Happy Australia Day! Or as it has more commonly become: Straya Day!
Perhaps you know us through Steve Irwin or Crocodile Dundee. Throwin' another shrimp on the barbie perhaps?
It wasn't until my mission in Canada that I realised the differences between Australia and North America. So to celebrate Australia Day let me give a rundown on Aussie culture!
How Aussie are you?! Test your Aussie culture knowledge! (Scroll down for answers!)
1. Brekkie
2. Mozzie
3. Bludger
4. 'Chuck a sickie'
5. Bloke
6. Fair dinkum
7. Heaps
8. Deadset
9. Arvo
10. Maccas
<------- Thongs: things you wear on your feet! (Boy did my companions laugh when I told them I usually wear thongs at home)
<-------- Vegemite: most popular bread spread equivalent to peanut butter in the US. I had a jar I used to share with members... who absolutely hated it
<------- Pavlova: Delicious Aussie dessert.
<------- Golden Gaytimes: my favourite! (No pun intended!!) Seriously the best ice cream you will ever have.
<------ Tim Tams: Awesome blocks of chocolate-ness.
Tim Tam Slams: warm milk, bite opposite corner on Tim Tam, place on top of milk, suck and throw in mouth as it melts.... Mmmmmm.... I will do deals of mail exchanging Tim Tams for American goodies ;D
Imagine the faces of my companions when they were listening to me talk to a fellow Aussie at Church saying 'it's so crazy that bitch is a swear word here', (bitch, damn, hell and ass aren't swear words down under - I was apparently the potty mouth missionary).
Check out the video below for more Aussie slang! (yes we do sound like the guy in this video)
Answers!!
1. Breakfast - "Let's have brekkie here"
2. Mosquito - "There's a lot of mozzies here"
3. Lazy person or someone who relies on others to do things - "You're such a bludger"
4. Pretending to be sick, taking a day off work - "I chucked a sickie today"
5. Guy - "He's a good bloke"
6. True / Genuine - "That's fair dinkum"
7. A lot / Very - "That's heaps cool"
8. Truth / True - "That's deadset"
9. Afternoon - "What are you doing this arvo?"
10. McDonalds - "Let's go to Maccas for lunch"
So to finish off... when you guys say you're 'rooting' for something... yeah... that has a COMPLETELY different meaning for us.... but I'll let you google that one ;)
I was Facebook messaging one of my former mission companions this past week and all of a sudden out of the blue he asks me: 'I have to ask, are you still in the Church?' It took me a bit (or a lot) by surprise because I'm certainly not one for sharing every aspect of my life on Facebook and certainly I haven't publicly announced my challenges with the Church.
I proceeded to say that I have been 'less active' but still go occasionally. To my surprise, he didn't judge nor make a big deal out of it but simply just moved on. I almost felt like I wanted him to ask so I could explain to him my issues however he didn't ask and I just moved on with the conversation.
This made me think about anything that could've given it away on Facebook because that's the only contact we've had except for the occasional Skype chat when we first returned home from our missions roughly 5 years ago. I noticed that over the last few months I've subtly 'unliked' all the Mormon related pages on Facebook such as 'The Book of Mormon', 'General Conference' and 'LDS missionaries' because they would fill up my news feed. I then thought about my lack of active 'Gospel related' posts and 'YSA events' I've attended which could've given it away. It's funny how even the omission of Gospel related posts could give it away from a once very active Mormon.
I certainly have moved away from trying to hide the fact that I've developed some issues with the Church but I've been a bit reluctant to make it public knowledge for a few reasons. I still keep in touch with some converts I taught on my mission and members that I've been really close to and I don't want to affect their testimonies and I didn't want them to see me differently...
It was after that conversation that I realised that I had avoided to make contact with some of the closest families on my mission because I was scared they would see me differently. In one of my areas on my mission I was really close to a family and I would call them 'mum' and 'dad'. When I first returned home I would call them several times a year (her birthday, his birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day). I realised that I hadn't called them in about 3 years. I decided to change that and I called them this past week. We talked for about an hour on Skype and of course they found out that I was no longer 'completely' active in Church through asking what my calling was. I felt a little piece of my heart break but they didn't judge or hassle me. It reminds me of the loving nature that Mormons are striving so hard to obtain and gives me hope that although there maybe imperfect people in Church, they also possess a lot of perfect qualities.
