Thursday 22 August 2013

The Crazies

So one of the things about not having a car, and relying on walking and public transport is that you are accessible to the 'crazies'. It's a part of community life that driving around in a car shields you from.

I've had a few 'crazies' experiences in the past couple of weeks. I've had the strange guy on the bus, who I am pretty sure took photos of me, but I wasn't game to ask. I had a women talk to me for 20 minutes about how fortunate my children were that they could speak both Australian and English, and was I thinking about teaching the language of my forefathers? My forefathers obviously being Indigenous American Indian and wasn't it interesting that they left America to move to Australia...

Today I was waiting at the lights, for the crossing sign to appear, when Ms Crazy appears from side left asking 'English or French'? She was reasonable well dressed in an area with lots of homeless. Perhaps she needed directions.

"English." I replied.

"Well, love you better get out of town. The English speaking are in mortal danger."

Um...I was at a loss to reply. But she wasn't waiting for a reply. But I do what I always do. Don't make eye contact. Stay polite. Put myself between them and my children. Smile.

"I saw it on Animal Planet. The systematic, wholesale slaughter of all English people in Canada. The French in Quebec are invading. Murdering everyone. You can't find an English newspaper or magazine anyway - not since last September. There are 10,000 of them starting at UOttawa next week - I tell you. Pack your bags and get to the US tonight. There will be blood on the streets tomorrow."

If it wasn't for the traffic, I am pretty sure the silence would have been deafening.

Her piercing gaze was waiting for a reply.

"Maybe I'll be ok. I'm actually Australian'. I smile.

She looks at me in disgust. "Just as bad as the bloody French". She says.

And then, thankfully, the lights changed.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Smile. It's all Good.

Every week, I receive a bit of blogging inspiration from a community of bloggers at The Lounge. Some weeks I join in the post and other weeks I peruse the offerings of other bloggers whilst not feeling particularly inspired to write myself.

This week, we were invited to share out first ever blog post and it was through the sharing of my post and the reading of others that I came across this post from Lisa at Button Brain Happiness is a Choice.

I am sharing her post, because it has a lot to do with how I feel at the moment.

I have had a lot of interesting comments about myself, my point of view, my strength of character in regards to this move overseas. People amazed by my capacity to move across the world with my children, settle in a new country, meet new people and still have a smile on my face, appear relaxed and actually like I am ... enjoying myself.

For the past week and a half, I have been catching the bus to the area we are moving into Friday, to take the girls to the playground directly across from our new house. And just as The Eldest has revelled in making new friends, so too have I enjoyed the opportunity to meet new parents and get a feel for our new neighbourhood and everything it has to offer us.

The first Mum I met last week happened also to be Australian. She has been in Ottawa for a year and said that she struggled for the first few months, that she was unhappy that her husband had brought her and the kids there and it took a while to settle in. I completely understand how she felt, except I don't feel that way when many people are expecting that I should.

 'It must be overwhelming'. 'You are incredibly brave.' 'I would have fallen apart by now'.

Maybe it's because I have lived overseas before. Maybe it's because I am getting used to the moving around. Or maybe it's because I am so incredibly appreciative of this amazing experience we have in front of us. Yes, I miss my family and my friends and oh man, I miss my dog so very much. I am totally missing Huggies nappies and how The Youngest rarely had the leakage that is now the morning norm. I miss Cherry Ripes and I REALLY miss good coffee.

But otherwise, my glass is more than half full.

I am in a foreign country but I can speak the language.
I am in a foreign country but I have my Hubby and two beautiful children by my side.
Flying with children can be exhausting and horrible, but it doesn't last forever and then you are somewhere you weren't before, and how wonderful is that.
My children are over the jet lag and delight in all the things they delighted in at home: spending time with their parents, seeing new things, playing, making friends, reading stories, laughing.
I am meeting new people everyday, exploring new spaces and finding my feet.
I am Dora with a pram instead of a backpack, an iphone instead of a map and two children to help me to reach our destination.
We started off living out of our suitcases but we have furniture provided for us, a roof over our heads. Everything else will come in time.

