Tonight is my last night in Australia, before returning home to the States. I have gained some great experience and knowledge over the last three months, both professionally as an Energy Consultant and personally. Professionally, it has been great to learn about an electricity market that differs from the generally regulated markets of the United States. Additionally, while it has been good to learn something new, this also gives me software configuration ideas that provide additional outside-the-box thought processing. And as with any project, the additional contacts and project experience will add value to my resume and my working abroad will hopefully result in other international project work, something in which I am highly interested. The focus of this writing, however, is more in regard to personal gains.
While many of my working days have been spent in the mundane office environment, followed by rather calm nights in CBD business hotels, I have been given the opportunity to exercise some of my interests on the weekends. Throughout my series of weekends in Australia, I have explored on some of Australia’s history, natural wonder, and beauty by taking on mountains, swimming the seas, and exploring caves. Other weekends, I have indulged locally, in electronic music conferences and other massive musical events. Meandering around cities, often in the rain, has given me the opportunity to meet locals and passersby. My weekends away from Melbourne, be they in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, or Tasmania, have generally been spent hosteling so that I could escape the solitude that accompanies the business hotel lifestyle. This has provided me some friends, some acquaintances, some ability to deal with people who I would not generally (if they were not sleeping in the bunk below me), and many great stories of locals and otherwise, along with their travels through.
- Darwin is very multi-cultural city located in the tropics of the Northern Territory, providing beaches, waterfalls, and wetlands… and lots of crocodiles. While spending a weekend out, I picked up a book about farm stays and harvest work. This may be hard (and temporary) work, though it would provide a unique, genuine experience along with a great excuse to stay longer. I have also looked into WWOOFing with the Kiwis (New Zealand).
- The Ghan is a transcontinental railway that travels among Darwin, Alice Springs and Adelaide. In my time here, I have only been given weekends to travel about, which as not afforded me the time and expense of seeing the Outback. This three-day adventure would provide just that!
- There is no doubt that everyone knows of Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. This enormous sandstone formation of the Northern Territory is a sacred ground for the aboriginal people and a perfect spot for me to spend some time out in the outback.
- Southern Australia is a producer of delicious wines, and the hills that surround Adelaide provide some excellent wine tours and tastings. I will have to take at least a slight of time to experience some of this goodness.
- Western Australia is Australia’s largest state and provides as much desolate wilderness as it does a beautiful bounty. Exmouth or Perth, I would love to see what the West has to offer and spend some time beach camping the coast.
- Byron Bay is a beach-side town located in the far-northeastern corner of the state of New South Wales. I see this as being another area worth participating in some harvest work while exploring the region and enjoying some ocean sport. At some point, I would like to attain a sailing license; maybe this could be the place to learn?
- And of course, I could not return to Australia without another weekend out with Wayne and Karen. That would just be rude!
What will I take home to the States? I have often discounted the notion of taking leave within the US, rather I generally see holiday as a great reason to travel abroad. I have no desire but to increase my international travels, though I have been given a greater appreciation of what my own country can offer, especially for someone who is fond of outdoors and exploration. Not only in my country do I see this, but also in my own region of the Southeastern US and Georgia. If being given the opportunity to see more of Victoria appeals such to me, why should not the offerings of Georgia or the Carolinas, both of which offer their own mountainscapes and ocean views. While I do not anticipate a move from the city, or Midtown for that matter, on my return home, I will elect to spend more weekends appreciating what is around my own Perimeter. This will, in hopes, give a greater appreciation for home and whoever joins.
There is no doubt that being in a home sort of routine will take some getting used to, and that I will spend some time catching up on events missed. I will also do what I generally do every six months or so and evaluate my current goals and how well I am beset on them. There is no doubt that things will be a little different from before as certain lifestyle changes are made and goals become better realigned for fulfillment.
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