I now notice that a lot of things that used to bother me no longer do. When I first started not wearing my garments I would be so scared that people would see so I'd often wear a jumper (sweater) or a jacket over my white shirt. I would be so nervous when I'd have to decline the invitation to give a prayer in class or who could see me not partake of the Sacrament.
I walked into Church today and stayed for the whole 3 hours block (how did I manage to go to Church for 3 hours my entire life?! It was SO long!) I no longer look at who's staring at me pass the bread and the water along without taking it or care who can see I'm not wearing my garments. It has taken me a long time to be comfortable to not fit into the Mormon mould anymore and I think that's a win. Once I can remove the social incentives of being a member, I can truly go on a spiritual, soul searching journey to find God in my life. I can still enjoy the wonderful musical items in Sacrament meeting and giggle at the travel log testimonies but I can take a step back and ponder about these things as an outsider looking in as opposed to being indulged in the emotion of it all.
I am an inactive Mormon and I am O.K. with that.
*Unrelated*
Scripture from Elders Quorum today: Alma 34:26 - 'But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness'.
Seriously Alma?! I think I've been in the closet praying for long enough!
I'm usually not much for new year resolutions but what the hell.
I guess I'll just reflect and document on plans/goals for the year and see how they measured up at the end of the year.
Beginning 2015...
Family
What can I say? I love my family. They have been nothing but supportive in the past year and I feel like I'm closer to them than ever before. We have no more secrets amongst us. Although the choices I have made do not coincide with the choices that my family wanted me to make, they still love me and that means the world to me.
As we've grown up and moved away, it has become harder to spend time together as a family but I'm grateful that in 2014 we were able to spend time together in March for my niece's baptism and in December for Christmas. While it may not seem like a lot of time during the long year, I'm grateful for the time we do have to spend together.
GOALS: - visit my parents at least 4 times - spend time together as an entire family twice
Love
So if you've missed what's happened last year, here is the post that summarises my love life adventures recently.
Last week was a bit tumultuous when I found out that he deleted me on Facebook (it's funny how everything seems more real on Facebook - now I can feel my dad's pain when I blocked him on Facebook a few years ago). So this was the guy who asked if we could be friends after he just broke up with me and while I was trying to make sense of things deletes me on Facebook! I was quite furious to say the least. How could he? Were we not even friends now? Did he not even want to know what was happening in my life? I was so close to writing an angry post about it but I think it was at that moment things began to change for me. Perhaps this is what happens when you finally come to accept things. I felt like he has moved on and while I thought I had moved on, I hadn't - I was still secretly hoping he still cared and stalked my Facebook as often as I would stalk his to see what was happening in his life, (gosh I sound like a creep). I can proudly say that I have not stalked his Facebook or Instagram profile since and I'm content with that.
I feel like this song captured how I felt initially and now... I'm content with him being "somebody that I used to know".
'...but you didn't have to cut me off, make out like it never happened and that we were nothing.... I guess that I don't need that though, now you're just somebody that I used to know....'
So here's to one chapter closed and another one opening.
While I don't think I'm ready for love just yet, I do hope I will be able to fall in love somewhere along the line in 2015.
GOAL: - fall in love
Social
So I feel like I've totally slacked off last year in this department. You know how you have a few good friends and you're just content and not put in the effort to put yourself out there to make new friends? That was me.
I think I've already taken some plungers this year already though.
So, I hosted Family Feud for my department at work for Christmas last year and other departments heard about it. I subsequently got invited to host it for another department (twice the size of my original party with me only knowing about 3 of them). I think I may have just 'long jumped' out of my comfort zone. It wasn't too bad actually... I even scored a bottle of red wine as a gift for doing it ;) (anyone want a bottle of red wine??)
GOAL: - don't say no to an invite for no good reason - make 2 new good friends (friends that actually hang out together regularly)
Work
If I haven't mentioned it before, I am currently a clinical social worker working in health and while I love my job, I feel like I want to experience other areas of social work and be challenged.
