Hello Everyone!
I am back in Australia for a week for my brother James' 21st birthday. I almost didn't go, because I felt guilty flying home with such a fabulous ticket *shhh, business, shhh*, but I've been feeling quite down lately and the only idea I could come up with to explain my unhappiness is that I may be a weeny bit homesick.
I've never once sat and cried about missing friends or Australia, New York is too exciting to get too sad, but it has been over 6 months since I last saw my family and some of my friends, so I just had to come.
Now that I am here, I feel a bit anxious. I feel like I am living next to an hourglass and am drowning like Jasmine in the sand. ;P I don't feel like I have enough time here, and now that I get to see, once again, how truly beautiful and peaceful Australia is, I feel sad that I don't have more time to enjoy it.
It is hard living abroad, but I am looking forward to starting anew when I get back. I am now in an interesting financial situation and can no longer be frivolous with my money. My American friend and I seem to have come full circle with this. When I first met her, she helped me set up so many accounts and money was flying out everywhere because it could. Now, we have been canceling these and giving myself a limit and I realize that being in control of the flow of my money and the things that come and go with it, is easier than losing track and having these things pile up on me.
I have also bought a bike, it's beautiful. A 1967 Schwinn Coppertone Breeze Deluxe. It's a beautiful retro colour and I am going to feel very cool riding to work and through Central Park on it. I almost did the first time I rode it back to my apartment from the shop, except I didn't realize I had the gear on 3rd, which made starting to pedal through intersections very difficult...and wobbly, and very embarrassing. Thankfully, the drivers seemed surprisingly patient or maybe they were too busy laughing at me to drive over me. Hopefully, that's how it will always be.
The roads in New York City are terrible compared to those of Paris though. Paris may have many cobblestone paths, but they are still smoother than the bumpy tarmac that is constantly being ripped up and poured on and ripped up again in the city.
Before I went to home on the Sunday, I went to Virginia on Friday night. We drove there, so we didn't actually arrive until 6 in the morning on the Saturday. I was so tired, but the people there are so lovely. I adore and admire every single one of them and can't wait to get to know them better. I am so excited about the future that lies there...if it happens, I am always constantly in doubt that happy things like that will. We'll see, hey.
I have to get ready to go see my Gran. The poor dear, she is sick but battling it with all the power a Scottish woman can have, which is a lot. Today is brother's birthday. I am giving him a light saber, (all the boys on the plane were very jealous of it) and a Saruman Goblet and the Light of Galadriel. I am going to tell him this:
"By all means, dear Brother,
drink to the Darkness,
but don't forget to embrace
the Light."
Those of you have followed my whole journey on YouTube should be able to recognize what I am talking about.
Take care everyone there are far too many earthquakes, recessions and athletes about.
xoxo
Caitlin
