Well, tonight I find myself at the end of an adventure; in a few hours I will board an airport shuttle and begin the 20+ hour journey back to Denver. Aside from dreading the upcoming hours of cramped and unwashed conditions, I have also begun reflecting on my time here. What am I taking away from this experience? How do I even begin to quantify it? I've seen wondrous places and done things I've always wanted to...I've even stumbled across a few random delights like dingo-singing and koala-kissing. But how to wrap it into a tidy ball of self-realization? Such a tricky question!
I don't think I fully realize all the ways this trip has affected me. There have been obvious lessons learned (New Zealanders are to be avoided at all costs and koalas are faithless!) but the true benefits are more subtle. I've got some new lingo to flaunt and opinions on loads more things (oh joy!)...and then of course there are the souvenirs. I look forward to returning to the US (land of free refills and cheap food) and discovering just how my time on the other side of the world has affected me.
The one thing I do want to try for when I get back is to live life more like a tourist. The locals here were always startled at all the things Andrea and I did in their own city that they had never heard of! It's the zoning out of our constants that does it. If the ocean is always there, it is no longer special and the same with the mountains. How many Colorado natives no longer ski? It seems a shame to become accustomed to the uniqueness of our homes. I hope that in the future I will live life as a tourist in my own home: with a sense of wonder and appreciation for what I have.
Thank you, everyone, who has followed this blog and sent me lovely emails. I've loved hearing from you all and can't wait to see you again! But, I think it's best for both of us if we wait for the jet lag to pass. Until then: g'day!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment