Australia Archives - The Swirl World

Loving Black Women Is Not A Fetish – It’s A Preference!

March 16, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 1 Comment

A bit of time has passed since we presented an edition of Mondays With Mike, featuring our good friend and Team Member, Australian Michael Miocevich.

When we began corresponding with him on The Swirl World Facebook page, he told us,

“I am a white guy from Western Australia, and I have always been attracted to black girls/women. At my first school social I danced with a girl from South Africa, and I never forgot it, or her. I have met and dated a lot of girls, but I never fall as hard as I do for Black women.”

Mike started writing a column for us and became a member of our Team.Since then, he’s been busy – working and doing things like being on national Australian television to discuss interracial dating.

You go, Boi!

Mike slowed down enough to chat with our Men’s Editor Mark Custard for a special segment of The Swirl World Podcast – The Men’s Edition.

Mike doesn’t hold anything back as he talks about his love for and appreciation of Black women.

He says unabashedly that his love for Black women is not a fetish – it’s a PREFERENCE!

What Black woman doesn’t appreciate knowing that?

If you don’t see the podcast player, click here to obtain a direct download of this episode. To listen on the podcast website, click here.

To listen on Sound Cloud, click here.

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50, read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Got questions for Mike? Send them to us via inbox on Facebook or email them to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

This week’s “Shout Out!” goes to fellow podcaster Joel Louis of The Start Up Dad HQ Podcast, available on iTunes and Android platforms.

Joel is on a mission to help extraordinary Fathers of today who are/want to be fully engaged in every aspect of their children lives and who are also trying to figure out how to purse their dreams of entrepreneurship. To visit his website, click here.

Want to be a guest on The Swirl World podcast, or know someone who should? Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

#22 | Let’s Have Lunch . . . .

January 22, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

. . . in Rome, Italy!

Or Paris, France . . . Stockholm, Sweden . . . London, England . . . . Sydney, Australia . . . .

Have you started on the Travel Vision Board we talked about in last week’s Travel Thursday post (#15)?

If not, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!

—

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

If you’d like to share your photos, please send them to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com. We’d love to feature YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts!

How To Change Your Life – Part 2

June 5, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Stagnant? Afraid? In a rut?

In this week’s post, Mike shares the “How To” steps he used and is using to change his life.

Mike says:

Step One

First, ask for help if you need it. Here at the Swirl World we are more than happy to help you out. Michelle and Adrienne have done as much for me, and I will try my best to help anyone who asks for it.

It’s easier for a person standing on solid ground to help someone out of a swamp than you pulling yourself up by your will alone. Often the people helping you up are people just like you – they know what being trapped feels like. They know the way to get out, and accepting their help is no weakness.

Step Two

Secondly, we’ve got to be open to forgiveness. Forgiveness, not only just for those who have hurt us in the past or who may even be hurting us in the present, but also forgiveness for ourselves.

You are a human being, so you’ve made mistakes. We all do. But let’s not let the mistakes of our past crush our futures. If you keep carrying that burden, when you hit hard trials the burden is likely to pull you down further than if you had left it behind.

Focusing constantly on what you think you have done wrong and how it has brought you to your present state isn’t going to do anything to help you do things right in the future. Instead, you’ll remain stuck in the swamp.

Step Three

Make a conscious decision to move past any shame. The shame we feel because of our previous choices can even make us believe that we deserve to be stuck where we are.

It’s a vicious cycle: Shame makes you feel you deserve to be where you are, this crippling belief renders you unlikely to call out for help, and you wind up staying where you are, even when help is available – the help that will be freely given and enable you to get back on solid ground.

Do This For Me

I’d like to get you to do something real quick. Imagine all your troubles as being that same burden. All those life decisions you made, missed opportunities, fear that you’ve missed your chance, or that you’ll never be able to get where you want to be in life.

Put them all in a big, heavy pack in your mind and feel its weight on your shoulders. Pretty heavy, huh? Makes it kind of hard to move and change your direction doesn’t it?

Now imagine a hole opening up behind you, and the pack suddenly falling from your back and being swallowed up and sealed, never to hold you down again.

All your worries, troubles and misapprehension for the future has now been taken off you. That’s forgiveness.

It means we get to begin again, at any stage, and take the opportunities given to us.

