The Photos We've Aaall Been Waiting For

Lauren and I just finished the premiere of Australia's Next Top Model which was essentially the same as America's Next Top Model only every contestant is white.

Okay! Here are the photos!

My new room!

Next, here is Paul in front of his new car! His eyes are shut.

Abby behind the wheel!!

The highlight of my week has been drinking drip coffee from the comfort of my house. Does that make it a lame week? Or just really great coffee.

This week has definitely had it's up and it's downs.

The up's:

The presents Paul got me (said coffee maker and also a much needed Aussie hair dryer. Mine was making scary smoke smells.).

We spent a lovely evening with Paul's friends Jake and Amy losing over and over at the card game President (called King here. Prime Minister, man.). We played probably twenty five hands. My boyfriend is one competitive bloke, as well as a good sport which comes in handy when we're being slaughtered.

Paul's dad works for an airline who hosted a trivia night to raise money for cancer research. Trivia nights are a big thing here. It's just what it sounds like- you make teams of 2-10 people. The team who answers the most questions right wins a prize. I had more fun than I expected to- it was SUCH a blast. Our team came in second place, but hey.

Paul and I went on a small hike on some northern Sydney beaches. Might as well get in all the activity we can before the big surgery, right? Sydney is beautiful beautiful beautiful. Apparently it's ranked in the top 5 best cities in the world, and I can think of 100 reasons why.

Bachelorette finale! Totally picked JP from day one.

The down's:

The surgery looms over us, and to boot, creates quite the time crunch. The past week and a half we've been going going going non stop. At least that's how it's felt. Moving across the world on two weeks notice leaves LOTS to been done. Who knew. We've been holding things together, but I in particular have defo had my moments. Leaving my family, moving house, starting a new job, making new friends, learning to drive, preparing for this surgery- these are all things I know how to do. Doing them all at once can be a bit tricky. I am lucky girl to have so much support from home, from Paul and from Jesus. How do people do life without these things??

I started my new job last Friday! It's in a warehouse for a bookstore called Koorong. The job is all manual and quite boring, unloading boxes, stickering books, packing boxes etc. The pros to it are my amazing boss (I have never had such a great boss in my life), the friendly staff and the fact that I can listen to my ipod all day :) I haven't worked too much yet- my boss was nice enough to give me time off to be in the hospital with Paul.

In other exciting news, Paul bought a car! It's his first car, so I made sure to take the classic "first car" photo (see above). We like it a whole lot so far. I've been riding shot gun until yesterday when I drove for the first time. It didn't go very well. I actually almost hit a woman walking behind me (first gear is in the top right corner of the clutch right next to reverse), almost pulled out in front of another car (left side means look right, Abby) almost stalled, I ALMOST DIED, OKAY?! Not really :) I did get honked at. I did cry... but in the end Paul and I exited the car in one piece. Well, two pieces. You get it.

I was so overwhelmed and on edge. We had the idea to first get me used to the left side of the car and street in an automatic before taking on the stick, which is what we spent today doing.

Driving around in Paul's sisters automatic was loads easier, but still scary. Everyone told me that driving would come naturally, but it just hasn't. I recite the rules to myself in my head- tight left turns, wide right turns, which helps. I gravitate towards the side of the road because to me, it looks like I'm headed straight for the oncoming traffic. Scaaary! Paul is patient though, and little by little I am getting the hang of things.

I am determined to get it by Sunday, which is when Paul goes to the hospital. I am done with crying. Sometimes you need to suck it up and put on your game face.

That's all I have to say for now, but I will end this post with a few specific requests on all you prayer warriors :)

More than Paul's health, please be praying for his spirit. He gets really frustrated and restless when he's sick. You can imagine that for an active guy, a month in bed will be difficult, especially following such a hard time with the same thing this past Winter. He has a positive attitude, and is keeping his head up, but sometimes the silver lining can be awfully hard to see.

But also pray for his health! :D

For me, pray that I learn to drive soon and fast. This is really important. I want Paul to go into surgery knowing I will be okay (I want to know that too!) and a big part of being independent is driving. I need to take care of Paul and I need to take care of me. Please pray I have the strength to do that and the confidence to stay on my side of the street when I car is headed straight for my seat! Ah!

I miss you!

Love,

Abby

Just a Regular Arvo (that's Australian for afternoon, mate!)

Right now it is 1pm and about 73 degrees outside. This is Winter like I've never experienced it. The week and a half before I came Oz was cold and rainy (incidentally, Maryland was about 105 degrees, so I suppose I lucked out on both ends by being in mild and wonderful Colorado.) Apparently, I bring the sunshine cuz it's been nothing but b-e-a-utiful since my arrival ;D jokes. The sun is so hot here, that the mornings and evenings when it's not up are very chilly. Coat weather. In the shade, the temp seems to drop like 10 degrees. Weather talk is boring, I know, but I do find this interesting. I guess I've never lived this close to the equator.

