My first trip to Australia was seven years ago, in 2005. I had planned and planned my year-long trip down under and was eager to escape my job and living situation and to spend enough time at the beach that I could actually get a hang of surfing, if I was lucky.
My first stop was Melbourne.
Back home in Canada, it could be said that one of our biggest food secrets is how they get the soft, creamy caramel inside the Caramilk bar. Here in Australia, they’re keeping a much bigger secret: The secret of the Lamington.
I may be a very long way from home, but lucky for me I have a very special family here in Australia. My best friend Natalie and her partner Scott, along with their three little kiddies, have taken me in and made me a part of their busy, non-stop-fun-times clan.
When I hear the word “pie” I immediately think of apple, or blueberry, or strawberry rhubarb. But I am on the other side of the world now, and mention “pie” around here and they are definitely not talking about fruit.
That’s a cookie for all you non-Australians. It’s short for biscuit.
Dreams can be funny. They can be huge, over-the-top notions of how life could be, or strange stories that melt away as you rub the sleep from your eyes. Sometimes you’ve been dreaming a dream for so long, you can hardly recall how it all began.
Oh Donna, how I love thee…
I don’t remember the exact moment I first laid eyes on you, but it must have been at some point during my year-long stay in your homeland, Australia.
