box of Jack

   

Compare the pair. Left: Pacific Ocean near Australia and right: Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Hey, let’s go to another country! Let’s fly across the a gigantic ocean in a big noisy can of sardines for umpteen hours.

At any other time in the past, this idea would be insane to me. Friends always suggested vacations to far away places and I’d hesitate because flying sounds so expensive and kind of scary because I’ve never flown before. Yeah, if you didn’t already know, my first time flying ever was Melbourne to Sydney for Lachlan’s birthday weekend. Then I flew to Sydney a few more times for job interviews. Then finally, I got my passport and left Australia for the first time ever to live in Seattle.

It’s weird how things work out.

Flying to Melbourne for one week is incomprehensible to a lot of people. People are more understanding when they find out Melbourne is home for me. Well, nowadays? It is and it isn’t. Melbourne is something else, really.

Oh, United States Customs Service, you want to know what I have brought back to America?

• one Kangaroo plush toy (with joey and Australian flag)
• one Koala plush toy (sings Waltzing Matilda when you squeeze him)
• a renewed sense of identity
• an understanding of how rose-colored nostalgia really is
• a begrudging acceptance of Seattle as my home
• a crush on Geraldine

Moments after surprising everyone at Lachlan’s birthday lunch

Being back in Melbourne, I learned that my insanity had gotten the better of me and convinced me that my friends had all moved away from me. No one feels any further; absolutely no one. They’re just there. Rain or shine. Being surrounded by all these loved ones who are genuinely and wholeheartedly supportive of my move reminded me that it was me that started all of this and I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing.

Through talking and talking about Seattle with my friends, I finally figured out where I stand. I mean, I was drunk and people were asking me about Seattle and my new job and you know what I said? I said nice things. I praised the city and I spoke highly of my job and fondly of the people I’ve met so far. When normal people get drunk, they usually start bitching about their job or their girlfriend. Since I have dressed myself in all these layers of cynicism and sarcasm, I can only express positive feelings of contentment and joy when I am intoxicated. What a dysfunctional adult I have become.

So, it is with a deep breath that I say Seattle is home now. And Melbourne? Melbourne is a beautiful city with amazing friends, fashionable streets and a toxic river that still creates million-dollar waterfront properties. Melbourne is a place I am permanently attached to and a place that I will perpetually speak highly of.

Melbourne is really something else.