My (Not Very) Australian Adventure

So yeah…

I’m still in Australia and still unemployed. Not much has changed there! I’m currently earning a living by participating in paid Market Research - so contributing in focus groups about contact lenses, cigarettes and gambling. On a professional level it’s really interesting because I can learn how Market Researchers conduct focus groups on daily basis and pick up some much-needed pointers; on a personal level it’s really entertaining listening to complete strangers argue about the most insignificant things. I’m still going to job interviews on a weekly basis but it’s getting to the point now where I am seriously contemplating replying to the advert on Gumtree which says “Girls comfortable with going au-naturel? Earn $200-$1500 for 20 minutes work”. I’ve applied to every temp agency going, but they all say the same thing: “as soon as something comes up, you’ll be the first person I call”. This basically means that me and 1 million other backpackers are fighting for the same jobs. I’ve been told that around 200 people apply for 1 harvesting job so the chances of me getting one are virtually zero and I have absolutely no chance of becoming a waitress as I can’t carry a cup of tea without spilling it.

On a more positive note, my friend Hannah arrived in Sydney last Thursday and I’ve spent the last week spending money I shouldn’t on all the touristy things like Aquariums, zoos, boat rides and visits to Wagamama in Darling Harbour. It’s good to have her here as I now have someone to talk to on a daily basis and someone to go drinking with (yay!). The weather is absolutely beautiful at the moment - 23-29 degrees every day, which is perfect. I got horrifically sunburnt this afternoon as a result of falling asleep on the beach but my arms and legs are a lovely golden brown colour.

I’m missing everyone at home still and to be honest, I’m really looking forward to going home. I don’t hold anything against Australia (it’s a great country) but I wouldn’t want to live here for good; it’s just not the same without my family and friends being around me and wherever they are…well, that’s where I want to be. I’ve enjoyed the majority of my time here and it’s been great to get away, think about what I want to do with my life and to experience living abroad, but now that I’ve done those things, I’m ready to come home…as soon as I have some money to do so!

Australia

Sydney

Gumtree

Wagamama

This is a disaster

Whyyy did I come to Australia?!?! I’ve been here for 3 months (exactly on Sunday) and have nothing to show for it apart from an empty bank account, a nice tan and a tummy full of sushi.

Today I’ve been told that my start date for work has been pushed back for another 3 weeks, and I don’t have enough money to live on until then. I’m now frantically job hunting in the hope that I’ll find something within the next fortnight, but I am really starting to worry about my money situation; I can’t even afford a flight home :(.

I know I should be grateful with what I’ve got, and I appreciate that there are people in Queensland without homes, but I didn’t come to Australia so that I could sit in my flat watching Oprah and The Bold and The Beautiful (which, by the way is such a wank soap opera). I could’ve done that at home and not missed out on seeing my friends and family. I wanted to make the most of the fantastic scenery and the great weather whilst during the week work for an agency that allows me to put my 3 years of study into practice. I hate being unemployed because not only does it prevent me from going clothes shopping and visiting all the tourist attractions but it also means I’m getting seeeeeeriously bored; my brain is turning into mush.

I have all my fingers and toes crossed and hope that my 3 Maneki Neko bring me good luck and fortune within the next 3 weeks, otherwise I’m fucked. In the meantime, it’s back to square one with job hunting. Wish me luck!

I NEED A JOB

Australia

working holiday visa

Oprah

The Bold and The Beautiful

Maneki Neko

Job hunting

I’ve been rubbish

…at keeping this blog up to date. I’ve officially been in Australia for 2 months and 19 days, yet it feels like I’ve been here forever; the time goes really slowly and the days seem to merge into one. To be honest, I haven’t really done that much although now I’m getting my daily dose of vitamin D from all the sunshine, my hair now requires cutting every month. Every month! In England, once every 3 months was sufficient at keeping the dreaded split ends at bay. But now I have to fork out $12 every 28 days to maintain my lovely undercut. Also, I feel a bit like Harry Potter, because every time I bite my nails or cut them off…they magically grow back overnight.

Since I last wrote, I’ve been to Melbourne (it’s frigging awesome, everyone should go to Melbourne); although I had to constantly remind my Mother that it is pronounced ‘Mel-bun’ and not ‘Mel-bourrrrne’ otherwise you sound really pretentious.  Fitzroy and in particular Brunswick street are the places to go for cool shops and a bit of character. It’s kind of like The Lanes in Brighton, but a lot more spread out and on much larger roads. There’s tonnes of ‘Op shops, vintage stores and great little boutiques. The food in Melbourne is to die for. Seriously, I thought going to Australia would be good for my waistlane, but no, the choices of restaurants and the markets selling homemade produce - oh it’s amazing! In a 10 minute walk around Swanston Street you’ll encounter Greek, Lebanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, African, Italian, American and even English. I had some seriously good Wanton Soup on the first day followed by some delicious sushi and japanese pickles the next. 

