Reflections

So I'm back in New York now.  The trip is over; it's back to the real world.  In retrospect, the trip was infinitely better than I could have ever expected.  When I made the decision to go, my intention was to do something completely different.  I wanted to see a different part of the world, figure out how to live on my own, and just get a new experience.  At the time, there were some mixed reactions from people about it because a lot of details weren't set in stone.  I wasn't sure how long my money would last me, where I would live, where I would work if at all, what I would do, etc.  I'd also left my job not too long before.  I didn't know anything about Australia so there was no guarantee that I'd even like the area.

Now, as I look back, it was the trip of a lifetime.  I saw some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen.  I've met a lot of people: other travelers from all over the globe, local families, and students.  I organized and planned my own itinerary.  I got better at preparing my own food.  I learned a lot about the region and it changed my perspective of the world.  I found a place where I'd like to return to one day (New Zealand).  Basically, I continued to find myself.

The question is: what's next?  It's not determined yet but some kind of continuation of this journey needs to happen soon.  In retrospect, it would have been better to be away for a year like some other travelers I met.  Whatever happens, this trip is one of the best things I've ever done.