There should be some sort of guidebook – a manual really – on how to re-enter an old life. A good friend said to me that I should consider myself an astronaut and prepare myself for reentry…but you really have no idea how to do that until you actually do it.
(Surprising my friend at her birthday)
Whirlwind. Excitement. Surprise. Overwhelmed. Rushed. Elated. These are all words that can be used to describe my re-entry into Australia after almost 2 years. I guess 2 years is a long time to not see friends and 3 weeks really is only a short time to catch up.
I split my time between Brisbane (friends), Noosa (mum) and Hervey Bay (dad) and yet I still could have used more time. I felt in a fog a lot of the time. You know how you feel when you wake up after a big night, not quite hung over but fuzzy in the head. That’s what it feels like. Like you should know directions to your friends house that you used to visit every week, but you just can’t quite remember.
The definite highlights were seeing family & friends. After 2 years there is a lot to catch up on and a lot of people to do it with. One little comment about missing champagne ensured there was champagne on arrival almost everywhere I went. Friends changed plans and made an effort to see me at such notice. I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly lucky I am to have such amazing family & friends in my life.
(The origninal team!)
Things were obviously different. An ‘Americano’ coffee draws blank looks in Brisbane, as do the phrases ‘Can we turn the heater on?’ and ‘Is there Malbec on the wine list?’. Looking at my city through foreign eyes was certainly a new experience.
Prices were definitely an eye opener. I know that Australia that is one of the most expensive countries in the world, however after traveling in South America, Australia can come as a little bit of a shock. I bought a train ticket and the price came up as $5.20. $5.20?? Did I get a meal with this ticket? A coffee at least? The journey was 2 stops away and took MAYBE 5 minutes. $5.20 was more than I paid for a night’s accommodation in Bolivia!
(What the?!)
(Sailing with champagne…a much better way to get around!)
But overall this trip made me realise just how lucky I am have to have two worlds. Someone reminded me of this when I was feeling overwhelmed and they were right. Not everyone gets two places that feel like home. Two places they feel they belong. It is a great feeling.
