Moving to the other side of the world, away from my great job and easy life, was a daunting experience to say the least. However, I have been so lucky to share this experience with my one and only Mark! We have laughed and cried - well I did most of the last one - and we have grown together. I couldn't imagine being on this crazy ride with anyone else. The memories that we have made will stick with us for the rest of our lives! From our picnic under the Eiffel Tower, to being the only couple dancing to a string quartet in the Piazza San Marco in Venice (both of which I still need to blog about) to food poisoning in Budapest. I look forward to the many more to come as we reach more corners of this awe-inspiring world.
I have also been lucky enough to share this experience with two amazing people - Tim and Shelley Williams. I honestly believe that one of the reasons Mark and I were to embark on this trip was to meet Tim and Shelley. Mark would return from work 'raving' about this Shelley and how we should meet. I'm not going to lie, when the date was set to meet, I felt a lot of pressure to be friends with this girl! But I should not have worried. From the moment we met, I knew we would be lifelong friends. The fact that she called me Tez straight up and gave me the biggest hug - was a big tick in my book! Right from the start, it felt as if we had been friends for ever. Thankfully Mark and Tim also got along! Since meeting we have shared laughter, tears, holidays and now a home together. Writing this is making me sad that soon we will be going back to Australia, with Tim and Shelley returning to Sydney, and us to Adelaide. I can envisage a cup of tea and Skype with Shelley each night after work!
We have had our ups and downs the past year. From changing jobs and houses, to dealing with the coldest and wettest year for a generation... We have come out of this experience stronger and wiser. Whilst I miss my family, friends, driving, clean air, good variety of supermarket food, Cottee's chocolate Ice Magic and Milo.... I love the history, the public transport, the landmarks, the variety of cultural cuisines (does that make sense?) and the ability to jump on a plane and be in a different country within two hours! Knowing that our time in this amazing city is drawing to a close, I have very mixed emotions. What I do know is that this has opened up my eyes to the endless opportunities that are available.
YOLO (You only live once) and I am planning on making the most of it!
