Two Years!

Today is a somewhat special day for me as it marks exactly two years since my plane landed at Heathrow, starting the chapter of my life spent abroad. In the past two years, a lot has happened. I have worked as a bartender, a teaching assistant and a removalist, I have played footy with the North London Lions and trained with the Paris Cockerels, I have lived in Camden, Marylebone, Archway, Glasgow and Paris, visited five different countries and I have made many friends. It's kind of incredible to look back on, as when I stepped onto the plane, back in Adelaide, all I was thinking was how daunting it was to be leaving my family, my friends and my home. Since, I have learned that I have made countless new homes, amongst other people who I can now call my friends, but I haven't let go of all the ones I know back home. In fact, as it is the two year anniversary since I arrived in the UK, the homesickness is strong, almost as strong as it is whenever I have a birthday, or when Christmas rolls around. Yes, I miss being surrounded by the people I've known for years, and I miss having a bit of warmth and sun (seriously, how can summer only last two weks here? It's ridiculous!), but I have learnt a lot about myself in there two years that have passed.

So, what have I learned? Well, it is almost impossible to say as I have learnt so much since I moved abroad. The big one would be that I still have no idea what exactly I plan to do with the rest of my life, but that is ok as I have also learned that no one else in the world does either. So far my career as a writer had barely extended further than this blog, but that is fine as I know that sooner or later I'm going to figure out something I'll enjoy writing, or doing, and if I don't I'll be fine anyway as I can look forward to the usual ups and downs life throws at you. Some more, smaller, lessons I have learned are that you never catch the tube at peak hour, English ales are flat but delicious, the French stereotypes do kind of hold up when it comes to cheese, bread and wine, Glaswegians are really difficult to understand, don't go to Glasgow in winter and expect to stay dry and warm, football (soccer, for my aussie peeps back home) is life, everyone seems to hate Tottenham, and everywhere seems to be bigger than Adelaide. That is just the tip of the iceberg.

Some of my favourite moments since I have moved would be sub-letting in Marylebone with eleven other people (probably the most chilled-out and funnest place I have ever lived), seeing things in real that I've only ever seen on tv back in Australia (these include, but are not limited to, practically everything), seeing snow for the first time, going to the Royal Ascot races and actually winnng some cash, visitng the town of Luss where my last name originates from, New Years Eve 2015/16 in Edinburgh, finally moving out of my parents' and becoming an adult (arguably), and meeting my girlfriend at the bar I worked at in Camden. The list could go on and on as it is so hard to pick from the vast amount of things I have done, partying in Manchester would be up there, seeing Venice and Paris, making new friends who are welcome, any time, to come crash at mine whenever I'm back in Australia.

But with every favourite moment, there have been a few challenges and struggles I've had to deal with. To name a few, I've learnt how to get by when you've been unemployed a while and your funds are cruising barely above zero, I've separated my AC joint playing footy, continue to struggle with OCD and anxiety, recieved the terrible news that I'll never see two of my beloved pets ever again (Tea and Doug, may you rest in peace), worried about the surgery results of my grandfather and my nanna, and I've had to learn what Christmas and birthdays are like without family. What is nice to think, however, is that this list is so much shorter in comparison to the list of good things I have achieved and experienced and, above all, every one of these tough things I have overcome has made me a stronger and better person today. Oh how my younger, 21 year old self, waiting nervously to board an airbus, would bow down and praise the man that he would become, if he ever got the chance to meet him (I'm still constantly getting informed that I am quite childish, so maybe I shouldn't be getting too far ahead of myself).

Yes, what a marvelous two years it has been, and never in the past would I have believed it if I was told that I would be living in Paris at the start of 2017, but here I am, typing this post in a flat, in the heart of one of the biggest cities in the western world. I am so grateful for all those who have believed in me and stood by me through all the ups and downs I have encountered, and I am thankful for everyone who has experienced this journey with me in some way, whether it be leaning on me durng a drunken piss-up, leasing my first flat with me, missing me from home or simply reading this blog.

Seeing as this is meant to be  "Day in the Life" post, I will now leave you by describing what I have done today:

Nothing. I simply woke up, had a cup of tea and have been typing this in bed.

Chees everyone, I hope you have a wonderful life!