There are 2 areas of social work I've always wanted to steer clear of and that is mental health and child protection.... Guess what?! I want to try child protection now. Yep, call me crazy (I question that myself all the time ;)). I just feel like I would learn so much and whilst it is sad, there are a lot of children out there who need protecting.
So after much contemplation I decided I wanted to seriously give it a go and started on my application to work for protective services here in Australia. Wait. Curve ball coming. My supervisor at work suddenly resigned out of the blue leaving a more senior vacant position which are hard to come by. There are so many of my colleagues who are more experienced than I am but i decided to give it a go and if anything it's interview experience. So let's wait and see what happens.
GOAL: - work for protective services OR get a promotion in my current field
Travels
I've decided this year is going to be the year of travelling.
Planning holidays are SO much fun! I've had a blast the last few days researching flights, how I want to fly, where I want to visit, where I want to stay, places I want to see, so on and so forth.
I've always loved travelling but for one reason for another it never pans out the way I want it to. This year, I've decided to just go ahead and do it. If no one else if organised enough to plan ahead then I shall do it alone (and it actually feels quite empowering!)
I will be visiting the US in November this year and I know it's still a fair ways away but if any Mohos would like to catch up while I'm there that would be awesome!
GOAL: - travel to the USA
Health/Fitness
So I've just started my personal training again for the new year and I'm so mentally ready to go at it hard! I even went to the gym by myself yesterday without my trainer (now that's an achievement because I find it intimidating going to the gym without my trainer).
Whilst training may likely help with my chances of finding a partner, I think the most important aspect for me is boosting self confidence and health.
GOALS: - Fit into clothes the next size up - Pick up a recreational sport - Get ripped Be healthy
Church Faith
Last but not least. Probably the most difficult to analyse out of all because I don't exactly know where I want to be and probably the least tangible of the bunch.
For starters, I do want to distinguish the Church from my faith because I know that many Mormons will use the terms interchangeably, but I feel like they are separating for me. That's not to say I think the Church is wrong, simply because I feel separating the two will make it easy for me to process my thoughts.
GOALS:
- find God and develop a relationship with Him if He is there
I'm quite a reflective person so I feel it may be appropriate to wrap up 2014 with a post.
2014 Recap:
January: Took a risk and started a new job - definitely paid off! Although I have my moments, I love my job now and have met many wonderful people along the way.
March: Holiday-ed to Singapore. Revisited my sexual orientation with my sister for the first time in 8 years - definitely a pivotal moment this year and what's began this self discovery journey.
April: Started meeting with Bishop regularly - have felt a huge burden off my shoulders as I no longer held a calling or partook of the sacrament.
May: Started blogging!! - met some wonderful people along the way from this awesome MoHo community.
June: Started personal training - finally bit the bullet to get healthier and fitter! Although I'm not at the point to take body transformation photos, I definitely feel healthier!
September: Met the man I fell in love with.
October: Came out to my Dad - I don't think I've blogged about it yet! May have to catch up soon...
November: Came out to my Mum (again!)
December: Relationship ended. Went on an amazing cruise and family holiday!
Favourites of 2014:
Song: "Shake It Off"
Movie: "Frozen" - I know it technically came out end of 2013 but I watched it in 2014.
TV show: TWD
Musical watched in 2014: Wicked
Internet meme: I can't decide between the 2!
Picture taken: The Pacific Ocean sunset
It's been quite an amazing year really despite the recent rough patches.
I feel like this year has been pivotal to me starting this journey of self discovery and spirituality, taking risks and taking chances. Sure, not everything ended up where I would've liked but I trust that it happened this way for a reason and I just need to wait patiently to find out what that reason was. It maybe cheesy but I do believe that it is better to have experienced love and be hurt than to never have experienced love at all. After all, according to 2 Nephi 2, how are we to know what joy feels like if we never experience sorrow and pain?
So farewell 2014 - you've been great and here's to a brighter, better and more joy filled 2015!
I've just returned home interstate after spending Christmas back home with my family and frankly, it's a bit lonely to be home by myself again. Funny how changes in circumstances can change how quickly you want to be home.
