Welp, this year-in-review publish appears to be like a bit totally different from those I’ve carried out the final couple years once I was a nomad.
That’s as a result of 2017 was all about getting grounded and making a brand new dwelling for myself in Sydney, quite than nation hopping. And guys, I’ve to say that I cherished it! Does that make me a nasty journey blogger? (I did handle to go to 5 nations and discover hundreds round Sydney this yr, so hopefully not).
2017 was a fairly large yr for me when it comes to life strikes, relationships, and private growth. I’m extra content material than I’ve ever been earlier than, which I feel is cause sufficient to name it a hit.
Right here’s a glance again on the previous 12 months. I don’t find out about you, I’m undoubtedly trying ahead to 2018!
Jamie and I in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
I kicked off 2017 with a spontaneous journey to Mexico with my sister Jamie. We roamed the lovable streets of Isla Mujeres and luxuriated on the 5-star Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen collectively. Then I headed to Tulum alone to discover some cenotes and ruins.
Learn Extra:
Exploring cenotes round Tulum.
By late January, I used to be again in Sydney and able to formally make it my dwelling after 2 years of being nomadic in Australia. I signed a lease on a newly-renovated 2-bedroom residence in North Bondi, only a 4 minute stroll from Bondi Seaside. I can’t imagine how comfortable I’m being settled someplace once more!
I by no means actually cared about having my outdated Brooklyn residence look good or investing in high quality furnishings and decor for it as a result of I at all times knew my life there could be short-lived. However now that I’m in Australia completely, I discover that I care deeply about my dwelling setting and need to make it my sanctuary. We’ve obtained a mod/minimalist look happening with our place and I’m digging it. The one factor lacking is a balcony!
So far as flatmates go, I initially moved in with a Welsh lady and we obtained alongside simply positive… till she abruptly determined to go away the nation and mainly gave zero f*cks about me when it got here time to maneuver out and screwed me over a bit. It was a reasonably messy break-up – I don’t assume I’ve ever had anybody scream at me earlier than!
BUT, the calm after the storm introduced an impressive rainbow within the type of my new Polish flatmate. I at all times consult with him as a unicorn: he’s so easygoing and tidy and thoughtful and mainly one of the best flatmate I might ever hope to have. I obtained so fortunate!
Learn Extra:
Heh heh heh… file this one beneath Issues I By no means Thought I’d Do.
I needed to go to high school to be able to keep my scholar visa, which I solely utilized for as a result of I wanted some approach to keep in Australia after my vacationer visa expired and earlier than my expert unbiased visa was granted. I signed up for a certificates in advertising and communications, which is supposed to be a year-long course, after which dropped out after 6 months as soon as my new visa got here via.
I really anticipated it to be a lot worse than it was, however man – it was like mind-numbingly straightforward. Many of the materials I’d both taught myself or discovered at previous jobs, so it was nothing in need of a sleep fest.
Earlier this yr, I made a decision to hitch some meetup teams in an try to make likeminded associates. My first and solely meetup was at an indoor climbing fitness center, the place I met Climbing Man (gosh I’m so good at nicknames, proper?).
I admonished him to take off his heavy sweater earlier than climbing, he later gave me grief for wimping out as soon as my arms began blistering – mainly we had been besties at first sight. I can’t even think about what this yr would have been like with out him in it!
Bondi Seaside.
In February I had what I feared was a everlasting sunburn on my face, regardless of being fairly diligent about overlaying it with sunscreen each time I’m within the solar. So after a pair months, I went to the physician to see what was up, and right away she declared it rosacea. It was in all probability triggered by the solar, however not less than it’s not pores and skin injury – only a genetic facial rash that may be managed by meds and set off avoidance (e.g. solar, sizzling showers, sauna, espresso, alcohol, stress, spicy meals… hah, good luck with that!).