Choose To Move Forward

Swirling is going to be daunting to a lot of people, and lots will feel weighed down by the things that have happened previously. Don’t let it. Take this moment to stop, consider where you are, and drop all the negativity that impedes you.

It is never too late to make a change, and you are always better off leaving it behind and choosing a better path in life. I know I have, and I invite you to join me.

Cheers,

Mike

—————————-

In Case You Missed It

Click here to view Mike’s recent appearance on an Australian national television show.

Click here to read Part One.

Got a question for Mike? Send it to us via inbox on The Swirl World’s Facebook page or by email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 and read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

How To Change Your Life – And End Up On a National Television Show!

May 20, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

Good grief! We’ve been on pins and needles – sitting on this news for about a month now and biting our nails in anticipation of sharing it:

Guess what???

Our man Mike In Australia (Michael Miocevich) was on a national television show – talking about SWIRLING!!!

*Jumping up and down*

We were certainly excited that Mike – OUR Mike – received this national coverage and attention.

Seems the producer planned to do a show on Swirling In Australia (later entitled “Dating Race”). She conducted some online searches to find men in Australia who preferred Black women.

Well, we’ve been doing “Monday’s With Mike” for some months now, so guess who she found???

Yeppers!

Out of ALL the men in Australia, she found OUR Mike.

OUR. Mike!

Woot Woot!

One of the things we strive to do in The Swirl World is build relationships. We practice good blogging netiquette and we believe in crediting our sources, both here and on our Facebook page.

We don’t bash –preferring instead to uplift and support.

Particularly special to us is the fact that in some small way, we are making a difference and changing lives – one person at a time.

But enough of the self-congratulations. We’ll let Mike tell you about his experience.

This excerpt is Part 1 – we have more to come!

Mike says:

“So, about a month ago I get a message from Elise Potaka, producer for SBS TV Australia (one of two public national broadcasters, which is bigger than you might think here in Oz), to talk to her about interracial dating, my history of it, ideas and opinions, etc.

Not a problem, I thought; I am more than happy to help anyone who is interested.

Turns out they were looking to do a TV show about it, and got all kinds of information from me about the Swirling community and my life as a Swirler.

Then came the hard question: They wanted to fly me out to the show to be in the audience!

Now this is the part that shocked me. I’ve never been given any kind of opportunity like this before.

To be flown across the country and put up at a hotel and then be on a national TV show?

Unimaginable. So I was nervous. And very hesitant.

You see, for a lot of my life I’ve felt like an outsider – to friends, family, people I meet.

I often don’t feel comfortable around them. I was very much worried about how I might come across for the show.

But then I had to follow the logic of the situation.

I had been invited on because I have been making steps towards a better life. I had taken the chance when I first contacted The Swirl World via Facebook.

I’d done so again when they got me to do a bit of a write-up about myself. Then again when they had me do “Monday’s with Mike,” and again when encouraging me to start my own writing blog.

After that much love and encouragement, I couldn’t let them down.

I couldn’t let myself down.

So I took the chance. And I am so thankful I did! I now feel more comfortable about who I am in my life than I ever have. I stood up for who I am and what I believe – and I felt stronger for it.

I have a lot of big plans I want to make happen, and a lot of changes I want to make in my life before I get to where I want to be, Taking this step has brought a lot of that closer.

So if I have one piece of advice to offer it’s this – If you see an opportunity and you’re hesitant because you worry what others might think or say, don’t be.

Take the leap of faith and go for it, because the rewards in confidence and self-esteem will likely outweigh any physical things you get from it.

Each step you take in the right direction will open new doors and new opportunities. Trust in yourself and step through them. When you look back, you’ll be amazed at the difference it has made!

Cheers,

Mike

To watch the show (and gain an interesting perspective on interracial dating in Australia – plus some delicious accents) – click here.

Mike networked with some of the people on the show and we hope to have some future posts featuring the other guests.

Whew! We can’t wait to see what happens with Mike’s continuing metamorphosis.

Stay tuned for more!

Got a question for Michael Miocevich? Send it to us via inbox on The Swirl World’s Facebook page or by email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 and read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Mondays With Mike: The Providence Of Love

March 31, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Though we are not a dating site by any means, here at The Swirl World we pride ourselves on the quality of connections we make.

Our man Mike in Australia is no exception. We love him to pieces, Adrienne and I, and he feels the same way about us.

