I've begun a new page: 'our orientation pre-assignment trip' please follow that page blog for the next 2-3 weeks as our adventure unravels!
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Well today is the 17th November 2014.....it's been almost 2 years since we contemplated the idea of moving to India for Bruce's job and today we are leaving for our 2 week orientation trip to the city of Vadodara, India. The pre-assignment trip allows us to visit the host city with the company of a nominated local who will 'hold our hand' and show us things to assist us intergrate into the Indian way of life. We have an itinerary all mapped out for us already including finding a place to live once we move there, medical facility information & location, shopping & the how to's of Indian living. We will meet other expats on this trip and Bruce will visit his new workplace. It's all very surreal as today we plan to step onto that big bird and fly 17 hours to the other side of the world in the Northern hemisphere to 'see' what our life will be like very shortly after Christmas. Mixed emotions of excitement (just like a kid the night before Christmas), fear of the unknown (what will it be like living so far from our friends & family?), determination (we've come this far....let's do this thing), Intrepidly anxious (keen to just get into the thick of things and explore new experiences). Well here we go...... We found a local watering hole down by the river away from the noisy crowds of Saturday wedding invitees biding their time awaiting the receptions they will be attending in hours to come and the young '20 something's', priming themselves with cheap drinks before an early morning stagger home. Jade Buddah is located high amongst the river walk along the easy flowing Brisbane River overlooking the Story Bridge. A serine apparently secret location only a few locals seemed to know about offering happy hour from 4pm-6pm daily. Stay a bit longer and enjoy a Modern Asian influence cuisine. It's getting closer to our move....things are slowly coming together with the organisational aspects being all put in place. We are essentially the 'pioneers' of Bruce's work going to India to live for a period of time so there is much behind the scenes work to be done from those in the know. It's starting be become real after over 12 months in the making. Monday 8th September 2014.....last super moon for the year! We visited the Chinese Festival of the Moon in Fortitude Valley on Saturday night. Was full of Chinese festive goodness complete with loud ear popping firecrackers and colourful jolting lion dancers weaving to and fro around the crowd. We then partook in a scrumptious Chinese restaurant meal of which we took a large portion home for lunch the following day. We've been living & working right in the heart of Brisbane for the past two weeks. We commute to our respective new workplaces by train each morning. We're lucky enough to start at the same time each day & catch the same train because my suburb is only two on from where Bruce disembarks. Bruce is enjoying the challenge of his new position and feels happy with his new surrounds. He has a couple of overseas trips involving work to different countries happening prior to us moving to India at the end of the year so he's well and truly into it only two weeks in. I am absolutely loving my new job. The people, the work, the atmosphere.....it's just like a dream. I feel very comfortable and for the very first time in my life I'm working an office job with no direct customers/ patients as such...pleasing myself when I go to lunch, what time I start/ organising my work etc. Living in Brisbane gives me the opportunity to dress up a bit too....such a novelty after living in jeans & casual tops in Hervey Bay! Smart black skirts with tights, boots & trendy tops take precedence living the city life. We have been deliberately doing activities to keep us vibrant. Indian Indepenence Day festival, Eat Street Markets, trendy restaurants, the Ekka.....just a few of the antics we've delved into of late. On this coming Sunday, we move from the centre of the city to a rental property about 5km out of the city. Looking forward to the convenience & luxury of inner suburb living. Today (2nd August 2014), we drove south for four hours from our home to begin our new life in Brisbane for approximately four months prior to relocating to India for Bruce's job. Checking into our apartment was great with fantastic energetic reception staff who fulfilled our every need on arrival. Upon entering our room found a lovely hand written note, welcoming us to Brisbane for our relocation & a big pack of Lindt Chocolates.....such a nice touch. We are staying smack bang in the centre of Brisbane City itself. A very short walk to Central Station where we will catch the train to work each day as of Monday. We purchased our 'go cards' which makes for easy no fuss ticketing each day. Cracked open a bottle of bubbles to celebrate the move....always a must! Bruce was accosted in the lift of our apartment block as international celebrity Marcia Hinds & her band are staying in the same complex tonight. The 'groupie' thought Bruce was part of the band..... We walked about the general area to gather mental recognition of what was around us. Found loads of cafès & restaurants worthy of our sampling I'm sure over the next little while. Dined at a fabulous Korean restaurant for dinner in Spring Hill. It's been a big day.....but a very exciting one at that! This week is flying by....I'm on long service leave for a week before moving to the same company I've always worked for but in Brisbane & Bruce is hanging about for one week in limbo land, living the life as an unemployed hobo before commencing his new position with his new employer next Monday. This week has involved more lovely nights out with friends & family to say good-bye, last minute cleaning the house before we leave it to those who will be minding it whilst we're gone. Organising & packing what to take with us to Brisbane is going quite well also. There's so much to think about for the move....little things like changing the phone number at the council for the dogs registration & getting a new dog tag with changed phone numbers in case she escapes and they need to contact her minders......so much to think about but think we've almost covered it all. Looking forward to Saturday when we make the break & start our new life adventure. Friday was both of our last day in our places of employment for the past 20 years. Whilst it feels surreal and almost numbing to leave behind life as we've known it for the past 20 years, it also feels so right. We didn't think either of us would feel so relaxed and calmed about our major life upheaval but it's like it's meant to be and we are riding a huge wave sitting right on top taking in the scenery and smelling the rich aromas coming our way.
We had a send off with our friends on Saturday evening starting with a sunset champagne cruise followed by dinner, drinks & dancing at the Boat Harbour. It was the best night and we were so fortunate to have so many beautiful friends to come along and wish us well. This week will involve some preparation for our move to Brisbane on Saturday prior to commencing our new temporary positions before moving overseas to India later in the year. We are looking forward to tasting city life for the next few months..... The start of our new adventure. It's time to finally reveal our plans for the future..... Some already know what we're about to embark upon but we'll let you all in on our fabulous plans now. For he next two years you'll be treated to an exotic twist into the lives of the Lance's! Not too 'exotic' as such at the beginning when we move to Brisbane where we both take up new positions in our employment status, but for a couple moving from regional QLD, city life will be exciting albeit for only four months before relocating overseas. My job will still be with the same company I have worked for for the past 19 years however I'm going to be working in a completely different department (tossing the needle & my patients away after 19 years), so I'm really looking forward to the diversity & challenge ahead. Bruce however, has gained employment with a European based company different to that of which he is currently employed. Bruce's job is the real reason we're moving to Brisbane initially before packing a suitcase of essentials only and flying to the other side of the world to relish in the culture and lifestyle of a different kind. We will become expatriates in India for at least two years. Some of you will be shocked that we want to move to a land so diverse from our own but we see it as an adventure and an experience not too many are able to absorb themselves in. We feel that we are extremely fortunate to be given this opportunity. Enjoy our trials and triumphs by following us over the coming years. We'll share with you a glimpse of culture, happiness, sadness, colour and passion for life.
Well this page seems to be gathering quite a bit of interest......I'll put you all out of your misery and let you into a little secret! We have both resigned from our current positions as of yesterday. So let's go & dip our toes into the ocean of unknown. Today being the 1st of July, is the first day of the month that I will be leaving my job after 19 wonderful years with some very amazing people. I will miss them immensely and can't even think what it's going to be like walking out of that door for the last time on the 25th July. Bruce too, has been in his current place of employment for 20 years so he has the same dilemma of feeling torn between old & new......
So let's take a deep, deep breath and jump! |