when I was not looking and least expected it.

Being a fan of Aussie sports helped my job search

Mid-way through a 6-day tour of the Outback, our guide mentioned that the company was in need of “hosts” to cook, clean, and assist on the slightly higher end tours that cater to an older demographic. At our next stop I asked the guide for more details, and before I knew it, I was chatting (i.e. interviewing!) with the manager by the campfire. While I may not possess stellar cooking skills, I can clean and play hostess like a champ! What really dazzled him, however, was my knowledge of Aussie sports. Once I mentioned my favorite players and teams by name (which just also happened to be his!), he was so impressed that he gave me his card and encouraged me to follow up after the tour. I would never have thought to look for work with a tour company operating in the Outback and was amazed that such a unique opportunity had simply fallen into my lap!

Know your values (career/work and personal) and use them to guide you

At whatever stage we begin to ask ourselves “what do I want to be ‘when I grow up’” or “what will I do after high school/college/uni”, I think we often look to our skills and interests to find answers and pay less attention to our values. A good career counselor encourages one to assess how our skills, interests, personality, and values may (or may not!) work together to suggest possible career paths.

As I considered the job search, my primary aim was to work for an organization whose mission and/or culture promotes a healthy lifestyle. Because I chose for this to be the guiding force in my search, I decided not to pursue the Outback tour company’s offer further.

I heart veggies.

At the time I was unsure of my decision – how many people get an opportunity to sleep under the stars, meet a new group of people every few days, and see some of Australia’s most beautiful land, all while getting paid to do so?! But what I learned on my own tour helped me make the right decision: The tour food was not the healthiest, and while it was fine for a week, I did not want to eat that way for months on end. Due to weather and early morning starts, we only managed a few hours of sleep per night. Working for the company would mean even earlier starts. Between the lack of food options and sleep, I knew I wanted to treat my body better and would wait for something that was more in sync with my values.

How in the world did I run for 2 hours and 23 minutes straight?!

A personal value that came into play was a need for honesty. Once I returned to Sydney and began actively searching, I found that nearly all positions of interest wanted applicants with 2+ years of hospitality experience or “all around cafe” experts with significant experience. Other than years of babysitting, one summer of telemarketing, and two summers of clothing retail, all of my work as been in the university research or advising setting. Several acquaintances or new friends told me to lie and say I had experience – if I didn’t, I would not find a position, and apparently people made up previous experience all the time on their CVs/resumes! I know Sydney, like many big cities, has a competitive job market. Locals and travelers vie for the same positions, and without related experience, a job seeker is unlikely to be considered. But padding my resume with fake experiences and lying during an interview were not options for me. If I could not find a job with my current experiences and skill sets, then I wasn’t looking hard enough.

In my experience, taking our values into consideration often helps us make choices between two equally attractive options and can help us make the difficult (but wise) decision of not pursuing something.

Keep your search manageable

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When I returned to Sydney after 3.5 months of travel, I had an interview right away that a new friend helped me secure with her aunt’s organization. While I waited for a response, I revisited my list of “potential places to work”. I considered contacting them all at once but decided to prioritize my options and contact only 2-3 per day, via email or in person. In doing so, I hoped to keep communication and potential interviews more manageable. I am so glad I did!

On day four of the job search, I dropped by a cupcake bakery (so much for eating healthfully – but remember the sweet tooth!) and asked to speak with a manager. After just a few questions, she offered me a “trial” for just a few days later! The next day, I visited an organic food store to follow up on an email I had sent earlier in the week. Once again, the manager asked a few simple questions and then offered me a trial on the same day and time as the cupcake manager. Wow.

Thankfully the choice between the two was relatively easy. Cupcakes are great, but surrounding myself with organic produce, gluten free products, and people who care about wellness made the health food store the clear winner. As the search moved much more quickly than I anticipated, I was glad to only have a few options to consider.

So where am I now?

After successful completion of a trial at the organic food store (in which I was thrown right into the thick of things to see how I’d respond!), I have been a cashier at the store for just over a month! I would never have guessed this is where I would be just a few months ago, but looking back on the search I see how everything led me to this point. I chose to focus more on the type of organization I wanted to work for and less on the job title itself.

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By working at the store I receive a free staff meal and two free coffees per shift. I have learned to identify fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are new to me. The employee discount at our café means I can buy healthy, delicious meals on the cheap. Most of my coworkers are young and friendly; customers amuse, entertain, and challenge me daily; and on every shift at least one person takes note of my accent, asks why I am here, and encourages me in my decision.

