I'm Home, but its not over yet.

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Trip Start Aug 26, 2005 Previous
Entry Trip End May 26, 2008

  Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Friday, May 16, 2008

After 2 years, 10 months and 22 days of traveling – I'm back in Sydney Australia - Home. Its where this whole thing started so long ago.
It has been one hell of a job sorting my life out and i will detail all the dramas here as they unfold.
I spent the last 3 years reading peoples travel blogs and was always disapointed when they stopped the day they got home. I was always curious, what happened next?
Did you survive? What was it like coming home afer so long away? Has everythig changed? Is anyone stilll there? What does it feel like? Do you fit in? How do you fit in? Are you accepted? Do people ask about your travels? Do they care?
These were the questions i was always curious about and tried to find out, but the answeres were illusive. Was it that it was so hard at home and so lifeless that nobody bothered to write about the adjustments? The return to 'reality'. Well, im going to do my best to keep a little tab on settling in after such a huge trip. Hopefully it will help you out and give you some insite into what happens after so long away.

It was a warm Autumn morning when I landed smoothly in Sydney Australia. I couldnt believe it was all about to end. For me, the journey would officially come to an end when i stepped foot in the front door of my house, so I was determined to delay that moment as long as possible.

There was a huge queue at Immigrations at the Airport, so that alone took a little over an hour. I stood inline and waited with the hundreds of other travelers. My passport was inspected and approved and I was stamped back into Australia without so much as a question. But didnt you see that I havnt been here for 3 years? Dont you want to know where I've been?

The bags took a long time to come spinning round the converyor belt, and i watched a Beagle sniff them as they came past. I stood a fair distance away, watching the little guy sniffing my bags. He jumped up on the conveyor belt and sniffed the hell out of it. I backed off, slowly, then turned and moved to the other side of the conveyor. I dont want to be another Shapel Corby, (she is soooo guilty by the way) but the Beagle gave up and my bag turned the corner. I looked around, no dog in sight, and threw it onto my trolley and marched towards the Xray line.  After another 30 minute wait, my bag was zipped through, after the usual questinons 'did you pack it yourself?' etc etc.I passed the test and was cleared to go.

Next stop: Mum and Dad!

They were both waiting for me at the Arrivals gate and it was good to see them. We had a big hug and a tear and there I was, back in Australia. I wasnt quiet ready to walk out yet, so we sat and drank coffee for a few minutes, then, it was time. 'Lets go home!’ I said.

I live on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and my house is around an hours drive from the airport. I took in all the sights and sounds of Aussie land as we drove through the city, across the Harbour Bridge, and pulled into the driveway.

I'm Home.

I dumped my bags and ran about the house, inspecting my old room which my brother had invaded and left me with a nice double bed. He is currently traveling in the UK and in September, will be heading to India, Nepal and Thailand on his way home for Christmas.
It was a strange thing, running around your house as a stranger. Oh look, you painted that wall, oh a new tap, wow, whered u get that painting? Ahh look, theres a photo of me in South America.

I settled in and had a quiet day catching up with my parents.

Over the next week I caught up with all my old mates. I missed them alot and mates are mates. I fit straight back in and we were doing the things we used to do as if I hadnt left. A little strange really, but reasurring that friends are forever.

Over the course of my traveling, i had misplaced, lost, had stolen all of my Identiy. I needed a new Drivers License, Birth Certificate, PIN cards, credit cards, Medicare Card, Membership cards to clubs, pubs, and librarys, and the list went on.
I spent a good amount of time over the next week signing and faxing forms and standing in lines. After about 2 weeks, I was sorted and had all the cards i needed.

I had absolutely no intention of getting a job when I got home. I wanted to relax for at least a few weeks, so I thought it would be the perfect oportunity to signup for the dole (unemployment benefits).
So on day 2 of being home, i visited Centrelink - Australias benefits office and filed for unemployment. Normal application is accompanied with a series of questions: When was your last job, references, and a whole array of probing questions. However when I plead my case: 'I have been overseas for 3 years. I came back to Australia 2 days ago and I need some money’. I skipped the questioning and instantly was accepted.
For the next 3 weeks, i received $200 a week to go surfing, play tennis and catchup with mates.

Doing nothing and getting paid for it was great, but after living such an active life, i needed more stimulation and started looking for a job.

While traveling I tossed up a few ideas and came up with one that i took a liking to: ATravel Agent.

I mean, its basically what ive been doing for the past 3 years – advising people of places to go.
I had a friend working in a travel agency nearby and after an easy interview, I was offered a job.

I started work the following Monday at Student Flights (A franchise of Flight Centre).

A Bad idea?

It seemed like a good one at the time. I was hired on the spot from my travel experience and stared a working life.

After so long away from an office job  it was great to put a suit on and polish up my black shoes and walk into an office and begin the learning process. I spent  week, training in the city with 7 other new recruits. I was loving the new information overload and soaked in as much as I could. At night, I’d close my eyes and my head would spin. I felt like i was on a rollercoaster.

After the week of training, i spent the next week in the office, learning the ropes. I made a few sales and had a good time. The week after, was the last week of training. For the next 2 weeks i was in the office checking flight availibility and selling people holidays all over the world. It wasnt as exciting a i first thought and in my 5th week i had to pull the boss aside and announce my resignation. She asked if there was anything she could do to get me to stay longer. Not really, unless you change the job and pay me more. So with that, my time was up and the following Tuesday, I started work in a new place.

Technical Support, back at my previous job. The same one I had 3 years ago. I slipped straight into my old position after 3 years away. It was amazing how little had changed.

A life of routine is what im battling against at the moment. So used to my traveling life of new cities, new adventures and many new people, im finding it interesting to wake up in the same bed every morning, repeat the same morning rush processes, jump in the car and head to the same place with the same people every day. I try to speak to as many new people as my life will allow but  its small in comparison to my traveling life.

To break the cycle, last weekend I decided to get my motorbike license. I passed the test and 3 days later, I bought myself a scooter. So now, i have the option of driving in the car or taking the adventurous trip in the scooter each morning.

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