I say all this to tell you how pumped I am to be living in Matt and Lauren Leeds' home now :) The Leeds home has massive windows everywhere that let in heaps of sunlight, and therefore heat! I am sitting in a Tshirt and shorts writing this, and it feels great. I really despise the sweaters or "jumpers" I've been wearing.

Matt and Paul have been best friends since childhood, so I'd heard a lot about he and his wife, Lauren, before I came down last Summer. (Note 1- the whole Summer/ Winter thing is confusing to write about. I can't even promise that I'll stick with one perspective in writing this, seeing as how I've already referred to August as both in this one entry. Note 2- I am paranoid to mess up my grammar (he and his? him and his?) in my blog. I know I'm an English major but...)

The Leeds' were as lovely as Paul told me they would be, and we became good friends. I am now living with them for three weeks or so, until I can work out some sort of permanent residency. Paul is still living at his parents house, and probably will be until his surgery on the 14th. Then he'll move... well, somewhere else. With such short notice, there are still lots of details to work out. So far I think we've been doing really well though :)

I looove living with Matt and Lauren! They are both school teachers, Lauren working literally across the street. You can see her classroom from her bedroom window- how funny is that. They have a new puppy that is quite hyper, however shockingly quiet, which is nice. I am starting to feel so at home in their house- they are such welcoming people. Plus they have one of those MASSIVE mac computers and a dvd collection the size of... a bathtub. That's an odd comparison, but accurate. Haha. Lauren is actually American herself. She moved from CA to Sydney when she was 12, so she has a very mixed accent. I don't find myself picking up anyones accent but hers, probably because it is similar to mine, only Australianized. She pronounces her er's like I do, but her vowels are all Aussie. I am going to stop talking about this now as I'm sure the only one who really cares about this stuff is my linguistically aware sister, Adrienne. ;)

I have spent the past few days at the Nonnies house because Paul's Nonno has been in the hospital undergoing prostate surgery. I'm not sure of all the details (non parlo Italiano), but I do know that he's doing well. Paul has been driving Nonna back and forth from the hospital. What a good grandson. We spent the night there, and before I fell asleep Nonna opened the door with a flashlight (she carries it around at night because it is easier than turning the lights on and off lol), said something in Italian and threw a bag of hot rice on my lap to keep me warm, haha.

I have had a few homesick moments in the past few days. Usually I cry a little, Paul asks "Are you done? I think you have some more to go," and I cry a little more. Then I get over it :) It is hard to move across the world. I don't know that I am particularly cut out for it, actually, but. Here I am. The first few weeks are the hardest part, after that things get great and stay great.

What I love about living in Australia:

- You don't have to add tax to things when you buy them. It's so nice knowing my exact total before i go to pay for something, especially since I'm still getting used to the currency.

- One dollar coins. Loved that about England too. The US needs to get on that.

- They have these amazing kettles that boil tons on water in one minute. I will be giving you one for your birthday. You have no idea what you're living without right now! :D

- No tipping.

- The money is really pretty and waxy, so it doesn't leave that gross carbon smell on your hands.

- You don't get charged to receive a text, only to send one. That just makes sense.

- Everyone hangs clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer to save energy. I can't decide if I like that or not, but I do admire it.

- Matt and Lauren live across the street from shops, including a grocery store which is beyond convenient.

- The birds are so colorful!

What I do not love about living in Australia:

- The birds are so loud.

- The coffee serving size is so small! (my one true qualm with Europe as well.)

- Being homesick

- Finding all new websites (you don't know how many American website's there are.)

- EVERYTHING IS SO EXPENSIVE, but don't worry. Tomorrow I have a trial day at a new job and the starting pay is 21 dollars an hour- can you even believe it.

Well I think that's all for now. I'll tell you next about my new job (!!) and how I managed to learn to drive a stick with my left hand. A bit nervous about that. Til then!

Abby

Dunkirk, Baltimore, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Sydney.

