I am Dual-Citizen

When I was younger, living in San Diego, California, I was totally obsessed with the beach and surf scene. For years, I was a ‘hodad’, pretending to be a talented surfer but pearling most of the time. Then, around 16, when I could drive myself to Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Del Mar, or even Mexico, I took surfing more seriously and upped my game until, by my early 20’s, I wasn’t faking it anymore. However, the reason I tell that story is because I idolized Australia the whole time! As a teen, I ripped out magazine pages and pinned or taped them to my wall. Pictures from Surfer Magazine of Aussie surfers and shielas with golden tans and hot bods, wishing to myself, ‘Oh, if only someday I could a) live in Australia, b) date an Aussie, and c) look like an Aussie sun-drenched goddess with a rockin’ body.

Fast-forward twenty years, and OMG, my dreams have come true. I a) moved to Australia (tick!), b) dated and married the love of my life - a hot, Aussie bloke (tick!). But, on c) fell short of being a sun-drenched goddess with a fantastic body (which was never possible, to be honest - for one thing, my skin turns red in the sun!) The other night, on June 16, 2025, I officially became an Australian citizen after living in and loving the country for six years, and now hold dual citizenship for both Australia and the United States. I couldn’t be prouder.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy, Oy, Oy!