One year ago I was sitting in front of the Sydney Opera House, waiting for the fireworks that would commence 10 hours before usual. Well for me anyways. That was the beginning of more than 10 months of traveling. Little did I know back then that this would be a journey that would change me. A journey that would make me, me.
2011 have definitely be one to remember. It all began in Sydney, where a big dream of mine came true. To watch the fireworks over the Sydney Harbour. An experience I will never forget.
Living in Australia, was not bad at all either. Meeting old friends again, and living a carefree life. It was wonderfully weird not to have school to worry about.
As I spent those six months in Australia I saw my life back home change step by step. I saw old friends disappear, beginning new stages of their lives. But I was only observing it, like one is observing the life inside a dollhouse through a window. I wasn't there to go through different things with them. All I could do was to go online on Skype and wait for someone to contact me, if they needed me.
I could see that some of my friends were slowly slipping away, however, I did not have the heart to accept the facts. But when I got back to Denmark reality hit me. I felt lonely. Everyone was occupied with their new lives, doing everything right, but it hurt not to be a part of it.
There is nothing I would have done differently, though. It is hard to maintain friendships when you are more than 10,000km away. The internet is a clever thing, however, it does not solve all of our problems. It cannot help us in every way.
In addition to that I was slowly changing. I was becoming someone else, someone my friends did not know. I had friends in Australia, a life, something my friends back home were not a part of. Just like I was not a part of what took place here.
It is hard to say where it was exactly that the transformation into the "new" me was completed, but I know that I only realized how changed I was when I arrived in China. Even though China had been a rather spontaneous decision I had still been looking forward to it, but then all I wanted was just to go home. Well either that or go backpacking again. Standing still for three months did not sooth me at all.
I could not imagine how I would get through three months in China.
But as soon as I met the other au pairs and made friends, I never wanted to leave. In China I realized that some friends you will have to let go, but others will come along. My experience in China was in many ways very intense and very particular and I knew that I would not be able to share it with anyone back home, which is why I am so grateful for the friends I made while I was in China.
2011 was also the year of trying new things. Skydiving and Bungee Jumping are the more exciting ones, while couch surfing is something a bit less extreme.
I quickly came to find that I get addicted to the adrenalin rush. As Karina Hollekim says it: it's the wonderful feeling of fear. The fact that I conquered my fears and took control of it, before it got to take control of me. I still remember when I was sitting in the tiny airplane in Queensland, looking out of the window and seeing the Great Barrier Reef right in front of me. I did not occur to me what I was about to do. It all went so fast. In less than 5 minutes the thrill, the rush was over. But it left me craving for more.
I had always said that I wanted to do skydiving, but not a Bungee. However, when our tour guide just minutes before the Kawarau bridge near Queenstown, asked if anyone wanted to do a Bungee Jump, I figured that this was my chance. It was sort of a now or never moment. Again I conquered the fear and I jumped, twice. The best feeling I have ever had was to know that I had conquered my fear of heights. Actually it still creeps up every now and then, but I know that I can take control of it.
I am still craving for more, so let's see what 2012 will bring of extremities.
As some friends slipped away, other friendships were strengthened by distance. I quickly realized that those friends who remained and who I can still call my best friends will always be there for me no matter the distance or time apart.
And then there were those friends who I just called acquaintances before I left, but being apart had strengthened our relationship, and now they had become my friends.
Of course there were also the people with whom we just picked up the strings where we had left them.
You lose some, you gain some.
I once read somewhere that if you can replay a year without any tears of joy or sadness then it has been a complete waste. This year has yet failed to be a waste. In fact I dare say that this has been the best year so far.
I would therefore like to thank everyone who has made it what it has been: amazing. Now let's make 2012 just as incredible.
