Luvachicken Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Last night we took our son to Heathrow to catch his plane to Singapore and then onto Cairns to arrive tomorrow. He really wanted to go to Uni out there, but they wanted us to have £75,000 in our bank before he even started . So he is having a gap year there instead. It is very quiet without him and it was sad to see his little face going into the security area all by himself, but I have a lovely photo of him just before he left. Only about 350 days until he returns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaT Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 How exciting for him! My niece (21) went out to Adelaide for 12 months at the beginning of the month after finishing her degree. She looks to be having a great time (been to Ramsey Street already ) and Facebook is great for keeping in touch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Ah I'm sure you'll miss him, but what a fantastic experience for him, he'll have a brilliant time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Oh wow. Am all grown up but very jealous. I spent 3 weeks in Oz a few years ago. I recommend the hostels as a great way to meet like minded people (and a cheap overnight stay). He must go to the rainforest from Cairns (up on the cable car and down on the old train). Also (if he can drive and is allowed to drive) 'www.standbycars.com for one way car hires. They almost pay you to take a car somewhere else. Don't miss him too much - he'll have a wonderful time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 I'm sure he'll have a great time! There's so much to see and do I do feel for you My YD went out there on her own, although she had made friends through Oz intro prior to going, she phoned when she had credit & skyped us a lot, she loved it and did the farming work so that she could get a second year visa, she went out for the second year with her boyfriend, she loved every minute, had plenty of work experience, made great friends and returned home last November having got engaged out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 That'll be hard for you knowing he's so far away - thank goodness for social networking . I bet he'll have a ball and come back a confident, mature individual (not that I'm suggesting he's not that already ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 Gosh how fabulous for him, and tough for you. I think it helps to know they are having a great time though, and hopefully he will keep you up to date (with at least some of what he is up to ) on facebook or skype.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 26, 2012 Author Share Posted September 26, 2012 Thanks everyone, I feel a bit better now. He has had a nice shower in the airport at Singapore - he got to stretch his legs for 4 hours - and apparently the plane food was nice My son only eats pasta and cheese type things. I will tell him about the hostels, he is staying in one to start with anyway, and the car hire. He gets to Brisbane at 9.40pm our time, then flies from there to Cairns and gets there at 3.10am our time. He is going to be so tired .......but it will all be worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted September 26, 2012 Share Posted September 26, 2012 You sound a bit brighter now which is good He'll have a fantastic time I'm sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Good luck with it all. You will get used to it and get used to him not being home and quicker than you think there'll be a knock on the door and he'll be standing there with a big old grin on his face. My niece did something similar recently and had an amazing time, I was surprised that she came back she had such a good time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 Sounds like an amazing opportunity Makes us mums with youngsters going off to uni feel a bit silly for being so sad that we won't see our offspring until Christmas Mine is only going about 40 miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted September 27, 2012 Share Posted September 27, 2012 My friends son went out there for a year, it really was the making of him. Hope he has a fantastic time, wont stop you missing him though xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 29, 2012 Author Share Posted September 29, 2012 Thanks everyone, he has explored quite a bit already and met some friendly locals. Mind you, the hostel he is in only has one bathroom, so if you need a wee when someone else is having a shower you have to wait. Apart from carbonara, I'm not sure what else he has eaten. He is going to the Barrier reef on Monday and then I think he is heading off to Port Douglas on Wednesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 This time will give him so many skills and friends! Like the others say look at facebook to see where he is and Skype is so good it's like having them back here. My son went off downunder for a year and came back 2 years later He had so many experiences and adventures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny59 Posted September 30, 2012 Share Posted September 30, 2012 How exciting for him, he must be having a fantastic time My 22 year old daughter is desperate to visit Australia, and I guess she will doing just that in the next year or so, but she has it in her mind that she would like to settle out there Her boyfriend isn't too sure about that, so part of me is hoping that he will entice her to come back to the UK, but another part of me is saying that I don't want him to stop her plans for the future. My 20 year old son worries me in another way, in that he never hardly leaves the house apart from when he has to go to work ... He is a Pasta Cheese boy too, and certainly loves his Carbonara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 1, 2012 Author Share Posted October 1, 2012 How exciting for him, he must be having a fantastic time My 22 year old daughter is desperate to visit Australia, and I guess she will doing just that in the next year or so, but she has it in her mind that she would like to settle out there Her boyfriend isn't too sure about that, so part of me is hoping that he will entice her to come back to the UK, but another part of me is saying that I don't want him to stop her plans for the future. My 20 year old son worries me in another way, in that he never hardly leaves the house apart from when he has to go to work ... He is a Pasta Cheese boy too, and certainly loves his Carbonara The carbonara bit is just brilliant - that's all my son has eaten in a local cafe 4 times now He wants to live out there too eventually and thought the year would give hime a good look into everything without his holiday glasses on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
