a fish, a car & a belly full of Mexican

I can rap one song, and one song only.

One Week, by the Barenaked Ladies.

Not to boast or anything, but I'm really, really good at it. Only a few people have had the pleasure of experiencing that talent, but those who have, always come back for more (okay that's a lie, but still. I'm good).

Point being, that was my "I've been in Omaha for one week" introduction!

Because as of 12 hours and 15 minutes ago, it's officially been one week.

the only photo I took in transit, was by accident.
I look as I was, tired.

And it's been a great, and a busy one. A literal, day-by-day kind of one.

Summed up, I guess by the title; a fish, a car, and a belly full of Mexican.

I'm living in the most incredible basement, of the most incredible family. It's stop two of four, possibly five before I'm settled in a permanent place. And so far as stop-over's go, it's more like a five star hotel retreat.

 I live the life of luxury, in a beautiful home, with beautiful people, amazing food, cable TV, my own bathroom, and a really, really cool coffee machine. The name of it sounds like "Kurog" (maybe). If I ever write a childrens book, and it has a monster, I'm going to name is Kurog. And he will taste amazing. Like mocha, white chocolate mint, donut flavoured amazing.

You know Americans put cream in their coffee? As in actual cream? It's delicious. Americans are so smart. It's great. (for the tastebuds, not the waist line. and oh, since last weeks post I have not only taken up eating again, but am beginning to over-compensate. hence the Mexican food).

You can also pre-pay for petrol by credit card here. That's genius. No stealing, no waiting in lines for 10 minutes. It's genius. And there's a little button on the gas pump, which makes it go all by its self. Come on Australia, get yo' stuff together.

& also this is Hobbs and he's amazing.

And the two most misunderstood words of the week are : Grease and Writer.

In other news I bought my first car!

She's pretty great. She's a little rusty, and kind of shakes when she drives, but if you know me, you'll know that makes me happy. It's a permanent party.

Soooooo good at parking.

 I mean legally I can't drive her because I don't have it registered because I don't have insurance because I don't have a licence because I don't have any proof of address. But hopefully that's all going to be sorted out in the next couple of days, and I'll take to the streets more seriously.

the reason I can drive at all. 

My first attempt at driving was a frightening disaster, but today - I drove to two grocery stores by myself, and parked - twice. What a champion (but seriously watch out Omaha).

Today I got a fish.

My Americman just bought 15 to feed his piraña's. They are currently a couple of feet away from me (oh my gosh I'm so American) devouring them, and leaving them swimming half-eaten around the tank. Also if you know me, you can probably picture my reaction; which involves me curling up in a fetal position, apologising to the precious gold fish and shedding a bounty of tears.

Our compromise was that I get to keep, and save one.

His name is Alejandro, and he's my first American pet.

He's kind of great.

I can't start work for at least a couple more days, and I got another job; so I've just been living. Spending time with him. I baked a terrible apple pie. Met some wonderful people. Went to youth group, church and bible study. Met some more wonderful people. Studied the Outback Steakhouse drinks menu. Fed a squirrel. Worked out. Went to the movies. Ate Mexican. Worked out a little more - I have a free gym pass. And did as much as I could with the ingredients in a bachelors kitchen, which consist of eggs, bread, cheese and lettuce. Oh, and Ramen noodles.

To some, I'm adopted as Becca. I like it.

Light switches switch the other way here.

I'm back to sleeping through the night! (thanks for your prayers).

I think I'm going to get a pintrest.

Omaha has bipolar weather.

I've been overwhelmed with kindess, and Gods goodness.

It is so wonderful to sit amongst beautiful, like-minded people and dream together about missions, poverty alleviation and adopting little African babies.

I'm comfortable and I'm happy here.

Next stop work and driving and moving out and independence. 

Holla at me, Australians. I miss your faces!

well, Toto

I guess "we're not in Kansas" anymore dones't really apply... since it's one state over, instead of a whole world away. 

But, figuratively speaking, I'm not in Kansas anymore! 

BECAUSE I'M HERE! 

Nebraska here. 

America here.

The United States of America here.

Sort of. Physically I am. Mentally and emotionally? Now that's debatable. 

It's currently 3:44am, and I am wide awake. Wide awake, emotional and really frustrated. I want to sleep so bad, but my body just won't let me. I guess it thinks it's 6:44pm, tomorrow. 

I slept great last night, but I've probably had 15 hours in the last five days. I'm exhausted. I'm also starving. My body clock and appetite is all messed up, and in three days I've literally eaten a banana, a slice of bread, a sandwich and a bowl of cereal. I'm famished at all hours of the morning and not at all hungry at usual hours of the day.

Don't freak out mum, I will learn to eat tomorrow. I promise. 

