Once semester two began, it quickly felt as though I'd never gone on exchange in the first place. August and September flew by quickly and before I knew it, mid-semester break had already arrived. Some of the things that stick out to me from August are seeing Japanese Wallpaper live, Wilson's birthday dinner, learning Judo with Nicole and Laura, going to Tristan's climbing competition and doing the Bridge to Brisbane with an injured leg. September highlights were the UQPMS ball, seeing Vera Blue live and getting to meet her after the show and seeing Basenji as well as enjoying the mid-semester break. October was a pretty busy month in terms of assessment and so I was super busy with uni work. Nicole and I did go see SAFIA play and enjoyed their show so much that we ended up buying tickets for their second Brisbane show, which was a month later.
Before I knew it, October had somehow passed and we all headed into revision week and exam period. Luckily for me, I only had one final exam and so exam block was super chill. I ended up going to see quite a few acts including Sticky Fingers, Cub Sport and SAFIA (again)! Once exams were over, Oliver, Caleb and I headed overseas for our Japan and Taiwan trip, but I'll post about that later.
UQPMS Ball 2016
September mid-semester break
Yes this is a picture of the end product of their hard work. I may look happy but I am probably 2/10 impressed with their mermaid tail.
Semester two went by way too quickly for me. I made heaps of close friends including Paul and Brandon who I'd never talked to before this sem which I find strange since we have a lot of mutual friends. I was also super reflective about my experience with my exchange and how I'd changed as a person. In some ways, that brought me closer to people like Tristan and Brandon who I got to talk through it all with since they'd both been through it as well. And although I feel so much more comfortable here in Brisbane than I did in Dublin, I got so easily frustrated with my static life here. Every now and then I'd feel really irritated about the lack of inspiration and creativity and lack of excitement and hunger for adventure. I wanted to go on trips without a care in the world but it was impossible. As the semester went by, it did get a lot better but even to this day, I occasionally still crave that feeling of walking through an airport knowing that I'm about to see a new exciting place.
The more I think about it, the more I can see the changes that have occurred in me since the beginning of second year. It saddens me to think that I'm no longer the really happy and smiley first year student who was finally enjoying her first year of freedom and who was in some ways really naive but got to live her life hopeful and optimistic. I think I'm a lot more tired now, not just physically but also mentally. Actually, I think I'm tired in the mind more than anything. Over the past two years, something put out the little spark I used to have in me, and something put out the fire with which I would tackle my life. I used to view myself as optimistic and bubbly and I miss that person so much.
But it's not all sad. I'm slowly rediscovering that little girl in me. The happiest I've been all year was probably on our recent trip to Japan and Taiwan. Those three weeks with two of my favourite people in the world made all the difference. I wish I could explain everything a bit more but then this blog would become more of a journal than a blog. Nicole is currently in Taiwan and will be for another month or so. It sucks cause I have so much to discuss but she's not around for me to talk to so I guess for now, writing in my journal will have to do.
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