We met providentially – and then lo and behold, Cupid got in the mix!

Remember the movie Eat, Pray, Love starring Julia Roberts?

For many of us, love is a process. Sometimes Love finds us – or better yet, we find it – in the strangest of ways.

Cue the roses, wine and violins, because this one is a doozy! We’ll let Mike tell you:

The Fear Factor
We’re often convinced that things are either going to plan, coasting in neutral, or falling apart completely.

While we do have a great deal of control over our lives, sometimes we can be too afraid of what we think is a loss of control, and embrace the certainty that comes with fear of the unknown, and stick to what we know.

This isn’t something unnatural, as everyone needs to have a strong foundation from which they can start from, and rely upon to be unchanging in their lives. But that’s what it just is – a foundation.

You need to be able to build up and branch out from those places, and not just rely on the solitary comforts they provide. Otherwise you wake up one day thinking to yourself that your time has passed you by, and you had a chance before but now it’s gone and there is no bringing it back.

You could use that as a justification to sticking with what you know, resigning yourself to the fact that this is as good as it gets, and that’s that.

Fate Versus Destiny – The Power Of A Moment
Or, you could do something else. I believe a moment acted upon is a moment that is never lost, and can often bring great rewards and opportunities.

It’s the question of fate versus destiny. You could say they mean essentially the same thing, but that’s never rung true for me. It seems that fate is something which happens if you believe that things can’t ever change, that the time you had to be adventurous and excited has gone, and you’re stuck where you are.

Destiny, I believe, is what happens when you take action, no matter what it is, and strike out into the unknown. You never know where it’s going to take you. It looks dangerous, you might get hurt, and you’ll definitely have your setbacks.

But it’s also thrilling. And it’s also life affirming. It makes you feel something strong to the core of your marrow, and often rewards you well for taking the first step.

What Happened When I Stopped Falling For The Okey-Doke

So, what does this have to do with Swirling? Well I’ll tell you. For a long while I thought that black women weren’t interested in white men. I was caught by that lie hook, line and sinker. Then I randomly searched on YouTube one day and found I was completely mistaken. One video led to the next and then to the next, which led me to a YouTube channel. I thought I would send a message to via their Facebook page, saying how much I loved what they did and thanked them for encouraging swirling.

Providence

Turns out I sent the message to the wrong page, but struck up a great conversation with Michelle and Adrienne, Admins of The Swirl World. They were fantastically warm and inviting, great with a conversation (which we’ve held for a long time now), and really encouraging.

Serendipity

It’s from there I told them about my writing, which they encouraged again, to poetry, to saying I should post poetry for women on #blackgirlsunday on twitter, to me doing so and having a great reception and lots of fun, to finding a girl on there who was really great to talk to, and ending up finding her as my muse for a lot of my creativity, and developing an ongoing relationship with her!

The Power Of One Small Step

If I had not made that first small step, which led me to message the wrong page (which in the end turned out to be the right one!), I’d still be back where I was 6 months ago.

I can tell you that in the last 6 months I have fallen in love with my life once again. I live for feeling my heart flutter, the closeness, the love, the passion and inspiration. And even if this were to end in heartbreak (which I am quite intent on making sure does not happen), I would have to be glad and thankful for this opportunity to show love and have this happiness.

So my main thought today is this – Put yourself out there. Take the chance; you never know where you’ll be taken by the simplest of actions!

You’ll grow stronger than you had ever thought and be richer for it, guaranteed. That’s why I am so glad to see the Swirl World getting people to open up, put themselves out there, and find what they want in life.

Go for it people, you have nothing to lose.

Cheers!

Mike

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for updates in this unfolding love story!
___________

Join in the Fray: What small step do YOU need to make?

Got a question for Mike? Send it to us via inbox on The Swirl World’s Facebook page or by email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Want to be profiled here on the blog and on our Facebook page? Contact us via inbox on Facebook or send an email to Profiles@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Mondays With Mike: “Why I Celebrate Black Women In Poetry “

March 10, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Mondays With Mike is BACK!

Our guy Mike in Australia has been on a bit of a hiatus since he took a new job. He’s a sensitive soul, Mike is, and he’s a poet.

His muse is a beautiful Black Woman whose Twitter handle is @MissLJay20.

