~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[*julez* 124]

I've never been to Australia and I *really* want to go.

Julez, this is for you:

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/...oped_ready.html

Rae, that is awesome!! Thanks for the link!!

[rae_and_scott 1]

where in Aus do you want to go?

it's a great country... I'm proud to be an Australian... but my heart lies in Europe

Anywhere... everywhere... just want to travel! I mean, obviously I'd like to go to Sydney (I love cities), but I'd like to see more than that. I also want to see Europe. I've only been to the UK and to Brussels, and they were both short trips. Scott and I have been talking about doing either Italy or New Zealand for a honeymoon (if we can afford a honeymoon!), but Scott has already done the backpacking all over Europe thing. If we went to New Zealand we would probably combine it with a trip to Australia. Oh and I want to see Japan. Sooo many places I really want to see. And I plan to, I just don't know when!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

oh, I know what you mean... travel is my number one favourite thing, and while I've been fortunate enough to do a reasonable amount of it, my list of 'places I want to go' never gets any shorter

surely there'd be places in Europe Scott hasn't been, that you could discover together? eastern Europe, Scandinavia...?

[rae_and_scott 1]

Yes... I know he's never been to Amsterdam. But I've always dreamed of Italy being my honeymoon, and he went all over the country! Well, at any rate, he says he doesn't mind seeing places again, so at least that.

Speaking of travel... my dad is one of those people that, oddly, has absolutely no desire to travel. He's never been outside North America (he's been to Mexico and Canada, when neither required a passport). Well, my father, who is almost 60, got his first passport last week, since he'll need it to come up to Montreal for our wedding.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

that's great

my dad LOVES travel, but never got to it, for a variety of reasons, until a relatively short time ago (and of course, travelling anywhere from Australia can be a bit more of a production than many other places!)

when the Olympics were held in Sydney, in 2000, everyone got more holidays than usual (to keep us off public transport), so mum and dad planned their first trip to Europe... they asked me to go, as the German interpreter and general guide (I'd been to Europe five or six times before, and knew most of the places they were planning to visit), and then when I was going my older brother decided to come as well... it was a great trip! and then mum and dad came to the UK again last year, to see me before I left - dad was HIGHLY excited about having such an excuse! and now they've been over here as well (but didn't see much, as they only stayed for a week... still, I know they found it interesting )

travel is SUCH a gift

and it's only been such a (relatively) short time that it's been open to the general public! even a hundred years ago, it was much more of a big deal, and out of reach to all but the rich... we are so fortunate, in that regard, to live when we do

as well as, y'know, not dying of smallpox and polio and stuff like that

Edited September 26, 2008 by StillThePrettiest

[rae_and_scott 1]

Haha, yes, all good points!

I agree, it's a huge gift. There are some people (like my mom) who always say "Oh I'd love to go there" but they never will, they never make the plans to actually do it. I don't want to end up older and never having been anywhere, so I know I will make it a priority to see the places I want to see. It's all just a matter of when. Last year, actually, was the first time I really tried to go to new places. I took a number of short trips, and went to Brussels, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. It's been interesting and not always easy balancing work (I freelance) and trips, but ultimately freelance is what's allowed me to take these trips. When you're full time and have only 2 weeks a year... well, what can you do wiath that?! Now I want to take some longer trips.

That's amazing that your parents came all the way to the US and only stayed a week! The jet-lag must have been hell. But, better than not coming!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

yeah, it was weird... they REALLY wanted to be at the wedding, but my dad's mum was ill (she died last week, as it turned out), and they had all sorts of things on... they toyed with the idea of staying a little longer, and going somewhere else as well, but in the end just came for the week

they said they didn't mind though - they LOVE seeing the 'real' side of a country, as opposed to just the tourist spots (they said staying with me in the East End of London was far more interesting than doing all the standard things, for example, but they still loved going to San Antonio on their first full day here ), and as it was the middle of quite a full-on winter (for Sydney! ) they were glad of a little oasis of heat and sunlight in the middle of it

[Jeraly 4]

I never really got the travel bug until the past few years or so - I wanted to go to uni and get a career and a mortgage and settle down... now I kinda still want all of that but I want to travel as well I know Jeremy likes finding new places as well and eventually we will move to a different State if not back to the UK but that is why we love road trips so much

We want to travel to Central and South America and I would love to go to Asia... Another reason to want to be self-employed as holiday here sucks Winning the lottery would be a bonus!!

Oh and apologies for the gross siggy - it's a developing joke from the UK forum

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

you guys are so cute...i LOVE travelling...i have been to about 6 or 7 countries in europe, but that is not nearly sufficient enough...the summer that i met adriano in italy was the summer that italy won the world cup...that night was one of the most fun nights of my life, hands down!!! so that night, some of the people that i studied with made a deal that we would go to south africa in 2010 for the next world cup...so that is definitely still on the agenda...

i also want to go to london for the olympics in 2012...next summer we are going back to albania, and i hope to squeeze greece and croatia into my trip, i dont know if adriano will want to come or not...if we take a month trip to europe, he would most likely stay in albania, and i am planning on meeting up with a friend to travel to those other countries, maybe even turkey! turkey has been a very high priority on my list for years, but i just havent gotten there yet...adriano doesnt want to go there at all, they havent had the greatest history with albania lol (conquered the country and converted it from catholic to muslim, and adriano is catholic - i sense some bitterness there)

now i just have to find the money for all of this!

but yes, you guys are right, we are very lucky to live in a time when travel is so accessible to average people. if the dollar keeps falling though, it will become increasingly difficult. i remember meeting a girl from argentina while i was in spain, and she told me that her money was 1/4 of the value of the euro...i mean, can you imagine how long she had to save up for her trip?! i thought the dollar was bad, but that is much worse...imagine wanting to spend 3,000 euro in europe and having to save 12,000 dollars to do so! crazy!

[Jeraly 4]

Ok - quick change of topic!!! I am making up a wishlist for Christmas (if anyone hasn't found the universal wishlist button for Amazon.com I can highly recommend it as you can add items from tons of other sites to share with family and friends ) and have got around to LUSH! which I ADORE. I wondered if anyone had any specific recommendations as I am scouring the site and choosing the old faves but it's not the same as being in the store!

Also for anyone who is interested, they now do shower bomb type things which I am soooo happy about as I loved all the bath bombs and floats and melts and bars - having a shower made me really sad so I am pretty excited about that at least

[Jeraly 4]

I feel like I should get this

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

I feel like I should get this

i agree.

[Jeraly 4]

I looked at it again to try and find some logic to its name but there isn't any!?!?! Maybe the inventor of it had had a bad day with the USCIS...

[weedebz 0]

YAY....movement. AOS on it's way to CSC. Still nothing on EAD but wasn't expecting anything yet. Something better than nothing so not complaining.

[Jeraly 4]

And no RFE!!!