Hasta luego, Brisbane!

The view from our apartment balcony: I'll be leaving for the Whitsunday Islands tomorrow. From there, I'll be taking a 3-day sailing trip in the Great Barrier Reef. Then it's on to Cairns, Port Douglas, Sydney, New Zealand, Sydney again, Adelaide...hopefully all of the way up through the middle of the entire country-- through Uluru and to Darwin. It's a loose plan, I've learned it's best to take these things one-step ahead at a time.

Times are a-changin. I said goodbye to people today, some whom I won't be seeing when I get back (the Swedes and Bri, for instance). I quit both jobs, my paralegal job and teaching English to Koreans. I'll miss my paralegal job. Although it was by no means reliable, I realized how much I value the work atmosphere of a small company. I won't miss the teaching job for numerous reasons. Really, who could love a place where the elevator was made by a company called "Schindler's Lifts"? Ironic, but true.

Dinner with friends tonight made me realize how much I'll miss Brisbane. I've met so many fun-loving, down-to-earth, beautiful, expressive people that seem to burst with love through every pore of their bodies. I've learned a lot. I think I've changed a lot too.

Maybe it's corny, but there's still one moment that will always stand out in my mind when I think of my time in Brisbane. It must have been my first week in Australia. I was in the back of Roman's car, with some people from the blue house (where I'd just moved). We were coming back from a dinner at Gabbby's house and on our way to a dumpster dive (something I was still very much unaccustomed to). The windows were down and the air was warm. Bri was in the front seat.

"Leah, I have a song for you," she said. It was the song "Australia," by The Shins. She turned around and said "Welcome to Australia..." We smiled. I'm not sure why such a moment was so significant to me or why I still remember it. But it was- and I do.

Maybe it was the moment when I knew everything would be fine. Although I didn't have the words in my head at the time, maybe I realized no matter what happened or where I was, there was always someone around who'd be there for me if I looked hard enough. Maybe.

Good bye Brisbane, I'll see you in August.