Mike wrote a poem for her and shared it with us:

Just one word and I’m over the edge,
Falling from the walls of isolation,
Into the abyss so open and inviting,
Calling your name on the spiral down.

I once held on for dear life to it,
Clutching my fears with bloodied fingers,
Bruised and scraped my way to a higher loft,
And saw to lock myself away in a gilded cage.

But the merest whispers of your words sang,
And the locks and chains broke away,
So easily the walls did fall,
Did they even exist?

So now I descend freely into the space,
And a song of a thousand voices bear me aloft,
To fall with the weight of a feather,
Burning heart into the arms of an Angel.

We love it!

Stay tuned; next week in Part 2, Mike goes into detail about why he celebrates Black Women in his poetry.

Got a question for Mike? Send it to us via inbox on The Swirl World’s Facebook page or by email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Want to be profiled here on the blog and on our Facebook page? Contact us via inbox on Facebook or send an email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

What Do Australian Men Think Of Black Women And Beauty?

February 10, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

This week’s question on Monday’s With Mike addresses the opinion of Australian men concerning the beauty of Black Women.

“Black Women are constantly bombarded with preset definitions of “beauty” and in many cases criticized for their looks by men of the same ethnicity. What makes a Black Woman attractive/appealing to you in particular, and to Australian men in general?”

Mike’s response:

It’s kind of hard to describe why you feel the attraction to a particular person or people, or describe why you have a type you prefer.

I guess for me it’s something I feel in the marrow of my bones, just an attraction I have always had. If you wanted to go into specifics I think it is likely to do with how whenever I see Black Women, it seems like there is an inner light radiating out of them. I see it come through their eyes and skin, and it’s just beautiful.

It’s also the way they hold themselves; their style and grace. Also, they know how to hold a great conversation I’ve found, and have some excellent perspectives on life different to my own – which is great as it helps me see things in a different light.

For Australian men I think those who want to date BW usually would feel similar; love a BW’s special style of beauty and grace, as well as the fact that you’re different, stand out, and are exotic and mysterious. Men love that, they love to follow and find out things about people from different places, especially Australians as we’re all stuck down here on this massive island with no way to get out except via boat or plane! If you come to us, we’re just that much happier!

Cheers!

Got a question for Mike? Send it to us via inbox on The Swirl World’s Facebook page or by email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 and read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Can A Black Woman Find A HUSBAND In Australia?

February 3, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

Mondays With Mike has been on a brief hiatus while our long-haired Aussie battled a combination of sinus, allergies and the blazing Australian heat.

(Yes, with the U.S. grappling with a Polar Vortex, Mike and other Australians have been baking in a heat wave. Go figure!)

We received this question in our inbox and forwarded it to Mike:

What would be your opinion on how an American Black Woman would fare in your country? Our ladies want to get married, they do not want just a boyfriend, they want a husband. They want children with the father’s last name and a man who wants to love and protect them. They want the traditional provider, with the caveat that she will move heaven and earth to assist and love the man she is with.

Mike’s response:

How would an American Black Woman fare in Australia?

This is a difficult one to answer. It comes down to a variety of reasons. First of all it’s not a cheap place to visit, especially at the moment. That can hamper things quite a bit, as a lot of guys really do want to meet people before they commit to someone.

On the other hand, that shouldn’t stop people. Meeting and chatting via the internet can be a good meeting method, and lead to people traveling to meet in other countries.

Coming over here not having made contact with any Australians beforehand and looking for love is a much riskier prospect, as it would be both expensive, and not always guaranteed to end up in a relationship that leads to marriage.

I’d recommend the former – to make contact via website and go from there. Skype is free, email is cheap, so it’s not hard to go from there.

A Husband – Not Just A Boyfriend

As for wanting husbands instead of just boyfriends, that can be a whole different kettle of fish.

I think it’s likely to be the same everywhere. Some people just want a relationship; others are ready, right now, to commit. I would like to think that Aussie men will do people right, and be forthright with their intentions, but this is not always the case.

I’d say if you do the groundwork and find someone you can connect with, and feelings develop, take the leap. If you’re genuine and want someone to spend your life with, and think you have found that, it’s very reassuring for men.

I think Australian men like women from the U.S. a lot as they’re less ‘flakey’ than Aussie girls can be sometimes. And from what I have heard is that Black Women are very loyal to their men, and that is always something which is good to know as well, as a lot of guys over here worry about how long a term their marriage will be.

