Seasons Greetings

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?...So this will be my first Christmas without seeing any snow or cold weather to speak of. It is strange being able to wear shorts and flip flops in December. Granted we have not had the best weather ever. Australia tied and set more records this month for rain fall. The past few days we have had major thunderstorms and even some hail. I still think I would take it over snow though. It has been nice to go to the beach after work on hot sweaty days and take a dip.

The last month has seen Kieran and I add some more additions to our place including a brand new bed and a Christmas tree! Holding true to some of my family traditions, we had a cookie bake at our apartment the first weekend of December. It was just the two of us and we only successfully made three types but it still was nice. No Thanksgiving turkey this year however. It fell during a busy week for us but next year we DEFINATELY are celebrating somehow because I feel like a bad American. :)

One other change this month is that I have taken yet ANOTHER job! I feel like such a quitter, but the department of education will not grant me a teaching license (to teach in state schools) until I take two more course which I would have to go over an hour away to take and pay way too much money. It is not realistic right now and the job I currently have is just not able to give me full time work. I was looking on the web for teaching positions at private schools and could not find any full time PE jobs either. I did however find a position as an aide working in classrooms with special needs children. I have always loved working with children like this and it is at a Catholic school only 15 min from where we live so I figured I would jump on it and see if maybe it would lead to a "teaching" job down the road. Plus it will be better than what I am doing now because I won't be bouncing from school to school and I will actually get to know the people I work with. Fingers crossed!

I am still doing my dog walking/pet care job a few afternoons a week and posted some photos of my regulars. Fred is the lab mix who is 11 but thinks he is about 3 - he is my favorite. Smokey and Bandit are the two crazy girls below him. They are sort of a pain in the butt and are very much still puppies. All muscle and they walk me more than I walk them sometimes I think!

Kieran is well and his work is pretty slow at the moment. This is good because we can spend quite a bit of time together. He is playing soccer with some friends on Wednesday nights when I play basketball. He is a bit dissapointed in th eelection outcome as of a few weeks ago. Australia has a new Prime Minister and everyone is worried intrest rates will sore even higher. His grandmother is in a nursing home at the moment after having a bit of a stroke. We have gone to visit her a few times. Hopefully she will be able to come spend time with us on Christmas.

All in all life is pretty good. We are thinking of all of you during this holiday season. Not sure when I will be able to get back home to see everyone but hopefully it will be in the next 12 to 18 months. You can always come see us.....

Mrs. Houlahan

Well hello again! I have been VERY slack about updating my blog, but in my defense, I have had a few things going on in the last month or so! First of all - I am a MARRIED WOMAN! Kieran and I tied the knot on October 12th in my hometown of New Brighton, MN. For those of you who were able to make it I think you would agree that it might just have been the party of the year! It was so great to have so many family and friends around to share the day with us!

The Australians invaded America for a few days and it was a blast! They bonded with my family and friends and even took part in a softball game (America V. Australia) the day after the wedding. Many of them were put up by my (dysfunctional) family and become honorary members of their home...everyone will be talking about it for a long time I'm sure!

After the wedding, and a few tears on my part, Kieran and I headed to NYC for our honeymoon. The weather was awesome while we were there and we were able to walk around in t-shirts and sandals most days!

The first full day we had there, we took a tour of Manhattan via tour bus...an 8.5 hour tour that is! I was exhausted from the wedding and all of the late nights with visitors and fell asleep for 45 minutes towards the end of the ride! Some of the high lites were: Ground Zero, the UN building, and a ferry ride out to the Statue of Liberty. It was a long day but a great way to learn about the city.

One of the other fun things we got to do was go to a taping of the "Late Show with David Letterman". No major celebs that day (LeAnne Rimmes was the biggest) but still fun to be a part of. We went to dinner in Little Italy one night and wandered down through Greenwich Village and Sojo, which we loved. Times Square and the Empire State building were a short jaunt from our hotel which was cool. We also met up with Kate Gales and her boyfriend, Patrick, for drinks one night.

We would have loved to have a few more days to explore but we just ran out of time. Now it is back to reality.

Work is going ok. I got a letter from the Department of Education when I got home saying I need to go back to school for another semester if I want to teach at public schools in this state which is disappointing...I'm trying to fight it but will see what happens. At least I have work for now. I started my pet care job too which has been really fun. I work for a place where you walk, feed and care for owners' pets while they are away. Pretty flexible hours and I get to play with all the cute dogs and stuff!

