Before I left Melbourne, I was…I wouldn’t say ecstatic, but content with the life I was living. It consisted of school, work, home and repeat, looking forward to the school holidays until I was finally there and would again look forward to go back to school. Because I felt school gave me purpose. Circumstances of my life right now give me a fresh perspective on what it is that I have missed. Seven months ago, I couldn’t wait to leave Melbourne. The prospect of living in a new city as a foreigner meant to me that I could be anyone I wanted to be, and learning a new language was exciting.
Most people, I feel, are satisfied with staying still. Perhaps it’s just me that grows restless, having called more places home than the average suburban kid would have. Though the point that I want to stress on, now that I have re-settled once more, is that we take things for granted. I have discovered that I am always longing for whatever it is that I don’t have within reach. But once it is in my possession, it is always rushed and I thirst for the next chapter, the next adventure. I, myself, have to learn how to take a moment and breathe. Appreciate the things that I have, right here, right now.
I remember specifically when I was travelling that I was always annoyed at one of the friends I made, who constantly held the group back to take photos. I shook my head impatiently because I was tired, I wanted to go to the next place as soon as possible so we could go back to the meeting point and return to the hotel. But if it wasn’t for that friend of mine, I wouldn’t have been able to look back and reconnect with things I may have missed. Despite the opportunities that have been presented to me, I was so blind to see them. And the thing is, I wouldn’t have even learnt this about myself if I hadn’t gone out and filled out that application for exchange, if I simply hadn’t leaped. There will be times in life when we are given a choice. And sometimes, as scary as it is, we just have to take it because at the end of the day, no matter what happens, we will be okay. Every obstacle and every joy that comes across us will only make us into a better person than we are now.
