Conclusion
Trip Start
Jan 09, 2004
1
39
Trip End
Jul 14, 2004
Adelaide, Australia
Sunday, September 5, 2004
The more one travels, the easier it becomes to adapt, I think. Hence this time coming home was a lot easier. Not to say that I've just slipped back into life as it was, because of course things change, even in the city famous for it's small town vibe that is Adelaide.
One of the best things about travelling is that I find even in 'normal' life, I don't get as stressed out. When you've had fantastic experiences away from home you don't get trapped. It never comes down to your whole world crashing down around you, because you are capable of just getting up and starting again somewhere else.
That said I certainly haven't had to face any such crashes. Coming back this time has been a pretty smooth ride. I launched back into university after a week of attempting to re-establish myself, creating order in the chaos that is my living space and reacquainting with old friends.
I made up for my broadcast-free six months by hitting the industry with a vengeance, volunteering at my old community radio station and doing an internship with the ABC. That has landed me casual work with our national broadcaster so I'm the perfect case study of travel bettering your job prospects.
Ian and I are one hundred times a better couple for our time apart, and my relationship with my mum is the best it's been since I was about twelve, so no complaints there. It's a little frustrating that my good friends are scattered all over the place, but that would be the case whether or not I'd split the country.
So all is going smoothly, but that doesn't mean I'm just planning on letting life wash over me as I sit back for the ride. I've already begun investigating my next means of departure, applying for various travel programs and, worse case scenario, setting up some savings for a self-funded trip this summer.
I'm one of those people just short of ADD, where my insatiableness and need for constant challenge makes me a 'go-getter' rather than in need of calming medication. It works for me. If you've been reading this travelogue with your own adventure in mind then by now you'll know where I'm going with this. Do it. Don't let other people's feelings, or worse still mere circumstances, stop you. If you set out with eyes wide and ears open, confident that your experiences whatever they may be will enrich your life, it will happen.
