Getting Ready to say Good bye to the States

Well, this chapter of our life is getting close to an end.. And the next is getting much closer to starting. As we begin to plan for our move to Western Australia, we have been slowly looking around thinking about what we will miss here. After all, we love living here!

Here is what we will miss about being here in Houston, and the States:

Our Houston family and friends (of course!).. including a new baby who will be born just after we leave, and two lovely weddings..

I love our little apartment, I will miss that!

Netflix - I will be honest. It is addictive. And we can't get it at home.

Value Village - epic thrifting missions have occurred here. We just don't have them that big in NZ or Australia

Cheap organic food - well, all food. ALL FOOD IS SO CHEAP HERE> like dude. So cheap. We will miss that. We shop at Whole Foods here because even though it is considered pricey here, it is still cheaper than a cheap store at home.

Long trading hours - It just isn't really done at home. Like here, the mall is open till 9 or 10 every day of the week. At home, that happens once a week. I like this.

Cheap telecommunication plans - Sorry that I keep saying cheap. But really, everything is cheaper here.

Baby Barnabys - So, I was a late convert to this. Before Paleo I was not a breakfast/brunch person, so obviously cueing for breakfast was not an ideal situation for me. But know I love it. And I don't mind the wait. And it is a rad little place, with awesome staff, cheap and super yummy food.

Sports - I will admit it, I am going to miss 24 hour ESPN and football season, baseball games, definitely basketball games. I think they are my favorite.

Shipping speed - when we first got here I ordered a mirror on Amazon, it got here like 4 days later. Literally unheard of down under. We are just too far away!

Victorias Secret - I just heart their panties yo.

The price of Champagne - less than $30 for Moet? $50 for Veuve. (the pre pregnancy Sarah enjoyed this situation) - oh and they sell it at the chemist. Hollah.

Wide streets - they are wider. I guess we are in Texas so there is room (on the other hand, the shitty nature of the overly potholed roads... my bladder won't miss them)

Travelling - knowing you can just pop to New York for a weekeend. There is nothing quite like that feeling guys. Not if it is a feeling you have never known.

Movie tickets - $6 an adult to see a movie on Sunday morning. $9 the rest of the time. I don't hate that.

Concerts - more people, so you know, more concerts. As in, more bands, more frequent, way cheaper prices, and epic memories.

Beer - pints of beer for $3 versus over $12. Goes without saying really.

Margaritas - Gigantic margs.

Carters - my favorite baby store. And they don't shop to Aus. Sad face.

BBQ, Texas food, Mexican food, ALL THE FOOD - we will miss it. Oh, how we will miss it.

The Galleria - yep. We are consumerists. It is a giant mall with many good stores, and when we first moved here, it was kind of like a shiny light in a cold stormy and multiple murder week in Houston.

Squirrels - I love the little dudes.

Margaritas - Like, good, fresh, delicious margs. Damn I shouldn't be talking about them right now!

Big car parks - since so many people drive stupidly large (sorry Texas) trucks here, parking our wee VW SUV is even possible for me!

Expat Life: Interpreting Kiwi English

 Image Source

I say I speak three languages, English, French and Broken English. Haha nice joke, polite way of saying I swear like a trucker. But, as Laurie says, sorry but not sorry. However, I have noticed since coming here, I really speak Kiwi-English and Aussie-English, and am slowly learning American-English. In preparation of my trip to see the lovely Laurie this weekend, I have prepared a list of the things I have learned so far, so that I can help prepare her for my Kiwi-ness.

Enjoy.

Kiwi - Murica words that I have gotten confused

Shout someone – Buy someone a drink or meal – “it’s my shout”

Bag - Purse

Purse - Wallet

Boot - Trunk

Bench - Counter

She’ll be right – Don’t worry, everything will be alright

You’ll be away laughing – You will be fine

Away with the fairies - Daydreaming

Jandals - Flip flops - Thongs

Togs - Swimming costume

Do the dishes - Washing up

Loo – Toilet - Restroom

Bless your little cotton socks – Bless you

Undies – Panties

Knickers (for kids underwear) – Panties

Ice block – Popsicle

Nek Minnit - Next thing you know

He’s a gun – He's an expert

Pom – English person

Have a go at someone – Attack or insult someone, start an argument

I'm flat out – I am really busy

What’s that when its at home? – This just means “what is that?”