It's not all completely roses but I don't think I am necessarily 'brave' for moving overseas with my children. I believe anyone could do it. It's just organization and a determination to make the best of every situation.

Everyday here, we walk past a myriad of homeless people, and everyday I breathe a prayer of thanks for just how lucky and full my life is. I have healthy children, the love and companionship of a wonderful man, an amazing family of my own and another amazing family I married into. We've gone through some difficult things this year, but still we are lucky, happy people.

I am not lucky and happy because we moved to Ottawa. Back home I had healthy children, the love and companionship of a wonderful man, an amazing family of my own and another amazing family I married into. But I have lived long enough now to know that if I can't wring half full moments out of most of our moments here in Ottawa, then what a waste it would be. So many people would love to be in my shoes.

Life is good for so many reasons - one of which is that you are alive and if you are reading this - well, you also have the internet - so you can't be too bad off.

(I lose the internet on Friday and not sure when we will have it on again. Eek!)

Smile.

Life is good. No matter where you are.

Jen xxx






Saturday 17 August 2013

We did after all win the Ashes

Late last Friday afternoon, the girls and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to go to the Ashes. We eagerly got ready, preparing snacks and dressing the part. Excited we were, as Hubby was debuting in the Australian team.

Ok, so I am obviously not referring to the actual ashes. I am referring to The Canadian Ashes. The annual match between the Australian High Commission and the British High Commission. So while it may not have had the names playing you might all be familiar with, it wasn't missing that important factor - a trophy and a determination to win.

The British, as has been the case frequently of late, won the toss and the opportunity to bat first. We were late, as the bus system failed us, and our bus did not turn up. I'll just say - that was the first and only time that Oc Transpo has failed us as usually the buses are frequent and on time. So, as we arrived Hubby dashed off to get into his Ashes uniform and the girls and I settled in to watch the game. We were riveted, didn't move and watched every delivery, celebrating the wickets and the final total of 90 runs in 20 overs.

Ok, so I wanted to watch the game but actually I didn't see any of the British innings. Instead I flaunted my athletic prowess in front of all the spectators by sprinting after The Youngest as she continually attempted to enter the field. She is getting quick. I am surprised she and I didn't get hit by a cricket ball, but someone said it was a slow outfield, so that must have been why...

I attempted to chat to some of the other wives, but managed a sentence or two before The Eldest started berating me for not introducing her to the older girls playing with a large beach ball. Even when I did introduce her, her shyness prevented her from joining in, so I ended up playing an alternative version of hide and seek, where no one was actually hiding, but actually running away from their mother as far and as fast as they could go.

The afternoon tea break arrived at the end of the British innings, and with glee both children launched themselves at their father. They love a marching band over here, so we had the bagpipes and the drummers. My children were riveted for a nanosecond. A sympathetic spouse brought me a cup of tea, scones and cucumber sandwiches. I envied her the casual put togetherness of her outfit. I envied her her decision not have children thus far. I wanted to swap places with her for five minutes. Instead, I somehow found enough energy to croak out a thankyou, down my cup of tea, scoff my scones and head back off to play. I love to play and run and play and run and just be a kid. Oh no wait. Actually I don't.

Forunately by the time the Aussies started their innings, The Eldest had finally made friends with the older girls, and The Youngest decided to begin a marathon session of seeing just how many pieces of orange she could eat in a sitting. I am thinking she may have eaten about 3 wholes oranges worth judging from the peel left over. So, I actually got to watch the innings. As our number of overs diminished, our total rose higher, until with 6 balls to go, we only needed 3 runs to win. Hubby was batting and unfortunately was run out when his batting partner went for a 2nd run that was never there. We lost another wicket on the next ball, and then, with a couple of balls to go, we got the runs that won us the trophy.

