Basic facts:
American fall (Australia doesn't call it "fall"; it's called autumn) = September, October, November = Australian spring
Things that Erin typically associates with "fall" = football, MLB post season, fall leaves, Halloween, Thanksgiving, boots & sweaters
Things that Kristen typically associates with "spring" = Melbourne cup and racing season (spring carnival), just the fact that it's getting warmer and the end of the year is nearing so I always felt the need to get my life together and spring clean all the things.Erin: I live in a country that doesn't care much about American football (aka "gridiron"). We have ESPN. It's an Australia/New Zealand programming version of ESPN. We get football games. But, you get one choice. Whatever the programming director of ESPNAuNZ chooses and is able to show due to contractual obligations with American channels of ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox Sports. That's the game you get to see. Sometimes it is live, and other times it's shown on a delay. Oh, we have Fox Sports too, but they don't show American football. They are showing things more interesting to Australian viewers. So, any of my football viewing is occurring during Spring now.
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Football "viewing" through online updates can be stressful |
Kristen: In Australia, both football seasons - the NRL (National Rugby League) and the AFL (Australian Football League) - go from March to October, but regardless of which country I am in, I have never been a fan of football. KC is though, so it's always on during the American football season. I never pay attention, I'd rather read and can tune his shouts out easily. However, I have been to a couple of games and I enjoy it way more in person, and the atmosphere is insane compared to a game back home.
Erin: ESPNAuNZ does show post season baseball games. I'd care about them a whole lot more if my Astros were contenders. Instead, I watch this Astro play ball a lot more often than I watch MLB games on tv.
Kristen: At home, spring always meant the spring carnival or 'racing season'. When I was 18-19, I worked at the racecourse, but at about 20-21 I started attending the races instead of working them. We definitely take our races seriously at home and it's just the thing to do. It's not the classiest of events (unless you pay lots of money) but it's always a good time. I'm very lucky I moved to Kentucky and I still get to attend the races often in American spring.
Erin: Fall leaves. Not happening right now for me. Let's be honest, Texas isn't really known all that much for the changing fall leaves anyway. Instead, now, I get Jacaranda trees in bloom.
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Erin: Thanksgiving, oh, Thanksgiving. This is the holiday that I get the most homesick because Australia doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving. And, I know all my loved ones are getting together stuffing their faces with yummy goodness and watching football games together. My guy has done a pretty great job at learning recipes (he's a much better cook than I am) and presenting a Thanksgiving meal for me. Last year, some of our loved ones got together for it. I still get overly emotional every Thanksgiving, missing my family and all, but the outpouring of love and support from my close circle here is nothing to sneeze at.
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2015 Thanksgiving Australia |
Kristen: I like Halloween, I like Christmas.. I have no strong feelings about Thanksgiving. Like Erin said, we don't have anything like it. It's very important to my mother in law though, and she takes it super seriously, so I obviously attend. I'm not a huge fan of the food - though I still eat it because, you know, food. I really like all the sales that happen online around this time.
Erin: Wardrobes change with the seasons. I ain't gonna lie. I love putting on some boots and wearing hoodies. But, I love flip flops, sandals, and cute dresses even more.
Kristen: I think I fail my blogger certification because I am not as in love with fall fashion as others seem to be. I like sweaters and stuff, and I feel more comfortable in more clothes vs shorts and a tank, but the only plaid I own is a scarf. I have tried to buy things before based on how they look on pinterest, but I end up wearing them once and feeling like an idiot and getting rid of them. Like the below, I was so excited to look all 'fall-y' that I wore what I wanted regardless of the weather, and you can see my friend in flip flops, so.. yeah.
Erin: I've always said that spring is my favorite season. Yes, it's still bizarre for me to think of "spring" as September, October, and November, but accepting differences is imperative to embracing life as an expat.
Kristen: Basically what Erin said. You can complain and compare all day, constantly thinking of home or how it 'should' be, but that will only make your life as an expat harder. Instead, just eat some candy and be grateful that you have the opportunity to experience two very different countries and all their differences.
We will continue to share some joint posts based on questions from you, some of our blogger buddies (thanks to those who contributed). Keep an eye out for those. Who knows when they'll happen. This ain't an assignment, and we aren't on a specific timeframe.
Erin: Wardrobes change with the seasons. I ain't gonna lie. I love putting on some boots and wearing hoodies. But, I love flip flops, sandals, and cute dresses even more.
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Erin: I've always said that spring is my favorite season. Yes, it's still bizarre for me to think of "spring" as September, October, and November, but accepting differences is imperative to embracing life as an expat.
Kristen: Basically what Erin said. You can complain and compare all day, constantly thinking of home or how it 'should' be, but that will only make your life as an expat harder. Instead, just eat some candy and be grateful that you have the opportunity to experience two very different countries and all their differences.
