Arrival to Brisbane

My train arrived at 5am just in time for the sunrise....timing, timing, and timing. No one informed me that there was a one hour time difference going to Queensland otherwise I would have tried to get myself to a better seat and pass the eff out.  I arrived to Steven's house in a nice suburb of Brisbane with a park, local community stores, and a nearby park

I passed out for a while in my new room (stay for 1 week). I woke up, headed to the center with my 50 cent fare. All Queensland trains, buses, and ferries are just 50 cents each way....good news on prices finally!

I headed out to Roma park and then got stuck in the Time square of Brisbane. It was full of diverse people and it was not my cup of tea. I just headed back to Oxley to walk in the park and hibernate a bit.

Monday Dinner

I came back and Steven was making vegetable curry for myself and his German guest who was just 17 years old. He had traveled to 20 countries and he was from Germany, studied in France, and living in Switzerland. He said that he did not want to attend college until he was sure that he made the right career choice. He was a very nice boy and again, just 17 years old. Steven and I were having adult conversations and he was not following along too much.

As we were chatting, there was an posum climbing on the powerline behind my head. Apparently, New Zealand finds no use for opposums and kills them every chance they get. 

We spoke about the presidential inauguration and how the people made their vote and decision about him being president. There seemed to be a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he mentioned that his presidency impacts his country and the rest of the world. 

He educated us on Australian government and politics and how the cities differ from one another. It is always enlightening hearing about the perspective of a city directly from someone who is an Australian native- not an expat. He had a true passion and love for his country with no intentions of moving somewhere else. 

He was happy and content with his home, his life, his government job, and hosting many guests from around the world. 

This was a beautiful thing to see... an older person, never married, no kids, well traveled with a fantastic career happy and content with his life... 

While I think I will one day find a partner and possibly have a child, I can feel content with all the people I meet traveling who confirm that 

"Life is good without having the socially conformed life handed to you by society." 

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