Honesty | 13.10.15

5 weeks. 

Tuesday 13.10.15

I have officially been here for 5 weeks today, as i am writing this. The last 5 weeks have been going extremely quick. I have worked, explored new things and met plenty of new people! I have had such an amazing experience so far. I know its only early on and i know that is there is going to be those hard days where everything seems like its falling apart and thats okay! I am learning and growing every single day. 

Most mornings i wake up at around 6/6:30 for work and i'm like ahh i'm way to tired!! But then i start my day and i realize how blessed I truly am. I can't believe  that for someone who grew up in a pretty "low" area; that i have made it to where i am so far. 

Thats really what I wanted to write about today. I'll say that I know that i'm only 20 and i've got so much to learn, see and experience; but so far, i've worked hard for life to go in my favor.. It was never easy.. I got to where i am because the people in my life worked hard and then i followed once i was old enough. 

I had to make decisions to not get involved in drugs, hard-core alcohol..Which could of been hard since everyone around my area at 15/16/17 were involved in that BUT i chose to not follow the stereo typical circle that society put our area in. I am so great full that i was raised in a way to be strong headed and know that i can do whatever i want to achieve! 

I am extremely proud of where i have come BUT in no way, was it handed to me or anything. It involved an extremely amount of hard work from my parents and myself.  

In no way do i feel like i am better than anyone else or am doing better things; but i truly believe i am doing whats best for ME. I feel like this year away is going to make me a person that has true independence and the ability to guide the rest of my life in a way that, hopefully, is how i want it to go.

For 2 years, i struggled for work and mentally/emotionally. I was not impressed with where i went in my life and honestly, who i surrounded myself with.. I have found how much i appreciate myself and life now that i've let go of certain people/things... I will never say i am perfect or my life is perfect but i am going to work EVERYDAY too make it half way perfect because I only want the best for me and the best for my family. What i do now in my life will impact me forever and I need to think that when I don't make the best of life, this day will never come back.... But then again, i need to remember; some days are hard! 

I have chosen to make life that way i want for ME.. I truly believe by eliminating a certain thing' pushed me to being the person i am now, 10 months later! 

I love writing here and I love being able to express how i am feeling.. 

Not everyday is going to be easy or perfect and thats OKAY! :) 

Have a beautiful day, 

Codie  

xoxox 

New York City Tour

  NEW YORK CITY! 

September 11 2015.

Yes, I went into the BIG APPLE! Um what?!

After a long few days of no sleep, hours & hours of studying, crazy people and HOT rooms; WE WENT TO THE CITY! 

Friday, September 11, 2015; with a big group of people i headed onto a bus and headed into the city! 

Once we got into the actual city, a tour guide got on and started to tell as all this stuff about the city; we seen things like; 

- Where men in black is recorded 

- Where sex and city apartment is 

- The friends fountain 

- Where John Lennon grew up 

- Gossip Girl Hotel (Kind of fan girl'd) 

We seen some AMAZING things but; I have no words to explain the main things we seen! 

STATUE OF LIBERTY! 

First Place we headed was too see the lady herself! 

Sadly, where i went you could hardly get a photo BUT, it was still amazing and i will totally be going there again on a boat tour! 

GROUND ZERO

There is no words for me to be able to explain the emotion of being in such an emotional place. 

The day I went, was the memorial of 14 years, since it happened. Honestly, i sort of felt disrespectful being there' i stood, prayed and left. I was there no more then 5 minutes, it didn't feel right me being there. Its hard to explain, but out of respect; we left.

#911neverforget

TIME SQAURE 

It is one of the biggest, world wide known place. I have never been "interested" in it as such but it was a crazy, colourful place! I feel privilaged to be able to go. I went mid afternoon and it was SO BUSY! can't even explain it! 

After Time Square; we went to ROCKEFELLER SQAURE. wow. I have no words to even describe the view and amazement i felt. Here is just a few photos to show what i seen! These photos do NO JUSTICE to the real thing! wow.