Summer is definitely on its way. We went to the beach just today actually with some people and had a bbq at our place - it will be great to be so close to the beach! I tried my hand at body boarding the other day but I am not sure if the ocean is my cup of tea - it is pretty exhausting! I have started playing on a basketball team on Wed nights and we joined a co-ed softball team (which got rained out our first game the other night). Still finding it sort of tough to get a group of friends but slowly meeting people.

Miss all of you and think about you often! Please keep the emails coming!
XOXO

Spring has Sprung!

Well, it is officially the second day of Spring and I am so glad that the days are getting longer and warmer! The only bad thing is that the LOUD birds around here start squawking at about 530 in the morning!! These are not quiet birds either. They are cockatoos and kookaburras - sounds like we are living in the freakin' jungle!

Otherwise life has been pretty good! My job has been great - I really have learned so much about teaching gymnastics so it has been a really good learning experience. I missed a day last week due to the fact that I had a bad sinus infection, but the kids have been great and I am happy.

I am on the fence trying to decide about getting my masters. Kieran gets back into his MBA courses in January and I think I might take a class towards my masters in education - we will see. I also am in the process of getting my qualifications updated to teach swim lessons.

I have been able to spend some time with Kieran and his family the past few weekends. Last weekend we had his family over for a picnic since it was his dad's birthday. It wound up being an indoor picnic because it rained when we wanted to eat but then it fined up and we went to the beach and park so his nephew could play. Nice day. Then I was at the football game with his parents today. they won their last regular season game of the year and playoffs start next weekend. It was also Father's Day here today. I think Kieran is ready for the season to be over. It has been a great year but busy for him.

We really do not have much else excitement in our lives these days. I fly into Minneapolis on Sept. 29th at 930pm and Kieran will be coming a few days later since he needs to work at the Rugby Grand Final (whether Manly is in it or not). It sounds like a lot of you are able to come so I am really looking forward to seeing all of you!! I sent the playlist in to the DJ today so get ready to boogie! We are working on a video of our area to show at the reception as well so we will see. It will be a home video, but I took it to the rugby today and have been getting bits and pieces each day.

Love all of you!! XOXO

City to Surf

So I survived the Sydney, "City to Surf". It is a 14K fun run - a fun run with 64, 761 people this year to be exact!! As you can see in the photo to the right it was a packed event. Kieran and I had never done this event before so we were not sure what to sign up for. There were three groups - the serious runners, the semi-serious runners, and the rest of us. We signed up to be "Back of the Pack" which was good since neither of us trained very hard for this. We wound up walking most of it and finished in about 2 1/2 hours. The weather was awesome. We start in the middle of the city and walk to Bondi Beach. It was a gorgeous course with plenty of hills and views of the city and water. Once you got to the beach it was one big party! Very good day. If you are interested in seeing more about the event you can check out http://city2surf.sunherald.com.au/

Otherwise things are going well. The weather is getting much better which has improved everyone's moods. Teaching is fun and I have learned so much. We do not have a whole lot else planned before the wedding. Kieran will be very busy at work right up to the end of the season because Manly just keeps on winning. They have a good chance of winning the whole thing this year. I survived my detox and maybe even lost a pound or two - it is good to have meat and dairy again after two weeks without it though!! We made a field trip to IKEA the other weekend and got a bookcase and some decorations for around the place. We also got a futon so bring on the visitors!! Our apartment is becoming more and more of a home everyday. Well, that is all for now. Keep in touch and I will see everyone soon!

So I have been in Sydney now for about three months. Some days it feels like it has been longer and other times it seems like I just got here! Life has been pretty good lately. I started my new job with the company Sportspro (see my spiffy unform?) and so far it has been much less stress than the one with the Y. I'm still adjusting to things but I think it will be a good fit. I'm at three different schools throughout the week and so far it has been a good experience.

My weekends have gotten busier it seems like as I begin to meet more people. The highlight of the month so far has been the costume party Iwent to this weekend. Kieran and I were invited to go on a party cruise through Sydney Harbour. He had a work function to go to so I went with some of the girls he works with. We dressed up as construction workers. Costume parties are always a good time. We then docked the boat in the city and went to a place called, "The Retro". There are three levels and each level is a different decade theme. There were the 70's floor, 80's and the floor where they played more current and 90's stuff. Very fun place. I can't wait to explore the city more now that I have been getting out. We also have joined a softball team which starts soon so that should be good too.