So it's been a week and a half of being single again... each day gets easier but certainly coming home was a challenge. I still think about him but being home does make it seem more real and concrete. My very good friend came over the day after I got back to help me get rid of some of his stuff which was good. It was hard. I think throwing the toothbrush out was probably the hardest part. I saw a note that he once wrote to me... I wanted to read it again but I knew it would hurt too much so I scrumped it up and I hesitated throwing it out... because I wanted to keep it as a memory... but I didn't because it would hurt too much.
'...someday when I stop loving you...'
I want to write a little bit about where I stand with my faith at the moment amongst everything else that is happening. I would be lying if I said it had no impact on my spiritual journey.
First of all, I told myself clearly when this was happening that I wasn't going to run back to Church just because I was 'compelled to be humble' or because it was convenient. I put up a brave face with my family in Sydney and told my sister that it was a mutual break up and that I felt completely fine. I'm sure she told my parents because they didn't make any mention of him for the remainder of the trip. I told my sister that regardless of this relationship ending, it doesn't change the fact that I want to find another relationship...
The truth is... I don't know what I want anymore. I want to love again but will I? If I'm not going to then I might as well go back to Church, at least I can be somewhat happy there... Right?
Just to complicate things I came out to 2 other Church friends when I was in Sydney. One of them I planned to tell and the other it just kind of happened.
Friend 1: He clearly felt uncomfortable and in fact said to me that he was very homophobic but was trying to understand where I was coming from. He essentially in a nutshell implied that it is something that I need to overcome and that I must be an elect spirit to be faced with this challenge and that I could overcome it. I'm not a huge fan of the Church's explanation of this whole 'chosen generation' concept... I think it's just used to make you feel good and motivate you to do things. I think we had to agree to disagree a bit but we were both respectful.
Friend 2: She has always been someone that I look up to, a spiritual giant who helped me through many trials in my teenage years. She played a big role in my staying active in Church when I wanted to leave the first time around. I told her at the airport as she was seeing me off. We didn't really have much time to talk about it but we are going to Skype sometime soon to discuss it in more detail.
Maybe it's because I'm lonely and heartbroken... but I feel like I miss something that the Church gave me. Hope perhaps? I don't know...
A lot of food for thought. I certainly don't want to make any big decisions at the moment. I did however go to Church today, Sacrament and Sunday School. It was kind of mediocre. I've been thinking that maybe I should pray but perhaps it's pride but I don't want to come running back to God as soon as something goes wrong and go out and do what I want when things are going well. Perhaps I'm not ready to make a decision. I don't know. Right now, my priority is to get my spirits back up and hopefully deal with this breakup.
On the 14th September 2014, He and I met and went on our first date for a hike. I picked him up from his house and he was already waiting outside. He jumped in the car and seemed very confident and talkative. We laughed and talked during our hike, he loved musicals as do I, he enjoys the outdoors and wanted to have a family. After our hike he asked if I wanted to grab some dinner which we did. Oh, how could I forget the silly pineapple juice comment when I ordered one not knowing the symbolism behind it, I used to laugh at that experience but now I think about it with tears welling up in my eyes. I had a good evening but didn’t know how it went until he asked if he could ‘steal a hug’ from me in the car park which lasted for about 5 seconds. When I dropped him off home, he leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I don’t think I can ever forget that moment.
That first week was killing me; the chase - I hated the chase, I texted him the next day and he texted me on the Wednesday and I asked if he wanted to grab a drink on Thursday which ended up being our second date - dumplings. He then invited me over on Friday night which was a wonderful night when we just laid in bed and talked. We spent Saturday shopping and walking around. Everything else seems like a blur from then. From that first weekend, we spent at least one day from every weekend together and usually once or twice during the week too.
Truly, Madly, Deeply
I remember a few weeks ago when he made me promise him to talk to him if there was ever anything I wasn’t happy with and never keep anything from him because he wanted to be with me forever and he could see it happening. He told me I care more to him than anything in the world. Whenever I felt any insecurities he would kiss me so convincingly that all my worries would go away. I really believed that he loved me and that I mattered to him.
