There's No Place Like Oz

Most of the friendships I have developed that are online-only are with other travel bloggers. Recently, I’ve met quite a few awesome folks who are half of a transnational couple — someone like me who is dating/engaged to/married to someone from another country OR someone from another country who’s in a relationship with an American. Katie of Singles and Pairs is one of those awesome people.

Katie recently tagged me in a link-highlighting meme, which is similar to one that made its way around the travel blogging community a while back. And now that she has her fiance visa in hand and is days away from moving to the US, I thought it was a perfect time to share this post.

1. Share something that no one else knows about you.

As a storyteller, there’s not much that SOMEONE doesn’t know.

But, one story I don’t think I’ve shared on the blog is the one of my first career ambition. And I find that pretty funny since I’m a career counselor.

In elementary school, one of my teachers asked the class the all-too-familiar question “what do you want to be when you grow up” and I think I had the best answer.

I wanted to work at Hershey’s like my grandmother did. I wanted to work with chocolate every day.

While my grandmother wasn’t actually baking or cooking, I still saw her job as a little Willy Wonka-esque, and to a 5-year old, few things are cooler.

photo credit

2. Link to one of the posts that I think best fits the following categories:

a) Most beautiful piece: My international, transatlantic love story with Gav — our engagement post.

b) Most helpful piece: When I first arrived in Oz, I had a difficult time finding natural/organic/healthy food stores in online searches. I figured other people had the same problem. When I finally found a few stores (and worked at one!), I drafted this list, which people find on a fairly regular basis.

c) Most popular piece: Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, but the post that gets the most views (and has since weeks after I published it) describes the difference between macarons and macaroons. A one letter difference makes ALL the difference in the world.

d) Most controversial piece: An entire post dedicated to Vegemite…it’s about as controversial as it gets!

e) Surprisingly successful piece: Thanks to my letter to Adriano Zumbo and several friends who shared this post on social media (especially Nicole who EMAILED Zumbo), I received free macarons from Australia for Macaron Day — at home in the USA. I say that’s pretty successful.

f) Most underrated piece: I figured folks would jump at the chance to offer me tips and advice on what to eat, where to stay, and what to do in Hawaii, but I only had a few replies. I’d still love suggestions!

g) Most pride-worthy piece: Writing how I write best — sharing my reactions, thoughts, and emotions to significant life changes. Here is a series (oh, I couldn’t pick just one!) about making your dreams come true and what comes next after living your biggest dream. Time to Go Home | Re-entry and reverse culture shock | What’s Next? Lifestyle Choices | Return from Australia: One Year Later

3. Pass this on to seven other blogs/bloggers.

I actually participated in a post very similar to this about a year or year and a half ago and tagged bloggers then. Instead of selecting individuals now, I say participate if you would like to do so 🙂