 Empire State Building 

 Central Park 

Just me with the Empire State Building 

Now, it was AMAZING; the experience was unexplainable.. It was near to PERFECT.

BUT.... 

Theres always a BUT... 

After the tour and the views... 

We went for dinner... 

IT WAS HORRIBLE.... 

I was extremely sick and will NEVER eat at that place again.. 

I would just like to say how SPECIAL i felt having this experience! I am so great full and 100% thank you for those who made this happen! It brings me to tears for the support my family, friends and everyone in my life that support my decisions! I LOVE YOU ALL! <3 

THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA - part two

FLYING & BAG LOSS! 

I boarded my flight at approximately 11am, which was delayed. I knew i was flying with somebody but had no idea what she looked like OR who she was so i just sat and waited by myself. 

I knew that this flight was going to be long BUT i had NO IDEA! So, if anyone has flown to America; they know that it is a long flight. 

My flight was approximately 15 hours in total. It was HORRIBLE! 

It wasn't horrible due to the time length.

I DID NOT SLEEP ONE MINUTE! 

That was horrible. It wasn't that i wasn't  trying or wasn't tired. I just couldn't sleep! 

- I watched 8 movies

- 3 TV episodes 

- Listened to music 

- Read 

- Coloured In 

- Ate 

But, i COULDN'T sleep.

It still hadn't really hit me where i was going but i was excited. I was excited to meet new people, a new city and just being there! 

BUT; 

Traveling was NOT over. 

After 15 hours, we landed in LA(Los angeles). The person and I who i finally found, started to FREAK OUT because we knew we had to RUN.

We had 30 minutes to; 

- Go through security 

- Go through customs

 - Get our bags 

- Get to a whole different part of the airport 

- Go through security again! 

- RUN! 

We got to the gate as doors where closing and our names were on FINAL call. I then realized my KINDLE was gone and i was DEVO. I couldn't believe i had left it on the plane. 

We got onto the plane and headed for New York City. It was another LONG 5 1/2 hours. Again, I did not sleep a WINK!

This means i travelled nearly 21 hours, with no sleep and it wasn't over! 

We went to luggage and guess what!

THEY LOST MY BAG!!!!!!

Yep, thats right. LA lost my luggage which meant it was still in LA and didn't make the flight.

So, after 21 hours of traveling, no sleep, no shower and late afternoon. I headed to the training school at Long Island, New York. 

Thats a whole other story! 

P.s My bag arrived. Oh but thanks DELTA! My laptop was smashed, bag was burnt, wheel missing and just DESTROYED.

P.s.s It didn't get any better. 

THE JOURNEY TO AMERICA - Part One

Saying Goodbye

On September 8 2015 at 7:30 we got into a taxi and headed to SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. This wasn't just for a few week holiday or to drop someone off; I was going to AMERICA for 12 months! My emotions were really simple; i wasn't sad, scared or anxious; I had sort of an unknown feeling. 

I put my bag in, got myself checked in and then headed to have something to eat. As i sat down to eat, I was watching the time and thinking OH WOW. For the fact i had been counting down for MONTHS,  I couldn't believe I was staring at a screen that said 2 hours until my flight, I couldn't believe that i was actually there, waiting for this flight! 

At 9am, it was time to say goodbye to my beautiful friends and my mum that came too the airport with me. I said goodbye to those who i love the dearest. But, the moment I hugged my mum; the emotions i had been hiding come out flooding in tears. 

For those who don't know me; I am extremely close to my mum and she is my best-friend. I didn't think it would be as hard as it was to "walk away". I just walked forward and didn't turn around. 

I know that, now, I am strong enough to do this but i was very much doubting myself at the time. 

While I was in security I rang my dad and told him I loved him and let him know the plan. I then went through security and then got myself some magazines, a drink and gum. I then made some more phone calls, headed to my gate and waited..... 

I was heading to the complete UNKOWN and I was completely OK with it. I was ready!

