Last Monday I got up early to go to La Trobe for the last time on official scheduled business: my last exam, Japanese. As the exam itself only constituted 35% of my final mark, I knew I had already passed the subject going in. I nevertheless put in my best effort. When I finished after two hours it felt like a weight had fallen of my shoulders. I had completed my university degree. I had the inner urge to run a lap of honour through the examination venue, but I managed to contain my enthusiasm.

Today my housemate and best friend left on a two month trip for Colombia to visit his family. That meant goodbye for us, as I will (if everything works out with my visa) have gone to Japan by the time he gets back. That made me really realise that I’m done being a student. Well, as my girlfriend says, I will never be done being a student, as life is a constant learning process, but you get my drift. In roughly eight weeks from now I will be exchanging the dry and dusty that is Australia for a new adventure. As I wrote earlier, I’m looking forward to that, but it also means saying goodbye to my current life. It’s exciting, but with a hint of sadness.