Reflections

Hey everyone! Life in the states…something to get used to! I’ve been adjusting alright, now things are starting to be more normal. There are so many things that I miss about Australia. There are so many things that I love about being home. It makes for some strange feelings. So I’m still going to put off my recounting of my last trip in Oz. Instead, here comes much that has been floating around in my head and heart since being home!

So, yes, I miss Australia. Heaps! Mostly, it’s the people. I miss all the Aussies, as well as all the Americans - they are some pretty amazing friends. Many of the Americans have all talked about different times and places we could get together, so that’s nice. I can’t wait to get back up to Manhattan and at least have a few friends that were with me in Oz. In January Jared is coming here for a year, so that is something to look forward to and at least I know I’ll see one of the Aussies! I’ve been able to keep in touch pretty well on Myspace and Facebook, as well as email and MSN messenger. Technology is amazing when it comes to keeping in touch around the world!! Between that and keeping myself busy, it’s been alright so far. It’s strange to not see my housemates every day, though. There are so many small things I miss and think of all the time. The food is a big one, namely fish and chips, meat pies, sweet chilli and sour cream chips, Shapes, and Big M Mochas. I definitely miss the clubs and going out, it was soooo much fun. I also miss the accents and different phrases that nobody understands here. I miss walking everywhere, and the beeping walk signals on the streets. I miss the beautiful sunsets, although we have had some good ones here lately. I miss campus and my unit, Evatt 1. I miss the magpies and other birds, I never thought I’d actually say that! Those annoying birds don‘t shut up, but they’re pretty cool really. I miss the lack of humidity compared to here. I really miss being so close to the water. Sometimes I wish I could see the TV commercials, they have some funny ones - "paid for by Australian Government Canberra." I miss seeing gum trees everywhere, and all the other plants there that aren’t here. Really, it is mostly the people. My friends there were amazing, and so fun to be around. It almost feels really lonely now not having them around all the time. On top of my friends, it’s the people of Australia in general. Everyone, everywhere I went, was friendly and happy. The concept of mate is absolutely amazing, and something I wish we had in this country. Everyone considers you a friend, that they will look out for and stand up for, unless you do something to really warrant their disliking you. It’s nice. I also miss the slower, easier pace of life, the no worries way of living. Although I’m trying to live that way anyway, the rest of the country doesn’t as much. I don’t know, there are a bunch of little things I think about every day that I miss, the past 5 months have really been amazing. Being in Australia, and with those people, made me so happy. I really got to live my lifelong dream. How many people can say that. And at only 21 years old. That’s amazing. I’m so lucky, and I love that I got to do this.

There are some great things about being home as well. It is so wonderful to get to see all my family and friends again. It’s nice that after 5 months it still feels like I was never gone with all of them, we go back to normal. I’ve never been able to see or talk to almost all of my family and all of my friends in less than two weeks. It’s fabulous to be able to do that! I love spending time with the people that mean the most to me and it’s amazing that I get to do that so much now, and that they all want to see me and talk to me! That makes being home great and totally worth it. Also, it’s been so nice to be able to drive!! Driving was a bit difficult, just because every time I was turning I felt like turning onto the “wrong” side of the road. It was especially hard to get used to it when there were no other cars on the road and I really had to think to myself, okay, the right side! It feels great to be behind the wheel singing to my music. It’s also nice to have home-cooked meals, as well as the restaurants I’ve missed while I was gone. Food is great! And nothing beats American beef! This may sound weird, but I’ve really enjoyed having carpet to walk on! I wasn’t on real carpet for five months, and I like laying on the floor! Our units had that industrial square carpet you know, not comfortable. The warm weather has really felt good, to have the sun shining and everything. I was getting tired of rain! There’s a certain smell to home too, and that’s comforting. It’s nice to have free unlimited internet as well. Although I haven’t watched much, our TV is also much better for the most part. I’ve enjoyed seeing squirrels around, I’ve missed them! I still get confused every once in awhile when I go to flush the toilet and I have to laugh, I still want to go push the button on top instead of push the lever! Haha. It’s been hard to get used to the money again, especially the coins. I’ve had to really look at them and count it out, people must think I’m stupid! Australian money is much nicer though, the coins are sized as their worth, as are the bills, which are also different colors - makes things much easier. The accents sound more obvious to me as well, and almost seem harsh at times. I really don’t like the word trash, sounds just like it means - rubbish suits me better I reckon! I haven’t been using many Aussie phrases just because I am thinking about it and trying not to because nobody knows what I’m saying! I was talking quickly and not thinking and asked Kirby “How ya goin?” and he was confused, had to stutter! So I try not to confuse people, but it just comes so naturally still for me to say things like that. I still really want to say ta for thank you as well. Again, with being home, it’s mostly the people that make it good.

