But it really is such a long way from here... I'm used to the simple toils of Finnish life. The hardships of its winters, the beauty of its summers and women. The people, even though they can be monotonous bastards sometimes. It was familiar, it was HOME. The green trees. The blue skies. The fresh crisp smell of snow in the air. The soft warm glow of the summer sunset. The beer. Oh god, the beer. I loved it here. I was happy, I didn't want to go anywhere.
Yet, it all has to be left behind. After that one fateful day, when I was laid off from work and I stood there, a wreck in my own toils, reluctant to make any change in my life. When suddenly out of nowhere I thought popped in my head. Australia. See, a friend of mine had already been there and had pretty much kept on pestering me to move over. Calling me to greater adventures that laid in wait. I of course said that I would think about it, but obviously trying my best to keep my ass safe in Finland. But there I was. Without a job and pissed off out of my mind as Australia popped into my head. Not five minutes later, I called an education office and applied to Griffith university. The rest as they say is history.
But now, after all my troubles to try and make it to Australia, I have finally made it to the final days before my departure. With the constant support of my family and friends, the incessant words of encouragement, I burst through the obstacles that were placed in front of me, trying to hold me off from going to Australia. Like a quest in on itself, my friends, my allies, have helped me get there. And now, it seems to be the dreaded time where I have to leave you all behind and go it alone. I know some of you will join me in later adventures in the future, but it seems like for the first time in my life, I will be going it alone. that scares me as much as it excites me. This is basically the part in the Lord of the Rings where Frodo and Sam are on the edge of the Shire, just about to step into unknown territory. I'm right there. Ready.
To conquer Australia. To go to the other side of the planet and see this "fabled" land for myself. To learn from it, to best its challenges and return a better person. To bring back something from it. To grow. Sure, I may be over dramatizing the whole affair, but hell. This is how I feel. I have no idea what is waiting for me over there. What exotic people I will meet and what kind of trouble I will get into. All I know is, that I will try and keep you all posted as much as possible with my blog.
So we come to the part I have been dreading. The part I've been meandering around. The goodbyes. Now thankfully due to Facebook and the Internet, goodbyes these days aren't as final as they used to be. But still, I will no longer be hanging out with many of you, so I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am honored and constantly in awe to have such friends and family as I do... So... Good...
You know what?
I wont say goodbye. Because I AM coming back. You will all see me online and talk to me and get messages and so on and so forth. Some of you will come and visit and of course I will make the long pilgrimage back home at some point. So fuck goodbyes. They're over rated anyway.
I'll be seeing you around. ;)
