It was my first long flight journey alone to Aussieland, 9 hours flight seemed like forever. I was scared not knowing anything, I didn't know the place, I didn't speak English all that well and the fact that I would be away from my family for the first time in my 19 years of my life, so yes I was afraid.
Yes, Wollongong was home to me .. I experienced and learned lots of "first time" here in this place. I learned to depend on myself, I learned to live on my own, I learned to make my own decision, I learned how to cook, how to take care of everything by myself. It was tough but it made me stronger. Then I knew that I could do all those things ..
Here at this place I learned about love - I fell in love and also fell out of love. I had my heart broken, I experienced my ups and downs of life, I learned about life. And the most important thing was I had my first job and experience the feeling of earning money with my own sweat for the first time. It was amazing!
As for my first salary, I bought a Calvin Klein sunglasses. I was my first true accomplishment :D
Being away from family and friends who you grew up with all your life and suddenly you were put in a very strange place, was never easy. But as time went by, I formed new family and found friends who I treasure forever 'cos they formed me, they made me who I am today.
"What we have been is what we are"
Going overseas to study was never a plan for me, it was initially my brother's plan but he got chicken out at the last minute, so I decided to go and it was the best decision I've made so far. I don't know what will happen if I stayed here, what would I be.
Now, 15 years later .. too many great memories to remember, but somehow they are all still fresh in my head. It seems like it was only yesterday I arrived in Wollongong, greeted by Bob - the Campus East staff and met Ari for the first time, he who helped me settled in. And 2 weeks later, 6 November 1997, I met my best friend, Brian for the first time in our first Foundation class and everything is history.
With Brian, it was not easy but not difficult .. our relationship just grew as time went pass. From a daily routine in Foundation class, grew to like and to a little crazy love and end up as best friend with no romantic feeling. He's not the best and perfect person I know, he's boring and uptight, but somehow we connect and he's my best friend.
There was never a day passed by without us talking or seeing each other. And now even after 15 years, a marriage and a baby girl, though we don't speak as much, we always have something to talk about and just pick up where we left off and never got dull. I guess that's what friend is .. He's kinda my soul-mate. We both know each other too well, sometimes it's scary.
I got to see him again after almost 8 years being apart, he's been living in Australia since we graduated and he's now an Australian citizen.
It was Christmas 2009, I was on family trip attending cousin's wedding .. when we saw each other again, it was like we never apart. It was like we were only away for few days. Everything was so comfy with him. I'm so grateful for him ..
Friends ..
they come and go .. but I know Brian will stay with me and I will stay with him. Not many guy-girl friend relationship survived, even ours had few hiccups, specially now that he's married. So I'm drawing a line and know where I stand. But no matter what, we will always remain friends ..
I had fair share of men that came into my 5 years of my life there. They were all special. But sadly among those men, there were only 2 left that still involve in my current life and yes one of them is Brian.
Though they are all somewhere out there now, I wish them all the best in their life .. they were part of me once and I was theirs, leave it at that. They were my memories ..
Next ...
18 August 2001, I added a Bachelor of Arts degree - Communication Studies major behind my name. The battle of sweat and tears I had to face for 3 years paid off. I was so proud walking down the UOW theater hall with that blue toga and knowing that my parents were there seeing me accomplished another chapter of my life. It was their battle too .. tough one with the 1998 economy crisis, but we survived.
I accepted the diploma, the chancellor - Michael Codd asked me, "What's next?"
Honestly, I didn't know then and if you asked me now, I don't even know what I want in life.
I'm still searching.
I guess I'm just flowing wherever the current takes me.
I don't even know what my passion is, I like lots of things, but I'm not sure whether my hobbies will make ends-meet. But I'm sure it's out there.
Life is a neverending learning process, so maybe someday I'll find out what I really want and can make the best out of it.
So for now, I'm just gonna enjoy the meantime and live it to the fullest. You'll never know where life takes you. Things could be worse than what I have right now ..
Just try to really focus on finding what you truly want in life. Like Wes said "Your proudest moment is the one you're gonna come across and believe that it's still out there ..."
So .. Happy 15th years of taking the biggest step in your life, Net. I'm glad I did ..
Toodles!!
23 Oct 2012, 11:22pm
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