Full circle.....

So back to Vancouver after a journey around the world was exactly what I needed. The four weeks in Vancouver was better than I ever imagined. There is no place like home and being able to see old friends and family was a special treat. The food in Vancouver has not changed much since my last visit during the last visit with Japanese, French, Italian, and Chinese food being some of the best I have ever tasted in my life. My favourite restuarant of all time is still Cru (http://www.cru.ca/), a small cozy restuarant with amazing food and great atmosphere where I have celebrated many of the major milestones in my life.

I stayed for my mom's 60th birthday and flew out the following night back to Sydney. Every year I think our roles reverse and I become more of a parent trying to ensure that my family has the resources they need. I had a few meetings with the bank, financial adviser, and junk removers to sort out all the administrative things. I managed the work like an accenture project. Every day I had another task to complete with another team of people and by the end of each day I celebrated with a drink. =)

Flying back to Sydney always reminds me of my first trip out, nervous and anxious to get settled. This time was no different than any of the others. After 3 months of travelling with storing my belongings in storage, I really needed time to sort my life out. My intensity returns quickly and I spend my first days running from one rental inspection to another begging the agents to give me the lease. On day three, I was lucky enough to secure a one year lease back in Manly... back where I started in 2007. Five hours of moving and five more hours at IKEA and I have most of the work complete in settling back in Australia.

I am happy to be back in Sydney, settling back in an apartment by myself and accumulating furniture for the first time in 3 years and showing signs of maturity and committment. It will be interesting to see how this next year plays out with permanent residency coming in the next couple months and see how this trip has changed my view of the world.