Discovery "Down Under"
 Melissa Stanz

Linda Brandt, a native New Yorker, has lived in Asheville for 18 years. As a successful marketing consultant and a mom, travel comes infrequently in her very busy life. But when her 20-year old son Alex decided to spend a semester studying abroad in Australia, she jumped at the chance to visit him.

The experience in April was a total immersion in discovery, beginning with a 30-hour trip and landing in a foreign country all alone. “I was exhausted, but excited. Thankfully there were no language barriers to overcome,” she said.

After three days on her own in Melbourne (pronounced Melbin by the natives), she met her son for 10 days of adventure including trips to beaches, cities, zoos, and museums. They also took long drives along the coastline — driving on the left hand side of the road which was quite an experience.

Linda’s unexpected discovery was a wonderful gift. “After being a parent for so many years, I love the special mother-son connection. But what’s even more special is when that relationship shifts from mother-son to adult-adult. I am forever grateful,” she muses.

Linda’s not sure what helped shift the relationship. Perhaps it was that they were both in a foreign country and away from the familiar home environment. Whatever the reason, she found herself talking to her son on a deeper level, both of them listening to each other, sharing fears and ambitions. She paused from doing parental lecturing, instead turning to brainstorming to solve issues. And she felt honored that her son, perhaps for the first time, “got it” that she spoke from years of experience and wisdom.

Her trip was a cultural discovery as well, from meeting people who had moved to Australia from all over the world to learning about the architecture, arts, and entertainment. “Melbourne had an energy that made me feel right at home,” she explains. The people there are ‘in love’ with their city and it shows. It’s very clean, green, and beautiful. People radiated a certain happiness of just being able to live there.” It reminded her of Asheville so much and made her feel lucky to live in a place that has the same type of energy she loves.

“Sydney was just as exciting to explore — with the famous Sydney Opera House, the Harbor Bridge, the beautiful city gardens, and the popular Bondi Beach. The Sydney Opera House is truly an architectural wonder of the world. I originally thought the roof of the Opera House was some type of fabric, but discovered it was actually different colored beige ceramic tiles attached to concrete sections that are formed into arches. It was truly a sight to behold in person.”

These “down under” discoveries left Linda eager for more new adventures. “I gained a lot of self confidence on this trip and feel like I can travel anywhere now,” Linda says. What’s next on her itinerary? “It’s off to Italy and Greece next!”

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