I've never had jetlag like this before. And it's horrible.

It's also freezing. Like one degrees "oh it might snow today" kind of freezing. Apparently, I need to buy some pants. Eugh, pants.

Feel free to ignore all that, as it's written through tears. Very, very early morning tired tears. Because really, life is good. Really.

It feels... right, being here.

You know how you think you're going to feel different when you're in a different country? Yeah I don't feel different, I just feel like me. 

Me driving on the wrong (right?) side of the road. Me paying with strange green paper money. Me rocking up in shorts and thongs all the time. Me saying things like "ounces" and "college". It's just me, but here, trying to figure that out, one hour at a time.

This morning, I spent 20 minutes staring out my bedroom window filming a squirrel, with the most enormous smile on my face. Let's be honest, squirrels are the real reason I came to this country. They're just so great.

Okay so you can't even fully appreciate it from this ridiculous video. But it made me really happy.

Nebraska is about ten thousand times bigger then I remember it being. It has buildings, and things. Sorry to those Australians who I misinformed about that. On my final flight, I talked to a guy who grew  up on a corn and cow farm. I had a good chuckle, because it's so ridiculously stereotypical. But people are so nice here. And their accents are awesome.

When I was getting lost in LA airport (waiting for "8" bus which turned out to be the "A" bus... accents, I'm telling you) I was talking to another guy and our conversation went something along these lines:

Him: "oh you're from Australia?"

Me: "Yeah.."

Him: "Where abouts are you heading in the USA?"

Me: "Nebraska"

Him: "......... but, why?"

I don't know what he was talking about. I like it.

My four flights were all together fine. I sat next to nice people, watched moderately entertaining movies and over-dosed on sleeping pills.

And then, as the end got closer I got more and more excited, and more and more ready, to see my wonderful Americman.

And he's here, and I'm here, and life is good!

graduation: uncut

Now, I've done a lot of stupid things in the last twelve months.

Here's a small list:

1. I forgot to take shoes to a job interview.

2. I waited and waited to pick somebody up from the airport. A day early. 

3. I pulled over my car and called for help, thinking it was over-heated. When really, I was just reading the petrol gauge, and I just had a full tank.

4. Last weekend, with five minutes to go before I was supposed to leave for a party, I superglued my hands together.

5. Fully clothed I was cleaning a shower. I turned it on.

6. While working in kids retail I was opening boxes with a stanley knife. A customer called for my attention, so I left the knife on the kids play table. No problem right?

And this is just the highlights.

But you know what stupid thing Australia has done in the last twelve months? Taken five months to graduate me, that's what.

I finished classes late November, and finally had my graduation ceremony yesterday. That's a long time to wait, especially when "waiting" means working a trillion jobs and not moving to America. 

Yesterday, was what I had been waiting for. 

That's why it was so great. And that's why I'm now down to my last 24 hours down under. Oh boy.

Yesterday, was the science faculty graduation day. And so I, with my "Bachelor of Arts" ended up graduating with molecular biologists, and people who had doctorates in the mating habits of bush turkeys (not even kidding..). And so, aside from feeling like a bit of an idiot amongst that crew, I did my thing, donned my robes, walked across the stage, and took it all in.

That's three years. Three years of development studies, essay writing, short story submitting, screen play composing, poetry scribbling, epidemiology spelling, global health care analysing, geography scrutinising,  economic misunderstanding, globalisation arguing, global health care distribution and  exam stress. That's a whole lot of train trips, early mornings, keep-cup coffees, bad tutors, long lectures, reading and printing.

And it's done. 

Perhaps forever, all done.

And now too, the waiting is done.

Tonight's the last sleep in my own bed. My bag is (almost sort of) packed, and my boarding passes are at the ready. 

Tomorrow, I take four planes, across three countries, with two airlines, into five cities and eventually, end up in Omaha Nebraska. 

It's go time.

And because I can never be serious ever, here is my un-cut, unedited and mostly hideous version of yesterdays events:

you can't tell from this picture, but I launched it at
 least ten meters in the wrong direction.

your colours are legit a hood. who knew.

everyone was staring at me.
I don't know why.

my hat was so dayum tight.
so pushing it forward made everything better.

a good one of my dad. 

fam bam.

my brother.

looking good.

mum shoving my socks back into my shoes. classy.

I'm so good looking.

gale force winds. just what I always wanted.

a hair moustache.

some people would say this was over exposed.

not even close to looking at the right camera.

a successful attempt at getting my mother and brother into the shot. 

wind wind wind.

what I spent 90% of the day doing.

again with the socks...

good job mum.

success.

saluting like a champ.

you can tell I'm happy?

tried to get free champagne. turned out to be punch.

grad hat hair.