Visitors

During the past fourteen months, i have had the privilege of no fewer than fifteen visitors from Straya. This, in my opinion, is overwhelmingly awesome. I grew up in small uninteresting towns where exactly zero people would be "passing through" and "drop by". In fact, it was the opposite - my family was always the one "passing through" places and dropping by for visits. We did love to travel.

Even in Canberra, in ten years i've had maybe three people visiting from elsewhere who called me to say they'd like to catch up. So i am not used to how popular i've felt this year. And most of the people i've seen have been people who aren't close friends or people i've even seen in the year before i left - they've been Gang Show kids on gap years, married friends on honeymoons, intrepid travellers who've decided that their own European adventures should coincide with mine, and even some friends of friends who i hardly know, but who've made time to visit me and my lovely adopted city.

I've had quick drinks after work, curries in Brick Lane, visits to museums and tourist attractions, and even spent whole days with visitors. I've adored talking to people i've not seen in a long time, and we have never run out of conversation as we quiz each other on our adventures. I've shared my knowledge of London and learned more from their experiences. I've even saved some things especially for when my friends visit, so that i can experience it with them.

But mostly, i've just felt wickedly popular. Never before have so many people contacted me so regularly just to come visit me as they pass through. I don't kid myself - i know they're here for London, not just me, but i feel proud and privileged to be a part of their London experience. I just have to keep scouting out new awesome pubs, restaurants, shops and tourist spots so that i'm ready for the next visitors (two more in the next three months!!) It's been marvellous to connect to Straya through these people, too, and slates a little of my homesickness.