too good to be true

so tonight i'm a little bummed. i knew that most of my roommates would be leaving fairly soon (mid-july to mid-august). but as it turns out, half (or more?) are leaving in a week!! my roommate, aubrey, hasn't been very successful in finding a job (but bear in mind that she has only been here two weeks), so she has decided to go home early -- this wednesday to be precise, because it's too expensive to stay. then tonight, the florida girls (who i have grown to love) are leaving a week from sunday. luke, from ohio, also decided just today that he too will be leaving earlier than planned, or in about a week. aubrey will be going directly to the states, where as the florida girls and luke will be traveling for a couple weeks and then returning to the US. BUT, philip was planning on travelling with luke.... so.... maybe he is leaving too?! that would leave me, james (the brit), and the two french girls in the house.

it's quite sad. as much as i would love to travel with them, i really can't right now. i mean, what would i do with my stuff? i don't want to pay rent here AND take off work AND spend money travelling. at least, not this soon. and i can't take off a week or more from work already..... my manager is a jerk, and i really don't think he'd give me the time off, even if i dared to ask. so.... yeah....

like i said, i knew this time would come, but i just wasn't expecting it to be so sudden. and most importantly... everyone will miss my birthday!!! my 23rd birthday was epically tragic.... it consisted of me, alone in my apartment in bulgaria with popcorn, chocolate, and a movie. at the time it wasn't a big deal... i was actually still excited to be in BG... but this year i'm in sydney and i wanted to go all out. i had a theme planned and everything! and we had this whole BBQ shindig planned for the fourth of july.... complete with watermelon, hotdogs, jello shots, fireworks.... the whole package!

*sigh. i feel as though this is the only problem living in the share house. people will be coming and going quite frequently. and now i'm all worried. what if i hate my new roommates. i feel like i lucked out this time around. i know, i know... the majority of the people traveling - in theory - are "like me." (as in like-minded, similar goals, experiences, etc.) but i can't help but feel anxious!

anyhow, i suppose not all is lost. on a happier note, i really do like my coworkers! i went out again with them for a "quick drink" after work on wednesday, and next thing you know... i walk in the door at 4am! the picture is of us from sunday night. conveniently, this is the majority of my favorites. (from left to right: front row - tom, allistair, glenn. next row - sabrina, me, ariane, jeremy. back row - melanie's bf, melanie, zelani, petra, norman)