Australian Expats: 15 Months Away From Home

Well, that’s it, I have said farewell to Vancouver for a couple of months while I go explore the massive continent that is North America. August had its highs and lows just like July. The highs made it one of my best months here but the lows, unfortunately, made it one of the worst too.

I began August by participating in Colour Me Rad – the 5km walk/run where you get covered in colourful cornstarch. I say walk/run because 5km isn’t that far so if you do run it I suggest you get in the earliest line (there are usually three groups) and do a couple as it really is over too soon. Our run happened at the University of British Columbia and every kilometre marked a different colour. It was fun but man the cornstarch is a bitch to get off, there is no other way to describe it. I think I was in the shower for about 20 minutes and I had to get a harsh scourer from under the kitchen sink to erase the colour from the crease areas and sweat zones: knees, elbows, underarms… but I guess it is all a part of the fun, right?

B.C. had a public (statutory to Canadians) holiday on 4th August so Kate and I took the chance to tick off a further bucket list item: Bowen Island. We had a beautiful, and a rather cheap afternoon, seeing what the island offered. Unfortunately, my parents rang me as I was sitting down for dinner to tell me they had to put my dog to sleep in three hour’s time. Dusty was a soldier, but her 15-year-old body just couldn’t hold on any longer. The vet said she was a strong pup but in a lot of pain, so it was time. I was, and still am, heartbroken. I feel like a piece of me is now buried in the backyard with her. She was a part of the family and every time I think about her my eyes start to water. Like right now. I know she is now at peace, I am just going to miss the cuddles and walks and laughs.

But like I said last update after my grandma passed, you have to keep going, keep living and doing them proud. The following weekend it was time to have one of the best experiences of my life: being a VIP at the Squamish Valley Music Festival. WOW.

We also made the most of our time in Squamish by visiting the downtown area and the local hella-windy beach on Saturday morning and the just-opened Sea to Sky Gondola on Sunday. Post coming soon!

It took me a couple of days to recover from the experience but then it was time to get out the credit card and start booking some more of my adventure. Next, my friends took me to Splashdown, which is in need of some TLC but we had fun nonetheless. It was over-populated with young kids, which probably has something to do with the Social Shopper coupon we also purchased. The best part might have been afterwards though when my friends took me to all you can eat fish ‘n’ chips! For $10 you can get as much as you want and bottomless soft drink – we need to bring this to Australia.

The following weekend included work and a visit to our favourite East Van brunch spot, Red Wagon Cafe. Oh, how I will miss the trucker’s breakfast. Look at this. Amazing.

My last week in Vancouver (for now) included a visit to the Fair at The PNE to see Three Days Grace perform. What a flashback we were served when they sang hits like I Hate Everything About You. Then we ticked a final adventure off my bucket list: Deep Cove. What a beautiful inlet in North Vancouver. I enjoyed photographing the scenery and can’t wait to share the photos with you.

August 31st was my clean-up and ship-out of my apartment day. I am really going to make someone a horrible housewife one day. Sorry, future husband, but I hate cleaning. But now I am in Banff and the journey has begun. I will try and post updates as I go along, but I shall see you for my 16-month recap in a few weeks time!