Kieran and I played babysitter this past Sunday watching after his nephew (soon to be my nephew too!), Nicholas.HE is almost 2 years old and super cute! We took him to our apartment and had a picnic in the park by our place. Then we took him to the beach where he laughed so hard when he put his toes in the water! HE took a bit of a spill and got covered in water and sand (fully clothed by the way) but we had a great afternoon.

All that is really new otherwise is that I started a detox diet. I am not allowed meat, caffine, dairy, or chocolate and I take these pills to help "flush" my insides. Iam not doing it to loos weight but to feel better inside and out. I am on day 4 and I have not had meat yet, but I have cheated a bit in all of the other areas. I have been feeling better though...I give credit to anyone who has done a diet:)

Wedding plans are ticking along thanks to my mom and sister! They have been amazing! Kieran and I went and got our wedding bands the other day and will be working on our programs this weekend. Crazy to think I will be home in two months time!! Can't wait to see everyone. I really hope all of you are considering coming to visit us. We live in such a beautiful area and I really hope I get o share it with all of you. You all are welcome anytime!! Can't wait ot hear from you all!!!

Ticking Along...

So not a whole lot is new and exciting these days. Just working and trying to plan the wedding and get more settled in here in Newport. I am slowly ticking things off of my massive list of things to get, register for, and pay for! I had my last day at my job for the YMCA on June 30th so that should be less stress for me...the photo on the left was taken a few Sundays ago when Kieran and I were driving back from Church. It is the next suburb north of us and where I will be teaching a few days a week in my new job. Nice little shacks they have, huh?

The kids are on school holidays right now so I don't officially start my placement for my new job until next week but I have been working a few days at vacation camp. It is basically glorified babysitting but it's money. Otherwise just relaxing and tomorrow I am going to look for a waitressing job or something for a few nights a week. A little extra money and something to do. I applied to get my Australian Swim instructor certification so hopefully that goes through so I can teach swim lessons. I might look into volunteering somewhere or something too. My new job is only 30 hours week so it will be good to have more to do. I also joined a gym so I have been going there a lot.

Trying to meet people. The photo to the right is of me and some girls I have become close with. The blonde is actually from Maryland and married an Aussie. I met the girl on the far right through Kieran last year when I came so we kept in touch. Very nice girls. I still miss everyone from home though!! Keep the emails and letters coming - they mean a lot. Kieran and I are super excited for the wedding. I plan on coming home around Sept. 30th so please contact me or stop by my parents' house so I can see everyone!

Not a whole lot else to report on. The Sea Eagles are currently in 2nd. They won 56-0 on Saturday so that was exciting. Only a month left in the regular season. We have been watching the Twins on mlb.tv so I have been loving that. Kieran is officially a Twins fan!! We have to go to our engaged couples retreat for the Catholic church this weekend. Not sure what to expect but hopefully we will learn some stuff. Well, that is all I know for now. Keep in touch everyone!!

Bloody Winter!

I really do not know much else these days other than the fact that the weather has been terrible! Winter here does not mean snow but this month it has been raining non-stop! I have seen the sun about three times in the last three weeks - yuck! The photo to the left is of me at the Manly game the other night. I felt like I was at a high school football game with the weather...at least I get to go in the Presidents lounge to warm up - thanks Kieran!! I wish I was in MN having summer but I am making the best of things :)

The only other info that I really have is that I am now certified in CPR/First Aid by the Australian Red Cross. They do not recognize my American Red Cross certs over here so I spent all day Saturday and Sunday getting that taken care of for my job. They do not do the Heimlich maneuver over here so I learned another technique. I also had to learn how to care for spider, snake, and jelly fish stings/bites - yikes!! When you all come visit I will be able to help save your lives...

Rain, Rain go away

Well, Kieran and I have survived the biggest storm New South Wales has seen in over 30 years this weekend!! It rained last weekend basically non-stop from Thursday to Sunday morning. There were winds of 106 kilometers per hour and waves nearly 15 feet! I wanted to take photos, but did not want to wander out to do so.



Our power went out multiple times last weekend and some places are just getting power back. A coal transporter ( a huge tanker ship) ran aground up the coast a few hours away and may become a genuine ship wreck if they are unable to get it back out to sea!! Kieran drove home on last Friday and there was a part of some one's roof in the middle of the main road!! Kieran said he had never seen anything like it...that did not however, stop him from going out to his bachelor party on Saturday. This is party #1 for those who cannot make it Vegas in October. The boys braved the weather and went out paint balling amongst other things. I really don't want to know. :)



Monday was the Queen's birthday so there was no work for me! I went to the local Pub near were Kieran and I live called "The Newport Arms" with some girls I met from Kieran's work. The weather cleared up enough for me to enjoy a bit of sunshine. Kieran stayed home and nursed his paintball welts.