I spent many of the yr battling the rash: seems the facial cream prescribed to me didn’t do something apart from make my face tremendous dry and flaky, and the all-natural natural anti-rosacea moisturiser I ordered on-line made my face escape much more. It was solely after seeing a dermatologist that I obtained prescribed a greater facial cream – and now my face is lastly again to trying virtually regular! I don’t need to be on meds endlessly, although, so I’m gonna want to determine the best way to naturally management the rash – ideally with out reducing my two huge loves, solar and low, out of my life!
Love my Bondi besties, Anna and Viktoria!
Confession: I spent WAY an excessive amount of time caught within the Bondi bubble, and method much less time than common touring this yr.
However you guys, in the event you lived in Bondi Seaside you’d completely perceive. I’ve Bondi and a slew of different attractive seashores, extra outlets and cafes than I’ll ever want to go to, and all my well being and health wants effortlessly taken care of in my yard. It’s fairly rattling superb. Plus, I pay some huge cash to reside right here and actually need to benefit from it… which implies much less cash for aircraft tickets.
Additionally, I simply love spontaneously assembly up with associates on the seaside or at espresso outlets to work. Life appears really easy right here, versus in NYC the place it at all times felt like such an effort to do something or get wherever.
Learn Extra:
My new favourite exercise this yr was stand-up paddle boarding, one thing I’d been concerned about for just a few years and had tried a handful of instances earlier than investing in an inflatable board earlier this yr. It’s fairly straightforward (albeit cumbersome) to throw the deflated board and equipment right into a backpack and take it on public transport with me to seashores round Sydney.
As a rule, I’ll be paddling at Watsons Bay because it’s the closest SUP-friendly spot to me. You may assume Sydney Harbour waters could be fairly flat, however I can assuredly say that NO, that is virtually by no means true. Sydney Harbour tends to be fairly uneven more often than not, between the wake from boats and the inevitable winds that pop up day by day. I feel this has really helped me turn out to be a greater paddle boarder quicker, although!
My grandma and uncle handed away earlier this yr inside a month of one another, and it actually sucked. You hear a lot in regards to the guilt an expat feels after they reside too distant to return for a funeral, however what in regards to the guilt round after they final noticed the deceased? Fortunately I’d visited my grandma a pair months prior once I went again to the US for Christmas, however I hadn’t seen my uncle since earlier than I left for Australia. Ugh.
I’ve been going to the identical pilates and yoga studio for one thing like 8 months now and I adore it a lot! I by no means EVER anticipated to turn out to be a yoga individual, however hey – I’m rolling with it, as I do with most the whole lot that unexpectedly brings me pleasure.
Principally I’m obsessive about the pilates reformer and my wonderful teacher who simply left to show at this new fitness center that opened up in Bondi, so I may very well go away my present studio subsequent yr and observe her to the brand new one. TBD!
Whitehaven Seaside, superb as ever.
The Whitsundays tourism board invited me on a visit with some fellow bloggers and journalists in early June and we had such good climate for exploring! It was great to return to one of many first locations I visited once I arrived in Australia 3 years in the past and get to expertise much more of it this time round. There have been a number of boat journeys, seashores, and an infinity pool that I’m nonetheless not fairly over.
Learn Extra:
Noosa, Queensland.
In late June, I popped again as much as Queensland to fulfill my pal Teresa in Brisbane for a little bit Sunshine Coast highway journey. We seaside hopped up the coast, explored the fantastic Noosa Nationwide Park, and did some climbing within the Glass Home Mountains. I cherished frolicking round this lesser-known a part of Australia!
Learn Extra:
My household earlier than the marriage <3
In July, I flew again to the States for my cousin slash childhood greatest pal’s wedding ceremony in Connecticut. I’m so glad I used to be capable of be there for her huge day and spend a while with the household, however boy was it a mission getting there from Australia! Flight delays, missed connections, and misplaced baggage had me arriving only a day earlier than the marriage, which was a wee bit extra tense than was perfect.
I hadn’t spent any time in Europe since I moved to Australia in late 2014, so I believed I’d hop throughout the pond after my cousin’s wedding ceremony and rectify considered one of my greatest journey oversights by lastly visiting Paris!
