Rediscovering Home

It’s funny how easy it has been, after weeks living out of my rucksack again, to settle somewhere for a while. It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve been living in Brisbane for over two months now. Working hard at two jobs to save for future adventures, time has sped by. 

I’m not just working, though. I’m continuing to maintain a balance of work, exploring, and socialising (or at least trying to). Returning to Brisbane, where I grew up, has meant re-exploring, too, and this has been really exciting and moving.

When I decided that I would return to Australia to travel, work, and explore my old home, I had several vivid images at the forefront of my mind: the purple flowers on the windy structures of South Bank, the dark patterned carpet of Carindale shopping centre, the whales at the park on Wynnum Waterfront... These are from memories growing up, some which were reinforced when we visited eight years ago. Small tokens of Brisbane that became symbolic as I geared up for this trip. On one of my first days in Brisbane, I crossed the bridge from Petrie Terrace to South Bank and sensed the closeness to the images that had been with me for over ten years: I’d made it.

Revisiting Wynnum, the suburb where I grew up and went to school, was also exciting. Wandering the streets with a family friend, the biggest surprise was how normal it felt to be there. I could notice small changes in the layout and locations, buildings that had been knocked down to make way for others, and although I was a kid the last time I was there, it felt just as normal to be there now. 

Down at the waterfront, I walked during sunset. I passed the park with the lighthouse and recognised the old cross country route. On a path, I saw my childhood best friend turn around and speed up as I threatened to overtake. I reached the wading pool, saw the Pelican’s Nest fish and chips shop, and, of course, the whales. I sent photographs to my family of these small, but iconic landmarks of my childhood, feeling so close to them even though they were so far away.

As well as places, I have also been able to reconnect with old friends. Despite not having seen most of them for eight years, our shared histories have allowed for instant emotional intimacy. We can chat endlessly with shared nostalgia, tell stories that span years of separation, and reveal who were are now, years later. 

And with my parents set to be here in just over two weeks, I can’t wait to share these rediscoveries with them.