Nearly One Year Ago since I Arrived to Texas US

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

Where did the time go? Has it really been nearly one year ago since I left Brisbane Australia? 

Has it really been nearly one year ago since I have arrived to Texas, US? 

Upcoming Sunday would mark one whole year ago since I have left Brisbane Australia, and upcoming Monday would mark one whole year ago since I have landed and arrived in Dallas, Fort-Worth International Airport with the K1 visa approval mark on my Australian passport from an officer. I remembered that officer  had a quick interview with me, he wanted to make sure for my intentions are still true and correct for the purpose of the visa, and asking me some quick and easy questions. 

Afterwards; I knew in my mind that I was feeling overjoyed because I knew that the reality has sunk in and of course another beginning has just began. I felt so relief after long haul of flight of getting over here and I finally got to reunite with my husband (who was my fiànce at the time). I haven't seen him since he left Brisbane Australia towards end of late February last year. I remembered my husband and I both went to Chili's to dine-in for celebrations of me to be back in Texas, US. 

Well one month and twenty-one days (fifty-two days) after my arrival to Texas, my Mum and my grandparents (my Mum's parents) has arrived in the same airport that I did. I absolutely cried and filled overwhelmed joy to see my Mum and my grandparents at the Airport. I was tracking most of their flights on their way to Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport from Brisbane Airport, in Brisbane Australia. 

Wouldn't you feel scared or worried to know if they flew just before the hurricane and horrible storm that has arrived in Houston, Texas? Houston Texas was their last layover before they landed into Dallas, Houston LDS Temple was originally the Temple where my husband and I considered to be sealed in, and I think Satan was really trying his hardest to stop my Mum, and my grandparents from attending my own sealing. I am forever grateful that my husband and I changed our minds and made the decision to be sealed in Dallas LDS Temple. 

I had so much happened within twelve months/a year of living in Texas US.

I would like to share several highlights that I have been able to do and accomplish since I have been over here. 

~ I had to change two different US mobile phone numbers - I got a new mobile phone with a new US mobile number for a better reception of the area where I currently live and most of other places that I go to. ~ I didn't make too many new friends which is fine by me. 

~ Exactly eight weeks mark after my arrival in Texas US; my husband and I got sealed in Dallas LDS Temple. 

~ Either early or mid December last year; I have completed Starting and Growing My Business Self-Reliance Course. ~ Either early or mid December last year; I have completed Personal Finances another Self-Reliance Course.

~ I felt privileged of getting a ride with seven elderly church members from my stake to go to Dallas LDS Temple together at least once a month while my husband was working. I got a ride with another church members to go to the Temple with, again while my husband was working. My husband and I went to Dallas LDS Temple together a few times together prior to the Coronavirus.

~ I had two blood tests taken within a month - February 2020 and March 2020. I won't be sharing the results. I had two ultrasounds out of three ultrasounds done; one for pelvic (hip) and the other one in March 2020 - I won't be sharing the results and I am not pregnant. I had one dental exam (dental checkup) about a week ago. 

~ For the past ten months since I have been married; I have been asked if I was pregnant, when my husband and I plan to have children, asking if I have any children, requesting for my husband and my future children's names that we liked and agreed on, so forth. My husband has been asked several occasions during work about if he has any children.  

~ I have gained weight and it has been no surprise to some people. When I was living in Australia, I was underweight and I finally got to weighing normal weight (healthy range) sometime since I have been over here. I have my weight under control, and I know that I wasn't expecting to weight more than 22 LBS/10KG within a year. I won't be sharing exactly how much I gained over the past twelve months. Many thank you to the goodness of American food regardless how much I tried to be fit and healthy.

~ I have applied for my Green Card in October 2019, I still haven't had my interview for my Green Card and still no Green Card. Due to the Coronavirus; it has been delaying the progress of Green Cards - unfortunately.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Some Disadvantages of Living in United States

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you ever wondered what disadvantages that comes with living in United States either short-term or long-term? Over the past twelve months of living over here, I have acknowledged and recognized some 

disadvantages that comes with living over here.

~ Paying the cost of trash collection service each week - the bill will come out monthly along with water and sewage bill. In Australia, the trash collection service each week is FREE of charge. 

~ The cost of medical insurance per month and annually. It can be so pricey and expensive. The medical insurance that my husband and I have together costs $719 US dollars ish (about $1,004 ish Australian dollars) a month. Thank goodness; my husband was eligible for us to get subsidy to help pay a portion of medical insurance each month. I won't share how much of the total that we have been able to save a month. 

