I entered into the Kroger Go Green Reusable shopping bag contest. My closest friends pick on me, because I AM that person that brings a bundle of
canvas bags to the grocery store with me. My favorite is this oversized Half-price Books bag. I can literally fit $100 worth of groceries into two bags.
ANYWAYS, I created a bag. If you like it, vote for me! Don’t like it? Create your own. It’s fun.
In all my travels, I think visas are the most intimidating part. First, I’ve heard so many horror stories about visas. Second, there’s so much to read to understand all the different types of visas.
There are traveling only visas. Travel and try to find an employer visas. There are stay for a long time and become one of us visas. In this post, I will outline the traveling only visas. These visas do not allow you to work.
ETA (Visitor) (Subclass 976) $20
The ETA (electronic travel authority) must be filled out for travelers outside of Australia. The visa is valid for 12 months, but you can only stay for 3 months consecutively. This means you’d have to fly to New Zealand or Fiji for a weekend… what a shame. Each member in your family will need one. The visa is free! Well, except for the $20 service charge.
This visa is like the ETA with some added features. First, you can study formally on this visa for 3 months or less. Second, you can be approved for a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month stay. This visa costs $100.
eVisitor (Subclass 651) $0.00
eVisitor is similar to the ETA, only it’s for specific countries. The United States and England are not included. Those citizens will need to use the ETA. Eligible Countries.
Sponsored Family Visitor visa (Subclass 679)$100
This visa is for family members of Australian citizens. You have to be a relative to enter on this visa unless you are sponsored by a government official. This visa allows a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month entrance based on your application. This does not include visiting for business or medicinal purposes.
We are going to use the ETA (subclass 976) visa. After arriving we are planning on searching for employers to sponsor us for the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462). It’s a long shot, but it’s our only chance for working in Australia.
Milligan is “throw-up, diahhrea-through-the-onesie” sick today! I’ve been rushing around the house on poopy alert, because when it comes out… it’s coming out. In between episodes, I took a breather and thought about how luxurious it is to have an available bathroom, tub, sink, washing machine, and nursery here in the states. I wandered through the house and created a top 10 list of things I’m afraid to be without as we migrate to Australia.
10. Diaper Genie-It’s nice having a sealed place to put dirty diapers, and it’s conveniently next to the changing table.
9. Bathtub- Although we frequently take showers with Milli, it’s been nice this week having a tub. There’s no way I was hopping in the shower every time she needed a quick wash down. As she gets older, the more I’m probably going to crave a tub.
8. Dishwasher- Okay, Okay, It doesn’t have to be a dishwasher. But I will miss the convenience of washing bottles and letting them dry beside the sink. And here, I know what’s been in that sink and how long ago it was cleaned!
7. Wal-mart- This is a double-sided blade for me. It’s close and stocked with EV-ERY-THING! Get it all in one stop and for the best deal in town, right? However, it bothers me how they monopolize the market and treat their workers with sub-standards.
6. Internet Access- I’m not distraught at the idea of not having internet. I actually like detaching myself from cable and internet. However, it’s very handy to check out WEBMD for all my baby questions and keep in touch with you fine people.
5. Glider- I just love the intimacy of rocking Milligan to sleep.
4. Changing Table- The clothes are sorted into drawers for easy grabbing. All the diapers, wipes, lotions, creams, and medicines are right there. No digging around in a zipper pocket.
3. Washer/Dryer- I went through college and my first two years of marriage without my own washer and dryer. When we leave, we are only taking the amount of clothes that fit into one backpacker’s backpack. Washing will have to be more frequent.
2. Trunk- A baby comes with lots of luggage (diaper bag, car seat, stroller, body carrier, and playpen). That’s a lot for this chick to carry.
1. Grandparents- A guaranteed babysitter!
I recognize that some of these are materialistic. Let’s face it… We moms need a good gadget or two to help us through the day.
We are going! We don’t know how long we’ll be away, which means we don’t know when we will be back. We do know when and how we are leaving.
Flight Research
I flew Qantas Airlines on my last visit to Australia in 2004. Naturally, that’s the first place I looked. When I flew years ago, my ticket cost $990 round trip. As I was surfing through the website, most tickets were about $1200 one-way!! Discouraged I began surfing through other less known international airlines. I don’t know about you, but I feel uncomfortable going with foreign (unheard of, not international) airlines.
Without any luck, I joined the Qantas flight alert program and put off the task for another day. Well about a month later, I received an advertisement that Qantas was introducing a new airliner, and tickets were intensely discounted for the promotion. The Catch: There were specific departure dates. Luckily, the departure dates fell right in the range of when we were hoping to leave! So we were able to purchase our tickets for $900/person roundtrip.
