Some food for thought

Why Australia? Why not Australia, I think I speak for heaps amount of people when I say Australia is on their bucket list. It's one of those places that people dream of either visiting or living. As for myself, I moved to Australia in the summer of 2014 (or winter of 2014 depending on which side of the world you're on). The reason for me moving here was actually a great unexpected surprise. A few months back I was living in Athens, Ohio, I dropped out of school and was working part time at a bar n grille joint on court street. Night after night, drinking my life away, I was stuck between a rock and a hard ( 148 hour style) and I seemed to be literary doing nothing with my life. With summer approaching fast I was moving back to Cleveland to live with my folks and had no clue what my future held for me. Upon waking up one morning, still drunk from the night before, I did what any person 12-40 years of age does first thing in the morning; checked every social media account I owned before stumbling out of bed. Opening up Facebook I saw I had a message from my mom, I opened it and what I found is what changed my life for the better. It was an ad for a cooking contest that was sponsored by AAG and if you won, you received an all expenses paid trip to Australia to work under a working holiday visa for a year. A working holiday visa is basically how it sounds you apply for a visa through the Australia government and after answering a couple questions, making sure you're not a criminal and 400 bucks later you are granted a working holiday visa. The contest rules were simple, cook a dish that represents Australia to you. See here's the thing, I've been working in kitchens for half my life so I can cook some fierce food that would make any mouth water. Therefore, after reading the rules and regulations I called up my good friend Tommy who owns a videography/photography company called GeniusFilms located in Cleveland, Ohio ( see what I did there, you're welcome Tom). I explained to him the whole situation and asked him if he could film me cooking a dish and he quickly agreed with a "hell yeah". Fast forward a few weeks later. Tommy and Greg (co-owner of the company) started to set up cameras and bright lights in his kitchen and man let me tell you I felt like I was on an episode of chopped, it felt pretty fricken incredible. At that point, my nerves started to set in and what's the best way to calm the nerves, that's right you guessed it, I shot gunned a couple beers . The meal I prepared was grilled Lamb chops over an Asian Coleslaw, you can check out my YouTube video if you'd like, just type in Lance Zacher and you'll see me wielding my main hand chopping weapon of cutlery. After filming the video I was on the road again on a 3 hour journey back to Athens. A few weeks later after Tom and Greg were done editing the video they sent it to me via email. I kid you not, the dead line for the video was April 30th at midnight, I uploaded and sent it in at 11:58pm, talk about to close for comfort. Fast forward 2 months. Thinking I lost the contest because I never received a phone call nor email I was back to not knowing what the hell I was going to do. One afternoon I receive a phone call from Austin, Texas, not knowing who it was I did what any good lass or chap does from the information generation, let that shit go to voice mail; before returning the call. Beep beep, beep beep, I look down and saw I had a new voice mail. Texas? I know absolutely no one from Texas I said to myself. I listen to my voicemail and the first words I hear were "Congratulations! Lance, you won the contest". YESSS!! I scream at the top of my lungs, my mom came barreling in the kitchen like a crazed wildebeest running from a lioness. I won the contest Ma, I'm moving to the land down under. Instantly I start playing Men At Work, who wouldn't.

In addition, AAG ultimately changed my life for the better. They are professional, very knowledgeable on the process of bringing you to Australia and they help you with each step along the way. Would I recommend AAG to others. You bet!

Thank you again AAG, without you guys none of this would have been possible.

I hope that this story inspires anyone who reads this. Life can be ruff sometimes and when you're at a low point you never think it'll get better. Well, I'm here to tell you that it does. Never give up and keep chugging (like "Thomas the train"...or beer which ever you prefer)

Cheers,
Lance