One Year

It has been a year.
A year ago today I left for Australia. It was the greatest and biggest journey I have yet to embark on. The time has flown past- where has it gone?! But I feel its passing. My life is different, I am different. Things have changed. Australia is everywhere in my life- the half eaten Aussie goodies from care packages on my shelves, the large inflatable kangaroo taking up more space in my room that my bed, the obnoxious Australia flag hanging over my door. My thesis is centered on the Aboriginal Australian's relationship to nature. I am more likely to wear sunscreen. I am friendlier. It is not uncommon for my quiet little women's college hall to resound with the loud voices of Australians I left behind chatting with me on skype. I have learned to deal with pain, being far way from people I love. And pictures- my room is full of pictures.

You think a lot about the past when you face an uncertain future. I am graduating from college in the spring, and have no idea what comes next. I sound way more dramatic that it really is of course, bajillions of people are in my same situation. But though it might not be particularly important or newsworthy, I am standing on the precipice of my own future. This is the first time in my life where I look ahead and think, where will I be next year? and I have absolutely no idea. Its never been exactly clear- where I would be in college, where I would be over the summer, where I would be abroad, but I knew roughly what would be going on. This is the first time that I have no possible idea of what I'll be up to.
I am not afraid.
Even though I'm on a precipice and I'm not exactly sure whats to follow, I'm excited to take the leap. Wherever I'll be, I'll be somewhere, and if I work it right, it will be a marvelous adventure. So I'll take a running leap, excited for whatever the future brings, ready to turn it into an adventure, ready to learn, ready to have a wild time.

Australia taught me that.

Oh! and the good news- I do have plans for the summer. Know what they are? There is a plane ticket waiting and a visa pending. In August I'll pack a bathing suit, my hiking boots, some sunscreen, a hat, and be off across the Pacific. Thats right, I'm going back.

The adventure continues.

Thank you for reading.