Men In Australia

There are a lot of guys who see themselves as the provider type, but as the economies change, it’s often that both partners in the relationship will work.

Urban professionals would likely be the more likely target, as they are more likely to have a well-paying job, regular working hours, and be home most nights of the week and weekends.

This means most major cities, with more of focus on eastern coast cities of Melbourne and Sydney, or if he works for the government, Canberra.

In Perth most of the work focus is towards the mining and gas industry which is located in the state.

Of course every man is different, and there is a host of different jobs that need to be done, so I can’t exactly predict who the best person to go for is.

There are plenty of blokes who love sports, love going out to pubs and clubs to hang out and talk with friends (taking their wives and girlfriends with them), and enjoy a lot of outdoor activities.

We’re all different, so I can’t really pin point a guy down. It’s usually pretty easy to determine who is insincere and who isn’t. Talk about marriage and you find out pretty quickly I find!

Cheers!

Join in the Fray: How far are you willing to travel for love?

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 and read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Got a question for Mike? Send it to us via inbox on The Swirl World’s Facebook page or by email to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Opportunities For Interracial Dating In Australia!

January 6, 2014 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

It’s 2014, and we’re back with more Mondays With Mike!

We’ve had some questions for Mike come in over the holiday. He’s back, refreshed and ready to tackle the mailbag.

Some ladies are willing to step out of their comfort zone and they’re not opposed to dating internationally.

A reader asks:

What’s the atmosphere like for interracial dating in your city?

Mike’s reply:

We’re very casual about relationships over here. We have a history of immigration from all over the world (my Father’s side is Croatian, and my Mother’s is Scots/Irish), so diversity is a given in all of our cities.

I actually think for all the bluster of the racist elements that seem to get a lot more airtime than they should, a lot of white men like to date women of different ethnicities. We’re all trapped down here on the world’s largest island, no matter where you drive you’re always going to be in Australia, so we love to travel and have new experiences. Lots of white guys I know date Asian women (which is no new thing), but it’s not Asian women exclusively. We love differences and are mostly open-minded.

To be honest I think most of the time you’re free to date who you like. If someone doesn’t like it, that’s their problem, and I am happy to go and tell those people to ‘get stuffed’ and go on my way.

If there was a divide I would have to say it’s likely between the native aboriginal people and white people. That’s more of a divide than dating someone who has emigrated here, due to our history of white settlement of Australia and the shameful way aboriginals have been treated, and continue to do so. It was more confrontational for people to find out I was dating a mixed ethnicity aboriginal girl from Perth than it was when I went out with a girl from Nigeria.

This is how I have known things here in Perth.

Cheers!

Mike

Next week: Mike shares his poetry. Learn how you can get him to write a poem just for you!

Join in the Fray: Are you willing to travel for love? Why or why not?

Follow Mike on Twitter @500and50 and read his blog at 500and50.com, or message him on his 500and50 Facebook page.

Got questions for Mike? Send them to us via inbox on Facebook or email them to ASwirlGirl@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 25, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Adrienne and I are on hiatus from the blog and The Swirl World on Facebook until January 6, 2014.

We’ll be back next year with more couples, more stories and more news from our pal Mike in Australia.

We have more foreign connections in the works – more gentlemen who will give us Swirling news from far-flung places including Scotland and New Zealand.

Expect a potpourri of posts designed to inspire, entertain, educate and inform you concerning all things Swirling.

Look for us in 2014 – we’re going to be bigger and better than ever!

Till next year, Swirl on.

Join in the Fray: What are you doing to get your Swirl on during the holidays?

Loving Black Women Is Not A Fetish – It’s A Preference!

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#22 | Let’s Have Lunch . . . .

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How To Change Your Life – Part 2

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Do This For Me

Choose To Move Forward

In Case You Missed It

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How To Change Your Life – And End Up On a National Television Show!

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Mondays With Mike: The Providence Of Love

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Mondays With Mike: “Why I Celebrate Black Women In Poetry “

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What Do Australian Men Think Of Black Women And Beauty?

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Can A Black Woman Find A HUSBAND In Australia?

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Opportunities For Interracial Dating In Australia!

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Do This For Me

Choose To Move Forward

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