For those not in the know, it's been a rough couple of months for me emotionally speaking. Having put myself in a position of ridiculous vulnerability, every possible distress and heartache seemed to pile on top of one another until even the smallest of things would turn me into an anxious mess. Coming home seemed like a smart way of dealing with the situation, by: a) getting me as far away as possible from the madness and b) giving me a chance to redefine my identity in the context of Australia and my loved ones, instead of Japan and JETs. And from the moment I touched down at Perth International Airport, (most) things have been golden... Here are a few highlights so far:
Welcome Home
Prepared for an onslaught of questions regarding my year-long absence and suitcase packed full of sake bottles and lollies, I was pleasantly surprised at airport customs when the officials took one look at my passport/arrival card and kindly waved me straight through to the exit, cheerfully adding a "welcome home love" to the end. The fact that my Mum and brother had driven up to the airport to surprise me - wielding a meat pie no less - had me in tears as soon as I spotted them. Of course, you can't cry and chew at the same time though, so...
Food, Glorious Food
Choosing dinky-di Western meals from an entire menu that I can read has been A-MAZING. Bacon breakfast bagels with cream cheese one day, authentic Burmese curries the next. Cheese sausages, meat pies, chilli olives, chunks of cheddar and homemade chocolate milk. It's been one culinary rediscovery after another and I haven't even hit the supermarket yet. Looking forward to my first BBQ Aussie steak and sausages any day now...
Touching My Roots - Myanmar and The Lady
Looking for ways to make myself feel more like "me," I have been toying with the idea of travelling to Burma for Christmas and New Years. Ever since I was a little girl, I've felt Burma calling me and still feel that pull deep inside my heart today. I've been ignoring it for so long, but I'm starting to wonder whether this is, in fact, what I've been looking for all these years? In any case, spending time with my Burmese family, eating Burmese food, watching the Luc Besson film about Aung San Suu Kyi and re-reading a Lonely Planet Burma guide book has made the decision for me... To Burma I must go. Not only am I looking forward to the trip, but see the planning for it to be a welcome distraction from the tediousness that this life has started to become. The very idea of setting foot in the Motherland has given me strength and helped me to close myself off from all of the unimportant and irrelevant things that I let myself get caught up in lately too. If I thought coming home to Australia was going to be good for me, I can only imagine how magical "going home" to Burma will be. The countdown begins!
Shopping Up A Storm
I'd forgotten how much I loved Australian fashion! None of the bland colours of Japan - here the girls aren't afraid to pop in tones of fuschia, emerald and citrine yellow. The shoes are delectable, the dresses are sexy, the tops are casual Aussie cool. There's hardly a pastel palette or polka dot to be seen and I, for one, am in retail heaven.
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