Its real!
I went into town today and got my ticket!!
I am so excited! I will go back in next week and sort out my insurance and visa.
If you missed the reasons I am escaping the Tasmanian winter for three weeks to go to Texas – here is a quick story.
In 1980 & 81 my family was flown to Venezuela so my Dad could manage a piggery that was being built and developed. At the time Venezuela had no primary produce.
It was an amazing experience – I was only 9 – 10 years old at the time. I remember quite a lot about it. Obviously a very different lifestyle to the one we were used to.
One of my sisters and myself went to a nearby school that was set up for the kids of American missionaries. I became very good friends with a girl named Wendy.
Time goes on… we left the country and as things happen lost touch. Women get married and change their names so until the age of the internet, Wendy and I remained strangers for most of our growing up years.
I started a search on and off (Google is your friend) for about 5 years looking for her. (Stalker much?? haha) By chance I happened upon one of the teachers of the school (long since closed) and sent her an email. She was friends with Wendy’s mother and I can’t tell you how excited I was to get that first email with her name in the subject title!
She got me onto facebook where we could share photos and stories more easily and I have become friends with her husband and three children – not to mention a few other of their friends too!
Wendy’s eldest girl is getting married and I jokingly asked if they needed a photographer! They jokingly said yes!
Then I thought, well… I have always wanted to meet up at some point, so if they’ll have me at this important time in their families lives, I’ll save up and go!
Happily they were more than pleased to welcome me along, so I began saving and preparing!
And now its less than three months before I travel!
I am excited and nervous! But I can’t wait!
Sorry no other photos – I will do better tomorrow!
Hope your day was exciting too!
Cheers!
Venezuela in the ’80s? Brave man to bring his family there. When he retired in the ’80s, my father did international executive service core, and Venezuela wanted him to come to help out their foundry industry. That was one of the countries he refused service due to the high rate of kidnapping internationals with high price rescue. He did take assignments to Panama and the Philippines and think South Africa. Glad you have good memories of the experience.
I think Mum threatened my Dad with extinction if he didn’t take us all – haha!! – he actually went first to start up and see if it was going to be ok to bring us too. My mother had to take three little girls under the age of ten by herself… (long long way from here) flights were cancelled, we got stranded in LA I think for a while. It was all pretty crazy. We were aware that it wasn’t a safe country to be in but we were looked after by the company really well and met some beautiful people. It really taught us an appreciation of the life we had in Australia. We had never been exposed to people that lived in, what amounted to, 3rd world poverty. Not that we were spoiled rotten kids – far from it, but it gave us fresh gratitude for how lucky we were to live how we did in Australia.
Three under 10! Your mum should get a medal for that. Suspect that situation was different for your family than someone coming in for short time and leaving as it would have been for my father.
However, he did take his family to Paris as part of the Marshall Plan to help rebuild after the war. That was definitely an experience that molded my family. Both my brothers attended the Paris American School [I was too young.]
Enjoy your trip to Texas, and build more memories!
haha – I reckon my Mum thinks she needed a medal too!
Your family has had an interesting time too! Travel is a wonderful thing!
The total highlight of the trips (we went twice with a brief stop back to Australia for Christmas I think it was) was going to Disney World – TWICE!! They were building the Epcott Centre while we went… and the submarine ride was new.
Disney World or Disneyland was a dream out of the reach of most of us – living so far away and the cost of travel. We felt like the luckiest kids in the world!
That is such a neat story and super exciting!
Thanks Amy – its exciting but still a little surreal! 🙂
I’m so glad you found your childhood friend. Aren’t Google & Facebook great ways to find old friends & make new ones? What did people do way back when? ? I often think the same thing when I input an address to my phone & she guides me to my destination turn by turn…ahhh, technology!
We live in Texas too, so you’ll be close when you visit.
Elaine
We are spoiled living in the internet age! I love the information at our fingertips!
🙂
So exciting! Will it be your first time to the US?
I have been before but a loooooong time ago. I think the last time I was there was around 1991!!
I’m in Texas and Texas can’t wait to have you visit 🙂
Bring the bug spray, hat, sunscreen, and your lovely smile.
Awww – thats so nice and good advice!! 🙂