New Lives

I always say time is different for travellers. It seems to go slower, but in a fantastic way that means time is stopped and you have all the time in the world to explore. 3 days pass and you look back and everything you've seen and done and think, was that really only 3 days ago? 

So even though I've only been out here for under three months, it feels like I've experienced enough for a lifetime. Multiple lifetimes, actually, as with every turn and change of direction I feel like I've started afresh yet again.

Life #1: Travelling

Finally starting my trip was so unbelievably exciting, that I had planned it for 1 year and a half and it was all finally coming to fruition felt amazing. I didn't know what was coming next or where I would be in a month and that felt like I was starting a whole new life.

My few days in Singapore were magical, and I really fell in love with the city. I'm so glad I did that because that was my first time in Asia and I'd love to go back, but even if I won't get the chance to now at least I was there for a few days.

Then, arriving in Australia was equally exciting. It took a while to really realise I was here, after banging on about Australia this Australia that for the past year and a half.

FOMO Festival and then the Welcome to Travel tour was such a fun week; I did so much in such a short amount of time and met so many new incredible people. This time also brought huge difficulties as this was when my nan passed away, showing me not only the pain of something happening at home while you can't be there, but also the kindness and understanding of near-strangers when something like that happens.

And then there was the Great Ocean Road, still to this day one of my favourite things I've done in Australia. It was absolutely dreamy driving across the coastal roads with friends and food piled into the vans blasting our music.

Life #2: Melbourne

Even though most of Life #1 was in Melbourne, I've bundled this all into Life #2 as it feels fitting. Everything I've put under this life is to do with settling in Melbourne, finding an apartment with the girls and living in St Kilda, and trying to find a job.

This was a time of big ups and downs for me. I intitally had so much fun living with the girls, going out, and enjoying the beach and the penguins of St Kilda, but equally I struggled a lot with anxiety, pressure, difficulty in adapting to settling in a new country and not being able to find a job. I struggled at times but St Kilds will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will always see it as one of my homes.

Life #3: East Coast

Once I finally made the decision to leave Melbourne, I feel like my travels and therefore Life #3 finally began. Even though this was technically only just over 3 weeks, it feels like I did enough to constitute years, and I had an absolute blast. It was so incredible to do things I had planned for so long and cross stuff off my bucket list, like the Blue Mountains and the Big Pineapple. Discovering Byron Bay and Noosa were also huge highlights for me, and of course meeting so many lovely people and making new friends.

Life #4: Au Pairing in Brisbane

Life #4 is the one I'm living now, living in a suburb of Brisbane with a lovely family and working as an au pair looking after the children. It's a far cry from travelling and staying in big hostels and rooms with 3-7 other people in; even more so since the madness of this pandemic. I'm still getting used to living here and looking after the kids, and there's a lot of new environments and routines to get used to. But it feels really good to be settling down for a while, and of course, at the moment this is the right thing to do.

Living all these different lives is a whirlwind but when I think about it that's exactly the uncertain but exciting existence I signed up for when I left for my travels. I'm anxious but looking forward to seeing what the next life will bring.

Shepp x

P.s. I hope everyone's staying safe, staying home and looking after themselves and each other xx