Written by Christi Sparrow
Dear Western Australia,
As an American about to return home, my heart overflows with gratitude for the incredible experiences, health, and safety our family has been privileged to enjoy in Western Australia during this chaotic time in history. As we pack our bags to board our flight tomorrow, I find myself particularly reflective, and I can’t leave Australia without sincerely thanking you and your people.
We are a family of four who had the fantastic good fortune of landing in Western Australia in late January this year. We left our home in San Antonio, Texas in the United States last September with plans to travel the world for a year. After spending time in Europe and Thailand, we arrived in WA with intentions to stay for about six weeks and then move on.
When COVID-19 tightened its grip on the world, we were staying at a peaceful eco-village in Denmark. After much frantic deliberation, we decided to remain in Australia. During the height of COVID-19 in WA, we lived in a rental home in Burswood in Perth, obtained visitor visas, and hunkered down with the rest of the state, complying with all health and safety rules and advisories. Remaining in WA was absolutely the best decision we have made on our travels.
Now we are faced with needing to return to the United States ahead of our one-year mark of traveling abroad to comply with restrictions on my British husband’s U.S. permanent residency status, (green card). We did not plan to be abroad continuously for so long, but the pandemic derailed everyone’s life plans. So we booked flights to return to the U.S. on September 8th.
Watching the global pandemic escalate and ravage many parts of the world, including my home country, I have been immeasurably humbled, thankful, and impressed with the resolve, determination, and teamwork exhibited by the people of Western Australia. From what I observed, Western Australians collectively modeled incredible resilience and a sense of civic duty that I have admired and internalized and that I will strive to reflect as my family faces our next chapter. And thousands of miles from our extended families in the U.S. and the UK, we found support and friendship from the welcoming and helpful people of WA.
Our family embarked on an ambitious around-the-world travel adventure a year ago with three primary goals: 1. Discover new places and meet new people. 2. Build resilience, confidence, and optimism. 3. Grow together as a family and make incredible memories. From Denmark to Exmouth and dozens of places in between, Western Australia has certainly given us countless opportunities to learn, grow, explore, enjoy, and enrich our lives. But most profoundly, we’ve made lasting friendships with Western Australians who opened their hearts and homes to us, and we’ve honed how we want to live our lives. And for that, WA will always have a piece of our hearts.
Our children have memorized the chorus to “I Am Australian” after hearing it on ABC Kids. The seven months we spent in Western Australia represent a significant percentage of our kids’ lives: over 10% of Chloe’s life and nearly one third of Camden’s life. When I hear them sing that song, I am comforted thinking about our family at peace and settled in WA, spending time at some of our favorite Perth spots like playgrounds along the Swan River, the cafes on Albany Highway near our home in Burswood, and Cottesloe Beach.
We cannot wait to return one day. Perhaps we will be back for the Women’s World Cup in 2023! Until we meet again, we wish the people of WA all the best.
Sincerely,
Christi Sparrow
Update: We submitted a version of this letter of gratitude to the Western Australia Premier, Hon. Mark McGowan, and less than two weeks later, he replied personally! This is yet another small way in which we feel connected, supported, and at home in Western Australia.
More from our Western Australia adventures:
– Lancelin and Jurien Bay
– Kalbarri
– Outback Stations
– Carnarvon
– Bullara Station and Ningaloo Reef
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