 Bill - Cheque

Coriander - Cilantro

Capsicum - Bell Pepper

Gherkin - Dill Pickle

Grill - Broil

Barbeque - Grill

Eftpos - Debit

Drink Piss - Drink alcohol

Maori Words that I use A lot

Whare – house

Puku – tummy

Kapai – Good

Kia Ora – Hello
Aporo - Apple
Aroha - Love
Paki paki - clap your hands
Are your tarengas painted on? - Are your ears painted on?
Whare Paku - toilet

 

See you soon Loz!

A Year in America

I can't believe it has been a year already. We have had such an amazing time here. With only a year to go we still have lots of things to tick off of our bucket list, but we are making progress. Here is our One Year update! To see the 6 month progress see here, or scroll down to see what we have been up to...
Items in BOLD are done and dusted, items that aren't are hopefully happening in the future.

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New York - June

Chicago - July

Austin - March

Hill Country, TX - April
 
Las Vegas - September

San Antonio - Planned for April 2014

Seattle - Planned for September 2014

San Francisco - Planned for September 2014

Portland - Planned for September 2014

New Orleans - Going for Mardi Gras next month!

Dallas - Planned for the Cowboys v Eagles game at the end of the year

Boston - Maybe December for Robs birthday

San Diego

Hawaii

Alaska 

Georgia - Wanna see where my Pal Jeremy is from!

So, our State list to date:

Arizona

California

Illinois

Louisiana

Nevada

New York

Texas

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Twinkie - yeah no I can't bring myself to do this. But Rob tried one. I think he liked it, he had three more right away, but hasn't touched them since. 

Deep Pan Pizza - had a Deep Dish in Chicago. OMG. Amazing.

Pasta in Little Italy - like, the best Pasta ever. 

Hot Dog - I had a a "dog" at the Cubs game, they very proudly serve it with no Tomato Sauce, only mustard and pickle.

Sweet Iced Tea - 

Lemonade - like, the kind on movies about the South. We have had it so many times, man it is so yum. Especially in the middle of a humid Houston summer! 
Chicken Fried Steak 

Chicken Fried Chicken

Po Boy - This is like a chip butty but with deep fried sea food. Its so good and so bad all at the same time. 

Budweiser - not very good, don't know what the fuss is about.

Chicken and waffles - Rob had this for breakfast one day, still a mystery to me.

Crawfish - haven't tried mudbugs yet. But we kind of have to.

Handmade flour tortilla - Oh man. These are good. So good. Sooooo good.

Queso - it took a year but we tried some Queso. And that shit was amazing. Even though all basic instincts were telling me not to, I ate a whole bowl of it. There, I admit it.

Apple Pie

Pecan Pie - I LOVE PECAN PIE. 

Pumpkin Pie - we had a lot of pumpkin pie at thanksgiving. 

BBQ - we have had a lot of BBQ. It's amazing.

Shrimp and Grits - I LOVE SHRIMP AND GRITS. That is all.

Gumbo - Rob tried this and loved it.

Chowder

Giant Soda - I got a two litre cup of Soda from Buckys. Yep. Two litres.

Turkey - Rob had a turkey leg at Eeyore's birthday, and we ate a shit load of Turkey at Thanksgiving!

Kolache - Tried these bad boys. Literally the most amazing thing ever. 

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Dave Chapelle - saw him, sung him Happy Birthday. Yayah.

Someone chewing Tobacco - Wow, I saw this for he first time in January. It actually happened. Haha I thought it only happened in baseball movies :P

Margaret Cho 

Music Festivals

House of Pies - Went for midnight Pie after the supercross.. SO GOOD!

International House of Pancakes

Multonomah Falls, Oregon

Wrestlemania - why? because I love Rob, that's why.

Hooters

Grand Canyon - the number one thing I have seen or done here!

Hoover Dam - Flew over this on the chopper ride to the Grand Canyon

Wrigley Field - saw Cubs v Cardinals.

Tornado -

Mexican Wrestling -

Monster Jam or that kind of giant monster truck thing -

Niagara Falls -

Mount St Helen's - Hopefully later this year

San Juan Islands - Hopefully later this year 


Fenway Park

Stumble down Bourbon St - Next month!!