I was there for him when he was about to get evicted from his house and offered for him to stay at my house. I looked everyday for a house he could move into and eventually found a place. We moved together and that night when I laid in bed, I felt like we were moving in together because it felt like our home. He began decorating his house, pictures of us together, we built our Christmas tree together in preparation for Christmas. I had a toothbrush at his house and he at mine. We even had our first weeknight sleepover for a work night and it worked out just great.
I remember when we watched ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ together, he wept into my arms and I told him I would always be here for him. For many times after that day, I was there when he needed me, bringing dinner over when he had a bad day, comforting him when he felt stressed, I really gave it my all.
When he asked me to go to his work Christmas ‘family picnic’, I felt like it was a big step forward. Even after the picnic he said that he was happy because he felt like we were a family now. He gave me a key to his house and I felt like I had two homes and it felt great because for once, I opened up my heart completely to let someone in. I remember when he told me that he had never opened up so much to someone before.
How could I not pay a tribute to once of our favourite movies we watched together...
"...All my life has been a series of doors in my face, and then suddenly I bump into you... Love is an open door..."
The Silent Fall
During my holiday, everything seemed the same, we texted daily - good morning text every morning and goodnight text every night; he continued to tell me he loved me and missed me. I had no idea that he was already plotting a breakup and that his feelings towards me had already changed.
In hindsight, I did notice some phone calls when I would say I missed him and he didn’t reciprocate. I told myself not to be so sensitive and was reassured every time he did tell me he loved me. We exchanged about 2 phone calls in the first week mostly during times he was out shopping or driving. He promised we could chat on Skype when I was away but that never happened and I never asked for it because I didn't want him to feel pressured. It didn’t matter, hearing his voice was enough for me. I missed him like crazy.
My cruise ship docked in our city for a day and we had already planned a day together - who would’ve thought what was supposed to be the best day would turn into the worst.
He picked me up from the pier and we went back to his place to open our Christmas presents. He got me Balderdash (I love Balderdash!!), a smoothie blender, a sports drink bottle and a recipe book. He did pretty good I must say. We then went to my place to pick up a few things and then he took me on a 'surprise date'. We went to a lovely park by the shoreline and had a picnic... he made me all my favourite foods. We then went to Science Works museum.
I could tell something was up... he was quiet the whole day, he was barely smiling, he didn't hold my hand or kiss me like he used to. He reassured me everything was alright... I didn't believe him... When he dropped me off at the pier I asked him again whether or not something was up because he seemed 'different' and once again he said everything was fine. I didn't believe him and asked him to tell me what was happening. He told me to get back in the car - my heart sank.
Crashing Down
He told me that he didn't want to tell me now because he didn't want to ruin my holiday and wanted us to talk when I got back from holidays. I couldn't bear waiting 2 more weeks to find out our fate so I made him tell me. He did. I cried. I left.
The only time I heard from him again was when he asked me where the key to his house was later that day... we haven't spoken since even though i have so much I want to tell him....
Although I’m still in pain and things didn’t work out, the last 3 months have been some of the happiest of my life. I love the way he held me in his arms. I love the way we would hold hands. I love his lame jokes. I love the way he kissed me. I love the his head on my shoulders. I love his terrible singing. I love the way he looked at me. I love him. The truth is, I would love to hear him tell me he loves me again even if it's a lie. I hope that love will always be apart of who I am but I hope that I may set that love aside so that I can make room to love someone else, someone who can and will love me back.
"...Just wanna stand there and hear me cry, that's alright because I love the way you lie... I love the way you lie..."
I haven't posted here for a while... mainly because I suck at writing and it was taking me so long to write things that even half made sense. For some reason, heartbreak makes words flow easier...
What has been happening since my last post?
I was still on my journey of finding out if the Gospel was true... the answer never came. What did come was a wonderful guy, we fell in love and I was happy. For once, I felt like I could live without the Gospel in my life and still be happy. I came out to my Mum and Dad once again but this time letting them know that I no longer attend Church regularly, wear my garments or believe whole heartedly as I once did. They were understandably sad but respected my decisions.
As I hinted to in the beginning, another chapter of love has concluded in my life and I wish to document the journey and hopefully write more regularly once again. The coming posts will document the last few months and where to from here...
