Getting to know you…..

Hi Friends!

Now that we’ve been in Australia for over a month, we are starting to feel quite settled into our new lives.  We know the routine of starting over, and we jumped right into getting organized. 

Within the first 2 weeks we acquired our first “new” car.  A 2010 Hybrid Camry fit the bill.  It’s the newest car we’ve ever owned, and it feels quite luxurious!  It’s also eerily quiet, so we can sneak up on anyone!  We were fortunate enough to borrow a 2^nd car for a bit from our friend Jill until we purchased another 2010 Toyota – this time a zippy Corolla hatchback in wildfire red.  It’s a fun practical car.  It feels strange to be a 2-car family, but it is the right choice for us living in our little country town. 

We’ve also joined a gym!  This gym is different than any other ones we’ve belonged to before.  It’s a small facility with a trainer on hand to help you and push you along.  We’ve been going for a month now – and we are hooked!  I have to say, Amaury is our best workout buddy…he hangs out in his jogging stroller and keeps entertained watching us do these crazy routines.  We even take turns jogging him around the gym when it’s time for cardio. 

Amaury and I have joined up with a few playgroups in town.  For 2 hours in the morning, this kid cooks, pushes babies in a pram, jumps on a trampoline, eats snack (and sometimes other kids’ snacks), climbs and digs in the sandbox.  He plays so hard that he often falls asleep in the car on our 2 minute drive home! 

A gorgeous view from our friends house of the Murray River.

I’m getting to know many people in the community …and drinking a lot of coffee J I finally read “Gone Girl” in about 2 days.  (Now what should I read?!)  I’ve also been looking at houses like a mad woman.  We’ve moved to a lovely 3 bedroom house for a longer temporary stay, but we need a permanent home.  We are looking to buy, but we haven’t found anything with a price point we are willing to commit to. 

The great thing about where we currently live is it is small and suits our needs for the moment.  It also has a lovely garden, which Amaury and I tend to everyday as part of our routine.  We are growing spinach and lettuce.  The roses are starting to come in, as are the irises.  Amaury helps me water the garden and helps me carry the weeds and trimmings to the rubbish bin.  We love being outside!!!!

Amaury and I made an exciting trip to Adelaide last week.  A friend, Kris, who I briefly worked with in Somerville some 9 years ago, had a brief layover with her hubby on their OZ/NZ tour.  Andy and Kris were in town just long enough for Amaury and I to pick them up for a lunch at the Adelaide Central Market.  We had a lot to catch up on and connect with in 2 hours!!!  Kris and Andy are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers like me!  I was finally able to thank her in person for sending me the best care packages while I was in Namibia.  What a great time we had!!

Kris and I 

Kris and Andy 

Jose has been busy these last 2 weeks getting his OB skills assessed in Adelaide.  He’s been back in the “theatre” (the operating room) assisting and performing C-sections.  The most exhausting part of these 2 weeks is driving in and out of Adelaide (1 hour each way).  It’s an easy drive, but gets old after a long day.

Jose relaxing - about to cook our first meal on his new barbi!

So, why did the sheep cross the road?

I love how I’m finally able to do all the things I’ve wanted to do to be green.  We have a compost bin, I hang all our clothes on the line to dry, I’m almost exclusively using cloth nappies for Amaury and our recycle bin is overflowing.  Our garbage bin is about a quarter full for collection each week.  Amaury and I save much of our plastic and cardboard to repurpose for “toys.”  There is so much you can do and make with a little creativity and a bit of time.  Or, you can just put a box out and let them play the game "in the box, out the box." 

Babies love boxes.

Jose and Amaury at the Adelaide Central Market

A lovely rainbow after a day of rain

Jose, Amaury and I have managed to take a few drives around the area.  We drove 1 ½ hours to Victor Harbor, a little beach town.  Hello gorgeous blue water!!!!!  We were 1 of about 3 families on the beach.  Absolutely stunning!  On the way back, we stopped at a family owned olive grove and bought olive oil and a few jars of olives.  (Amaury would eat the whole jar if we let him!)  We will definitely be back that way again soon!

Amaury just before he took a "dip" in the sea.

I think that’s about all for now.  Thanks for checking in on us here in South Australia!