Famous People (Yes, I wanted to see some famous people, so sue me) - Rick Ross, Pauly Shore, Tommy Davidson, Dave Chapelle, FOTC, Phil from the Amazing Race, a real Housewife, Backstreet Boys.. oh and Mike Tyson

Central Park - got lost, saw turtles and HEAPS of squirrels.

Brooklyn Bridge - walked across on the sunniest, most beautiful day.  
Badger

Beluga - Saw them in Chicago. And when I saw them I cried. I was so excited!

Gators - Saw them in Louisiana. Crazy Shit.

Squirrel - I have some squirrel pals who I see on the way to work.

Chipmunk

Bear

Pink Flamingo

Buckys - after Austin; on the way to New Braunfels.

Times Square - it's so busy. And we loved all the billboards.

Disneyland - Hoping to squeeze it in this year!

Colorado River - Parked next to it in the chopper and had Champagne!

Hippy Festival - yeah, so we totally did this when we went to Eeyores birthday with Jarrod and Rachael. It was so much fun. There was a lot of beer, hula hoops, and aging breasts.

Renaissance Fair - OMG we had the funnest day ever.


Cirque De Soleil -So good. Amazeballs even.

Las Vegas Strip - Strolled from Excalibur down to Treasure Island. Funny people watching!

Broadway Show - saw Book of Mormon.

Crater Lake - THIS YEAR!! (I am a little excited lol)

A jousting renaissance dinner - Did it. It was amazingly cheesey and awesome. Thanks Vegas lol.

Great Lakes - Saw Lake Huron from Chicago

Bon Jovi - Saw him at Chicago Field in Chicago.

Mount Hood - Hoping this year.

Mount Rainier - This year!

Gulf of Mexico - Galveston, TX; Holly Beach, LA.

Narrows, TX -

30 Rock - Saw it during our May trip to NY. It was tall and pretty cool. Unfortunately we didn't see Tina Fey at the same time.

Ranch - In March for our Friends wedding!

Rodeo - NEXT MONTH!

A Cactus in the desert - Done - Midland rig trip. Cactus everywhere.

Lake Tahoe -

Yellow Stone Park -

Catskills - Hopefully this year.

Jersey Turnpike - This year.

Where white linen pants in The Hamptons -

Hike some of the Appalachians

Rocky Mountains - Hmmm.. not sure on this one.

Mardi Gras - Next month!  

NBA game - Rockets v Mavericks, Rockets v Clippers, Rockets v Thunder

NFL game - We went to our first NFL game in November

Roller Derby - This was so much fun. Those girls have balls. Big balls.


Ice Hockey - Even got to hug the mascot. We saw the Aeros before they left Houston. Was really fun to watch. Way more fun than on TV.

MLB game - Red Sox v Yankees, Red Sox v Astros, Cubs v Cardinals

College Football game - A Wisconsin v LSU in August, an A&M game later in the year are in the cards

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Thanksgiving - We had such a great Thanksgiving with our Texan family!

Fourth of July - see this post for details on our Independence Day. If you are familiar with the story you will know that I am still holding out for a good fourth of July.

Tailgate - maybe this year.. need to find some lovely pals to tailgate with! (any offers people?)

Meet a Cowboy -

Carve a pumpkin - Nearly chopped my hand off but I did it!
 

Trick or treat - This was so much fun!

Make a pumpkin pie 

Buy Cowboy Boots 

Tubing - hopefully we do this later in the year, when we went it was the end of the season and there was waaaay too many people (ewww drunk people pee).. But I am hoping to do it still! 

Get stuck somewhere due to a snow storm - thank you random January snowstorms (actually ice rather than snow) in Houston. And thank you Midland for being so accommodating.

Go to a Pumpkin Patch - We did this, had so much fun and did a corn maize! And it was like 99% humidity so we nearly melted haha

Grill - We have done some grilling with pals. The results so far have been encouraging.

Shoot a gun - There is no way in hell I am picking up a gun. Ever. But Rob went shooting with Jeremy in November.

Snow Day - Yes, that joyous moment I have seen on the Simpsons so many times. Although there was no actual snow there was some sleet and ice, so that was fun!

Mardi Gras - Happening at the end of Feb!!

Buy a box of Girl Scout cookies and eat the whole thing

Shop at Walmart - So, Rob refuses to do this. But I have!