Looking back on 2014 and ahead to 2015

KAT SAYS

Wow, I couldn't believe it when I saw the date of our last blog - May 2014! Since then, a lot has happened. Amongst other things, we're now very close to celebrating the two-year anniversary of our arrival in Geraldton (February 6, 2015).

Our little puppy Cindy is not small  anymore (well, she never was all that small anyway) and has grown into a solid, strong, healthy, happy and confident dog. It's an amazing feeling when we come home and she's the first to come to the door and greet us like she hasn't seen us for a year or so - these moments are very special.

"Little Cindy"

Grown up Cindy

We've also discovered a bit more about Cindy's family background. We'd never really known her history so we just assumed she was a mix of a few different breeds, but as it turns out, it looks like her breed has a particular name and it's called "Bull Arab. Here's a picture from the web. Believe it or not, this is not Cindy!

Australian "Bull Arab" dog

Looking back to December 2013 - Rob was just about to start his new contract job with the City and I started taking on some short term contracts. In the second quarter, I was offered a great opportunity to be part of the Australian Government funded program - Digital Enterprise (DE) which is run by Pollinators Inc (a member based social enterprise) in Geraldton. This program enabled me to put to use my presenting, training skills, marketing knowledge and photography.

"Do what you love and the money will come!" - Anonymous.  I can't agree more.

My contract will expire in March 2015 and I'm not certain what I'll be doing after that. On the other hand, I'm certain that my new learning about the region and local businesses will spark some ideas about my next adventure. There are a lot of opportunities lying around .. you just need to reach for them.

Sand dunes in Drummond Cove

In September, we managed to take some time off and head back to Europe for a short holiday in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We spent a few days at my parents' house in Brno (the capital city of the Moravia region), caught up with my cousins in Cejkovice (wine region) and Bratislava (the capital city of Slovakia).  Then, we spent a couple of days in my mom's birth city, Cierny Balog (central Slovakia) which played an important role during WW II, as one of the centres of the anti-Nazi Slovak National Uprising. .

Stulrajterovci

Rob on the steam train in Cierny Balog

A few beautifully groomed Slovakian cows

Kat's parents

During the first part of my holiday, I went to Prague where I met a great Photographer Bryan Peterson. For a few years, I was trying to do one of his photography workshop, but it just wasn't happening until September 2014.

Finally, I went to Prague and met Bryan in one of his workshops. I absolutely loved every minute of this time - it felt like, I learned to see things that I wasn't aware of.  If you like photography and want to learn more about this visual art, you can check Bryan's workshops schedule for 2015 or get one of his book. Be prepared to learn how much is there to learn … a fascinating journey that will be challenging your mind for long time.

Creative shutter speed 1/4sec

Kat with a hat .. can't decide which one to buy

Train in Bubny, Prague

Last year, we had a few friends in Geraldton. Now, we're surrounded by many friends that have common interests. We feel pretty settled and hope to be a part of many exciting projects in this region. However, we always find time to catch up with our old friends in Europe, the east coast or America. So, let's try to re-connect over this Christmas break! We'd love to hear from you.

Looking back, it was pretty good year! 

ROB SAYS:

All good fun! Still loving Geraldton. Working sometimes; sometimes not. A bit tougher here to keep finding consistent work but it does eventually come and have had an opportunity to be involved in some fascinating work over the past year, including creating the City's Central Business District Redevelopment Strategy and putting together a program to make Geraldton "Recreational Vehicle Friendly". Both were approved unanimously by Councillors.

Next step is a role with the MidWest Development Commission (State Government) working on the Digital and Communications Strategy for the Regional Blueprint project.

Summer's here, the weather is spectacular and of course, the wind is blowing. 

Reflecting on time before I MADE THE PLEDGE

Today (May 20, 2014), I made the pledge and became an Australian Citizen. This day provided me with an opportunity to reflect on my last seventeen years since I landed for the first time in the Dream Land of many people -- Australia (July 17, 1997).

My parents -- Marienka and Zdenek

Why Australia? Well, it was actually meant to be Canada -- where I could be close to great ski slopes as often as possible. However, I came across for an opportunity to study English for 6 months in Sydney. What did I know about Australia? NOTHING. 

First of all, I wasn't very excited about this move. OMG, those Aussies with a weird accent who actually think, they don't have any accent and the most annoying thing was that they could not understand me! It was so bad that I couldn't even ask for a white coffee in McDonalds without pointing on the menu.

It goes without saying; my biggest hurdle was a massive language barrier. Consequently, I was limited with my job choices. However, I was pretty stubborn and didn't give up easily and dealt with those challenges as they came.

Three years later, (after some humbling experiences working in the hospitality and food industry) I was somehow still in Australia and (finally) had a job back in the commercial environment. This was for me a big achievement as I couldn't imagine this would ever have happened on this continent. I was able to speak and write fluently (making a lot of mistakes along the way) and people around me somehow accepted my imperfections.

 

A partial Brown Dogs's team

During this time, I met the Brown Dogs -- a great group of triathletes that used to meet for training three times per week. This was massive step forward for me as I was suddenly surrounded by people with very precise language skills and ability to argue anything -- you have to love these people. 

What could I do? Not much so, I was back to my "silent" communication at a dinner table. My best solution, how I could remain in this group, was to get on with Triathlon and so, I could fit in with those people. I had a great time as prior to my time with Brown Dogs, I was used doing solo sports. Triathlon introduced me to a team sport as I was doing a few team races. I can tell you, I hated "getting up" early in the morning and going in "cold" water for swims .. just the thought gives me shivers!

Sri Chinmoy -- Canberra

In 2007, I made a decision to remain in Australia -- for good. I bought a property in Mosman. My parents were proud of me and scared at the same time as I was the first person in our family who took on a mortgage. Well, it was scary -- I can still remember having butterflies in my stomach when I was writing a cheque with a BIG deposit. I handed it over and then I was dreaming about starving to death being able to pay for my property. However, I had a great feeling as well -- I was a property owner.

A year later, my life change as I met my Prince Charming (as my friend Dita describes her man) -- ROB. He made me feel myself, no baggage no hidden agenda - what you see what you get. Rob was and is very supportive of me in every single way and everything that I decided to do. I think, everybody deserves a partner like this. No day goes by when I'd not feel grateful for having ROB in my life. I know many of you would agree with me as Rob is also a great friend and supporter to many of you. He's a keeper. 

Rob

Things change sometimes for good and sometimes for bad. Last year in February, we moved out from Sydney to the Wild West of Australia -- Geraldton. For the first half year, I wasn't certain about our relocation – it wasn’t without its challenges of resettling, missing our old friends, learning the local “ropes”, navigating the local politics, etc, but now that we’ve made some great new friends and things are feeling a bit more settled,  now I'm certain it was for better times. 

Even though, it had some challenges to start with we're now settled and surrounded by many nice people. We also see many new opportunities coming our way in the near future.

Today, I made the pledge and I feel proud of my determination to "make it" in Australia. On this special day, I feel that I should say THANK YOU to all people who were on this journey with me – my parents, Livka and Andrew, Anezka (R.I. P. my dear friend), Brown Dogs and my sweet girlfriend Cherelle, Laura and David, Kate and Jack, Kerry de Waal, my co-workers in Haymarket Media and the great Dee Why crew, Denise and the extraordinary team of people in AudioClinic, Jill Flusemann and my bestest friend and partner ROB. Without you, it would have been much harder -- I feel very lucky to know you all.

Kat