Two weeks, seven flights, five countries. That’s one flight every two days. In two weeks I’m going to be Jerry Seinfeld. What is the deal with airport bathrooms? It’s going to be great. How many movies can I watch on the plane before I make it to Europe?
I’m not sure I’m ready. Did my bathroom scales lie to me, and is my suitcase actually too heavy? Maybe. Do I have enough money? Maybe. Did I say goodbye to everyone? Not quite. Do I have my passport? …Maybe. Do I have a return ticket? No. Are the Australian Customs officials going to confiscate my Marmite? Most likely. I’m being picked up in an hour.
The last day is the most hectic. I woke up well before my alarm, awake with nerves and probably caffeine (from meeting friends for coffee to say goodbye the night before). Before being picked up at 11 and taken to uni I needed to finish packing, move the last of my stuff out of my room, vacuum and say goodbye to my flatmates. Helpfully, builders decided to arrive at 9.25am to tear the roof off. Clouds threatened to rain through the new hole that used to be the roof. I’m probably leaving just in time.
The day was filled with meeting friends for coffee, buying things last-minute, meeting friends for coffee, exchanging money into other currency, meeting friends for coffee, saying goodbye, and pure caffeine. I did my last stint of work at Salient, and Sarah and Ju went crazy with Peak Salient as usual. Molly joined in too, making three of them. I’m probably leaving just in time.
In two weeks I’ll be in Germany, which is a good place to go to. I’m reminded of The Simpsons Movie, in which the family goes to Alaska. “Welcome to Alaska,” the toll-booth man says. “Here’s a thousand dollars.” For me, going on a certain scholarship to teach English in a secondary school, it is much the same, only euros instead of dollars, so, even better.
Last time I went to Germany
But that’s getting a bit ahead of myself. I’ve got two weeks in Australia first. Warm, sunny Australia. Oh, and the Whitsundays. I’m going there too.