They're usually pretty cool things. I haven't blogged in awhile, but recently I've experienced quite a few of them. Firstly, I graduated. I actually never thought I'd get here, but I've finally made it through the emotional and psychological minefield that is high school. Although I'd never want to do it again, Year 12 was actually pretty amazing. The majority of the memories I'll take from high school will be from Year 12. From all the trips to Rockdale and Hurstville, often having to sprint back to school to make it on time for our next class; from all the times we spent laughing hysterically because of whatever drugs they put in Maccas coke; and even those days where we'd be walking around like zombies due to exam/assessment-related all-nighters.
However, one of the greatest memories of Year 12 would have to be the very last one. There's something oddly special about one hundred and eighty girls (and their dates), dressed to the nines for their final school event, all gathered on the dance floor in lethal-looking heels of various sizes, attempting to do Gangnam Style. It was a truly magical night, and everyone looked fabulous. Oh, and the other special event of the night? I danced, quite a bit, willingly.
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| The Mane Six! (PS: This photo is framed and on the cabinet in my grandmother's house. Just so you know) |
So you can imagine that I was pretty tired the next day. HAHAHA, NO. There was no time to be tired, what with my 25-hour international flight to catch! Destination: Cape Town, South Africa. I've flown between Sydney and Cape Town quite a few times before, but never alone, and it has never taken 25 hours before. One of the first things I learnt on my travels was that I am not very good at sitting still for a lengthy period of time. The second thing I learnt was that however extensive the entertainment system of a particular airline is, I will inevitably get bored of it. Thirdly, for future reference: never choose fish, noodles, or egg for an in-flight meal. Ever. And when the air hostess asks you what you would like to drink? Straight vodka. Every. Single. Time. Okay, so I might not have done the last one. Maybe I should have, I might have gotten a little more sleep...
Aside from the flight, Cape Town has been amazing. I keep saying that it's so beautiful here, but I don't really know why. Maybe it's the fact that it's so far away from home, far enough away so that only positive news can reach me. I haven't really done much, but I did spend a week in Parliament, job shadowing the people who produce the media that comes from/is about Parliament. Being at Parliament taught me a lot, not really about working with multimedia, although that was very interesting, but mostly about people. People are never what they seem. The guy that everyone thinks is so straight-laced is actually very much a child at heart; and the guy who is always laughing and making others smile, actually has an incredibly dark past. Everyone has a story, everyone has something that they've had to struggle with. How we overcome these struggles, rather than the struggles themselves, is what defines us.
When I first started planning this trip, I promised myself that it wouldn't be like all those "coming of age" stories (which are called bildungsromans, if anyone cares). You know the ones... Girl finishes high school/university, girl goes on trip to foreign country, stuff happens and she's changed forever. Maybe it's the experiences I've had here, or maybe I'm finally growing the fuck up, but I'm seeing the world in a different light. For the first time, the glass is half-full, instead of half-empty. I'm almost literally having a fairytale time here, and there will definitely be tears when my fairytale ends.
"Love is not a victory march,
It's cold and it is broken
Hallelujah"
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