Bella Scipione

Jan 25 2023

G and I have concluded our travels around Australia. We are leaving the world down under full of emotion and with a completely different outlook on life. When you are placed in an environment different than your own, you learn and observe the different ways in which people in other societies live and interact. You become exposed to new ways of life, ones that make you question your own purpose. Our time in Europe last Fall introduced us to this mindset, but I speak for both G and I when I say our travels in Australia not only solidified a lot of the emotions and feelings we had already experienced, but transformed them.

Time is such a funny thing. We left Sydney at 8pm Tuesday night and landed at our first stop in Honolulu (10 hours later) at noon, still on Tuesday. Maybe some of you will come at for me not properly understanding the concept of time but in my mind, G and I are now fully certified time travelers. We are currently on flight two of three back to Colorado and while we are both exhausted, we are leaving Australia with new mates, endless memories, and an abundance of love filled in our hearts. 

We started our first night in Sydney with Jesse, Callan, and Michael at the golf club for some dinner and Keno. G and I were so excited to see the boys again and spend the rest of our time in their company. We spent most of the weekend relaxing in Callan and Jesse’s unit watching movies and sharing some of our favorite Byron, Melbourne, and Surfer’s Paradise adventures. We attempted to have one last night out in Sydney on Saturday, but ended up drinking beers outside of a bar for about two hours instead. Despite not stepping foot into the bar, (except to use the bathroom), G, Callan, Dane, and I found it special that we could all still have a lovely time together doing the simplest of things. 

On Sunday night, G and I thought it was only right to cook a meal, Scipione style, for the boys before saying goodbye. We called up our Dad for some secret Scipione family recipes and headed to the supermarket to buy all of the works. We cooked up homemade spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parmesan, with some caprese and fruit salad on the side. While the food wasn’t as perfect as our Dads, G and I were proud of the outcome and hoped the boys enjoyed the food as much as we enjoyed cooking it. 

Dane and Callan were off to New Zealand and Michael had to return to work Monday, so our last two days without them were spent relaxing at Bondi and Malabar beach soaking up the sun before returning home to the freezing cold. Callan, Michael, and Dane are all such sweet blokes and we are forever grateful to have them in our lives. G and I grew a lot closer to each one of them, learning more about them as people and observing them in their home environments. Callan has the kindest heart and is always one to make others feel included, safe, and valued. Michael is driven, caring, and spirited. He is full of so much potential and will always be there to listen. And Dane is someone who knows how to brighten your day, with his goofiness and effortless kindness. These boys are mates for life and we cannot wait to see them soon again one day.

G and I found it necessary to get matching sister tattoos before coming home. Since our time at the art museum in Melbourne was so profound, we decided to get some permanent lotus flowers on our arms. We both broke into tears walking into the flower room at the art experience. In Vietnam, (where our brother, Christian, is living), the Lotus flower is the national flower. It is known as the flower of the dawn and is the symbol of purity, commitment and optimism for the future. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater and rises and opens again at dawn. These lotuses are a forever reminder of the beauty of life and that my sister will always be with me, no matter where we are in the world. 

As I watch the sun set beneath the clouds, I find myself in some deep and profound conclusions. This feels like an end to a movie – a movie full of different plots and character developments. There was drama, adventure, and comedy; moments that your mind can replay over and over again if you just close your eyes. And while we were unable to see a lot of the glorious ‘touristy’ things Australia has to offer, I am going home with zero regrets and a better appreciation for every aspect in my life. 

G and I have had many meaningful conversations ever since our visit to the ‘LUME Melbourne’. Throughout all of these conversations, one thing that G said that stood out to me was, ‘our only purpose is to live’. There are many ways that this can be explained or interpreted but these words speak exactly for what they mean. We are placed on this Earth with the understanding that our life has meaning and it has purpose. I reckon this to be true, however over time, we as humans are constantly seeking a deeper purpose. Society, especially American society, has made it seem that the only path to happiness and success is granted through power, control, and assets. The gap grows wider as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. We are working to survive, when we should be working to live. We try to find purpose within our identities and how we are labeled and perceived by society; but at the end of the day our only purpose should be to live – to live and to be and to enjoy. 

Living is something most Europeans and Australians know how to do best. Parents are actively engaged in their children’s lives, small businesses thrive, and people do things they genuinely enjoy. I have always been someone that is drawn to helping those in need, it is something that I enjoy (hence my degree in Social Work). However, I often struggled with the thought that maybe I only enjoyed helping others for the wrong reasons – reasons out of guilt or shame for the privileged life that I have lived. These thoughts scared me. I didn’t want to be a part of the small percentage of individuals in the helping professions that are labeled with a ‘white savior complex’ or struggle with ‘survivor’s guilt’. But what I have come to realize is that the shared goal of those of us in helping professions is that we strive to help our clients succeed by giving them resources to better their life conditions. Basic human needs like access to healthcare, housing, food, water, and safety. Needs that are often not met in America and other parts of the world. Conditions that provide you with such a simple purpose, the purpose to live. 

And while I could go on more of a tangent, this is not a persuasive essay, I am not in school anymore, and these blogs are meant to be light-hearted. So, I will leave it at this: I encourage you to live a life full of wonder, love, and admiration. Be curious, ask questions, and learn from people with different ideas and opinions than your own. Love. Love unconditionally, fiercely, and courageously. Appreciate and admire the special people in your life. We are not who we are without our friends and family, so hold on to each and every one of them dearly. And always, always, tell someone you love them. You never know what day will be your last. 

Till next time,

Bella 🙂