Wednesday morning I woke up for the last time in America, got dressed and went out to breakfast with my dad at our favorite place, the Countryside Delhi. Getting breakfast out with my dad is a tradition I will miss a whole lot these next six months. I said goodbye to Mom, Dad and Adi around 3pm that day. My mom hugged me tight and told me that I was doing the right thing. Adrienne stood and waved at me in the security line for about five minutes after we'd said goodbye. I hate saying goodbye to my family. I am embarrassingly prone to homesickness. It something I have to consciously not let dictate my decisions. However, this is certainly not the first time I've left them, and as I rounded the corner into the security check point, I found myself completely void of sadness. I pulled my suitcase down the airport walkways and felt only excitement. I am so proud of that! I feel like I have come a long way since my first three weeks of sobbing in England :)

My flight was as pleasant as a twenty four hour flight can be- I slept for five hours!! (a special thanks to my sleep-asking-prayer-warriors: Devin, Mandy, Caleb, Leslie and Sami. I honestly felt those prayers!) On two of the three flights I had an empty seat next to me, including the LA to Sydney leg. That was unbelievably lucky because there really weren't many seats open on either flight. I curled up into a ball and laid my head down. That extra seat made all the difference.

I also sat across the aisle from a Jay Z look alike who dramatically bobbed his head and conducted with his hands during take off and landing, so that was pretty entertaining.

I stepped off the plane and immediately knew I was in Australia as the signs pointed me to the "toilets" not the restrooms. I don't know why I find that so embarrassing. "Excuse me, where are the restrooms?" "Oh, the toilets?" What if I just want to power my nose? I just can't feel like a lady calling them the toilets. Next I spent an hour getting through customs, where the cutest beagle sniffed my bags. Then FINALLY there was Paul Schiavello. I look for Paul differently when I'm searching a crowd in that I simply skim the tops of everyone's heads- yup, there he is.

Paul took me to his grandparents (the Nonnies) house because they live in the city. I had a much anticipated bubble bath and one of Nonna's delicious lunches of homemade salami, pasta, salad, cheese, steak, salmon and bread. Can't wait for Christmas at that woman's house. Paul's Nonnies immigrated from Italy some fifty years ago, and don't speak much English. Paul is quite the translator. Nonna looked through every single page of my England scrapbook and commented "beautiful, beautiful." Being around Nonna makes me miss my dear Mom mom.

That afternoon on the way to pick up Paul's sister, Grace, we got a flat tire on a two way street in the city. I was so impressed with Paul's relaxed response to the whole thing, and double impressed as he changed the tire with no problem while dodging oncoming cars. Talk about your man skills. The three of us went by Paul's Uncle Mike's new cafe on the water and had a coffee. I was shocked at how well I was feeling having not slept for forty hours or so (minus those five magical hours on the plane :), and opted to go see some of Paul's friends that night. However, when jetlag hits you in hits you hard and fast. In a matter of fifteen minutes I went from my happy go lucky self to this pitiful sobbing thing, and couldn't tell Paul or myself why. I just sat there in the car crying like a baby, mainly because I just wanted to get in bed all of the sudden, and I didn't know where my toothbrush was in my suitcase, hahaha. It's funny now but I wasn't laughing then. Paul was so understanding, told me I was just really tired, and took me home where I fell asleep for the night at 5:30 pm (3:30am MD time.)

I am so happy to be here in Australia, and to be here with Paul. I am currently blogging at 4:30 am, so I am obviously not quite adapted yet. I did stay awake until eight last night though! I miss you all and hope you're doing well. Another update soon!

Abby

Why

Corny, but I once heard in a bible study that we should make all of our life's plans in pencil and then hand God the eraser, and now I will tell you why I am currently living in Sydney, Australia.

I met Paul two years ago after his year studying abroad at the University of Pennsylvania. I was struck by first his height and then his Australian accent, and although I didn't see him for another six months after our initial meeting, I was surprised and delighted to find that he was not a person I could easily forget. Paul fascinated me, and still does. Being in love with Paul has been one of the most challenging and rewarding things I've ever done. We work hard to make our long long looong distance relationship work, but have found that that extra effort makes our relationship that much greater :) Paul has spent the past six months living in the States which has been so wonderful. However, the US and Australian governments play a definite role in our relationship, and visa rules state that he leave the country every three months. I said goodbye to Paul in late June and he flew back home for what he'd planned to be a month long visit. Two weeks ago Paul called and told me he was on the way to the hospital with a collapsed lung. Ooooh crap.

The doctors were shocked (this same thing happened last October and they performed a surgery to ensure it never happen again) and after they temporarily fixed Paul's lung, they told him that it was only a matter of time before his lung collapsed again. This left the option of another surgery, but they warned Paul how painful it would be, (Paul and I watched a video of the surgery on youtube and probably shouldn't have...) and that the recovery would be long and hard. On top of that, he would be unable to fly for at least three months.

The decision to move down to Australia was big, but easy to make. I considered my options: Stay in America, finish up my last semester at Towson, and graduate while Paul recovered in Australia, or move graduation back another semester, head down to Oz and be with Paul while he is sick. I considered what gave my life happiness on the day to day, and I'll tell you what, it's not Towson University. And with that, I packed up and left home. People have been shocked with my news and told me they could never do this sort of thing, but I know that they probably could. I think that at the end of the day most people would drop anything and go anywhere to be with the person they love when that person's in trouble. To me, it is only natural to have moved down here. My parents have been so supportive- that has meant the world to me.