We will continue to share some joint posts based on questions from you, some of our blogger buddies (thanks to those who contributed). Keep an eye out for those. Who knows when they'll happen. This ain't an assignment, and we aren't on a specific timeframe.
Do you prefer fall or spring?
Of course, I knew what this post was going to say...but looking at it now, I particularly enjoy our various hair colours and styles :)
ReplyDeleteAhhh this is so funny! So cool that you guys are able to keep each other updated on these things!! Loved this post!
ReplyDeleteI love this post ladies! So fun. Of course, seasonally I relate most to America but our thanksgiving in Canada is nothing like the US. I love reading about how both of you have embraced your new home countries and you must still get so homesick sometimes. Great photos in this post!
ReplyDeletei'm a fall girl through and through. so basic haha. also helps my birthday is in the fall. love hearing your thoughts on things living here now. football fans are crazy here right? and thanksgiving people. i mean i love thanksgiving to spend with family/friends and well, eat. haha. love this series with you two!
ReplyDeletexoxo cheshire kat
What a cool post! I am impressed with the time that must have gone into preparing this and getting a joint post to flow as smoothly as this did. It was really fun to read about the differences from the two perspectives...and how cool that the Internet brought the two of you together. :) (I assume you didn't know each other in real life before?) OH- to answer your last question, I prefer Spring. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post!! It's so neat to see all the differences and how you've each embraced them. I'm obsessed with Thanksgiving - mostly because pumpkin pie and more football! I can't wait to see more of this series with you two!
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun series! I'm glad you guys are doing this!
ReplyDeleteI think America definitely takes the cake on fall, but Erin's spring pics are so gorgeous! It's so lucky that you essentially ended up in the race capital of the US! That's never been a part of my life; I had no idea racing was so big in Australia! To be totally honest, I don't care much for Thanksgiving foods either- just turkey and mashed potatoes :)
heheh this is so fun! I love it. I think it would definitely be tough to adjust to such a difference... but like you said, you just have to embrace it. My favorite season is winter... and I know I am in the smallest group of folks ever. :P I guess perhaps it's harder to love spring and fall when you live in KS and each of those are about 1 month... summer and winter take up 5... hahaha #ksprobs My friend in Taiwan is feeling very homesick for Thanksgiving. She just wants a pumpkin pie. She says they have them, but you can't get the stuff to make one. : / XO - Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
I love fall, the leaves are beautiful, and after a summer of heat I am always ready for pumpkin spice and to cozy up with some hot coffee. But I hate that at the end of it we get winter. Spring is a lot more optimistic I feel.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting and fun to read! I think it's cool that the two of you have connected and can compare/contrast what's going on in your respective homes. I never knew that Australia didn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I commented my maybe ideas for future posts on Erin's. It's neat that you ended up in the U.S. horse racing capital when you were into it in Australia too. I have never been to a horse race ever.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you think of as "home" - Both places? When I lived in France there was "home" aka my current apartment in France and "HOME" aka the States.
I prefer autumn. (I also prefer to call it autumn than fall). The weather is usually nicer - Crisp and clear versus so much rain in the spring.
I'd totally be ok with doing away with NFL.
ReplyDeleteIt was weird to me when I was in Perth, in June, that there were more like 6 seasons instead of 4. Fortunately, June was a transition month so the temps weren't extreme... Although the storm that decided to join us for the exercise was a real bummer. Lots of rain.
I didnt realize racing was a big deal in Australia. You did move to the perfect place in America for that ;)
ReplyDeleteHey - dont feel bad - I've been in the USA my whole life & I'm not a huge thanksgiving fan either. #SaveTheTurkeys
It would be so hard for me to completely change seasons like the two of you have. Christmas is the winter for me, fall is during football season, I am just stuck in my ways. But I think it is cool that both countries have things about each season to look forward to. I am with Erin in that I would be homesick at Thanksgiving. It is my second favorite holiday behind Christmas because FOOOOD!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOL don't judge the weather by my shoe choices...I just don't have cute botts like you!
ReplyDeleteLove, "friend in flip flops" lol
bahahahaha love you Sara
DeleteSpring cleaning makes way more sense at the end of the year, though. I used to hate Thanksgiving food but then one day I was like "omg stuffing and potatoes for days, this is AWESOME" and came to my senses :) Maybe one day you'll find something you love to make the day worth it.
ReplyDeleteOh Kristen. I thought we were kindred spirits - lover of cats, books and food. But you don't like Thanksgiving food? Stuffing/dressing? Mashed potatoes and gravy? Rolls? If you don't like pumpkin pie, I understand that but for the love carbs - how can you not love it? Thank goodness you love the black friday/cyber monday sales! And yes, you are in the perfect place to experience beautiful Fall colors. That is one thing I really miss here in LA. But then I remember I can wear flip-flops in January and I don't miss it quite so much. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI love that you and Erin are doing these posts! I think that they're going to be so much fun to read! I have to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Thanksgiving either. I always love seeing family, but I don't particularly love all the food. Although, Chris has started frying a turkey at Thanksgiving which definitely kicks the food up a notch.
