Coming Soon to Australia

"Why are we the family that always travels?  I want to stay home for a change."

Our eight-year-old son was grumpy after traveling two consecutive weekends to Canada.  Before I could respond, his older sister chimed in, "My friends can't believe how much we travel."

"You dad is from another country," I reminded them.  "That is one big reason that we travel."

The eight-year-old was unconvinced.  "I'm never getting on another airplane," he claimed as he stomped off to play some basketball.  

Of course he did board another airplane---four, in fact, just a few weeks later as we traveled south over the Christmas holidays.  I decided not to remind him that we plan to take a much longer flight over the Easter holidays.  Fulfilling a promise we made before we moved away from Melbourne, we have purchased tickets for the whole family to visit Australia.  We figured it would be best to take this trip within a year of leaving, and as it happens, it we are scheduled to land in Melbourne exactly one year after we moved out of the house where we spent four years.

As for my daughter's friends who continue to express amazement over our frequent travel, it reminded me of a difference I have perceived between Australians and Americans**.  This is a generalization, of course, with numerous exceptions, but it seems to me that Australians place more value on experiences (such as traveling overseas) than possessions, while the reverse is often true for Americans.  We think nothing of buying a bigger house if possible, or purchasing a brand-new vehicle, perhaps because we can touch and handle what we have received in exchange for our money.  But choosing to travel instead?  That seems either out-of-reach for the ordinary person, or too extravagant, much like pouring money down the drain.

I grew up in a household in which my parents chose to travel, and I'm sure that partly explains the choices I have made as an adult.  Of course it helps that I married an adventurous bloke---that is probably the single biggest reason that we are, in my son's words, the family that always travels.  In any case, we are anticipating this visit to Melbourne.  We look forward to joyful reunions with dear friends, good coffee, stopping by our old haunts, exploring Melbourne's laneways, and experiencing as many of the one hundred things I listed in this post entitled "Dear Australia as possible."  After that, we very well may decide that we have had enough traveling for awhile.  We know at least one of our children will not complain if we choose to stay home for a change.

**I am indebted to our friends Andy and Tennille, Americans who spent ten years living in Melbourne before relocating to Pittsburgh, for their insights regarding this particular cultural difference. 

The above photo was taken at the adrenalin-producing "airplane beach" on the island of St. Maarten in early January.  Here are a couple more:

 

 

Comments

[Tina]

Christie,

We, too, prefer to travel rather than purchase more things, and I have the same observation you do about Americans. Seems like most think spending time and money to visit friends or go on vacations is not as well spent as those big ticket buys like cars or new furniture or a bigger house. [or even lots of smaller, everyday purchases, which all add up over time]

Living away from family and many friends, it's often hard to get others to come visit me. I value my friends that are willing to make the trip! :-)

[Shanda]

Love the pictures! They are so cool!

[Kent]

Sounds wonderful. Your compare and contrast of Australian/experiences and Americans/possessions is spot on. Thanks for articulating it so well.

[Kelvin]

Love it! You are installing a wonderful perspective in your children!

[Aunt Marion]

I am very excited that you are making the trek back to Melbourne! It will be three years next month since we visited you there. What an incredible experience that was for us.. we still talk about that time very often. I hope you have a wonderful trip back to that amazing city and have fun reuniting with friends!

[Marilyn Gooey]

We are all looking forward to seeing you & how much the children have grown. Hope you will enjoy our new music at church. I so enjoy reading your blog & hearing about your family & of course your excellent photography.