I am not sure where life will take me in the next few months, if I will eventually return to career counseling, or what the long-term future holds. But just like my job search, if I give space and time to the process and allow for the unexpected (with a dose of thought, planning, and intention), I know it will unfold as it should.

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One Tree Hill locations in Wilmington, North Carolina 22 Sep 2014 4:03 PM (11 years ago)

My entire family LOVES One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek.

I have my two younger sisters to thank for both shows. During my second year of grad school, I procrastinated on writing my thesis by watching back-to-back episodes of TV shows during winter break. I didn’t think I’d be interested in either show, but with just a few episodes I was hooked.

When we decided to visit Wilmington this summer, we knew we had to locate a few of the filming locations, and addresses are very easy to find online. Dawson’s parents’ house is on private property, so we decided to give it a miss and respect the family’s privacy, but we did scout out these easy to find, familiar spots.

One Tree Hill filming locations (and a bonus Dawson’s Creek spot)

We thought of Lucas Scott wearing a Scott Body Shop hoodie and dribbling a basketball as soon as we saw this bridge.

If you want to find this bridge from the opening theme from the show, it’s the 6th Street Bridge. You can find it near North 6th and Hanover Street.

On the Cape Fear River near the USS North Carolina Battleship you’ll find the former location of the show’s famous River Court. The basketball court was pulled up once One Tree Hill ended, but the location and views were unmistakable.

The Scott brothers played high school basketball at the Whitey Durham field house, named for the Tree Hill Ravens’ coach Whitey Durham. We traveled to the Schwartz Center at the Cape Fear Community College to find the exterior of the gym. The building is on the corner of Front St and Hanover St.

At the corner of Corner of Grace St. and N Front St. we found the familiar store front for the location that doubled as Karen’s Cafe and Clothes Over Bros. I’d love to open a cafe at this intersection!

From these locations, we moved on to finding the homes of three main characters.

Peyton Sawyer was my favorite OTH character. I wanted to see the exterior of her house.

One website directed us to 1901 Market Street, but it’s actually located at 1901 Chestnut St. When we stopped for a brief photo, another car full of devoted fans pulled up to do the same!

You’ve gotta love Brooke Davis.

When we first meet BDavis, she’s living in her “red door” home.

One website mistakenly listed the address as 2341 Tattersalls Road. Swap the 1 and the 4, and 2314 will take you to the right place.

Once we found the homes of PSawyer and BDavis, we had to find the home of Lucas and Karen Scott.

As we pulled up to 1829 Wrightsville Avenue, I wondered how many times the people on this street see folks like us pulling up for a quick picture. Thank you people of Wilmington for your years of patience!

We ended our afternoon of driving with a visit to one of the most well-loved spots in the Dawson’s Creek series — the wall Pacey gave to Joey.

At first we couldn’t find it. In fact, twice before finding the REAL wall, we took photos of other walls and hoped we’d found the right spot.

Finally, we spotted THE WALL. The wall Pacey bought for Joey. The “ASK ME TO STAY” wall.

Directly across the street from The Reel Cafe at 100 S. Front St., we knew we’d finally found it. Just remove the outdoor dining furniture.

My first trip to Wilmington wouldn’t have been complete without an afternoon of driving around town, finding the locations above.

Are you a fellow One Tree Hill or Dawson’s Creek fan?

Have you ever visited the sets and locations of one of your favorite TV shows or movies?

Let me know in the comments!

3 trips in 2014 1 Sep 2014 7:00 AM (11 years ago)

Although I haven’t been out of the country in 2014, I’ve traveled three times domestically and haven’t yet shared photos or talked about those trips!

In February, I flew to San Francisco to spend a long weekend with my travel partner and best friend Nicole. I hadn’t seen her since my May 2013 wedding, so we spent plenty of time catching up and walking around Berkeley and downtown San Francisco.

During the visit, we met up with three other friends I know in the Bay Area, including fellow travel blogger Rebecca, my friend of 10+ years Dennis, and Shibo, a fellow Wahoo.

Nicole and I spent a sunny morning touring the campus of UC Berkeley, followed by a long afternoon walk around town, filled with plenty of window shopping.

This was only my second trip to the Bay Area, and since I’d never visited Alcatraz, Nicole, Dennis, and I spent a few hours getting to know the well-known prison.

Nicole and I stepped into the solitary confinement cell but kept the door open!

A few months later, Gav and I became tourists in our own backyard when Caroline and Duncan traveled all the way from London to spend a week with us.

With all the food we knew we’d be eating, we included a hike in the nearby mountains early in the trip.

We immediately followed the hike with lunch at Blue Mountain Brewery, where the boys enjoyed a 10-beer sampler.

