Some dreams take a while to come true—this one took more than 30 years.

Way back in 5th grade  I fell in love with Koala Bears (now I know—not bears, just Koalas) and from that moment, I’ve wanted to go to Australia. A few years later, Crocodile Dundee hit the theaters and sealed the deal. Who didn’t want to go to Australia after that? 

In 2014, we finally made it happen. Even better? Over the years, we’d become close friends with some really cool peeps from Australia, and this trip meant we’d get to visit them for once – they’d visited us several times in Seattle.

March 14, 2014 – Hello, Lawrence Family!

After a realllllly long journey—Seattle to LA, a chaotic layover, and a 16-hour nonstop flight to Melbourne—we were greeted at the airport by Jim and Trent Lawrence, decked out head-to-toe in Seahawks gear. What a welcome!

I first met the Lawrence family when I was in college, and after years of their visits to us, we were thrilled to finally be visiting them. We were so happy to be staying with Jim, Jan, and Trent at their home in Eltham North, a leafy suburb of Melbourne full of trees, birdsong, and that unmistakable laid-back Aussie vibe. Highlights of their place? The peaceful back patio and their two sweet pups, Buffy and Henry.

Our first day was the perfect mix of relaxation and exploration. We spent the morning catching up on the patio, soaking in the sunshine and good company. Trent’s sister Brittany, joined us for lunch, and then Trent, Dave, and I headed to the local cricket club to meet up with friends—including our buddy Marcus Burgoyne—and catch our first live cricket match. Thanks to our friend Bose back home, we’d been well-prepped on the rules and actually had a clue about what was going on!

That evening, the whole crew headed downtown for dinner and to catch an Aussie Rules Football match on the telly at a buzzing sports pub inside Crown Melbourne, the city’s premier entertainment complex. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this place had full-on Vegas vibes and was packed with people—especially with the Grand Prix in town. Aussie Football is fast-paced, fun, and totally addictive. I’m already a fan, even though “our team,” the Richmond Tigers, took a beating from the Suncoast Lions. Not bad for our first day on Aussie soil, eh? Between mates, footy, a bit of local chit-chat, and even a cricket match, we were already feeling right at home. Can’t wait to see what else this trip has in store. Stay tuned—there’s more to come, and it’s going to be heaps of fun.