I’m the last international standing. Or at least I will be in about a week. I’m not sure how to feel about it. Saying goodbye to my other internationals and the Aussies has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, and the goodbyes aren’t even all over yet. After the departure of a certain international, I was told by two Aussie friends that I was only allowed a few days of moping (this is the final day, apparently). I can’t stop feeling sad, but I know I have to make the most of the rest of my time here in Australia. Only 2 weeks until my flight, after all.
There are a handful of people here now at Deakin hall, and a tough thing to face is that the best of it is over. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate the people still here, because I really do, they’re keeping me sane. But it was the day to day things you did, people you saw, places you went; those are the times I will always love – when I felt like I was at home, when I was immersed in the middle of it all. To be at halls when there isn’t any ‘hustle bustle’ left feels like time has paused. And of course the weather is pretty shit, which doesn’t help. The place seems to have lost its charm now – its life, essentially its people and the interaction, has been sucked out. We (the remains/survivors/strange people who have stayed on longer than necessary, whatever you wish to call us) still have our good times – we’re going out during the week, going to the city, lazing about together etc. But of course it’s different from what I knew and got used to. I came over here and created this whole new life for myself. I’ve realised this part to be the beginning of the end of that life. I can’t properly explain what that feels like. It’s like making friends on holiday then leaving, but it’s so much more deep-rooted than that. If I come up with a way to accurately describe it, I’ll be sure to include it in a post.
When I go to Sydney, it will at least feel like the other parts of my time here I’ve loved: the travelling. To live a new student life, then to take breaks from that by travelling around Australia/the Southern hemisphere was amazing. So, Sydney (and Baranduda after that) will be my last adventure here and I’ll experience it with friends who are locals, so I’ll definitely be ending my time here with a bang.
The more internationals that go home and continue their lives in their original countries, the more I think about going home myself. I am incredibly sad to leave this place, but I’m starting to look forward to the important things in England, like seeing my family (and my cats. God I missed them) again. And Galaxy cookie crumble chocolate. I’m sure that when I start packing, I’ll conjure some more thoughts about leaving/going home that no one will really care about, but I’ll post anyway ;)