The Aussies won the Ashes.

The Marching Band
Oh the fun
The oranges
The Trophy

Monday 12 August 2013

Settling in...

I am standing in a playground across the road from the house we will be moving into in a couple of weeks. The girls are sitting on a four way see saw with two other children, rocking away and having the time of their lives. It is a beautiful sunny day, where standing in the shade is perfect temperature. It is the perfect morning. Except that Hubby is at work, and is not with us so, almost the perfect morning.

I can't wait to move. It has been a great experience living in the apartment, with wonderful views across Ottawa. It has been lovely to have a place to call home right from the time we arrived. We have gotten to know the local environment, but are missing having the opportunity to pop down to the playground, and have places to run around.

Last week, as the girls and I walked around one morning, escaping the confines of the apartment, we happened to walk past The Parliament, where at 10am everyday during Summer, they hold a changing of the guard ceremony. And it just happened to be 9:55. We grabbed ourselves a little spot on the grass, just inside the roped off area and for half an hour, my little nut bags and I sat still and enjoyed the pomp and ceremony of soldiers, marching bands and the concept of 'a show'. It was fabulous, and I was so pleased that the girls enjoyed the spectacle in front of them. We did happen to be there on the busiest morning ever, as there is a International Scout convention of some sort in Ottawa at the moment. As we sat there, the resonating chorus of 'Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi' came across from the other side of the field. I did cringe inwardly. I am proud to be Australian, just not proud of that chant.

I did attempt to take the girls to the local library, which is in a little, beautiful, historical building down the road from our apartment building. We didn't last long. The Youngest's full vocal announcement of 'I've done a poo!' Was enough to send me running for the elevator and back home in a hurry.

On Saturday, with Hubby in tow, we took the girls across the river to Gatineaux, to The Canadian Museum of Civilisation. This museum has a fabulous Children's museum and the girls just LOVED it. For those in Canberra, if you have been to miniQ at Questacon - it is similar, but on a much larger scale. The girls ran from activity to activity for over two hours until all four of us where exhausted and had to drag ourselves home.

Otherwise, we are starting to find some sort of daily rhythm. Hubby has started his new position, the girls and I go out for daily walks and we are occasionally brave enough to do touristy things like the museum and eating at Hard Rock (the Fajitas never fail to please).

Today the girls and I caught the bus down to our new area, to have a look at a school for The Eldest. It is a lovely little Montessori school, with a place available for The Eldest to start in September. Full Time school. Gulp. She's ready. I'm not. Brave face Mumma, brave face.

And so, as our begin our third week in Ottawa, these are the things I have learnt since we arrived.

#1 Automatic doors as we know and love in Australia, do not exist here. Something to do with the snow in winter, but all the doors are heavy, there are two rows of them, and if you're lucky, there will be a button to press to open a door for you. Not the easiest thing to negotiate with a pram. Just saying. But I guess I'll have a better appreciation come winter.

#2 I am totally crap at spending foreign coins. Awesome at spending notes, but terrible at spending coins. With such an abundance of coinage in our apartment, I think I'd better get a piggy bank.

#3 Apparently it takes 1 day for every hour of travel to get over jet lag. It's true. So now that 2 weeks has passed, I am pleased to say we are over jet lag and there are now no 2am renditions of wheels on the bus from anyone in our apartment.

#4 It is totally shite to have to carry 2 children down 22 flights when the fire alarm that was supposed to be a test becomes and real fire alarm. It is a relief to find it was only a false alarm and the elevators are still working, so at least we didn't have to carry them back up all those stairs.

#5 I am missing my Biginelli's daily caffeine fix. Starbucks is an inferior replacement. Our Nespresso machine is somewhere in between.

#6 Everything is pretty much the same as back, just that liiiiiiitle different to throw you off at times.

#7 I miss miss miss having a car. I miss the freedom. I know that I should be appreciative of all the free exercise I am getting from pushing two kids and all of their paraphernalia around. Except that after two weeks I am over it.

