Tired and weary ,but we are nearly home . We trudge our away around through the queues of people at the domestic check in transfer and head to the bus transfer lounge in Sydney airport . It’s easy to get fixated on people . You watch them , wondering what their story is . Is it their first big holiday abroad ? Did they go to Disneyland, Hollywood , Santa Monica , maybe even New York too ? Are they expats , US citizens coming Down Under . Everyone’s got a story , but is there anyone like ours ? Do they have their life in a suitcase ? Surely we are not unique . Of course we aren’t , many did it during Covid , but on this flight , today . Are we the only ones coming back home for good ?
I keep looking around but my attention keeps drawing back to another family . They look similar to us , just a bit . Husband , wife and 2 kids ; a teenage girl and a boy maybe a year younger than Leroy . I watched them in an adjacent queue . They looked tired and beaten too , but they had ski gear . Must’ve been a skiing trip to California. Probably Mammoth or Tahoe . What a time to do it , with some of the heaviest snow falls and biggest base in almost a generation . We find a seat to the side of the general seating area with a bit of space , I watch them enter the lounge . We catch eyes for a split second . They sit next to us .
“You guys go skiing in Mammoth ?” , I ask . I couldn’t help myself, I had to intrude . “ No , we ski’d in my hometown in Canada “ , he replied . That was fortunate as any mention of an American accent to a Canadian can now be left alone . After living in LA for 6 years you’d think I could differentiate between the 2 , but no . “ I wish we did ski the Sierras , as the snow there is much better than in Canada at the moment “ , he replies . I hear his kids and wife talking , they have Australian accents , they almost sound English and are very well spoken . “Ahhh , you live in Melbourne I gather ?” “Yeah we do , and you ? “
It’s awkward ,but it feels preordained, a chance encounter with strangers that are very different people but have a similar story to tell . We know we won’t be lifelong friends but there s a moment in time when we can talk about our circumstances . “ Yeah , we visited my home town , caught up with the family and did some skiing . We lived there for 4 years as a family and moved back to Melbourne nearly 2 years ago ,” he tells me . “I met my current wife travelling and followed her back to Australia and had 2 kids . We decided to try life in Canada but we came back for my wife’s family . “ he continues . “ You guys will stay in Australia ? “ , I ask . There’s a pause ….. “ We live in Camberwell . It’s a good lifestyle but there’s a lot of commuting , you’re in the car a lot running the kids around . Melbournes a bit wounded at the moment , it’s post covid , but it’s crazy busy . We are fortunate we can get away to our other house in Blairgowrie .” He’s an environmental scientist who works onsite in Alaska 3-4 months of the year whilst his wife has a business she runs remote . I can’t help but build a mental map . They’re well educated , wealthy , progressive thinkers , probably vote the Greens and yeah ….I’ve gotta stop judging people , I know it . I guess I’m envious . But there’s something there , I know it . He knows that I know it . “ We are starting to consider planning to move back to Canada permanently.” , he tells me ……there it is .
“This is it . We are flying back from 6 years of life in LA with our shirts on our back and a few suitcases …. Well 13 to be exact ! “ , I laugh . “Wow man , we know where you’re at “ , he replies . “The next 6 months are going to be the toughest , man . “ Actually , it’ll take a good 12-18 months to re establish yourself . It’s not easy . You’ve changed and when you come back home you’ll notice your friends haven’t . You’re different now , you’ve been reshaped , coming back to your old life won’t ever be the same . You just have to take it easy on yourselves . You’ll be living day by day without ever really feeling settled . We’ve been there , I wish you guys luck .” he says .“ We think we’ll probably head back to Canada . The small town lifestyle is something we miss , but hopefully you guys will find your groove . “
“Good luck , man “ “Good luck to you too , mate “I look over my shoulder and watch them disappear into the traffic . A chance encounter with a family with a similar story but a different ending . It’s been 6 months since we’ve landed . I wonder where those guys are at . Us ? We are doing ok . His advice ….. couldn’t be more accurate . Leroy was the first to adapt , he’s at home in Mornington and thriving . Emma’s on the up too , now that she has started her new job at L’Oréal . Tex ? He tells me hates it here every 2nd day . He desperately misses the surf at his front doorstep . For someone who hates it here he’s doing a lot better than he ever has . He has a girlfriend , gets to school ( just ) , has a part time job and is learning to drive . It’s the reason we came back . The kids have an easier pathway in Australia . . The rest ….. yeah our friends and family haven’t changedand thank good for that , that’s why we love them and want to hang out with ‘em . There’s a long way to go . It’s been bloody painful but there’s the first 6 months down . Gee, it feels a lifetime ago that we once lived in LA . Who’d of thought ?
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