Everyone loved our next stop at Veritas Vineyard and Winery, which is just down the road from the brewery. This is one of my favorite wineries to share with visitors.

Of course a trip to Charlottesville wouldn’t be complete with a tour of the University of Virginia, given by yours truly. After walking around Grounds, we decided to pop into the bookstore and show off our school spirit.

Fast forward a few weeks, and I found myself in Wilmington, North Carolina for the first time. My family usually calls the Outer Banks home for a week each year, but this summer we decided to try something new.

On day one I woke up early and joined my dad for a run. After battling runner’s knee for months, I was finally ready to kick off my return-to-running program.

During the day, we took the advice of locals and set up camp at Kure Beach. If we visit Wilmington again, I’d return to Kure Beach in a heartbeat.

In the evenings, we visited downtown Wilmington, walking along the well-known riverwalk by the Cape Fear River.

On the fourth of July, we camped out with thousands of locals and fellow visitors to watch a fireworks display. The sunset that evening was gorgeous.

One day, we decided to take a break from the beach to drive around the city and find filming locations from One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek. My family has watched both shows in their entirety — we have a thing for teenage angst and woe shows.

We were more than excited to stand where the One Tree Hill cast spent many episodes — on the grounds of the river court. Although the court was removed after the show ended, the views and scenery were still exactly as we imagined.

Not too far away, we found the bridge from One Tree Hill’s opening theme. As we took photos, I heard Gavin DeGraw singing I Don’t Want to Be.

In an upcoming post, I’m going to share more stories and photos from our Wilmington trip, including all of the One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek locations we visited. Because I am a fangirl like that.

Bucket list achievement | My first skydive 17 Aug 2014 2:12 PM (11 years ago)

Five years ago I celebrated one of my biggest bucket list achievements.

How I never managed to write about it in the 4+ years I’ve had this blog, I don’t know.

But we’re approaching the end of summer, and as I’ve spent the afternoon reminiscing about my first skydiving experience, I thought I’d share some photos.

You know, to prove I actually did it.

Why did I jump out of a plane?

Before I started my master’s degree, I promised myself that when I graduated, I’d do something I’d been wanting to do for years. Skydive.

Two years later, I graduated, went to Australia for three weeks, started my new job, and spent the summer wanting to skydive. But I didn’t want to go alone, and I never found a willing partner.

Until the next summer. Enter one of my work colleagues and her mother. The three of us bravely signed up for a tandem skydive with a local company, and a group of supporters rallied around us.

We arrived at the hanger to find some encouraging words.

After checking in, we watched an informative safety video before signing our lives away at least 12 different times. Notice we were still smiling though.

Before we could jump, we had to learn about technique and how to work with our tandem jump master.

And I marveled at the folks who packed the parachutes. You couldn’t pay me enough to do that job.

Once our lessons were done, it was time to wait. For a long time. Nerves settled in but I smiled anyway.

Eventually it was time to suit up!

And meet my jump master, who would really do all of the hard work. He was clearly more relaxed though.

Once on board, the nerves REALLY kicked in.

Seriously…don’t I look THRILLED?!

I still remember standing in the doorway and the jump master counting to 3…and on 3 we fell out of the plane.

I LOVED the first minute or so of free fall. Incredible. I also loved the attractive look I achieved with my goggles.

When it was time to open the parachute, the force pulled up one side of my pants leg and pushed the other side over my shoe!

Before I knew it, we were coming in for the landing.

And once we landed, I wanted to get back on the plane and jump the rest of the day.

A few weeks later, I was still incredibly proud of my skydive, but I no longer felt the need to jump out of a plane and free fall toward the earth again.

Five years later, maybe, just maybe I’d consider another jump. After all, it would certainly fit one of my life quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt to “do one thing every day that scares you.” But not today.

What’s one of your favorite bucket list achievements?!

10 travel questions, the Liebster Blog Awards 5 Aug 2014 2:16 PM (11 years ago)

Confession: I’ve been really Oz-sick lately.

It’s been over three years since I returned to the USA after living in Australia for a year, and I never thought I’d go that long without a return trip.

Thankfully my girl Priya is currently in Australia on the Work and Holiday Visa, and I’m able to live vicariously through her adventures.

When she nominated me for the Liebster Blog Awards, I HAD to accept. Thank you, m’dear! Here are answers to your 10 questions.

Are you a big city person or small town/ suburb/ countryside person? Explain.

I L-O-V-E traveling to big cities. The energy of a city makes me feel alive. I love exploring the various neighborhoods with their different cultures. What I enjoy most might be exploring the food.

When it comes to living, I think I prefer a smaller town. My current home of Charlottesville, Virginia is home to 50,000 and our county has about 100,000. Charlottesville was recently named the happiest city in the USA. I know I love it.

