The End

This is my last day in South Africa, and by extension the last day of my five-month adventure. I've been putting off writing about it, mainly because a big part of me doesn't want it to end. I don't know what it'll be like at home. I wonder if I'll be different. This has definitely been the best year of my life. This has definitely changed me (hopefully for the better). It's funny, I've been saying a lot of goodbyes over the past half a year, but this is as painful a goodbye as any of them. Goodbye to the countdowns to flights, goodbye to the packing and repacking of suitcases, goodbye to meeting so many people and leaving them almost instantaneously. It's a lifestyle and it gets under your skin.

So here it is, the complete and total list of what I have learnt this year, in the hope that I'm ever-so-slightly wiser than once I was:

1. People are complicated. They're messy and wonderful and interesting and they are the most important part of any trip.

2. If you want something badly, you can make it happen. I know, cliche central. But it happened for me and I'm proud of it.

3. There are many many many beautiful places in the world. And dangnabbit it's our duty to explore them.

4. Baggage allowances are bullshit.

5. Being on your own is good for you sometimes. It can help you figure stuff out.

6. Dogs are the same all over the world.

7. Tearful white girls in clubs are the same all over the world.

8. A sense of humour is crucial.

9. Adventure is everywhere. It's not about where you are, but what you make it.

10. Never ever ever fail to appreciate good food. Ever. Don't do it.

That's it. My top 10 wisdoms. Use them well.

And now it's time to go home. Climb into that big silver bird and fly. I don't know what the next bit will be like. I don't know what this blog will be like. But rest assured:

This isn't the last.