Hello Beautiful people,
I'm Jacqu. I have another name, it's not dead to me it's just the past. It feels weird when people from my past use Jacqu and people from after my awakening use Jacqu. I describe myself as Gender Fluid and Pansexual. What does that mean? Buggered if I know, I guess it just means that Sometimes I feel feminine sometimes masculine mostly somewhere in between ranging from "Prince" to "Harry Styles". Mostly it means I'm not going to be defined by my wobbly bits.
Sometimes I feel like a "Fake trans" I'm not sure if that's a concept but if it is I'd rather not know. Up until now my Journey has occurred on a site called Fetlife, a site dedicated to BDSM and other fetishes. The people there are beautiful and accepting but given the nature of the site they are, not surprisingly sex and fetish driven and there's just a tad too many genitalia flying around. So I've come here searching for the more day to day world of...gender exploration...?...I guess that's what it is.
My awakening started at the start of November 2020 and it was like a tidal wave of revelation. After about 2 weeks I came out to some old friends, then my family and some trusted and loved work colleagues. Last week I went shopping dressed in the outfit on my profile picture. Everywhere I go I have beautiful positive experiences but I'm aware that I'm being selective. I'm a teacher in a very small, very conservative town and some of the parents will require some gentle nudging. I have 6 years before my kids grow up and I can move back to Melbourne, so 6 years to transition this community. (Thanks for how ever it was in chat that framed it like that.)
Hmmm what else?
As a male I pretty much had a bar of soap, some head and shoulders shampoo and clippers from my hair. So I have so, so much to learn. In two weeks I have an appointment with a specialist trans makeup artist and boy does she have her work cut out for her. 😛 That's OK though, it's all a journey and as long as I can laugh at myself I'll be OK.
As you may have guessed I'm pretty open so if you have any questions fire away.
Love Jacqu
Glad that you found us! I think you will like it here. There are some other Australians here, but I don’t have a sense of the size of the population.
I was also on FetLife for a while, but I haven’t been there in a few years. I think part of my problem was that it was a bit confusing. When I first started dressing I went to monthly CD/Trans gatherings in a town about 90 minutes away. They announced things through FetLife, so I joined. Anyway, I guess it wasn’t my thing.
While I’m sure many will offer advice concerning fashion, makeup, etc. if asked, we don’t have a dedicated forum for that here. However, there is specific forum on CrossdresserHeaven.com
I worked in Taiwan for 6 years. For over 4 years of that time, our general contractor was Boris Lend-Lease. I got to know many Aussies and New Zealanders. I appreciated the straightforwardness and the lack of pretense. We worked hard, but we also had some great times!
I have in-laws just outside of Canberra. They immigrated 20+ years ago and are now retired. My wife and I visited them in 2007. Our last full day in-country was Australia Day in Sydney and I did the Sydney Tower SkyWalk. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip!
I appreciate your be being very complete in filling out your Profile. I often have to remind people to do that. It is a great starting point for people to get to know you and where you are in your journey. Note that for us, “journey” is important. It isn’t a sprint. It’s more like a marathon! From what you said, I think you have a good sense of that.
Anyway, it is a very welcoming community and I hope that you enjoy your time here.
Yeah Fetlife is strange. I tend to stay away from the cross dressing part of it even though that’s what awakened me. I’m not a fetish. The people are very warm, open and comfortable discussing nearly anything related to self discovery without judgment. I’m slowly finding different communities for different purposes.
I credit Covid for that a little bit. For those of us in isolated physical communities being forced online has had some positive spin offs.
By the way I love the “Thank” and “Voice” language of this forum. Words are so important and that sets a beautiful tone. Master stroke from who ever came up with that.
It is a site by and for trans people. While our experiences are all different to a degree, there are a number of common aspects. There a strong sense of Been There, Done That, Got The Panties. Due to that, I think it is easy for folks to see themselves in the challenges of new people. It serves as a reminder of where we have come from.
There is an old saying about standing on the shoulders of those who have come before. In a place and situation like this, it is so evident. That’s the support that we have and that we try to remember going forward.
I have a pet peeve about people leaving the community after they transition. It is the same situation when a long time, very experienced employee goes out the door due to retirement or taking another job. All that they have gained in their tenure goes out the door with them if there hasn’t been some sort of attempt to capture it. To me it is a very self-serving attitude that says “I got mine, I don’t care whether you get your or not.”. Anyway, shit happens...