On a weekend, I love driving through the country side on our way to a winery or farmer’s market. Something about the sunshine and mountain views puts me at ease.

What were 3 sacrifices you had to make in the name of budget travel?

There was the time I booked a 12-person room in Barcelona because the hostels were so expensive. When Nicole and I arrived, it was actually an 18-person room and we couldn’t afford anything smaller. As we got settled in for our first night on thin mattresses on plywood (that we had to scale a tall, super narrow ladder to access), Nicole noticed what we lovingly dubbed “dust beasts” on the pipe above our heads. We stayed in this awful place for a week.

Then there was the time we decided to forgo showers for a few day stretch to save a few bucks on the 2.5 month Australia road trip. Park at a free site = no showers. Pay to park at a RV caravan park = showers. After about a month we got into the habit of only paying for showers every third night. I like to think the three of us smelled just fine.

And then there were the handful of times I’ve endured rude, disrespectful roommates because hostels make travel affordable. What really gets under my skin are the folks who return at all hours, flip on lights, drunkenly talk at full volume for an hour, and act like their holiday is much more important than anything else.

If you had to travel for one month with an unlimited budget or one year on $10,000, which one would you choose? Why?

A year on $10,000, easy.

While I’m interested to know what it’s like to travel luxuriously, I’ve always preferred traveling for longer, making my money last. If I had one month on an unlimited budget, I’m sure I’d do some amazing things, but the time would pass by so quickly that it would all be over before I knew it. Give me 10k, which would easily last a year in many parts of the year, and I’d take the time to explore just a place or two really well.

But hey, I’m not opposed to winning the lottery.

Did you ever visit a place and felt like it wasnâ€t worth the time or money?

I can’t say yes, because “it’s not worth the time or money” is too harsh for the place I visited and didn’t quite connect with.

But, it’s no secret to long-term readers that I didn’t feel that new-destination-something for Barcelona.

I did like listening to this band perform.

I loved traveling with Nicole. I loved that we decided to stay for two weeks, get to know the city, and do a few day trips instead of traveling all over Spain in that time. But of all the international destinations I’ve ever visited, I connected the least with Barcelona.

How long can you travel nonstop from place to place before you need a break?

I don’t think I’ve ever really had to test this. When I think of this question, I think of someone doing a RTW trip and changing locations somewhat frequently — even if it’s city to city within the same country.

I did see so much of Australia, but I wasn’t constantly on the go. For the first 3.5 months, I was usually in one city for a couple of weeks before traveling elsewhere. However, after 3.5 months, I was ready to stop living in hostels and start living in a flat.

Though I once got really lucky and scored a bottom bunk that was a double/full bed!

I set up shop in the Inner West of Sydney and worked at a local natural/health foods store for about 3.5 months. Then I spent the rest of my time in Oz traveling around the country in a van with two friends. And on that road trip, I never grew tired of being on the go, seeing new places, and camping just about anywhere.

Do you prefer to travel alone or with someone? Explain.

I love my travel partners, but there is something about traveling alone that’s special.

I’ve met so many people when traveling alone that I probably wouldn’t have met if I was traveling with someone else.

When I travel alone, time is my own. If I want to walk all day one day and see a new city on foot, I can do that. If I want to do little of nothing and relax all day, I can do that too. When I’m traveling solo, I can spend my time where I want and leave a place if I want.

But I also can’t imagine Barcelona without Nicole, who’s also joined me in London, Dublin, and Australia. Evan also joined me on my 30th birthday trip to Dublin, and I was with my youngest sister Katie the first time I set foot on Australian soil. Gav and I explored Hawaii, and I’m looking forward to seeing new places together.

Zip-lining in Hawaii with my newest travel partner

Do you consider yourself to be an introvert or extrovert? Or both? Or neither?

Introvert. No questions. No hesitation. INTROVERT.

When people ask, and I respond that I’m an introvert, they’re usually surprised. In person, I am a good listener, but I’m also a chatty storyteller. At work, I’m told I’m great at giving presentations, but it doesn’t mean I feel comfortable doing them.

The career counselor in me has to share that being an introvert or extrovert doesn’t mean we’re either shy or outgoing, although that can be a part of it. Introversion vs extroversion is really about where we direct our attention and how we get our energy.

credit flickr creative commons

I’m re-energized by having downtime, reading, catching up with friends on-on-one (versus groups), reflecting, and so on.

I may talk a lot, but I am an introvert through and through.

If you could wake up and do anything tomorrow (without having to worry about money or obligations), what would you do?