I spent a full week in Paris simply wandering round on foot and on bike and, whereas I loved my time there, I couldn’t fairly work out why so many individuals lose their shit over this metropolis. Possibly Paris and I simply don’t have that chemistry?
Against this, returning to Italy felt like being enveloped within the warmest of hugs. Although I can’t communicate a lot Italian anymore and it had been 10 years since my final go to, I felt proper at dwelling. Cinque Terre was far and away the spotlight of my complete Euro journey: colourful buildings and a shocking shoreline will win me over EVERY TIME. It was additionally so nice to reunite with my Dutch and Danish associates whereas of their a part of the world once more.
Learn Extra:
This yr I discovered my individuals: those who’re at all times down for an journey or weekend getaway and don’t thoughts spending a number of days (and even weeks) straight sleeping in a tent. We’ve managed to cram in a great deal of hikes and tenting journeys round Sydney already prior to now 6 months of understanding one another, with a lot extra to return subsequent yr I’m certain.
How did we meet, you ask? One lady posted on the native We Are Explorers Fb group, saying she lived within the Japanese Suburbs and had this cool new van and would anybody close by be down for some adventures? A number of of us raised our digital arms and agreed to fulfill at a pub one night to suss one another out. It’s been one huge journey occasion ever since!
Learn Extra:
I’m unsure how precisely this occurred, and perhaps it’s partially the affect of dwelling in Bondi, however… by no means in my life did I ever assume I’d be somebody who dyes her hair or will get her different hair eliminated. However you already know what? I’m now, and I don’t really feel unhealthy about it.
First, laser hair elimination is shockingly low cost in Sydney: many clinics do Brazilian + underarms for AU$35-39 (US$27-30) a session. It’s cheaper than waxing (which I’ve by no means carried out) and extra everlasting, so I really feel prefer it’s type of a no brainer to do it right here. My life is already higher as a result of NO MORE ARMPIT CHAFING, and no extra paranoia about flashing beach-goers with stubble whereas I’m in a swimsuit. So yeah – I extremely suggest laser hair elimination, though I almost handed out the primary time I obtained it (it will get much less painful with time, as much less hair grows again).
And second, an unsavory variety of grey hairs popped up on my head after the tense yr I had coping with visa nonsense. I had by no means dyed my hair earlier than and was mildly terrified to do something which may drastically alter my look – so I had Anna do it for me the primary time and now I’m completely snug doing it myself. I’m utilizing semi-permanent dye in a shade very near my pure shade, which is nice as a result of it mainly simply dyes the grey hairs and enhances the remaining, with out it trying like I dyed my hair. Sensible!
Flying enterprise class to Sydney. Look, you may see my grey hairs earlier than I began dyeing them!
September 4th will endlessly be an vital day on my calendar – the day I turned a everlasting resident of Australia! I spent a yr of my life entrenched within the visa course of, and not less than 8 extra months stressing over whether or not I’d be capable to stay on this nation, so yeah – it’s a fairly large deal to me.
Over the course of two years and 9 months I went via the work and vacation visa, vacationer visa, and scholar visa earlier than lastly receiving my unbiased expert visa grant in September. It’s been fairly a journey!
Learn Extra:
Komodo Nationwide Park, Indonesia.
In October, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism invited me on a photographer and journalist journey to go diving in Komodo, aka an enormous bucket checklist vacation spot of mine. I had THE BEST TIME on my first-ever liveaboard, diving with turtles and testing some ridiculously scenic spots across the islands.
Learn Extra:
Diving in Komodo Nationwide Park, Indonesia.
I really feel SO SO RELIEVED to have paid off the larger of my two scholar loans! That’s $558 much less per thirty days to go flying out of my checking account every month. Everlasting due to my mama for donating a little bit of inheritance cash to make this mortgage go bye-bye!
Verify Out These Previous Yr Critiques:
That’s as a result of 2017 was all about getting grounded and making a brand new dwelling for myself in Sydney, quite than nation hopping. And guys, I’ve to say that I cherished it! Does that make me a nasty journey blogger? (I did handle to go to 5 nations and discover hundreds round Sydney this yr, so hopefully not).
