The Announcement

This was the email that my DH sent off this morning. This has not been an easy decision, nor was it an easy decision to move here in the first place. I do hope that people understand a little about the situation we are faced with. The main reason we came to Australia was for John's Schooling and everything has changed. I hope that people can see that we have truly opened our hearts and poured everything out through this email (especially my DH who was so excited to come here and has been so dissappointed that nothing has worked out). We are being open and honest.

We did receive a very harsh response to this email that completely and utterly attacked us and the decisions we made. That is why I am writing this. We are not whining about Australia, we think it is a very beautiful country and would love to come back again for a visit someday, but to live here, it is simply not possible right now,(We have been through a lot of struggles and after having lived in 5 different countries now, I do have an idea as to what to expect, how to prepare, etc., but this completely blindsighted us). I have been in tears most of the morning because of this attack. These people, who we thought were our friends, were ruthless and down right insulting and said a lot of hurtful things. They clearly do not know us that well and nor do they want to. So please read our announcement below with the understanding that we are simply trying to figure out God's will and follow God's plan for our lives. We still maintain that God brought us here for a reason and as John says we have learned some valuable, valuable lessons! We have had to swallow a lot of pride, admit we were wrong in some areas, and put our tail between our legs and head down and come back to Canada.

The email:

From the very first moment we arrived in Australia (whether it was the first arrival into Sydney, or the dark decent into Brisbane later that evening) it's beauty has been tarnished because of the enormous difficulty we have gone through.

When studying about Australia, before we made our move, we along with others agreed that Oz would be the smart move for our young family. The land was cheap, the beaches golden, the outdoor lifestyle to be totally envied and the benefits to the new Australian: manifold. So, with much prayer and consideration, downsizing, selling etc etc etc....we began our preparation for the exodus (not that I am comparing Canada to Egypt).

What I didn't take into consideration is Australia's 'camelion' nature. Years ago I tried to become part of the lucrative business world of exporting American trucks to Australia. Along with another Australian (who eventually doublecrossed me and tried to run with the business by himself after we had fueled each other with info we had collected) we began, well, I began phoning customs Australia, insurrance companies, mechanics, importers....the list goes on. I eventually got to the point where I was ready to start shipping. Within the three months I was getting things together, Australia implemented a number of new regulations that would now prohibit me from supplying the Australian public with the "red-neck-Porches" that were selling for inbetween 80-110 G's. "FLUSH!!!!"

Since then, regulations have changed a number of times...AGAIN. This is our story today. Australia originally supplied it's citizens with free post secondary education (so long as your marks were decent enough to prove you were willing to continue good study habits). This eventually dicipated to a thing called Oz-study (the government would basically pay you some money to take care of bills as long as you were in full time studies). Myself (John) being a duel citizen (Australian/Canadian), was totally qualified to receive Oz Study. Well, once again Australia changed policy and legislated the "residency" clause. To receive any Australian benefits, you must have been in the country for a minimum of 104 weeks, even...if .....you....are..a.....citizen! This new policy has pretty well squashed any hopes of staying in Australia for this sect of Gooches.

Service and the Economy

The economy, in Australia is booming, but there is a total lack of infrastructure. People are generally very friendly, but that's it. To get anything done, or to receive any correct sum of information it takes no less than six sessions with six different people (government institutions are oblivious to their need to know what the "blankety blank" their policies are, and to be able to relay that information to those in need.....it's mind boggling!). Private businesses or institutions just don't care......if you don't buy, someone else will....so buggar off Yank! Which brings me to another problem, our accent. Constantly mistaken for Americans, we have suffered scorn and predjudice. Recently at a store, a young girl asked Vanessa where she was from, V said Canada, and the girl said, good, if you were an American the price would have gone up. This is just one example. This has also made it hard for me to get work. I have applied for numerous jobs in retail and been turned down for the stupidest reasons. On my resume are three examples of Managerial positions I've had, and yet my responses have been (in writing) that I'm over qualified?!

The housing market is ridiculous. Australia was voted (National Australian Newspaper and by the Department of Ausralian Immigration) the most expensive place to live in the world. For us to buy a small house in a decent area means a $3000 mortgage payment per month. For us this would mean , myself working full time and going to school, Vanessa working (once the bungle of her residency paperwork is worked out....who knows when and how!) full time and dropping Zech into a super pricey daycare four to five days a week. Really, it seems our quality of life would completely take a drop if we were to stay here. Family would come last and for the next five to six years we would only pass each other like ships in the night. The list of problems we have faced have been daily.....yes I said daily! We live on the Gold Coast of Australia and yet 'for the life of me' I'm having a hard time enjoying it. Now monsoon season has arrived and we are stuck inside packing. Yes, packing....we are coming back to Canada.

Now "ye of little faith" may say, I thought you said God was leading you there. And I would reply "COME OUT SATAN!" Haha, no I'm just kidding (well maybe some of you). We, to this moment, even after the wasted moving money, the piles of paperwork and the numerous frustrating circumstances......look at this as a blessing. Yes that means we still believe God meant us to come here. I have had this problem, ever since conception, of wanting to be somewhere else. Where I've been, has never been as good as where I could be. If we would not have moved to Australia, I guarantee you that I would be moaning about how much better life in Australia is and we should have moved there and and and.... I think I am finally ready to settle the family down in one spot, cut my lawn, beat my dog and pee in the bushes I planted five years ago (after moving back from Australia) in...my...yard. One of the other reasons we do believe this move was God's will, was numerous untold circumstances in which God completely came through in miraculous ways that in no way could be chalked up as coincidence. You'll hear more about this face to face when we see you next.

Now, when we left, I had written Canada off. I still believe Canada has huuuuuuuge problems, and if it doesn't decide on a national identity (not a barf stew of cultures) for those who claim 'Canadianship'.....then we might as well fly the American flag at our city halls.....'nough said!!!! So hello once again Canada. UBC Okanogan is now my choice of academic institutions as they have agreed to accept 18 courses I had considered wasted from 11 years ago that no other institution in Australia would credit me. Well I could go on about bad and good things, but I guess you can see a bit more into our situation. This move will be the way we will continue to put family first as concerning quality of life for the Gooches.

We will be back this year....could be sooner.....could be later........

Love The Gooches in Australia.