LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[Giggles 1]

Here are before and after pictures of the flood in Brisbane from an aerial view that I saw on ABC News. It's pretty amazing to see.

Part 1

Part 2

[alex and astrid 38]

Here are before and after pictures of the flood in Brisbane from an aerial view that I saw on ABC News. It's pretty amazing to see.

Part 1

Part 2

seeing the before and after really shows you the massive amount of water it takes for that much flooding

[CareBear 18]

There was a tonne of water - so sad!

[Wayne-Rachel 8]

Happy Australia Day all!!!!!! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!!!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Happy Australia Day all!!!!!! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!!!!

Oi Oi Oi!

Happy Australia Day everyone

[Dresdyn 0]

Right back at you all!!

[patriciaofoz 0]

Happy AUSTRALIA DAY!

[Giggles 1]

Happy Aussie Day!!!

Did anyone else watch the Oprah Aussie shows last week? My husband and I watched it together every day. It made me really miss Australia and reminded me of what a great country we come from. There were a few times where I got a bit teary.

So tonight, to celebrate Australia Day I'm going to make vegemite spaghetti for dinner I haven't made it before but I saw it in Nigella Lawson's new book so I'm sure it's good (the recipe is for marmite but she said she has switched to using vegemite now). My husband think it sounds weird but I bet he'll like it too.

On another note, yesterday was my 1 year anniversary of coming to America and permanently being with my man

[CareBear 18]

Hey Giggles - nice to know I'm not the only one who got a little teared up - I watched all 4 and thought they were great!!

I had the best of intentions of making a pav yesterday but was feeling a little off so we had fried chicken instead. Pffft never mind had webcams with 3 Australians over the course of the day so that cheered me up

Congrats on your anniversary and what on earth is in vegemite spaghetti?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Yep I got teary too Even posted the "Still Call Australia Home" on my FB but one of my "friends" said "oh for goodness sakes!" which kind of annoyed me but I chalked it up to yet another person who doesn't understand what immigrants feel like sometimes.

Can't say I liked the show myself, not as a showcase of Australia anyway. Some great scenic shots but.. I don't know, could have done so much more I feel... still, made me miss home

@Giggles - congrats on 1 year immigrant-aversary (just made that up ) I'm at 17 months on Feb 3rd... can't believe it's been so long! I was in Aus for 2 months though a while back so don't know if that minimises my time

On that note, just a reminder to anyone thinking of becoming a USC, make sure you keep a record of EVERY trip outside the US. So because of my trip back to Aus I have started my N-400 stuff (USC paperwork) so that I have this trip on the paperwork when the time comes (I'll have to update the form I'm sure but at least I have it written down). I don't even need to ROC for another year and a bit so USC is ages away but that's a lot of time to forget... so make sure you keep any itineraries so you remember specific dates

[alex and astrid 38]

Today is one year since I left Australia! Last Australia Day I was packing the last of my stuff and eating my last buts of Aussie food. Today I celebrated Australia day by taking Alex to the airport and working, hahaha. Good times!

[Giggles 1]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one getting teary too. Sometimes I feel silly crying over the tv. Tomorrows (actually it's today's now) episode of Oprah is going to be a real tear-jerker. It's about American families coping with the invisible wounds of war. I was crying just watching the ad.....very sad

CareBear, It's basically spaghetti with vegemite or marmite, butter and parmesan cheese. I found the recipe online for you http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/spaghetti_with_marmite_06786 I've always loved spaghetti with just butter and heaps of parmesan. The addition of vegemite gave it a nice flavour.

Vanessa, the "I Still Call Australia Home" was one part where I got real teary.....we all understand

Good idea to keep a record of all trips outside the US. I'm going to start a file now so I'll have all the info handy for later. I was away from the US for almost 2 months last year too. I still count that time because I was just on holiday...not away permanently.

Astrid, congrats on your anniversary too!

[Deb+Steve 13]

I came to check on the ex-Brisbane people. I had friends over here for Xmas. They went home last week to devastation. Kind of ruined the trip some what. We were all stressing wondering if their houses are OK. Apparently, my house was fine although the whole street was a river. So sad. Someone told me even Anna Bligh cried.

Hope you're all well and happy.

[Giggles 1]

Deb, That is so sad for your friends. It must have been awful for them being so far away and not knowing if their home was flooded and being unable to do anything to save it. I can imagine it would have ruined the holiday.

Btw, congrats on the bun!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hey guys! Hope everyone is well. Just started this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293179-shipping-costs-aus-to-usa/ about Shipping Costs from Aus to USA. I get the feeling there's a thread or posts about it somewhere but I can't find it right now.

Hope some of you have some advice for me (& others) Thanks in advance