Scarsdale, New York.

Fresh Start; Fresh Family; Fresh Country

 

Scarsdale, New York is exactly where I will start my journey as a new Au Pair.

 



Scarsdale, NY is in Northern New York. Scarsdale was founded in 1701. The distance between New York City is 42.9km (26.6miles) this is only 30 minutes away from the city!

 

This is just an idea of my area!





 

I will be here for approximately one year! I am very excited to experience such a beautiful "village" as they say. It is full of parks, community events, not far from the city oh and did I mention it SNOWS?!

 

What am I doing there?

 

I am going to be a full-time Au Pair for two young girls. They are 8 and 6 now. I am very excited as I am told they are beautiful, well-behaved children. Of course, I have the fear of rejection/not liking me BUT, I wouldn't of been chosen if they didn't believe I could do it! I am very excited to conquer head first this journey and give me 110%. I will also be studying in an American college. I am still undecided what I'll be doing as of yet BUT I'll of course blog about it!

I know there is going to be hard times, struggles but I also know it'll all be worth it in the end!

 

This was just a simple post for those who were wondering what exactly I am doing.

 

 

Cant wait for the journey ahead! Stay Tuned.

This is just the beginning! Codie x

 

 



Realistic Bucket List?

First things first,

Lets be realistic; this will ONLY happen if I work my but off and make it happen! I only have once chance and this is MY chance! I know these may not be in the order I wish, but who cares! ASLONG as I complete them all! :)

Each time I knock one of these off my list, a blog will be posted. I cant wait too continue too share my journey with those all over the world!

1.  Attend a Baseball game.
2. Attend a NFL game.
3. Attend a Basketball game.
4. Go to Rockefeller Centre
5. Go to Central Park
6. Go to Battery Park
7. Capture a photo of the "Statue of Liberty"
8. Go to ATLEAST ONE museum in New York.
9. Visit Ground Zero.
10. Join a local gym OR fitness group OR maybe even start one up!
11. Experience my first WHITE CHRISTMAS!! (Um what)
12. Attend Broadway.

My last one (for now) is a big one too me and its something i'll really have to work hard for and that's ATLEAST visit
13. 5 states in the year.

This is just the beginning guys!
Keep following <3

oh 19 DAYS! wow.

Codie

Bittersweet

23 days

 

 

Yes, its still 3 weeks and 2 days. In a sense, I feel like its flown but on the other hand I'm like "really?" "still that many days" but I am happy. Its another 23 days with those I love. Its sort of bittersweet embarking on a new chapter of life like this. I build my knowledge and see the world but I'm leaving my world behind?

To me, its not even just my family. Its my network. I've made some amazing contacts and friendships in the last year. I've built work relationships, that have formed to friendships. I've made friends with people who, a year ago, I probably would never of even spoke to.

 

They say too you "oh a year isn't that long!" Maybe in a life span it isn't, but when you look back on the things you have done in the last year, would you say things don't change? I'll list a few things that I've done/accomplished within the last 12 months or so.

 

1. Started a Law Advocacy diploma / about to graduate that.

2. Built new friendships 

3. Grew a lot of confidence

4. Started my job 

5. Learnt tolerance and appreciation

6. Brought my very own, expensive, car.

7. Got accepted into this Au Pair program

8. Matched with a family within a month!

9. Found a whole new love for myself and strength

10. Let go of ALL negativity in my life.

11. TRAVELLED OVERSEAS!

 

In number 2, I cant even express the words of how appreciative I am of those people who have come into my life in the last 18 months or so and made such a MASSIVE impact. You may not realise it but your the reason I am who I am today and making the decisions I am making. These women have gone out of their way too make sure I have the support I need, without even realising it.

 

I am bittersweet that all these positives are not "leaving" my life but are not going to be my everyday. BUT, in saying that I am so excited for what lies ahead. Who knows? I may come home with 50 new experiences in 18 months...

This is only the beginning,

CODIEx