Writing With Abandon

Reflections and ramblings about life as an educator, writer, reader, knitter, and over-thinker. Trying to do the writing only I can do.

What do you do when everyone you know and love is in a different time zone than you?

I think I’ve never been in this situation before.

I’ve lived 6 hours ahead or traveled anywhere from 3 hours behind to 7 hours ahead, but always with someone or to see someone. Yesterday, I traveled 24 hours on two separate flights to the literal opposite side of the planet, and now I am finding myself in the unique situation where every single other person I know is in a different time zone.

Right now, the PSTs are winding down or better be (it’s midnight there, people!). The ESTs are deep in slumber (it’s 3am, some might be waking for their middle-of-the-night wee). The GMTs(+1 cause it’s summer) are just starting their days (it’s 8am).

And I am trying to figure out if 5pm is too early for dinner. Jet lag has me in a daze, as does Melbourne’s fall weather with its haze, drizzle, and random sun spurts.

It’s confusing to me that I traveled so far, only to arrive in a place that so far feels like a mix of the US and the UK with a slightly different accent that I can understand as long as they don’t gnaw on some of their words (I don’t know how else to describe it!).

Today what I did was walk. I walked all over my hotel’s neighborhood, Fitzroy. I walked to the Melbourne Museum, all throughout their exhibits. I walked to the CBD, just to kill time, because what is there to really see and do in a city’s business district as school and work are letting out, aside from dodging people as you walk down the street?

I think 5pm is a little early, so I will rest my feet for a bit longer and then take myself to some restaurant for dinner. Maybe tonight I’ll sleep the whole night through and wake up refreshed and ready to explore. Maybe!F

From Melbourne, with love.

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6 responses to “From Melbourne”

  1. sallydonnelly11 Avatar

    I love the POV of this slice…thinking of where others live and the time where they are. I live in EST and my daughters live in Europe. I hang a clock in my office set to their time so I can think about how my granddaughters are getting ready for bed as I end my school day. Fav part was when you personified time – “Right now, the PSTs are winding down or better be (it’s midnight there, people!). The ESTs are deep in slumber (it’s 3am, some might be waking for their middle-of-the-night wee). The GMTs(+1 cause it’s summer) are just starting their days (it’s 8am).” Enjoy your “time” in Melbourne!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      Thank you, Sally! I love that idea of having a clock in your office set to their time 🥹

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  2. Erika Avatar

    I am (almost) in your time zone as GMT +7, but I get it, time zone travel is a funny thing- go you, for doing it on your own!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Amy Crehore Avatar

      Thank you, Erika! It is strange but fun to be on my own for it all.

      Like

  3. arjeha Avatar

    We took a tour of Australia several years ago and loved it. We did Melbourne, Sydney, Great Barrier Reef, and Uluru National Park, just to name a few. Enjoy your time there.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Fran McCrackin Avatar

    What a world, and what a time, where we can travel so far in space and time from all our people. And jet lag- ugh. That many hours difference is hard. I enjoyed thinking how we can travel so far, to find that so much is the same- business people and kids leaving workplaces and schools…

    My favorite line: ‘It’s confusing to me that I traveled so far, only to arrive in a place that so far feels like a mix of the US and the UK with a slightly different accent that I can understand as long as they don’t gnaw on some of their words ’

    Liked by 1 person

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