Today I’m celebrating five years since I landed in this fantastic country from the UK. Fresh out of a long-term relationship, a shared mortgage and a job that had started to become pretty tiresome, I hit on the idea of heading to Sydney for a year to work. I’d never been to Australia before (in hindsight, I realise that sounds a bit crazy) but heck, I knew two people here!
I get a little bit emotional every time I tick off another year in Sydney. This year is no exception. The last 12 months were a rollercoaster, which almost saw me lose my right to stay here. There’s nothing like it to make you realise how much you desperately want to stay somewhere! But it’s all good. I got my permanent residency this year and yes, I cried tears of relief.
I LOVE SYDNEY. I still feel like a tourist when I take the ferry (several times a week!) or see the bridge. My love affair with Sydney is intense and I think it’s the kind of love affair you can only really have as an immigrant. I seriously don’t think there’s anywhere I’d rather live. New York is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to but I don’t think I could handle actually living there.
I’ve never felt as lucky or as grateful as since I’ve lived here. It’s a feeling of contentment which leaves you brain space to put the other stuff into perspective. I think that attitude started a few months before I moved here when a very good friend of mine suffered the absolutely heartbreaking death of his 9-month-old son. I don’t think, in your twenties, that you ever expect to see your friends go through anything as earth shatteringly sad and horribly grown up. I’m not a risk-taking person by nature and I really think what happened to Will shook me to the core and made me realise that you really don’t know what’s around the corner or how long you’ve got. So, if you are acting like life’s a rehearsal, better pull yourself out of that mindset and realise you only get one shot at this.
When I’m tempted to get caught up in the little things (and I often am), like whether someone likes my blog or whether people will judge me for writing about interior design when I have no design qualifications, or when I’m going to lose the last five kilos, I stop and remember that all that is CRAP and it doesn’t matter. What matters is your health, your family, your friends and doing your best to be a kind and decent person. And if you, like me, live somewhere you love, get paid to do something you love and are about to marry someone you love, my goodness, you really shouldn’t be complaining at all.
So, half a decade on, some thank you’s seem appropriate: to Laura and Mark, for letting me live with them for a couple of months while I found my first Aussie job; to Matt, for picking me up from the airport, jetlagged, all kinds of emotional and overwhelmed, and for drinking with looking after me for the first six months and including me in his family’s Sunday dinners; to Damian, for asking me to be his wife; to my family, for hardly ever making me feel guilty about moving to the other side of the world (I still miss you loads); to my real friends at home (you soon work out who they are) for keeping in touch and still being there for me and to the many, MANY amazing friends I have made since I’ve been here. Some of these Aussie friendships are the kind people would feel lucky to have built over a lifetime, not just a few years. And last but not least, to baby Will, for making me realise life’s too short not to take a chance.
I feel INCREDIBLY lucky to live in Sydney and, while I often whinge (come on, I’m still a Pom!) about being overworked/tired/a little bit fat/Vegemite not being as good as Marmite, I never stop feeling grateful for my life here. It didn’t just land in my lap of course. I’ve worked really hard, but my happiness is only a small part down to me. It is overwhelmingly because of the people in my life that it’s as lovely as it is. And you, dear readers, are pretty awesome too, because it it wasn’t for you, this wouldn’t be my job now. A million thank you’s!
Comments
Alicia says
Congratulation on your fifth year in Australia and thank you for your heart whelming post! Itโs just what I needed!
Jen Bishop says
Thank you!
Something Gorgeous says
What a beautiful post, I hope you have many happy years ahead for you and your family in this amazing country. xToni
Jen Bishop says
Thanks Toni x
Camilla says
beautiful!
oh & Im down with you on the marmite too!
Jen Bishop says
I eat both these days but Marmite will always be my true favourite!
Jodie says
My husband who’s a Pom has finally after 12 years started secretly hoping our 2yo doesn’t finish his Vegemite sandwich so he can have the rest. Sorry but Vegemite all the way… NO Marmite in this house!
Chez says
Moved to tears with this one Jen………. I’ve been quietly reading your blog since my reno started 8 months ago. Please know that your piece/storiess are all so damn interesting and result in prompting me to explore so many new places on the internet. I’ve also especially loved your personal commentary too, so moving.
I’m very grateful…..
from a “my glass is half full” Aussie reader who knows that we do indeed live in a very blessed country made all the richer by those who have adopted it as their own. Chez ๐
Jen Bishop says
Thanks Chez for such a lovely comment x
Indi says
Loved this post.
Jen Bishop says
Thank you!
Laura says
So many of us get caught up in the little worries, but when you put them in the bigger picture, they’re so minuscule and not worth worrying about. We all, no doubt, have our tough days but there is often also so much to be grateful for. This post was a lovely reminder of that ๐
Jen Bishop says
It is so easy to. We are only human! Thanks for the comment x
Emma - My Bespoke Chair says
Great post. It’s never easy striking out and going it alone, and I think the Aussies themselves are really open to anyone “giving it a fair go.” Nice national character trait – very different from the last country I lived in. From one Brit to another, I also totally agree on the whole Vegemite v Marmite debate! (And a touching reminder on what really matters too. Heartbreaking) Here’s to your next 5 years and beyond.
Jen Bishop says
So true Emma! Australia has been very good to me. My friends had another baby last year which was wonderful ๐
tessa white says
Congrats Jen.. it is a fab place we have now made home and you are so right.. life is for living x’
Rosie Eyre says
Being a fellow pom living in Sydney (3 years in Sydney). I loved this post thank you for sharing
Rosie x
Janette says
Beautiful post Jen, it moved me to tears.
Happy 5yr Aussieversary.
Jxx
Jen Bishop says
Eeek! I didn’t mean to make so many people cry! Thank you xx
Fiona Cole says
The world needs more Jen Bishops.!
Jen Bishop says
What a lovely thing to say! I’m not sure everyone would agree ๐
Helen Burrows says
Hi Jen,
Thank you for a your blog.
It resonates with an ex pom too ( I’m more a Bovril girl) I have an Australian father, English mother. I had a similar problem but was living in the Uk when my visa was due to expire to return to Australia. Panic!
Success and failure hold each others hands as I say to my children, love and loss is the price we pay for happiness.
Thanks for keeping it real.
Kate Oliver says
Loved this story. So happy you made the move and so happy you love Sydney and were able to stay. It’s such a beautiful city.
Jen Bishop says
Thanks Kate! ๐
Jacqui says
Thanks for this post Jen. It’s with posts like this that I feel I know you (in a non-stalkerish way!) and I appreciate you putting yourself out there. Being at a crossroads at the moment myself, it’s a timely reminder not to sweat the small stuff. Thank you x
Jen Bishop says
Thanks Jacqui! It’s always a bit scary writing about feelings and the like but people seem to like it every now and again and it’s good to keep it real!
Sally Byrne says
A brillinat post Jen, very inspiring and thought provoking. I did cry at the end over your beautiful little friend Will.
Jen Bishop says
Thanks Sally ๐