Christmas Re-cap

 

Creature Kind concert

CYC Burleigh Christmas Party

Choosing the Christmas tree!!

 Decorating the REAL Christmas tree.

 Our Sunday evening tradition of a game of Sauce Pan with an added round with action figures.

 Andy and Dave serenade the Manor.

Church Christmas Service

 Christmas in Brisbane. Alex flying the helicopter his parents gave him.

 John and Alice going for a spin on the motor bike. 

 Sporting the necklace Alex gave me from Dubai.

"I do."

This last weekend we had the privilege of attending Brad's sister's wedding. It was such a fun and well put together day. Congrats Amy and Fraser!

 Praying together after communion. 

And, of course, photo booth:

In between the now and then...

I feel like I've been here for much longer than 3 weeks. I feel so welcomed and accepted into life here. Our church (Living Temple Christian Church) is wonderful and small in size. I love this because it gives more of a homely feel. Monday evening is Life Group night and I have joined one of the women's lifegroups. Last night we joined with one of the men's life groups for a chill even and a game of Saucepan. I am staying with my friends Brad and Martha who live in a duplex (for a lack of a better word). The family that owns the house (Andy and Bec) live in the other part of the house with their 2 year old daughter and another friend from church. It's really cool to have such great people so close by. Everyone is so hospitable and lovely. Yesterday I was able to go surfing with Bec and Andy which was a ton of fun! Christmas is on its way and there are still gifts to be bought! Hopefully I'll get it all finished sooner rather than later. This week it's been a bit rainy which I have loved because it is cooling everything down. Everything here is so beautiful and, well, just great! 

Having supper with some of the girls before Life Group

Decorating the tree with Bec and Ava. 

Reunion's are nice!

 Our friends Adrian and Alice flew out from Melbourne for a weekend visit. We met Age at camp in 2010, it was sweet for us all to be together again and on a boat too! Age and Alice got engaged Friday morning so we went out to celebrate! 

Notice the ring. Alice loves tea and Age wanted her to be able to pick her engagement ring so this is the temp until they pick one.

 5am morning on the boat.

 Jelly fish! These ones are harmless. There was a ton in the water at one point.

We ended our weekend with our Sunday night tradition of playing a round of Saucepan.

Things I've Observed...

Since arriving in Australia, there are a few things I've noticed are different and I thought it would be fun to share some of them so here they are!

Seasons are opposite of North America
School begins in January, not in September.
You don't tip your waiters here.
Tax is added in all prices here!
Max Brenners = best chocolate shop EVER!
Summer holidays begin when North Americans have Winter holidays.
Toilets are in a separate room from the sink and shower and tub.
The shower and tub are also separate but in the same room.
Toilet paper is a lot thicker here.
"No shoes, no shirt, no service." Doesn't exist here...just walked into a supermarket in bare feet and a swimsuit yesterday!
Kg's instead of lb's.
You can't get drip coffee in restaurants here (not that I care) it's all the good stuff.
Birds...are MUCH more noticeable and loud and make cooler noises.
The beach. Well...it's incomparable.
Driving, on the opposite side.
Humidity is super high here.
Lizards and geco's are everywhere and SO cute!
The ocean is warm!

Words:

Canada:                                      Australia:
             Washroom                                    Toilet
             Trunk                                            Boot
             Hood (of car)                                Bonnet
             Line (as in line up)                        Queue
             Vacation                                       Holliday
             Afternoon                                     Avro
             Mosquito                                      Mozzy
            Garbage can                                  Rubbish bin
            Truck                                            Ute
            Dumpster                                      Skip
            Flashlight                                      Torch
            911                                                000
            Sweater/bunny hug                       Jumper
            Diaper                                           Nappy
            Flip flops                                       Jandals (yup...thought that was a joke the first time I heard it!)
            Swimsuit                                       Togs
            Bell pepper                                    Capsicum
            Pickle                                            Gherkin
            Honeydew                                    Rock melon
            Candy                                           Lollies
            Ketchup                                        Tomato sauce
            Take out (as in food)                     Take away
            Glove compartment                      Glove box
            Gas                                               Petrol
            Windshield                                   Windscreen
            "How are you doing?"                  "How are you going?"
            Mom                                              Mum
            Stroller                                           Pram
            Thrift Store                                    Op Shop
            Cup of tea                                      Cuppa (as in: "Would you like a cuppa?")