full circle of friendship

Jenn was my first friend in Sydney. We met at orientation for the program we'd come out on and have been friends ever since. We saw our first kangaroos together at the Wildlife World at Darling Harbour. We checked out the Aquarium. We rode the monorail two times in a row for the sheer novelty of it. Since then we have kept the Darling Harbour Starbucks in business, going for regular coffee and gab sessions with the most fantastic, sunny view. She was planning to stay for three months; I was planning to stay for four. In the end, we made it nearly two years here together.

Oddly enough, over the course of two years we each had our fair share of news. We went through a time when every time we met we had major news -- one or both of us would get a job, decide to go for a new visa, get a boyfriend, move, break up, take a trip to a new country, have parents come and visit, travel home or finish an amazing book, oftentimes repeatedly and simultaneously. Life was never dull.

A few months ago I moved a bit closer in to the city and Jenn came to help me pack. We were going through my stuff when I discovered a ticket stub from our trip to the Wildlife World, and we both nearly cried. And we didn't even know she was moving back to Canada then.

It's funny, that was the only time she actually made it to my place, and I only made it to hers once, too, for a housewarming party at her -- what was it, tenth place of residence? It was the one that followed the insane couple who washed their clothes every single day, despite having normal 9-5 jobs. We kept each other up to date on roommates, and were each other's point of contact in case one actually really flipped and ... and ... we didn't know what they might do, but we were prepared, just in case.

We kept each other up to date on the gossip from work, our plans for the future and the latest news we'd heard from home. We talked about boys, the weather, psychology and home. We exchanged travel tips and facebook photos. We raved about how much we loved Sydney, but missed snow and Christmas and family.

It's amazing how fast and fully you make friends when you're living in new situations far from home. And it's amazing how much we each experienced in the two years we shared in Sydney. And it's amazing how much I'll miss her -- goodbye for now, Jenn!! Text me when you get back in town!