Let's set the scene. It's December 2024, a cold, sleety afternoon in Northern Ireland. Peering outside, the sky was as grey as it had been since the last spec of sunshine showed face back in September.

Months of rain, clouds, and bundling myself up in my favourite woollen trench coat had finally got to me. Staring at my Instagram feed for the tenth time that day, I couldn't help but stop on every reel and post that provided me with digital warmth (and jealousy). So many people seemed to be living the dream in a place where the sun shone all day, and the temperature rarely dropped below 20 degrees Celsius.

Watching countless videos of people frolicking in the glittering blue seas and tanning by the pool while I sat at home wrapped in three blankets clearly got to me, two days later I'd organised my 417 visa and booked a one way flight to Brisbane.

A bit of a rash decision on my end, not much consideration or planning had gone into it, bar the quick facetime with my aunt who lives in Brisbane asking if she'd lend me her spare bedroom, and a quick consult with my mother on whether it was a smart idea or not. For such a huge step in my life, it was probably my least thought through decision ever.

Christmas passed, and before I knew it was saying my final goodbyes to friends and family. One suitcase in hand, I made my way through Dublin airport about to embark on what was about to be one of the most amazing, but scary, and growth inducing adventures of my life...so far.

Moving anywhere alone is terrifying, the thought of starting from scratch, finding a job, finding a place to live, making friends, dealing with homesickness. Once the initial excitement wears off, and you realise you're on the other side of the world, with savings that are quickly deteriorating, you snap back to reality pretty quickly. The beautiful weather and refreshing lifestyle doesn't cover up the fact that you're still the same person, with the same financial status, but with a lot more responsibility.

I began searching for a hospitality job which I was sure would be easily obtained due to my many years of experience. I was seriously wrong. I quickly came to realise that you need a qualification to be a barista in the land down under, and you had to complete a course just to be allowed to work in a pub. There was my two "easily obtained" job options out the window.

My first few months here were a series of uphill battles (which I eventually won, everybody gets there in the end) Finding a permanent place to live, pretty impossible with no consistent job. After that there's the worry of moving in with a randomer who turns out to be a bit of a weirdo, making friends who end up moving away again after a couple of months, trying to find the time to socialise with new friends, all while trying to stay in contact with friends and family at home when the timings align.

If that wasn't enough to deal with, then came the constant feeling that I was missing out at home, because in a sense I was/am. Loved ones back home like to end our conversations with "well you're not missing anything back here, everything's just the same as when you left". Yes, in a general day to day sense, they are probably right, we don't tend to stray too far from the norm back home. But on a personal level, I did miss things, and the guilt of that is a hard one to sit with.

I've missed watching my brother debut for his football team, I've missed meeting my new baby cousin, I've missed countless birthdays, I've even missed Christmas with my family (never again, a hot Christmas is just wrong). After some lengthy conversations with friends who have had similar feelings, we've come to a conclusion that making the selfish decision to move away, although guilt inducing at times, has been worth every second, not only for the life experience, but the personal growth and newfound appreciation for life back home.

Most travellers and immigrants I've met here know for sure that they want to stay, all fighting for their sponsorship and eventually citizenship, and I don't blame them, this really is a wonderful place to be. However, I know for sure that I will be making that one way trip back to Northern Ireland again soon.

So, the big question...what has the move from Northern Ireland to Australia taught me?

1. We have so much to learn from other people. Just having a conversation with a stranger, being curious, can do more for you than any resume or degree. It's all about who you know, and being kind can open a lot of doors, especially when it comes to jobs and career moves.
2. Everybody thinks the grass is greener elsewhere. Most Australians I have spoken to talk about visiting or moving to Europe, we have no idea how lucky we are in Northern Ireland to have so much on our doorstep. Everybody gets bored of where they live, but I highly recommend leaving home if you're able, even for a little while. Gaining perspective of just how gorgeous our emerald isle is from other people and places really helps you appreciate home and our culture that little bit more.
3. Everybody loves us! I'm not joking, whenever somebody here picks up on my Northern Irish accent, I get told that we are the funniest and friendliest group of people. I'm yet to experience an interaction where my accent doesn't get me a warm welcome and a few Australians telling me that their great great grandparents made the same journey I did many years ago.
4. Moving so far away from what you're used to does wonders for confidence and personal growth. Making so many decisions alone, being solely responsible for myself, having to put myself out there everyday in social settings to make friends, all of these things, although difficult at the time, have made me become a much better version of myself, one I don't believe I would have even met had I stayed in my little hometown forever.
5. Nothing lasts forever, and you aren't stuck to any person, place or thing. For me, a chronic overthinker, I believe this has been my most valuable lesson so far during my time in Aus. From living in a small Northern Irish town where everybody knows everyone, to being somewhere so vast, has given me the opportunity to try knew things and meet new people (friends and romantic partners) without the restraints of judgement or embarrassment. We have so many nomads and travellers in the Gold Coast that I could walk out my door today and I guarantee I wouldn't meet anybody I know. I can move freely without worrying how people are perceiving me, because they aren't. I will carry this mindset with me for life, nothing is that serious, as long as you are a decent human being that's genuinely all that matters.
6. Moving doesn't automatically change you as a person, you have to make the conscious decision to make changes yourself. I'm sure I wasn't the only person who thought I'd come to Australia and immediately become tanned, confident and rich whilst also waking up every morning for a sunrise run, followed by yoga and a coffee, and then spending the rest of my day eating fresh fruit on the beach. A far cry from my daily routine at home which involved sleeping in until 11:30am, having a coffee and a bagel and then sitting on the sofa in my pyjamas until I had to drag myself to work. Let's just say I've found a happy medium here, I didn't magically become a 5k enthusiast or an early riser, but I do like to get up earlyish, grab a coffee and sit in the sunshine before work, followed by a gorgeous post work sunset stroll on the beach, and I think that's just as lovely.

All this growth and all these amazing memories will stay with me forever. If you're considering moving away from home, just do it, through all the hardships, there have been so many amazing moments that I wouldn't change for the world. As I mentioned before, my time in Australia will be coming to an end this year. Unfortunately no amount of sun or hot surfers can beat a half and half with curry sauce from the Chinese, a Costa trip with mum or a Sunday afternoon tea with Nanny and Granda.

It's taken me to move to the other side of the world to discover just how rare it is to have a home worth missing, and for that I am forever grateful.

Still a while to go yet though so don't worry! I'll be writing as much as I can in the meantime.

Speak soon,

Naomi x