ReplyDeleteI read this on Erin's page and commented, but I had to comment here too. :) I love it! The differences between here and there are so crazy. There are so many things I miss about Australia that I wish were things here, but when I was in Australia there were so many things here that I missed too!
ReplyDeleteI love this series! So many interesting differences. Even though I've lived here forever now, I don't like any Thanksgiving food either. I like our "Russian" Thanksgiving with all the families I grew up with here. It's great to see everyone (many live in different states now), but I really just like it because they also have Russian food! Haha. At my in-laws' the only things I like to eat is ham and corn casserole.
ReplyDeleteI love this!!! I loved reading this post. I'm American and do not like Thanksgiving food either. Well, mainly, Turkey. I don't eat it and haven't done so in years. haha. My family goes out for dinner for Thanksgiving and it's super fun! Everyone makes fun of me for not liking Turkey. It's a huge joke in my family. I just don't like it and never have. I am a fall girl, through and through. There is nothing like a crisp fall day.
ReplyDeleteAH! This is so fun! I love hearing all the differences! And you guys have such similar and yet opposite experiences because of where you're each originally from. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by all this stuff! How fun to compare and contrast!
ReplyDeleteI love that the sales are your favourite bit of Thanksgiving because I'm totally the same. We celebrate it because of Jesse but I'm a bit eh about all the food!
ReplyDeleteFootball games are good for reading and naps. That is it. I would not miss them if they went away.
ReplyDeleteKristen, it makes me sad that you don't like Thanksgiving food but Erin, I'm glad your husband and friends are trying to bring a little bit of home for you. And while spring is my favorite season, I am in favor of yoga pants, hoodies, and flip flops year round.
And re: Halloween. I have zero memories of dressing up when I was a kid and I don't do it now. I dressed up for the first time in almost 20 years when we went to a friend's NYE party last year. I hated it. (The costume part, not the party. The party was fun)
I loved reading this! Obviously interesting to learn the differences between places but then also thinking about how we're different here, too. I don't do any kind of sport so that would all be lost on me, horse racing is fairly big here in places, we don't do Halloween dress up or Thanksgiving (what's with putting marshmallows in savoury food? I'm a big fan of marshmallows but even that's too much for me), but our autumn colours are pretty decent. Oh and the weather's miserable. So a bit of both really! Anyway, this was great, do more please, in your own time!
ReplyDeleteFun kind of series! Expat life feels 'normal' to me, so it's almost hard to imagine that there are people out there who don't have to constantly balance between multiple cultures and different countries' ways of doing life! The sales around Thanksgiving time are awesome, I'm a big fan of Black Friday.
ReplyDeleteThis was such an awesome post idea! When you think of the seasons being switched on the other side of the world, it makes you realize how much you don't even think about it and just assume it's fall, etc. everywhere. It's so interesting that Halloween is slowly catching on in AUS each year, but you didn't really have it when you were growing up! I don't really care for Thanksgiving either, but that spread of food looks pretty incredible!
ReplyDeleteAutumn all the way!! Spring just means it's gonna be hot (and it is) and it means allergies everywhere (pollen hell). I think being an Oct baby makes me biased for fall!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun post, I've always dreamed of picking up and moving to another country and experiencing a different way of life. I prefer the name autumn to fall, and love all the fun autumn and spring activities in both countries. But you win all the prizes for going to the Derby every spring! <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
This was so interesting to read! for me the hardest thing would be having to get used to christmas being in the summer. especially since i'm from the midwest where christmas always means lots of snow and cold temps!
ReplyDeleteIt must be so weird to be in touch with family back home going through a completely different season than you are.
ReplyDeleteI love that racing was a thing for you back home and is now in KY too, what an awesome coincidence.
So weird that Halloween was never a thing for you as a child. We have so much pop culture based on it, as I'm sure you've picked up in the years you've been here.
Everyone thinks I'm crazy because I don't love T-giving food either. First of all, I just don't like eating until I can't breathe. Crazy. Secondly, my favorite part of the meal is mashed potatoes, and I eat them all year round.
Wise words at the end -- just eat some candy and be grateful ;)
I was confused at times reading this! Ha! I guess I never thought about the different seasons and happenings in different parts of the world! Very interesting! I can't believe you didn't have Halloween growing up! I don't care much about Thanksgiving either. But your right, the sales are pretty nice this time of year. ;)
ReplyDeleteOh what a fun post!! I have to say that I love Fall in New England, but Spring is fun too because my birthday season LOL!! I think the halloween tidbit was so fun! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
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