Then after a few nice days Mother Nature decided to pound us with more rain! It has been raining since Thursday afternoon (it is now Saturday night) and I want the Sunny Australia I thought I was going to get when I signed up to come here!! It has been damn cold too which is sad. Ah well - now they cannot say anything about water shortages on the news for awhile!

My big news though, is that I decided to get a new job. I love the school I am at right now, but I do NOT love working for the YMCA. I felt totally alone and unsupported at that job. I signed on mid-May and have seen my boss once since then! Sure I have free reign for the most part as to what I teach, but I get no feedback and have no one to really bounce ideas off of or anything...not really the best for someone just starting out.

Long story short, I am going to be working for a company called, "Pro sports". They send out qualified PE teachers to elementary schools (public) throughout the Sydney area. They currently have around 42 schools. The public elementary schools here do not hire PE teachers full time but this way parents can pay a standard (low) fee for their child to have a PE teacher come and teach them a 45 minute lesson once a week. Same as the Y, but at this place I will always be team teaching with someone else. I think it will be a much better fit for me. I have been so stressed having no one to talk to about my ideas and stuff that this should be much better. The staff all seem really cool and I think I will be placed at a school 5 minutes from my apartment - I have been pretty lucky thus far I must say.

Birthday weekend

Well, I am officially one year older (I am now 25) and I spent my birthday in Australia for the second time. Last time was when I turned 20. My actual birthday was pretty uneventful, but we spent a nice day in the City on Saturday.

Kieran and I took the ferry from Manly over to the City. It is about a half hour ride and totally gorgeous. When you arrive in the city you go right past the Harbour Bridge, Opera House, etc. We took a little stroll around Circular Quay and then got some sandwiches and sat on the Opera House steps to eat...really nice spot to people watch! The sea gulls on the other hand, are torture!!


The Opera House is a very unique building with lots of history. We took a guided tour that lasted about an hour. We got to go in the different theaters and the main concert hall which was huge! Definitely something to check out for future visitors...they have all sorts of shows as well. There were some Americans on our tour who were quite obnoxious. Made me sort of embarrassed actually - just loud. You can check out more about the opera house at this website:
www.sydneyoperahouse.com.

I know some musicians in the family who would be super interested in the organ: like 300+ pipes or something - unreal!

After our tour we got an ice cream and wandered

through the Royal Botanical Gardens (photo at the top of page and far right). Very nice spot for a picnic, nap, run, or all of the above! Not a ton of flowers right now since it is winter, but really nice regardless. Then it was back on the ferry and then home for a quite evening.

Everyday on my day to work I pass the Bia' Hai' temple. I have been curious about what it is like so I ventured there for mass on Sunday. It is a "all-denominational" temple. The ceremony included readings from all different religions and was just very meditative. Not sure if I would go there regularly but still an interesting place in my new neighborhood!

It was a relaxing weekend and I am feeling more settled but still like a tourist at times. School is getting more routine and I am not as stressed anymore. The kids are great and I do not feel like an outsider at all. If you would like to check out their website it is:

http://www.lindfielde-p.schools.nsw.edu.au

Also, Kieran's rugby team has a website: http://www.manlyseaeagles.com.au . They are tied for first place right now so it has been good for Kieran....easier to get/keep sponsors when the team is doing well!

K, I'm off -what do ya think of my first, real blog page?? :)

K, I have a blog so now what??

I really want to keep in touch with everyone and make it easier for them to see photos and learn about where I am and what I am doing so I have created a blog (I thought the fact that I signed up for facebook was nerdy enough, but now I really feel like a computer geek!). It is definately a work in progress so bear with me if it takes awhile for me to ge tthings up and written on here :) Plus this is better than getting mass emails - you can just check it whenever you wish! I still will send emails and hope you will do the same!

If there is someone who you think I did not send this webste info to, please pass it along (cousins, family friends, etc.) because I think this is the best way for me to stay connected with people back home. This is all I have for now, but stay tuned...this weekend I will get more photos and stories up...I promise!

Thinking of all of you from the other side of the globe!!
XOXO