~ The cost of mobile plans are so expensive, my husband is paying over $100 US dollars (about over $140 Australian dollars) a month just for my mobile plan and it's not even included international calls. I won't be sharing exactly how much my husband is spending on my mobile plan a month. 

~ The cost of rentals for newly built apartments (less than eight years old) can can be expensive. My husband and I live in a two bedroom apartment and rental cost over $700 US dollars (over $980 ish Australian dollars) a month. I won't be sharing exactly how much my husband has to pay for rent a month.

~ Dining-in Restaurants and Fast Foods can get expensive easily with two people or more. Just two people can cost roughly $35 US dollars (about $49 Australian dollars) or more depending on the Dining-In Restaurants and Fast Foods without tips.

~ Eating Fast Foods can be addiction. Whenever you ask for a meal from Fast Foods, you would always get a medium portion and you can upgrade to a large. In Australia, the portion size for meal of Fast Foods would 

be small. 

~ Depending on the countryside areas; there might be limited or no public transportation. Where I live currently; there are no nearby bus stations for me to catch a ride on the bus, there are no nearby train stations for me to catch a ride on a passengers train to go anywhere, there are no one who lives nearby and within twenty minutes who does Taxi, Uber, and Lyft. 

~ Depending on the countryside areas; there might be limited or no Food Deliveries Services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Postmates, etc. Where I live currently; if I really wanted to get Fast Food delivered, it would be Domino's and Pizza Hut even though I live less than eight minutes drive from McDonald's, Subway, Whataburger, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, etc. 

~ Each state has its own rates of Sales Taxes and it varies of depending on the products for each purchase. 

~ The cost of vehicles' insurance - it can be expensive if you aren't able to find a great price.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Some Advantages of Living in United States

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish.

Each state of United States has its own state laws, state rules, and costs of living. 

~ Purchasing land in Texas is cheap. It varies from $10,000 US dollars (about $14,000 Australian dollars) to over $35,000 US dollars (over about $49,000 Australia dollars) - depending on how many acres. 

~  Vehicle registration in Texas cost $75 US dollars (about $105 Australian dollars) a year. 

- I am sure each state has its own cost for vehicle registration. 

~ In United States; if you have a passport, you can drive to the Canadian border from the following states from United States; Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Maine. 

Driving to Canada can be cheaper than flying.

~ In United States; if you have a passport, you can drive across the Mexico border from the following states from United States; California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Driving to Mexico can be cheaper than flying.

~ Prior to the Coronavirus; United States have Walmart Stores that are open for twenty-four hours, seven days a week. If you were wondering what Walmart Store sells, it sells a lot of variety of things. I mean it sells of most things that you need in life to keep yourself alive and living. 

Walmart sells lawn mowers, variety of clothing - including baby clothes, prams, variety of past movies in DvDs, variety of past TV shows in DvDs, brand-new electronics (such as TVs, mobile phones, etc), food and drinks groceries, sim cards, pain killers, multi-vitamins, medicines, schooling supplies, bikes including bike accessories, kitchen appliances (such as; microwaves, coffee machines, etc) shampoos, conditioners, vehicles' oil, parties supplies, and so much more. I know that's super convenient for shift workers who works full-time and had no trouble of finding the right time to groceries shopping.

~ Dollar Stores - I love the Dollar Stores and everything in that store costs $1. The store is convenient for variety of things such as brooms, dustpan and brush, android mobile phone chargers, 100 pages notebooks, small magnet white boards, pack of permanent markers, hair accessories (such as bobby pins, hair brush, etc), toothbrushes, birthday cards, calendars, etc. 

~ The summer season is in the middle of the year. While I was living in Australia, it was always winter season in the middle of the year and I always wished it was summer instead of winter. ~ Americans celebrates great holidays such as Indepence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. ~ The cost of gas/fuel for vehicles is way cheaper over here than the cost of gas/fuel in Australia by per liter.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Some Disadvantages of Past Living in Australia

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you ever thought about the disadvantages that comes from short-term and long-term living in Australia? Does it really matter to beware of the disadvantages that comes from living in Australia?

~ I have acknowledged and recognized the cost of residential living for renting in Australia is more expensive than United States. ~ I have acknowledged and recognized the cost of residential living for buying a house in Australia is more expensive than United States.

~ I have acknowledged and recognized the cost of getting a house built in Australia is more expensive than United States. ~ I have acknowledged and recognized the total cost of car registration for three months period with and without concession and senior discount is expensive.

