cease and desist

1. Upon my return I am certainly advocating a mass exodus to Melbourne for 2008. Although, the question did remain why go to city that reminds me of Europe when I could just go to Europe? I guess, Melbourne’s just a little cheaper for the weekend!
2. While I am certainly in agreement that Melbourne may be cooler or trendier or whatever, I have to say it instantly looses points for reminding itself of that every fucking three seconds.
3. Despite feeling like I was on a set for an incredibly complex staging of Waiting for Godot, with constant talking about The New World Order’s Revolutionary Leader (who for the purposes of satire and privacy we shall just call Che) I was happy to see all those that I visited still possessed those strong beliefs and commitments to bringing about social change, that I found so inspiring to be around in our past life together in StinkTown. This was certainly the vegan pumpkin soup for the soul that I desperately needed, so thanks kids, and sorry for my increasingly cynical and jaded world views!

Even when not paying attention — it’s hard to ignore your place. I mean we’ve all moments where we’ve forgotten our place, and usually somebody is more than willing to put us back there. But the weekend’s travels have reminded me that, yep, that only solution when the going gets tough, is to fuck off!

I was astounded with how quickly a different side of me came out so quickly in the southern capital. I mean sure, partly the reason we travel is to escape so we are ready for change anyway. I certainly had realised that while I may’ve been slogging away in ThesisLand I was no longer being effective. I had to escape; I needed a change of scenery. But I am still just marveling about how well it worked.

Batteries recharged, friends commented that I indeed looked refreshed.

Everybody knows I’m one to loose perspective fairly quickly — so I guess a better metaphor would be travel as vision correction. It was just really exciting to remember that there are people that I have real connections with outside the people that form my everyday, and a reminder that other cities provide opportunities unimaginable in this small regional backwater.

So, while I will be sad tomorrow bidding another of the ever shrinking number of locally based friends bon voyage as she sets off on international adventures. I do find it comforting to remember that those connections with people can often be picked up again in another time and place. And it’s even more exciting when those connections can be picked up again despite dramatic changes that both parties have gone through, with out having to resort to the charade of the way things were.