2017 was a fairly large yr for me when it comes to life strikes, relationships, and private growth. I’m extra content material than I’ve ever been earlier than, which I feel is cause sufficient to name it a hit.
Right here’s a glance again on the previous 12 months. I don’t find out about you, I’m undoubtedly trying ahead to 2018!
Jamie and I in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
New Years Journey To Mexico
I kicked off 2017 with a spontaneous journey to Mexico with my sister Jamie. We roamed the lovable streets of Isla Mujeres and luxuriated on the 5-star Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen collectively. Then I headed to Tulum alone to discover some cenotes and ruins.
Learn Extra:
Exploring cenotes round Tulum.
Moved to Bondi Seaside
By late January, I used to be again in Sydney and able to formally make it my dwelling after 2 years of being nomadic in Australia. I signed a lease on a newly-renovated 2-bedroom residence in North Bondi, only a 4 minute stroll from Bondi Seaside. I can’t imagine how comfortable I’m being settled someplace once more!
I by no means actually cared about having my outdated Brooklyn residence look good or investing in high quality furnishings and decor for it as a result of I at all times knew my life there could be short-lived. However now that I’m in Australia completely, I discover that I care deeply about my dwelling setting and need to make it my sanctuary. We’ve obtained a mod/minimalist look happening with our place and I’m digging it. The one factor lacking is a balcony!
So far as flatmates go, I initially moved in with a Welsh lady and we obtained alongside simply positive… till she abruptly determined to go away the nation and mainly gave zero f*cks about me when it got here time to maneuver out and screwed me over a bit. It was a reasonably messy break-up – I don’t assume I’ve ever had anybody scream at me earlier than!
BUT, the calm after the storm introduced an impressive rainbow within the type of my new Polish flatmate. I at all times consult with him as a unicorn: he’s so easygoing and tidy and thoughtful and mainly one of the best flatmate I might ever hope to have. I obtained so fortunate!
Learn Extra:
Going Again To Faculty
Heh heh heh… file this one beneath Issues I By no means Thought I’d Do.
I needed to go to high school to be able to keep my scholar visa, which I solely utilized for as a result of I wanted some approach to keep in Australia after my vacationer visa expired and earlier than my expert unbiased visa was granted. I signed up for a certificates in advertising and communications, which is supposed to be a year-long course, after which dropped out after 6 months as soon as my new visa got here via.
I really anticipated it to be a lot worse than it was, however man – it was like mind-numbingly straightforward. Many of the materials I’d both taught myself or discovered at previous jobs, so it was nothing in need of a sleep fest.
A New Bestie
Earlier this yr, I made a decision to hitch some meetup teams in an try to make likeminded associates. My first and solely meetup was at an indoor climbing fitness center, the place I met Climbing Man (gosh I’m so good at nicknames, proper?).
I admonished him to take off his heavy sweater earlier than climbing, he later gave me grief for wimping out as soon as my arms began blistering – mainly we had been besties at first sight. I can’t even think about what this yr would have been like with out him in it!
Bondi Seaside.
Recognized With Rosacea
In February I had what I feared was a everlasting sunburn on my face, regardless of being fairly diligent about overlaying it with sunscreen each time I’m within the solar. So after a pair months, I went to the physician to see what was up, and right away she declared it rosacea. It was in all probability triggered by the solar, however not less than it’s not pores and skin injury – only a genetic facial rash that may be managed by meds and set off avoidance (e.g. solar, sizzling showers, sauna, espresso, alcohol, stress, spicy meals… hah, good luck with that!).
I spent many of the yr battling the rash: seems the facial cream prescribed to me didn’t do something apart from make my face tremendous dry and flaky, and the all-natural natural anti-rosacea moisturiser I ordered on-line made my face escape much more. It was solely after seeing a dermatologist that I obtained prescribed a greater facial cream – and now my face is lastly again to trying virtually regular! I don’t need to be on meds endlessly, although, so I’m gonna want to determine the best way to naturally management the rash – ideally with out reducing my two huge loves, solar and low, out of my life!
