A Final Reflection

What a whirlwind.  I can’t believe it’s over.  This amazing journey has officially come to an end.  But that doesn’t mean that I won’t return to Australia.  It’s an amazing, unique, magical country that everyone should have the chance to see, and I look forward to sharing this experience again with the same people or with others.  Regardless, it’ll be fantastic.

I learned a lot while in Sydney.  Australian sports are downright vicious and drinking is a popular pastime.  Australian culture is relaxed, but not relaxed like American culture – it’s relaxed but much more sophisticated.  Australian individuals take their heritage very seriously.  If they’ve descended from convicts, they’re proud of it.  If they’ve descended from British soldiers, they aren’t necessarily proud of it, but they acknowledge it.  I’ve learned that I’m more of a leader than I’d previously thought, especially if no one else steps forward to take the lead.  I’ve also learned that I make friends easily, as long as I’m open to meeting new people.  That’s something I’ve always struggled with, and I’m proud to say that this dialogue helped me overcome that.

This experience has contributed to my leadership development.  It taught me that I have a lot to contribute, but if I don’t speak up, something important may not be said or noticed.  I think I’ve often chosen not to speak up because I could come across as bossy or nosy, but as I took on a leadership role in this dialogue, I don’t think anyone took away a negative impression of me.  I think I did take on a strong leadership role because I’ve had a great deal of travel experience and have an inherent sense of navigation at home and abroad.

On a less personal note, we learned a great deal about the respective healthcare systems.   Americans tend to be happy that waiting times are generally short, but are unsatisfied with the system overall.  The United States tends to focus its efforts on cures rather than prevention.  Australians tend to be happy with the universality of their system and are satisfied with the system overall.  Australia tends to focus its efforts on prevention rather than cures, and as a result, has an overall healthier population (though the burdens of various diseases are pretty comparable in both countries).

I’m sitting on my Southwest flight heading back to Florida.  There’s a young mother and her 2 year-old sitting next to me, and a friendly man with kids of his own at home.  This is a nice flight, and a pleasant way to travel after that 13-hour trek from Sydney.  We’re chatting, and at this moment, I’m really glad that I’m back in the States.  There are so many great adventures yet to come.

One of the brand new double-decker planes!  I traded my aisle seat for Zach's middle seat next to Lianne, Kate, and Amy, and it was worth it!  Glad it's over, though!