I am starting up this blog again for a few reasons:

1. I am a writing major, and to be consistently writing is the best thing I can do for myself :)

2. I LOVED blogging in England, and am so glad I did. I reread my blog and am amazed at how much of it I have forgotten!

3. This will save me from giving the same update to 18 people when I call home.

4. I enjoy it so much :) If at the end of this six months my mother is the only one reading this, and I am aware that that's a definite possibility, I won't mind :) Writing for me, is the ultimate form of stress relief and self expression. (thanks for being my number one fan, mama :D)

Here's to another adventure abroad!!

There's no place like home

My first week back at home has been one big transition. Home is very little like I left it, but that's okay. Adrienne and I have been discussing the idea that "you can never come back home." I suppose it'd be impossible to leave for half a year and have things just as you left them 5 months ago ay. Since I've been gone, I've gained a family member, Jolie, and lost one as well, my precious mom mom. Life around my house this week has been bringing back lots of the memories I have of my moms cancer. There is slight sadness, but a definite sense of hope and togetherness, not to mention heaps of great food. Seriously, we have about 3 casseroles in our fridge right now. People have been so great :)

Flexability is key to the Ackermanns; it's what we do best. Plans change at the drop of a hat, the door is revolving, and right now Taney court is a game of musical beds with 8 of us living here, more to come tonight. This is what I love about my home. Ikea should totally use us in their table ads. Who knew you could fit 13 around a 6 seater. As I write this in my new basement bedroom that I share with Adrienne, I can hear my mom singing You Raise Me Up from the kitchen :) My new bedrooms vents offer great acoustics from almost all the rooms in our house. It's especially fun when I'm napping and Vinny and my cousins are watching the World Cup on TV upstairs.

As for me, I am loving every minute here at home. Truly, my family are my best friends. It's so good to come home to them. However, there's a part of me that's ready to jet off to Europe again right now. I've written down the places I still want to see, and it's quite the list. It's an odd sensation to feel like you've seen so much, and so little at one time. Never have I felt so excited for my future as I do now.

This post marks the end of my blog; thanks for keeping up with my adventures in England. Maybe in a few years I'll have another blog about my adventures in Greece or Prague or Argentina or where ever! I can't wait :)

Love Abby

What a week.

Sara, Heather and I spent another 4 days in Spain with Blanca and her family, which were amazing. The lifestyle is Spain was really different; eating lunch at 4 and dinner at 9 took some getting used to. I couldn't have asked for better company- Sara and Heather make for great travel buddies. Having done a number of trips together at this point, we mesh really well. All three of us had a blast with Blanca; what a lovely girl. Her and her mother were so incredibly hospitable, we were blown away again and again by their kindness.

A highlight for me was a fountain we visited one night. It was huge, and every half hour had a new color and music show. We sat on the grass and watched as the colorful water shot up and around to a Disney medly, beginning with Cirle of Life- awesome. Funny the things that are universal, like Disney. Or starbucks. Or math... :/

The trip was possibly my favorite of the whole term; a great way to end my experience here. The last few days Sara, Heather and I have spent in various British cities- today they are in London. It's been a really great time.

On a heavier note, things have been tough at home in Maryland. Mom mom's health has been waning fast. Over Spring break, my parents told me Mom mom would probably die within the year. It was hard news to swallow. Mom mom means the world to me, as she does to many people. The time I spent with her in April I will always cherish. The last two weeks or so, her health has declined so much that we weren't sure if she'd make it til I came home from England. It's been difficult to be this far from my family these past few days. I've been calling Mom mom and asking her to wait for me. I'll be home in two days, and I'd love to see her one last time. She told me she'd try.

Last night, my mom told me that Mom mom was ready to die. I said goodbye to Mom mom on the phone. She couldn't respond, but I'm told she could hear me. I'm so grateful to have Sara and Heather here, as all my friends have already gone back home. Paul too has been so supportive through the entire thing; I'm a lucky girl to have so many dependable, loving people to lean on.

As of right now, Mom mom is still here, though unconscious. I am still hoping that she can hold on, and that I'll see her Monday afternoon when I arrive back in the US. However, no matter what, I know I'll see her again in heaven. Adrienne told me that yesterday, every now and then mom mom would softly murmur "heaven." There is such a comfort to know she'll be with Jesus when she goes.

This is certainly not how I pictured my trip here ending. It's been quite the adventure, but today all my thoughts are on Taney Court. I can't wait to hop off that plane and see my family :)