Endings and beginnings

For the past five months, my blog has been many happy tales of my carefree travels and fun adventures with friends in Melbourne. In truth, I have never felt sad or homesick since coming to Australia. This week was a different story. With the end of my safe routine and the departure of treasured friends, I got a pretty bad case of The Lonelys. What a terrible feeling to have in a far away land – and yet, this cloud has a silver lining.

In the days leading up to Texas Matt’s departure, we undertook much beer drinking. That’s how they “do it right” in Austin. We met on a sunny afternoon terrace at the Napier Hotel in Fitzroy, amid lively tables of friends or families on a Saturday outing. A little girl poked me with her red balloon while Matt and I chatted and shared a jug of Horseshoe Draught. Matt was one of my best here in Australia – he would unfailingly pull me out of the law library and into the pub and we shared many jibes and laughs. When I dubbed him Matthieu (“Uh, is that French?”), he declared it the best nickname ever.

Later, Texas Kelly joined us to complete the Melbourne Trifecta. She’s been caught up in an Australian love affair and couldn’t be happier for that addition to her experience here. Kelly has also been an amazing friend for me here. I’ll never forget our times together, going for pedicures and chatting while little Vietnamese women scrubbed and massaged our feet. Or the time we went to eat at Minh Minh in Richmond and talked so long that the waiter finally kicked us out. Kelly is soft, reserved and sweet – a real Southern Belle. She always listened to my constant romantic drama and we’ve had many giggles together.

On Matt’s last night, the Melbourne Trifecta slipped away from his going-away festivities to have one last drink together. At the Little Creatures Dining Hall on Brunswick Street, we shared dessert and wine, discussing our favourite Aussie experiences together. It was hard to say goodbye, but plans are afoot for further exchange visits between Montreal and Austin later in 2009.

Once Matt left, I was pretty much on my own with Channie away traveling the east coast and Kelly tangled with her Aussie bogan. The days started slowly for me. I was sad and immobilized – I’m used to having a schedule, a purpose, a routine. But when I dusted myself off and picked up to CBD (that’s the Central Business District, aka Downtown), I discovered all kinds of solo fun. There was the international homeless soccer tournament, the National Gallery of Victoria, and an afternoon screening of the new Bond movie at my favourite theatre on Collins Street. They sell house-made ice cream and only seven other people were there at 4:00pm on a Thursday.

At some point in my downtown wanderings, I realized that the travel portion of my year off has begun. In the months ahead, much solo traveling awaits me; I’m planning to go to South East Asia after Christmas and then finish up with Western and Central Australia before I go back to Canada next May. I originally had three or four potential travel partners lined up but, one by one, they fell like dominoes and my new plan is to travel alone. Honestly, I’m terrified. But I’m also excited. I haven’t felt this alone since I first moved to the big city all by myself. Back in Montreal, I learned how to enjoy my own company. While I’ve always craved romantic love, my path seems to present an even bigger love affair: the one I’m developing with myself. It isn’t always easy but, in the end, learning to love myself is such a blessing. After all, if I don’t, who will? I have a feeling that I will face many challenges and enjoy many pleasures in the months ahead. I’m excited to know that I have a strong travel companion right here inside of me.

More stories about the long goodbye to Melbourne will follow soon. Lots of love to everyone back home.