This post comes after quite the absence of me writing, so apologies to those who were hoping to hear where I was and what shenanigans I was getting up to there.
Since writing from Japan earlier this year I headed first back to Cairns and then back to Cocos, before finally finding myself happily ensconced at my parent's house in the North East of Victoria, which is where I am writing to you from now. It has felt like the year of 'backs' that it was- despite fantastic times and beautiful people in both Cairns and Cocos I couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu- hadn't I done all of this before? Those who have met me will vouch for the fact that I am covetous of new experiences and places and going back doesn't sit too well with me. However, I do believe that sometimes we need a little familiar in our lives in order to stop and take stock of what new adventures we want to embark on next. My year of familiar has drawn me back to the languages I studied in University, and my grand dreams of becoming an interpreter or translator for some large European entity a la United Nations, which has in turn led to a Russian Government State Scholarship to complete my Masters in Linguistics, at Moscow State Linguistic University. I'm leaving next week, and I am a tangled ball of I-can't-believe-this-is-really-happening (said in excitement) and I-can't-believe-this-is-really-happening (said in terror). Luckily my first 7 or so months will be solely Russian Language classes, to achieve a level that will let me study full time in a language so foreign to my own. My studies in University days gone by will certainly help, though there is a dramatic difference between studying a language for funsies and actually having to write academic essays. I wouldn't be me if I wasn't eager for the challenge (though slightly less eager to be arriving at the beginning of winter)!
Consider this fair warning, Europe- I'm on my way, and I've got all my hiking/climbing/yoga gear with me and a multiple entry visa ready to allow for exploring the 30-Euro-flight-to-anywhere situation. Really looking forward to seeing some old friends and new places!
Since writing from Japan earlier this year I headed first back to Cairns and then back to Cocos, before finally finding myself happily ensconced at my parent's house in the North East of Victoria, which is where I am writing to you from now. It has felt like the year of 'backs' that it was- despite fantastic times and beautiful people in both Cairns and Cocos I couldn't help but feel a sense of deja vu- hadn't I done all of this before? Those who have met me will vouch for the fact that I am covetous of new experiences and places and going back doesn't sit too well with me. However, I do believe that sometimes we need a little familiar in our lives in order to stop and take stock of what new adventures we want to embark on next. My year of familiar has drawn me back to the languages I studied in University, and my grand dreams of becoming an interpreter or translator for some large European entity a la United Nations, which has in turn led to a Russian Government State Scholarship to complete my Masters in Linguistics, at Moscow State Linguistic University. I'm leaving next week, and I am a tangled ball of I-can't-believe-this-is-really-happening (said in excitement) and I-can't-believe-this-is-really-happening (said in terror). Luckily my first 7 or so months will be solely Russian Language classes, to achieve a level that will let me study full time in a language so foreign to my own. My studies in University days gone by will certainly help, though there is a dramatic difference between studying a language for funsies and actually having to write academic essays. I wouldn't be me if I wasn't eager for the challenge (though slightly less eager to be arriving at the beginning of winter)!
Consider this fair warning, Europe- I'm on my way, and I've got all my hiking/climbing/yoga gear with me and a multiple entry visa ready to allow for exploring the 30-Euro-flight-to-anywhere situation. Really looking forward to seeing some old friends and new places!