#8 I and my children may never be invited back to the High Commission, after The Youngest graffittied an office wall with red marker. Cringe.

Au Revoir

Jen x


Wednesday 7 August 2013

Welcome to Ottawa


A week ago, the four of us headed off to Canberra airport, several large suitcases and a pram in tow, to move to the other side of the world. 36 hours and 3 planes later, we landed in Ottawa on a rainy Monday afternoon, immensely grateful for the two wonderful people from Hubby's work who had come to pick us, our luggage and hyperactive children up. 

The flights had been ok. Not horrific. Not great. Just ok. The phernergan worked...for a while, but we still had times where The Youngest did the perfect kangaroo impression down the aisle, paws up, boinging quite loudly, loudly demanding Dora, or 'uuuuuppppp' or walking to the toilet. The Eldest coloured in for while in her books, before deciding to graffiti her cubicle, spilt numerous cups of water all over her seat and refused to eat anything other than chocolate teddy bear biscuits. Being in business class meant that I got to enjoy my fully reclining chair snuggled up with a rotating schedule my children had cleverly engineered as the perfect way of ensuring Mumma was rarely lonely. I managed to watch one movie in 6 sittings, eat most of my meals solo, and read one of the essential readings for my first Masters unit. On our last flight, The Youngest refused to sit in her seat until the attendant got cross with her, and then promptly hopped back out of her seat, stood in the aisle, extended her palm and said 'Stop! Milli want off plane NOW! ' 

But we survived. And now we are enjoying the roller coaster ride that is a toddler suffering from jet-lag. 2am renditions of wheels on the bus have reminded us why we don't willingly share a room with The Youngest on a usual basis. We were told a few days ago, that it takes a day for every hour of travel to get over the jet-lag. Which means another fortnight to go. 

We are currently staying in the beautiful 2 bedroom apartment of the lovely girl that Hubby had just taken over from. The girls are coping pretty well, considering they have hardly any toys and have been either confined to the apartment, confined to the pram or confined to the car. We are staying in the Byward Market area - lots of shops but ultimately not little kid friendly. We have been looking around at some houses, and in what has been noted as some what of a record, we have already found a house in the area we really wanted - a house with a garage, which apparently is vital in winter - though I can't imagine why ;) Which means we can now find a school for The Eldest. 

We have a car that we can't use until we get the registration and insurance sorted out. So a few days ago we ventured out to try our luck with the bus system, as I desperately needed to buy some new entertainment for the kids - a bag of barbies, surprisingly, is not enough to keep them entertained. Who would have thought...

We have also been quite social (for us) and went out on Friday night (sans children - piggy backed onto a babysitting option!) with people from the High Commission. I have met the Australian High Commissioner twice now. The first time was at the High Commission, where The Youngest spent the whole time picking her nose and The Eldest spent her time rolling on top of the coffee table. On Friday night, when I met the High Commissioner again, she asked if my children had calmed down yet (inward cringe). After getting over that hurdle, was the hurdle of the small talk, where she used big words like bio-data, that my jet-lagged, slightly inebriated brain couldn't cope with. Thankfully she was quickly whisked off to be given a tour of the penthouse, so I was rescued in a timely fashion from making a true idiot of myself. 

Saturday saw us catching up with a friend from home, who parents live in Ottawa. She had organised a neighbourhood party - where the majority of the lovely guests were francophone - and we, the anglophone Aussies where the only mono-lingual people there. Still, we met lovely people, the kids had a great time and we left with a renewed vigour for trying to learn at least a little French while we are here. 

Hubby has started work, I've been busy with assignments and entertaining the children, exploring supermarkets and drinking endless cups of tea. Still hard to believe we are not on holidays and that this is where we are living now. Hopefully the car will be sorted out soon, and we can get to doing the touristy things we have been looking forward to!

Au Revoir for now

Jenoir xxx