Love my Bondi besties, Anna and Viktoria!
Dwelling within the Bondi Bubble
Confession: I spent WAY an excessive amount of time caught within the Bondi bubble, and method much less time than common touring this yr.
However you guys, in the event you lived in Bondi Seaside you’d completely perceive. I’ve Bondi and a slew of different attractive seashores, extra outlets and cafes than I’ll ever want to go to, and all my well being and health wants effortlessly taken care of in my yard. It’s fairly rattling superb. Plus, I pay some huge cash to reside right here and actually need to benefit from it… which implies much less cash for aircraft tickets.
Additionally, I simply love spontaneously assembly up with associates on the seaside or at espresso outlets to work. Life appears really easy right here, versus in NYC the place it at all times felt like such an effort to do something or get wherever.
Learn Extra:
SUP, My New Passion
My new favourite exercise this yr was stand-up paddle boarding, one thing I’d been concerned about for just a few years and had tried a handful of instances earlier than investing in an inflatable board earlier this yr. It’s fairly straightforward (albeit cumbersome) to throw the deflated board and equipment right into a backpack and take it on public transport with me to seashores round Sydney.
As a rule, I’ll be paddling at Watsons Bay because it’s the closest SUP-friendly spot to me. You may assume Sydney Harbour waters could be fairly flat, however I can assuredly say that NO, that is virtually by no means true. Sydney Harbour tends to be fairly uneven more often than not, between the wake from boats and the inevitable winds that pop up day by day. I feel this has really helped me turn out to be a greater paddle boarder quicker, although!
Two Deaths In The Household
My grandma and uncle handed away earlier this yr inside a month of one another, and it actually sucked. You hear a lot in regards to the guilt an expat feels after they reside too distant to return for a funeral, however what in regards to the guilt round after they final noticed the deceased? Fortunately I’d visited my grandma a pair months prior once I went again to the US for Christmas, however I hadn’t seen my uncle since earlier than I left for Australia. Ugh.
Pilates & Yoga
I’ve been going to the identical pilates and yoga studio for one thing like 8 months now and I adore it a lot! I by no means EVER anticipated to turn out to be a yoga individual, however hey – I’m rolling with it, as I do with most the whole lot that unexpectedly brings me pleasure.
Principally I’m obsessive about the pilates reformer and my wonderful teacher who simply left to show at this new fitness center that opened up in Bondi, so I may very well go away my present studio subsequent yr and observe her to the brand new one. TBD!
Whitehaven Seaside, superb as ever.
Whitsundays Press Journey
The Whitsundays tourism board invited me on a visit with some fellow bloggers and journalists in early June and we had such good climate for exploring! It was great to return to one of many first locations I visited once I arrived in Australia 3 years in the past and get to expertise much more of it this time round. There have been a number of boat journeys, seashores, and an infinity pool that I’m nonetheless not fairly over.
Learn Extra:
Noosa, Queensland.
Sunshine Coast Highway Journey
In late June, I popped again as much as Queensland to fulfill my pal Teresa in Brisbane for a little bit Sunshine Coast highway journey. We seaside hopped up the coast, explored the fantastic Noosa Nationwide Park, and did some climbing within the Glass Home Mountains. I cherished frolicking round this lesser-known a part of Australia!
Learn Extra:
My household earlier than the marriage <3
Again In The US For My Cousin’s Wedding ceremony
In July, I flew again to the States for my cousin slash childhood greatest pal’s wedding ceremony in Connecticut. I’m so glad I used to be capable of be there for her huge day and spend a while with the household, however boy was it a mission getting there from Australia! Flight delays, missed connections, and misplaced baggage had me arriving only a day earlier than the marriage, which was a wee bit extra tense than was perfect.
The Euro Journey: France & Italy
I hadn’t spent any time in Europe since I moved to Australia in late 2014, so I believed I’d hop throughout the pond after my cousin’s wedding ceremony and rectify considered one of my greatest journey oversights by lastly visiting Paris!