I know that I am a hugely changed person after these five months around the world. Whether you can see it or not, inside me I’m totally different in some ways. So much has happened to me, and it all affected me in countless ways. I think definitely better, though I’m still dealing with a lot of ways I need to improve. I don’t know if I even completely understand everything about me now, so I don’t think I can put everything in words - but I do know a few things. I’m so much stronger, more than you can know. I can handle what life throws at me. I’m a tough cookie and proud of myself for that. I don’t put up with people as much, you’re not going to walk all over me anymore. I may seem more aggressive or something, it’s just that I say what’s on my mind more. I don’t hide as much of anything as I used to, even the positive. I guess I’ve become more open and honest with everyone. I know I have become a lot happier and sillier, while at the same time becoming much more serious. It’s all depending on the subject or my mood or whatever, but I’ve become much more of both sides, and I think that’s good. I feel so much older and wiser, definitely cultured and travelled, even though it was only one English speaking culture. It does wonders. My eyes, and my mind, have never been more open. It opens your whole world that way too. That’s a happy thought I think. It allows for so much more growth. Every experience gives you something you didn’t have before, so I’ve gained loads of stuff! Another contradictory thought, I think I’ve become much more selfish and much more giving. I guess I have learned to be even more independent and alone, and thus do more for and with myself. But also, I think I’ve started wanting to do even more for people, it brings me so much satisfaction. If I can’t do so much for the people I was used to, then I wanted to for more people. I know you can’t fully comprehend what I’m saying here, and the magnitude of what I’ve been through personally, but it’s pretty incredible. I couldn’t ask for much more. I’ve also become more outgoing, and heaps more confident. I know how worthy I am, and that’s a lot. I know I’m capable of so much. I know who I am and who I still want to be. I’m not as afraid of many things as I was before. Do you think there are enough “I”s in this post?!? Anyway, I have changed immensely, in such wonderful ways.

I’m extremely lucky and I love all that has happened to me abroad. It was definitely life changing in a most positive way that you probably can’t quite grasp unless you’ve been through it. I couldn’t even until it happened, in every stage. I love the friends I made and random people I met, the food I tried, the adventures I went on, the places and wonders of nature I got the privilege to see, the paths I walked, the little everyday things of living there. Everything about the past five months has meant something huge to me. It kind of makes life here seem dull, but home is always home. Although, I’ve lived my dream, it kind of makes me think what now, where now. How do you beat the highest high, you know? It has been interesting, and will continue to be as I keep getting used to life back here and find out what the future holds. If you ask me “how was Australia?” I will simply say amazing. I don’t know what else to say, there is way too much, I can’t even answer that question for you. If you start asking me questions about it, I will tell you everything, and keep on going until you stop me. I could talk for days about everything if you wanted to hear it all. I love when people are interested in my time there. It is so important to me and such a huge part of me now. So don’t think I don’t have much to say when I only say it was amazing, I just can’t even begin to describe it!

My welcome home to KC was SOOO much better than the welcome at LAX! My mom, dad, brothers and their fiances, grandma, aunt, uncle, and two cousins were there!! It was wonderful. It made me feel so happy. When the plane landed it felt good, I was HOME. I couldn’t stop smiling, but I also felt a bit nervous! Jenny and I were talking about how excited we were while we waited to get off and everyone was curious about where we’d been and for how long and stuff, so that was funny to talk to everyone about it. It was like they were all welcoming us home as well! Anyway, it was a fabulous welcoming. Then I had a delicious meal waiting for me at home. The next day I got to go over to my other aunt and uncle’s house to see a few of my cousins. That was a great time as well, so nice to see everyone right away and spend time with family! Matt and Laura showed off their home and cooked a wonderful meal the next night as well. Then I got to see my good friend Matt that first week and go on an ice cream date with him, one of my favourite outings! I also got to see Rob and Albert, a wonderful time. I went out to visit my Grandma in Belton one day. My roommate got back from Italy and I got to talk to her some which was amazing! Last weekend I went up to Manhattan Friday afternoon to take care of some business with our old apartment and new house and my scholarships. That was good to get all that done. Then I went to hang out with Kirby all night! We went out in Aggieville with my friend Brian and some of their friends. That was a fabulous time as it was only my second time out in Manhattan since I turned 21 the end of the semester and then left! Then Saturday morning I didn’t do anything before going to get some lunch and using the library to get on the internet for awhile before it was time to go to Talicia’s bridal shower! I was happy she had one after I got back so I could make it. That was great fun, good to see everyone again. Then we had her bachelorette party. That was a blast!! We played some games and talked and laughed, great stuff. Sunday I went over and got to see one of my best friends after about 7 months!!! Carly is living in Manhattan so that was fabulous to hang out with her a little bit. Then Kirby and I went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!!! How exciting! It was good, though I thought could’ve been much better, didn’t leave me as excited as the others, and it was worse than usual next to the book I thought, but still very entertaining and enjoyable. Now I have to wait a couple days for the last book!! Yippee. We got some Sonic and I went over to see Carly a little longer. Then I headed off to Lawrence to see Motion City Soundtrack in concert with Virginia. Well we were stupid and didn’t get tickets early and they just happened to be sold out, so that sucked. But I had a great night anyway. We walked around a bit and ate some dinner before meeting up with Rob and talking for awhile. Then Rob and I got ice cream before I had to head back home. It was great to see them, sometimes the friends who’ve known you the longest are the best as they’ve proven they’ll stick around! Anyway, it was a great weekend. I haven’t done a whole lot since then. My mom and I went out to eat with Elise and her mom, that was a good time. I got to talk to a bunch of my aussie friends online the other day. That was really great. And Alex called me to talk and totally made my day! I’m almost totally back to normal as far as unpacking and putting things away. My sleeping and eating are getting closer to being back to normal. My life is changing and slowly finding its rhythm again.

So I guess that’s all for now. Sometime soon another one will come with tales of a last adventure in Oz. Maybe another post someday, telling you more how I’ve adjusted. We’ll see, you never know, keep you all in anticipation, such an exciting life I have! Okay, so I hope I will see you soon if I haven’t yet, or I will see you again soon. Hope things are happy with you and you’re still smiling. Have a wonderful day! And read my final quotes first!

Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly. Dr. Robert Schuller

When a goal matters enough to a person, that person will find a way to accomplish what at first seemed impossible. Nido Qubein

True success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful. Author Unknown

Have courage, and be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Love, Alissa