Being at the Uranitschs has taught me a lot of things. Ive been hosted with families before, but i know ive never had the insight (or maturity!) to look into how i place in a family. In sydney, i had a really happy family life. I have a really nice family, and every member plays their own part, adding to the family in their own way. We have all grown together and Renaud and i have lived with mum and dad our whole lives. And my mum and dad love eachother more than anyone could ever imagine.
Moving into a family is like being subbed on to a football match sometime between halftime and the end of the game. You are part of the team, and everyone knows why you are there, and what you are doing, and you know what you have to do, but you havent experienced the first half, and you havent yet been able to settle into the game. Being here in Austria is quite similar. Dont get me wrong, my host family couldnt be better, The Uranitschs have taken me into their home, and treated me like their own son. The other day i got asked to clean my room, and it was as though i was completely part of the family. But at the same time, i realise that i am still a visitor here. My home is back in Australia. As much as they treat me as a son, and accept me into their household, i will still only be with them for four months. Im not really sure if im making any sense, but what im trying to say is that, through living with a great family i realise how incredibly lucky i am to have the best family ever waiting for me back home.
I am starting to miss the little things about my family back home. I miss the way my brother steals the remote and then wont let have it back until he decides there is nothing he wants to watch. I used to hate the smell of mums coffee in the morning, but somehow, waking up, walking downstairs and not smelling that is not quite the same. And similarly, some of you have had the displeasure of stumbling across a little know (and i would say little talented) singer by the name of Jimmy Buffett. My dad says that he really 'has something to say'. Haha, but now i find myself listening to him every day, because the songs represent everything about my fantastic dad. In fact, im listening to 'He went to Paris' (ironically which has now become my favourite song) right now, dad says that if he could have anything written on his tombstone it would be the lyrics to this song.
I dont think this entry tells you guys much about my trip, but im learning something, which i suppose is what the trip is as much about. Im not homesick (yet), but i just realise from being away from everyone how important they are to me, especially my family. I miss them because they give me purpose and make me belong to something. Without preaching, enjoy your families, they are better and more important to you than you think.
Paz