~ I have acknowledged and recognized the total cost of car registration for six months period with and without concession and senior discount is expensive. ~ I have acknowledged and recognized the total cost of car registration for twelve months a.k.a a year period with and without concession and senior discount is expensive.

~ I have acknowledged and recognized the costs of travelling via plane to international locations can be expensive. ~ I have acknowledged and recognized the costs of travelling via plane to domestic locations can be expensive.

~ Depending on the locations; car rental places requires minimum of twenty-five years old driver for renting a vehicle - the additional driver/s must be over twenty-five years old. Again similar depending on the locations; car rental places requires minimum of twenty-one years old driver for renting a vehicle - the additional driver/s must be over twenty-one years old.

~ Car insurance can be expensive a month to month if you have previous past three years to five years claim history regardless who's fault and it can cost about $390 Australian dollars ($280 ish US dollars) a month.

~ It cost roughly $200 ish or more Australian dollars (roughly $145 ish or more) for a new legal name change. ~ Depending on dining in restaurants can be expensive and pricey. ~ Cost of groceries each week can be pricey and expensive.

The following are my husband's several inputs what he would say about Australia.

~ The average cost for gas/fuel for vehicles including trucks is more expensive in Australia. 

~ Having roundabouts. 
~ The cars are smaller in Australia.

Stay Tuned until next time.

Some Advantages of Past Living in Australia

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is short and sweet. I often do my best to remember and reflect on many memories that I had while I was living in Australia. Have you ever wondered about some advantages that comes from living short-term or living long-term in Australia? 

~ In the past; I have acknowledged and recognized education is free in public government schools (Primary Schools and Secondary Schools). There are private schools, but it cost money. The last year in most Primary Schools is sixth grade when the students are eleven years old and the last year in most Secondary Schools is twelfth grade a.k.a seniors when the students are seventeen years old.

~ Depending on Secondary Schools; students from tenth grade (fifteen years old) to twelfth grade (seventeen years old) has opportunities to do school-based traineeships and school-based apprenticeships. Those school-based traineeships and apprenticeships are organized by two teachers of the school, and the locations of where to do them. You can be doing a school-based traineeship at KFC once a week away from school to be paid while you are learning new skills. - It can lead to greater opportunities later after finishing school and it can be a head start into your preferred career choice.

Link for more information - www.desbt.qld.gov.au/training/apprentices/sats

~ The weather for all seasons are wonderful in Queensland, Australia. I love Australian weather better than United States weather and my husband agrees with me. While I was living in Australia, my hairstyle would naturally be curly and my hair would also be in ringlets. During cooler months including winter season; it gets so cold in the morning between zero Celsius to eight Celsius/thirty-two Fahrenheit to forty-six Fahrenheit, and it gets warmer throughout the day between fifteen Celsius to twenty-four Celsius/fifty-nine Fahrenheit to seventy-five Fahrenheit. 

~ I have acknowledged and recognized the wages for employment in Australia is higher than United States. I remembered when I was employed at a Domino's Pizza Store in Australia, I was getting paid roughly $26 Australian dollars ($18.50 US dollars) an hour on weekday shifts as a delivery driver.  

~ As far as I know that the Australian Healthcare system is public and FREE to Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents. Depending on the areas; I know that people can be seen by a doctor with no
appointment has been booked in and doctors who are registered are able to home visit patients after
doctor office closing hours and before doctor office opening hours.

~ Doctors and Nurses prescribe patients of medications cheaper at Pharmacies and Chemists in Australia than United States. For an example; I was able to get prescribed to my Asthma inhaler for less than $8 Australian dollars (less than $6 US dollars) instead of paying $65 Australian dollars ($45 ish US dollars).

~ Depending on the areas; there are public transportation which is mostly buses and mostly trains available. Some areas would have Trams and Ferries. Some public transportation are great and reliable. I had no issue with public transportation while I was living in Australia.

- I remembered the moments when I relied on public transportation for going to Brisbane City on my own multiple times, going to Sydney City twice via public transportation and going to Perth City once on my own via public transportation. I know that it certainly does take longer to get to places and destinations via public transportation.
I also know that the costs isn't so bad for the ticket or travel card to travel via public transportation.

~ Depending on the areas; mechanics offers mobile mechanic services which means a mechanic would drive in a van to your house or wherever is your vehicle at, they can do certain mechanical work on the spot. It is useful but it is expensive. 

~ Free to air TV and radio stations. ~ Mobile plans are reasonable priced. 

Stay Tuned until next time.