Shedding Tears

By the end of my time at OEG, I was happy to be moving on. I think that while I enjoyed having a mind-numbing job for the time being, that ultimately, I need to work where I feel I am needed, appreciated, and challenged in my daily duties and responsibilities. Which is something I have decided that the Shed or any brainless job can't quite offer me.

Looking back on the experience of working with OEG, it was a great one. I learned heaps about the Aussie style of Outdoor Education, about gear and servicing it, and in the importance of building strong communities and team building within a workplace. What pains me more than ever in leaving OEG is not the longing to hang a tent, or with drawls from pressure washing backpacks, or unfulfilled desire to fold overgear, but having left many good mates behind there. The friendships I made at OEG are valued way beyond the professional experience I have gained while there.

I look forward to keeping in touch with these mates and invite any of them to visit Portland, or where ever I end up. And I definitely plan to return to OZ to see them...hopefully by then, they will have graduated as well. :)

Time to do metho! Long sleeves and goggles required...

Mesha and Shakilah taking a tea break on a Friday eve

The 3 Malayas: Amber, Mesha, and Shakilah, hanging out between returns

Mesha & Amber: Suited up in overgear to wash backpacks

With a change in how we operated down at the Shed, my last few days at work were quite enjoyable once again. Perhaps it was partially because I knew I was leaving, or perhaps it was because my mates and I had a good laugh during these days...not even flatulence, a dragon, or a lack of bickys could make us frown for too long...regardless, we had fun.

The sunsetting from OEG National Base

The Sunset on my LAST Friday Night of Returns...

The last time I headed down the long, dirt, driveway of the OEG National Base, I was actually in the driver's seat...as I drove down it, toward the highway, back to our house, I can honestly say, I didn't look back...but I did wave goodbye at the the Kangaroos that lines the driveway, as if I was part of a parade...and smiled as I turned toward town.