Even though I haven't written in awhile, given that this blog was supposed to be about my Australian adventure and that adventure is now coming to an end, I felt it appropriate to conclude the blog as well. Now even though my time in Sydney has definitely not always been easy, being at the tail end of the journey it is much easier to romanticize it and really appreciate what I am coming out of this with.
In the last year and a half, I've been to New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and India (and obviously Australia as well). Had I stayed in the US I am confident not even one of those experiences would have been checked off my list. I got promoted. I met some amazing people that I KNOW I'll be friends with for life. I worked with an amazing team at work, who I learned so much from and I am going to miss terribly. Not that it was all roses and sunshine. There were absolutely some very dark periods as well, but we won't dwell on those in this post.
One thing that I've noticed about the end of my time living in a place (and I have done enough moving to be VERY familiar with this feeling) is that I always wish I could leave a little part of myself there to continue living this life that I've had, because wherever I go, I do end up leaving a little piece of my heart there. Last night really made me think about that. I went to a friends house with a few of the best girlfriends I've made here and we had wine and pizza and talked and just laughed and laughed and laughed. I am going to miss those times the most.
This last weekend, my flatmate and one of my best friends here, James, planned an amazing going away party for me. He organized drinks, a dinner with some of my closest friends and then a party at a bar with even more friends. I felt so blessed and loved that someone would do all of that for me.
My team got together some money and bought me a beautiful picture from Bondi Beach from Aquabumps that looks very similar to this one http://www.aquabumps.com/buy-prints/bondi-light/?key=bondi so I can put it on my wall and always remember Sydney. (Pretty big step up from the plant I got from my old team, huh? haha)
To think about leaving these amazing people and these amazing experiences, it brings me to tears. The most comforting thing about these tears is that I know that coming here was the right decision. When I started this blog, I wrote that "I've put everything that is comfortable or safe to me on the line; My San Francisco life, my friends, my family, and I'm risking it all for the unknown." This was true. I put a lot on the line. Even though there were times when this statement never would have been uttered by me, it was worth it. I have found so many people and things that I am so sad to say goodbye to. I've had so many experiences, good and bad, that taught me more about people, the world and about myself.
Looking forward I am so excited for what is ahead. I have no idea what my life would be like right now if I had stayed in San Francisco but I know my life won't be the same as it was when I left. I can't help but feel like it is going to be even better than it was before. For the first time in what feels like a really long time, I feel hopeful and optimistic about the future. So I will close this chapter of my life on that note and begin anew. Thank you, Sydney. Until we meet again..
