My inspiration for visiting Australia wasn’t the Great Barrier Reef. It wasn’t the mountains, or the beaches, or the surfers. My primary reason for visiting this country, and even rearranging my trip to do it sooner than originally planned, was for the people. And as if time with one of my favorite high school friends wasn’t enough, I had another little duo a bit further south who were a pressing priority, and I knew, would give me the boost I needed to continue eastward, and closer to home. This little duo was Colin and Michelle.
Colin and Michelle are a mother-son combination I first encountered on the camino back in the fall. Like so many other magical bits of that particular adventure, our connection was brief in time, but longstanding in connection, so it didn’t seem strange to be circumnavigating the globe for a visit. I would start with Colin.
I realized quickly that my time with Colin could qualify as total cultural immersion: Australian hipster 20-somethings are as foreign a population to me as any of the other cultures I've hung out with this year, so I was delighted to see how these fabled millenniels really live.
We were off to a running start when Colin managed to find me at the wrong terminal of the airport; it’s been exactly once this year that I’ve had a familiar face to greet me on arrival, and phew, was it refreshing. After winding our way out of the terminal, we were greeted by a chubby lot of enormous kangaroos: they were ridiculous to see in person, like big fluffy pears with tails, and I’m pretty sure I snorted. Colin promised more to come as we headed into the early dusk toward the city he calls home, and, equally exciting to me, toward a proper bed in an apartment-not-a-hostel. Dreamy.
We were off to a running start when Colin managed to find me at the wrong terminal of the airport; it’s been exactly once this year that I’ve had a familiar face to greet me on arrival, and phew, was it refreshing. After winding our way out of the terminal, we were greeted by a chubby lot of enormous kangaroos: they were ridiculous to see in person, like big fluffy pears with tails, and I’m pretty sure I snorted. Colin promised more to come as we headed into the early dusk toward the city he calls home, and, equally exciting to me, toward a proper bed in an apartment-not-a-hostel. Dreamy.
Together we spent a whirlwind few days together, catching up on life, exploring Melbourne, and inking a bit of camino into our flesh. I learned more than I ever wanted about Australian Rules football, and even managed to pilfer a hoodie or two as a buffer from the cold. Despite the difference in our age and generation, Colin gives me such hope for the state of the world. Because even as a fresh young 24 year old, he is intelligent, thoughtful, and a selfless friend. He’s creative and talented, and makes everyone better just by being himself. If Colin and his hipster friends really are taking over the world, I think we'll be okay.
Awww, what a sweet guy he sounds like. He should get together with Timmy!
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