The (almost) Year in Review

Hey all! I know it has been a while since I tapped my adventures into the keyboard and so much has happened! I have been in this strange little corner of the world, Arnhem Land, for almost a year now and can't even begin on where to start to summarize my adventures. To start I have created a list of all the things I had never done....until I came here! Before I came to Arnhem Land I had never ever.... - driven a manual....successfully - been to a Yoga class - received a proper body massage - drank out of a chilled coconut - eaten hunted Buffalo (or any Buffalo actually!) My verdict is that it tastes like a tough cow.. - eaten Barramundi (Apparently I had not lived!) - walked on a tightrope...which I was actually pretty decent at to my surprise! - spoken Yulngu (local Indigenous language) - worked in a school/health clinic - learned Yulngu weaving using grass - thrown spears at/through broken down cars (no judgies! They were at the tip :P) - joined a walking group..... IN THE MORNING! - been camping during a solar eclipse - if you have never done this, you need to! So breathtaking. - played (more like attempted) to play a Ukelele - played beach badminton - lived in a box dungeon - let off fireworks in my backyard....or at all! - gone to a male strip show (don;t ask haha) - repaired a broken car window....by myself! (Chuffed face!) - gone 4 wheel driving and actually driven myself - been stalked by a dingo - known so much about planes, yet still understanding so little - held a close friends new born baby - made decent coffee at home (it took a while, but I got there!) - been covered in mosquito bites (people literally were asking if I had chicken pox!) - expected to live in a remote aboriginal community - been so spontaneous - understood what amazing adventures I almost missed out on if I never came - had to wait months for clothes to arrive in the post...yes, months! - needed to fly in a charter plane to access Woolies - realised how much I LOVE Woolies! - owned a bird for a pet....gosh I love him! - lived anywhere other than Queensland - had the adventure of a lifetime! While embracing and learning about all the wonderful things mentioned above, I have had an incredible learning experience overall out in Arnhem Land. I can't say I have mastered the Yulngu language (although I have a good crack at it!), I haven't solved the issue of bridging the gap between Indigenous and Mainstream Society and I can't say whether my efforts to get people to their appointments has cured the health issues present in remote communities. No, I have not stamped my mark on any of these issues. I have however learned when communicating I say so many words that aren't needed and use more hand signals now then I ever did to communicate inter-culturally. I never attempted to bridge the gap, but I do have a bigger understanding of what the gap actually is and why their way of life doesn't fit in the box of how we expect people should live it. While I never cured health issues I did listen to peoples concerns about their health and do the best I could to work with them and explain why it is so important and problem solve around cultural issues they had that otherwise would have prevented them from attending. Learning to listen and explain and understand their way of viewing the world fascinates me and while I am excited to be working in Nhulunbuy, I really miss these conversations and the trust I built with the community on Milingimbi. I was lucky and had one of the most enriching experiences and am blown away by the trust the Milingimbi people grew for me during my time there. On my last day at the clinic they literally clapped and cheered for me as I left for the last time and I teared up on my way to the airport. They also sang me a beautiful farewell song in their language that I feel so touched they let me in and taught me so much about their culture and about myself. I will never forget them or the lessons I learned there. I think the most interesting this about living remote is the heightened emotions. There are no busy cities, events or fast paced lifestyles to distract you and overwhelm how you feel. You cant just speed from one moment to the next as your emotions fluidly pass through them, without you noticing or feeling them long enough to reflect on them. Here in Arnhem Land life is different, much slower and more simplistic. Every emotion I have felt feels more significant than it did back home and I have come to realize this is an extraordinary thing. If I have a great day, or have an awesome adventure it feels better. As though you cherish the opportunity more because you know it was spur of the moment and not planned for months in advance with concert tickets on the fridge. When you make friends or feel loved, you take it all in because out here, you are so far away from your comfort zone of people who provide that and when I get a snuggle from Stuart or have a belly laugh with my new friends I am elated because there is nothing to detract from how special those moments are. I don't take them for granted that way I did when I was back home and too distracted by a million things going on in my life to appreciate how special they are. While those emotions are amazing, when you have a bad day and miss your family and friends, or when Stuart is away for days/weeks on end (like he regularly does and currently is) or everything seems to go wrong at work, these emotions are magnified as well. It is hard not to let them pull you down when you strongly feel isolated and lonely, or terrible at work and inundated and not motivated, or even when missing your family and friends and simple luxuries feels like the worst thing in the world. I persevere these moments (yes, I still have them occasionally!) with friends in the community, a walk on the beach, a good book or a much needed phone to home. Even though I can feel swallowed by my feelings they are only temporary and the benefits of my experience are most definitely outweighing the negatives and I don't deny myself the negative emotions because I think to feel, happy, healthy and sane out here you need to be emotionally present and work through each feeling because letting them all build up together would be a little too full on (white jacket anyone?). I guess I have learnt so many things here so far and have grown so much as an individual and in my relationship with Stuart. If there is any advice I can give you or anything to take away from my experience it is this: - Be emotionally present and let yourself process how you feel - Seize every opportunity - so far out here I have reflected that ever opportunity or adventure I almost said no to would have denied me some of the best experiences of my life to date - Make your own fun! You don't need restaurants, cinemas and concerts to have a good time (although I do miss those things!). - Enjoy your own company - I have had some awesome adventures just pottering around by myself while Stu was at work or away and I loved discovering things about myself and what I liked I never knew before - Be patient - it may not happen now but it will happen And most importantly, Whether in Arnhem Land or back home I have learnt life is what you make of it, so make it a good one :) Until next time... Kimmy xxx