Okay, this is my first ever blog post, so if it sounds a bit ropey or anything, bear with me. First off, let me tell you a bit about my life at the moment.

I’ve been spending 2010 with my mom and Shane (stepdad) in Ireland and it has been absolutely great. I love the place. It’s so green and lush and you have so much more freedom, but I miss home. (South Africa) That saying “home is where the heart is”, is definitely true. Whoever made that up knew what they were talking about!

So, now I’m going home in three weeks and all that’s going through my mind is, “OMG, what am I going to do once I’m back?” Because I left South Africa directly after graduating from High school in 2009, I now have zero clue about what to do next. Sure, I’m going to be studying and finishing my novels, but life never is the same after school, is it? There’s always that pestering realisation about finding a suitable job and having to start fending for yourself, because you can’t live off your parents for the rest of your life – I think that would just be wrong. You have to take the leap one time or another before your folks shove you out of the nest, I guess. I sometimes just feel like I never want to grow up, don’t you?

Anyway, it’s quite easy for me to say I’ve had a really simple life so far, and I know I’m lucky. Looking at some of the things that’s been going on in the world just makes me shudder! I heard the other day about numerous times the same people got attacked in public and couldn’t help but think how privileged I am not to have ever been a victim of any kind of crime. I have to admit, the only time I ever got injured in public was my own fault … sort of – I broke my leg on my way to school one morning when I accidentally fell with my 120cc scooter, and believe me, I never expected it. If I think back now, I can visualize the whole scene in slow-mo; the handlebar shaking, the silver scooter sliding out from underneath me, the world tipping sideways as I reached out to the ground (which was a stupid thing to do actually because I fecked up my gloves pretty badly!) and then my own voice, calmly saying “Ah shit.” as I felt my body hit the ground. It was scary, yeah, but I was laughing by the time a classmate’s folks found me.
To make matters worse, I was in the middle of writing my final exams at the time! Needless to say, I ended up writing everything at home in the end … hehehe. My teachers were great, honestly, and I’m happy to mention that I am on two legs again. Thank you very much!

I think what I’m looking forward to the most when going home, is seeing all my family and friends again. The time I’ve spent away from them this year has definitely been an eye-opener to how important they really are and how much I actually love them, especially as someone that’s always been dear to me got snatched away by cancer while I was abroad. It broke my heart, not being there in her time of suffering and not being able to tell her I love her face to face, but that’s the circle of life, isn’t it? It’ll be strange though, going back and living my life without her after growing up with her always there beside me, loving me, nurturing me, caring for me, hugging me when I needed a hug, kissing me goodnight …
I guess being away from them just taught me the importance of family. Love them while they’re there, because you never know when they might be gone. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Now, I just have to say this: I am NOT looking forward to the 11 hour flight have to take! Flying from Ireland to South Africa is no joke, not when you know you’re going to be bored out of your mind by the time you’re up in the air. Sure, there’s a telly and you can play games, read, listen to music or run up and down the aisle till your legs give in, but have you noticed how quick a headache can develop when you’re flying high between the clouds and trying to focus on the small screen in front of you? I figured, when I came to Ireland at the end of 2009, that the best thing to do in order to avoid headaches and keep yourself busy at the same time, is to observe the rest of the people on the plane with you. You can see some strange things sometimes …
Last year, there was a French journalist on board who, at the start of the flight, accidentally “sat in the wrong seat” and ended up next to me! Now, I wouldn’t have minded if he just shut up and minded his own business, but he was rattling on with his strange accent and I was looking at him with the most confused expression ever, and he just wouldn’t shut up! Luckily, having a bad leg at the time, I needed to sit in the aisle seat for extra leg room (I was sat in the middle of three seats) so, halfway through the flight I switched places with the lady on my other side and BAM!– Annoying French guy no more! (No offence to all the French people, though.)
And you know what was THE best feeling ever when I had to get onto my connecting flight at Amsterdam airport? – seeing the knackered faces of the passengers who had to go on foot all the way while I was riding on one of those little golf cart type car thingy’s that they use for all the old or handicapped passengers. If you’ve ever seen the airport in Amsterdam you’d understand … it’s huge! I just sat there, waving at everyone as I drove by. Sadly, this time I’ll be on the other side of the fence, having to walk all the way like those people I used wave at. Ironic, isn’t it?

So, after spending an entire year in Ireland, I am now excited, and scared at the same time, to go back home. There’s so many unknown things to come my way, so much catching up to do! Going home will surely be an entire journey on its own …

AND I’LL BE FACING IT HEAD-FIRST!