My mind immediately jumped to something realistic and doable. And very relaxing and minimalistic. Sleep in (because I am rarely in bed past 7am, even on weekends), go to a local coffee shop, visit a winery, have a great lunch, take a long walk, bake something new, and then hop a plane (because money isn’t an issue) to NYC for an amazing dinner. That’s spending a day doing some of my favorite things.

I’d love to be able to wiggle my nose Bewitched style and magically appear in another location like *snaps* that. THAT’S what I’d really like to be able to wake up and do tomorrow. I’d spend the morning and lunch in Australia, visiting friends, drinking excellent coffee and eating delicious food. Then I’d pop around the globe to visit friends before heading to London for a late evening gathering with our friends.

So happy to have friends travel across the pond for the wedding!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A 4-hour work week traveler.

Though I’d settle for working 20-30 hours a week and being on the road. I miss the road.

And I think something related to food, health, and wellness should be in there. That’s my current love. When I returned from Australia, I even thought about opening a cafe!

What is your next destination(s)?

It’s a secret…for now.

I’m pretty sure we know where we’re going and when. And of course once decisions are made and travel plans are hatched, I’ll fill you in. I’m really excited.

Priya, thanks for the nomination! Looking forward to following the rest of your Aussie adventure!

Guest Post: Australian Sceneries Worth the Hike 5 Aug 2014 5:36 AM (11 years ago)

Australia, the sixth largest country on the planet, includes the area known as the continent of Australia and several Islands, including Tasmania. Along with its vast regions, Australia offers some of the most scenic hiking trails in the world. The following are five favourites that are well worth taking the time to explore

Tasmania – Overland Track

Beginning in October, Overland Track in Tasmania is one of Australiaâ€s most popular trails. Treks can take from a half day to a full week to navigate. The sites are spectacular. With over 65 kilometers of trails varying in difficulty, the journey through St. Clair National Parkâ€s Cradle Mountain is nothing short of stunning. Special features include Barn Bluff and Cradle Mountain to the north, Mount Pelion West, Mount Pelion East, Mount Ossa, and Mount Oakleigh in the mid-section, and toward the southern edge of the island, Lake St Clair. As with all tracks in Australia, it is suggested that trekkers buy travel insurance online as the hikes do present certain risks. Additionally, hikers need to arrange their visit through the Parks and Wildlife Services.

Northern Territory – Larapinta Trail

This beautiful trail is located in Australiaâ€s Northern Territory and includes over 223 kilometers of track. Toward the western-edge is Mount Sonder and toward the eastern-edge is Alice Springs. The trail follows along the ridges and plains and includes the ridge-line of the West MacDonnell Ranges as well as the plains through West MacDonnell National Park. The region is both rugged and spectacular. Itâ€s important to note that the Larapinta Trail runs through remote regions and hikers are encouraged to travel in groups. From the trailhead to its conclusion, the hike can take up to two weeks.

Western Australia – Cape-to-Cape Hike

The southern-corner of Western Australia is one of the most fertile and temperate regions in the country. Covering approximately 2% of the land, this region is mostly flat with the exceptions of Darling Scarp and Stirling Range. The weather tends to be milder, with cool, damp winters and dry, hot summers, making it ideal for hiking along the coastline. The Cape-to-Cape Track is a 135-kilometer trail that outlines the ridge between the lovely Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and the lighthouses of Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste. The trail includes jagged cliffs, white sand and beaches, and seasonal sightings of whales. A point of interest is that guided and independent hikes can be organized for week-long tours, and day-hikes can be planned to the sandy beaches and lighthouses.

Western Australia – The Bibbulmun Track

The Bibbulmun Track is over a thousand kilometers long. It crosses from Kalamunda to Albany. The trail provides a spectacular view of the scenery that WA is best known for… Jarrah and Karri forests and picturesque, rugged mountains. Packages are available for longer stretches, although it is possible to break the journey into shorter distances. Hikers can take advantage of major roadways and shelters conveniently spaced a dayâ€s journey apart.

Victoria – Great Ocean Walk

The Great Ocean Walk traverses over 100 kilometers from Apollo Bay to the Cape Otway Light-station. Hikers will enjoy the beautiful dunes, extensive beaches, eucalyptus and gum trees and trails that wind along the cliffs. Additionally, visitors can see the Twelve Apostles and guided tours are available.

The above hikes are just five of the truly spectacular sceneries worth taking a few risks to enjoy!

About the author: Julie Abrams is a professional writer who enjoys traveling throughout the world!

All images are creative commons:
From Pixabay – Tasmania, Larapinta Trail, Twelve Apostles
From wikipedia – Western Australian beach, Bibbulman tracks