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Hi Everyone,
I thought I would finish off this blog with an update after I’d been home for a while, to reflect on my trip and the whole gap year experience. It’s been two months since I jetted back in from Australia and I have managed to catch up with most of my friends and relatives, find a part-time job and play some tennis in all weathers.
Having left Perth in temperatures in the high 20’s it was a real shock to the system when I arrived at Heathrow where it was below freezing but it was lovely to be met by my brother Paul and driven to Mum and Dad’s. Although we’d all kept in touch very well by email and the odd phone call, it was fabulous to see them and catch them up on my final few days in Australia. My parents had done a brilliant job looking after my house and dealing with my post etc. which meant I hadn’t really had to worry too much about things at home.
It was strange getting home after all that time, and especially to a house which had been de-cluttered before I left. It meant that my ‘stuff’ wasn’t in evidence so it didn’t feel like home straight away. However, I soon managed to make it look lived-in ;-)
I’ve had various evenings out with friends to catch up and of course Easter weekend was a very family-oriented event with my eldest nephew Leo’s 8
th birthday on the Saturday too. I hadn’t felt too cut off from everybody while I was away, even at that distance, due to the wonders of the internet etc. However, nothing can really replace seeing people in the flesh and being able to chat properly so it’s been so lovely to see everyone and hear all their news.
I’m putting together photo albums as permanent reminders of my trip which is involving going through just over 2,300 photos and editing them down into a manageable number. It’s great to look back over all the time I had, all the places I visited and all the people I met. Australia is such a beautiful and varied place with great people who make you feel at home and are proud to show off their country. Having dreamed of visiting the country for such a long time I had read a lot about it and watched every TV programme on it so I had formed an impression of the country and it didn’t disappoint.
There is a sense of anything being possible there because when an idea is voiced the positives are explored before the negatives and generally it seems that solutions are found. I feel that the opposite usually happens in the UK. I have found myself really missing Australia since my return, but when I was there I didn’t miss the UK, as a country, at all. A lot of people have asked me if I have considered moving there and of course the answer is yes. I really think that I could live there very happily, although I’m undecided about exactly where. However, I just don’t think I could leave my family and friends behind so they would all have to come with me!
Of course, I’m not looking at it through rose-tinted glasses and I’m well aware of the trials the country and its people face because I followed current events and spoke to people along the way. They are vulnerable to major weather events, their politicians don’t seem any better than ours, their race relations still have a long way to go, especially where the Aboriginal people are concerned and their drinking and gambling culture is something else. However, even with those struggles you can see that people are trying to make things better and tackle the issues, and of course when the sun shines so much more, nothing seems quite so bad!
Looking back over the past year during which time I have done so many things, visited so many places, challenged myself and had a ball, I am so pleased that I decided to take a gap year at the grand old age of 42. I wouldn’t change any of it (except maybe the UK weather!) and I think it has changed me in ways I may not even realise yet. I already know that travelling alone has helped my confidence and made me more likely to do things by myself if I can’t find anyone to join me.
So, what will life hold for me next? The short answer is...I’ve no idea. I must admit to a continuing feeling of restlessness since my return and I think that perhaps I just need a new project or challenge so I will see what inspires me.
In the short term, happily, I’m off to Paris this week to visit the French Open and complete my personal tennis Grand Slam in one year – Wimbledon, US Open, Australian Open and French Open. I am going with friends so it should be a fun trip.
Signing off this blog marks the very end of my gap year adventures but I hope that this is just the start of a new chapter in my life.
Thanks to everyone for their support, help, generosity and company over the past year – it’s been a blast!
Jo :-)
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Jenny
non-member comment
missed ya
So enjoyed all of your news and the photos over the year- but nothing beats having your mate back home. So glad it was all you had hoped for- but so relieved that you have come home- though having done it once sure that it wouldn't be as daunting next time- keep saving the pennies!