I spent a full week in Paris simply wandering round on foot and on bike and, whereas I loved my time there, I couldn’t fairly work out why so many individuals lose their shit over this metropolis. Possibly Paris and I simply don’t have that chemistry?
Against this, returning to Italy felt like being enveloped within the warmest of hugs. Although I can’t communicate a lot Italian anymore and it had been 10 years since my final go to, I felt proper at dwelling. Cinque Terre was far and away the spotlight of my complete Euro journey: colourful buildings and a shocking shoreline will win me over EVERY TIME. It was additionally so nice to reunite with my Dutch and Danish associates whereas of their a part of the world once more.
Learn Extra:
Weekend Tenting Journeys With My New Journey Crew
This yr I discovered my individuals: those who’re at all times down for an journey or weekend getaway and don’t thoughts spending a number of days (and even weeks) straight sleeping in a tent. We’ve managed to cram in a great deal of hikes and tenting journeys round Sydney already prior to now 6 months of understanding one another, with a lot extra to return subsequent yr I’m certain.
How did we meet, you ask? One lady posted on the native We Are Explorers Fb group, saying she lived within the Japanese Suburbs and had this cool new van and would anybody close by be down for some adventures? A number of of us raised our digital arms and agreed to fulfill at a pub one night to suss one another out. It’s been one huge journey occasion ever since!
Learn Extra:
I Turned Useless: Laser Hair Removing & Dyeing My Hair
I’m unsure how precisely this occurred, and perhaps it’s partially the affect of dwelling in Bondi, however… by no means in my life did I ever assume I’d be somebody who dyes her hair or will get her different hair eliminated. However you already know what? I’m now, and I don’t really feel unhealthy about it.
First, laser hair elimination is shockingly low cost in Sydney: many clinics do Brazilian + underarms for AU$35-39 (US$27-30) a session. It’s cheaper than waxing (which I’ve by no means carried out) and extra everlasting, so I really feel prefer it’s type of a no brainer to do it right here. My life is already higher as a result of NO MORE ARMPIT CHAFING, and no extra paranoia about flashing beach-goers with stubble whereas I’m in a swimsuit. So yeah – I extremely suggest laser hair elimination, though I almost handed out the primary time I obtained it (it will get much less painful with time, as much less hair grows again).
And second, an unsavory variety of grey hairs popped up on my head after the tense yr I had coping with visa nonsense. I had by no means dyed my hair earlier than and was mildly terrified to do something which may drastically alter my look – so I had Anna do it for me the primary time and now I’m completely snug doing it myself. I’m utilizing semi-permanent dye in a shade very near my pure shade, which is nice as a result of it mainly simply dyes the grey hairs and enhances the remaining, with out it trying like I dyed my hair. Sensible!
Flying enterprise class to Sydney. Look, you may see my grey hairs earlier than I began dyeing them!
Turning into a Everlasting Resident of Australia
September 4th will endlessly be an vital day on my calendar – the day I turned a everlasting resident of Australia! I spent a yr of my life entrenched within the visa course of, and not less than 8 extra months stressing over whether or not I’d be capable to stay on this nation, so yeah – it’s a fairly large deal to me.
Over the course of two years and 9 months I went via the work and vacation visa, vacationer visa, and scholar visa earlier than lastly receiving my unbiased expert visa grant in September. It’s been fairly a journey!
Learn Extra:
Komodo Nationwide Park, Indonesia.
Komodo Press Journey
In October, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism invited me on a photographer and journalist journey to go diving in Komodo, aka an enormous bucket checklist vacation spot of mine. I had THE BEST TIME on my first-ever liveaboard, diving with turtles and testing some ridiculously scenic spots across the islands.
Learn Extra:
Diving in Komodo Nationwide Park, Indonesia.
Paying Off One Of My Scholar Loans
I really feel SO SO RELIEVED to have paid off the larger of my two scholar loans! That’s $558 much less per thirty days to go flying out of my checking account every month. Everlasting due to my mama for donating a little bit of inheritance cash to make this mortgage go bye-bye!
Verify Out These Previous Yr Critiques: