It’s finally over. I’m sitting in Heathrow Airport waiting for my flight to Melbourne. It feels a bit weird leaving travelling to go home and see everyone I left behind, but also I feel like so much is happening that I’m leaving behind from travelling too. Its going to be good to see everyone again, and it’ll be a bit weird to sleep in my bed again. But just as soon as I’m going to get used to it I’m going to have to leave again, off to my new home in the states.

Its been an amazing trip, been to three continents over eight months. Been on top of mountains and under the sea. Found it hard to breathe at times with both. Found out the hard way not to go diving and then to altitude a day later, makes it rather difficult to breathe. Plus I found a girlfriend on the way, and spent the last few months with her. Definitely going to have to find some way of continuing with that in the states.

Hope I’ve changed a bit over this trip. I think I have, and at least my sister seems to think so. Was really good to see her, both in Amsterdam and in Zurich too. Zurich was very cool. Kinda similar to Geneva, very pretty, clean and absolutely without vibes, just a bit boring. Also, my god is Switzerland expensive. Not only is the Franc worth more than the euro, but the number in Francs is also higher than the number in Euros. It’s definitely moments like these that I’m happy to be earning a stronger currency like the US Dollar. Despite Zurich being itself, Street Parade was great. The whole route around the lake was turned into a street party, with stages setup around the path and “lovemobiles” (party trucks) driving through the road. It was great just wondering around dancing and listening to all the different DJs as they moved through. And it was really nice to be able to share it with my sister. I think she was a bit sad after because she’s not able to bring me to all the concerts at home, but now I guess she’ll have to come over the do them with me in the states.

I mean, yeah, I’m going to need to find all of that stuff in Chicago now. Where to go out, and what the vibe is. Suspect it’ll be a bit different from visiting, going to need to build a new social circle. It’s a bit different to exchange or backpacking, I expect, possibly a little harder to meet people. But I guess it’s all part of it, having new experiences. Just need to find a good place to be and some things to do there. All a bit daunting moving so far away alone, although I hope my girlfriend will come, so then it’s not all me.

It just all feels very weird, these moments of transition, kinda like when I started travelling and I wasn’t too sure what I was doing there. I guess now, its similar, just with a different type of uncertainty. Definitely happy that I can still call friends and family, would probably be harder if I couldn’t. And I get to go and see most of those friends and family now, catch up on all the stories I missed out on. Should make for an interesting time.