I am on my way home. Properly this time - in a few hours I will board a plane bound for London Heathrow & step back onto English soil for the first time in nearly a year.
I left England expecting to spend 12 months living & working in Indonesia. But instead of (or kind of as well as) I have visited six different countries (plus two special administrative regions), seen two of the wonders of the world (plus five world heritage sites), taken 28 flights (plus one helicpoter) & had my passport stamped 26 times (plus four visas). I've met hundreds of people, some of whom I will stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I've seen so much, done so much, experienced so much. I've had some of the most amazing days of my life, but I've also had some of the worst - both will always stay with me.
So after all this it does feel a bit funny to be going home, but I am ready. It's not that I miss the specific & material things anymore - I learnt long ago to adapt & live without them. But I do miss friends & family. Modern communication has made being away from loved ones easier to bare than it may have been in the past, but all the same I am looking forward to a hug from my mum!
I am not sure how long the joy of being back on English soil will last... it's a risk that I've developed a taste for visiting foreign countries & cultures (regardless of how much I moan about them on my blog) that just hasn't been quenched yet. But for now the buzz of finally heading home is enough. It's been a long journey (in every sense) & I am ready for a rest... for a while at least.
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Well, what an epic journey, not only globally but emotionally as well. You must have gone through just about every emotion possible in the past year and your wonderful blogs have highlighted that dramatically. I have mentally been there with you and my emotions have reflected yours in many ways. Yes, the communication has been great, often better than when you were in the UK, but all those 'airmiles' have divorced us from that all important physical contact of 'the hug' and I have missed that the most. Selfish, perhaps, but I'm a Mum and no matter how mature your children become it's always there, affection, love, and care, and a hug says it all. So hopefully Karen you will settle for just a little while so we can 'hug' and spend time together before you move on with your decision making for the future, for which of course Dad and I wish you every happiness, and be assured, we will always be there for you, wherever that may be.
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