So long, farewell

Song of the Day: The Sound of Music Soundtrack - So long, farewell

"So, Von, how does it feel now when you're only a few days away from leaving Malaysia and venturing into the unknown?"

"Gee, honestly, I can't really tell. All I can think about are packing and saying goodbyes to my family and friends. Beyond that, I have this nasty twinge of uncertainty that keeps popping its head up. I don't know. Maybe the reality of it hasn't truly hit me, you know?"

"Hmm...but surely you must feel a semblance of sadness and regret for leaving the life that you have grown comfortable with?"

"I think I have gone past the stage of sadness and regret for mentally I have been preparing myself for this day to come months ago. So, yeah... no sadness and regret now. But come the day of departure, I could cry my eyes out. Damn it. When my mother starts crying, I have virtually no defences. I have already said goodbye to my brother last week and when he called to say goodbye again from the airport, my throat was constricted. Saying goodbye to families are the worst."

"So, are you afraid of living overseas? Apart from family and your comfort zone?"

"Definitely. Who wouldn't? Everyone says that it is an unforgettable experience and the exposure you'll get will be priceless. But they don't always mentioned that the first few weeks will definitely be the toughest. Settling in, finding your footing, making new friends... if you're lucky, it could all fall smoothly into place or else, it sucks being away from home."

"What were you planning to do during your last few days here?"

"Well, meeting up with my closest friends remain my priority. Of course, there's also spending time with my parents and relatives. Eating lots of Chinese food is also in the schedule. I would probably gain kilo's in the process but I plan to starve myself in Brisbane. Haha. Not literally of course but then again, I can't cook so it might be a probable scenario. Movies! I would like to catch Fantastic 4, Oceans' 13, Transformers and Die Hard before I leave. What else? Oh, stealing downloaded dramas from friends and also buying enough novels to last me a few months just so I won't die of boredom there. Oh, plus there's dental check-up and re-styling my hair which I'm excited about! Getting kind of bored with my same-since-high-school hairstyle. Couple of last minute shopping to do also. Sigh. Where will I find the time to do all this??!"

"What do you plan to achieve once you're there? I mean, you have got some goals set out right?"

"Get drunk, get high and get laid..... Haha. Of course, I'm kidding. It's so cliched but the usual answers apply. Get good results and enjoy the hell out of Australia. I plan to visit the museums, beaches, libraries, yada yada, do whatever Aussies do. Watch rugby, cricket, footie, whatever they play for fun. During summer, I plan to work so that I could travel to Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. Maybe even the Great Barrier Reef if the pocket could handle it. Try to meet lots of Aussie hunks and potential boyfriends. Hehe. I'm no sarong party girl but hey, I have a weakness for hot bods. What else? I hope to be able to return in a year's time and say that, Hey! It was the best year of my life! Everything comes back to living it to the fullest."

"What's the plan after your graduation? Return to dear ol' Malaysia or be an expatriate?"

"Everyone keeps asking me that but each time my answer will be 'Depends'. Who knows what will happen 1 year from now? Heck, at this rate, I'm not even sure what will happen 1 month from now. Now, my feelings are ambivalent. I would like to return to Malaysia 'cause no matter how screwed up it is, it's still home. I would like to work in Australia and earn Aussie money so that I could be rich. But it ain't as easy as it seems. So, it all really depends."

"If there is one thing that you could change that would make your time in Australia more exciting, what would it be?"

"I wish that my close friends were going with me. Or else, they are already there in Brisbane. As it turns out, most of them are in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. So near yet so far. Sigh. But then again, we're in the same continent so it's only a phone call away. Plus, they will come to visit me and me, them. So, it won't be much of a problem."

"What do you reckon will miss most when you're there?"

"Everything! Hanging out mamak sessions. Malaysian food. KL shopping sales. My house. My bed. My family. My friends. My TV. My radio. Penang Dvd's. Rented Novel Hut books. Watching movies. Shopping. Clubbing. Booze parties. Aiesec activities. Weekends with my brother. Most of all, the thought that when everything falls downhill, there's always your family to fall back on. But when in Australia, you're on your own. That is a scary thought."

"What happens to your blog when you're in Aussie?"

"A brand new look to commemorate a brand new beginning. More pictures will be uploaded to show the beauty of the Sunshine State. More personality involved. As in, I would not hesitate to reveal my innermost, darkest thoughts for the world to see. Before this, I think twice before writing in case of repercussions. But now, I shall only think once. Haha. The sole purpose of the blog would be to immortalize in words about my 1-year experience in Brisbane. I pray that it would be an unforgettable one."

"Any other things that you would like to add before we sign off tonight?"

"I would just like to say that it is the right time for me to move on. However safe and comfortable you are now, you need to venture out in order to grow. Moreover, lately I don't really feel like I belong here anymore so, it is indeed the right time to go away to a foreign country. To a place where you're free to become whoever it is that you wish to be. Be a brand new person! Do the things that you've always wanted to do! Go fly kite! Haha. That last part was just a tongue-in-cheek answer. Jokes aside, I hope I will be able to discover myself in that 1-year and finally, be happy and contented with the way things are. The pursuit of happyness is indeed an arduous journey."

"With that, it is the end of a long blog entry. Thanks for a deep and thoughtful insight about your journey to Brisbane."

"My journey has barely begun. Till the next time, I hope to be safe and sound in my new place when I'm blogging. Farewell, Malaysia."