The family (aka Ma, Pa, Brother and Sister) came out to Aus for Christmas and I accompanied them to Melbourne, but we also went on a house boat around the Hawkesbury River in NSW. The weather wasn’t the best, but it was great to chill out, admire the scenery (and the lush houses) and do a spot of fishing. The trip was hampered slightly by the constant smell of sewage coming from the septic tank in the boat, and the fact that you could only shower for a minute at a time. However, it was a good trip and I really enjoyed spending a bit of time with the ‘fam.

Now I’m back in Sydney; I have a job, although due to “unforeseen circumstances”, I’ve yet to start working which is a bit disappointing because I feel my brain slowly rotting away having done nothing productive for over 2 months. I am so eager to start work because it looks like an awesome little agency to work for, with good career prospects; but more importantly I am desperate to do a decent clothes shop. I haven’t bought a pair of shoes in over 3 months which is really depressing and ASOS has a really good sale on at the moment, which I am dying to take advantage of.

Sydney is awesome. Tonnes of good pubs, bars and restaurants but I’ve refrained from doing a few of the touristy things like Taronga Zoo and the Aquarium because it’s currently the summer holidays - which means the whole city is swarming with school kids. Fortunately, they all go back in a couple of weeks so I’m hoping the city will be a lot quieter then so I can have a few more adventures. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to keep busy by visiting Newtown on a regular basis; flat hunting; fishing (I’ve now successfully had 10 catches; going to the cinema and eating copius amounts of sushi. Oh, and I have a pretty sweet tan too.

Unfortunately, I have been starting to miss home quite a bit, especially my friends in Sussex and in Bournemouth. I also really miss my Grandparents who haven’t been very well recently, which is making me worried. I also have a long distance relationship to work on, and although it’s going really well it can be quite frustrating, particularly when I really want a hug or just someone to talk to.

Well that’s all for now; I will try and remember to update this more often - especially as I’m not that busy at the moment. I’ll also remember to add a few photos too.

Australia

Working Holiday Visa

Sydney Aquarium

Melbourne

Fitzroy

Food

Hawkesbury River

Taronga Park Zoo

Sushi

1 month ago today…

I arrived in Australia! I can’t say it’s gone particularly fast - although the money I bought with me certainly has.Sorry U’ve been so rubbishat keeping this blog up-to-date; considering I sit around most days either sunbathing, reading Harry Potter or watching crap AustralianTV, I haven’t got much of an excuse!

Anyway, I’m now living in Oatley, NSW which is 30 minutes outside Central Sydney. I’ve been here 2 weeks now and really starting to enjoy living in Australia. It’s a nice little ‘burb with an amazing pie shop (which will no doubt be to blame for my expanding waistline) and friendly locals.

I spent 3 days in a hostel in Sydney when I first moved down from Congewai - met some cool people along the way and did all the touristy things like visit the Opera House, The Botanical Gardens, Darling Harbour etc etc. I also went Whale watching which was awesome and I was lucky enough to see four Hump Back whales. Since then I’ve been busy trying to find a job and have had numerous interviews - and hopefully today I find out if I get an Account Executive job working for a Loyalty Marketing Agency called Visible Results (which I really, really want!)

The weather up until now has been lovely - 23-29 degrees, so pretty warm, although there have been a few humid days that have played havoc with my hair. Today it has been lashing it down with rain and after my presentation at Visible Results I walked home from Oatley station bare foot as there’s about 3” of water in the streets.

Oatley is great because it’s so close to the City so if I ever get bored, I just hop on a train and go exploring; or if I fancy just chilling out there’s the lake nearby, a couple of nice coffee shops and an old fashioned cinema in the next town. It’s been really great catching up with my ‘Australian family’ - it’s funny seeing the similarities and differences between the two sides. I am also an honourary cricket fan - but for a only a couple more weeks whilst the bleeding Ashes is on! You have no idea how competitive the Australians are…or how bitter they get! So for the next few weeks I will be whole-heartedly supporting the England cricket team and hoping that they stuff the Aussies in the next 2 tests.

If I get the job at Visible Results, I start in January so have planned to visit Melbourne for a few days at Christmas maybe see a bit more of New South Wales. I’d quite like to visit Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie again to see how much they’ve changed since the last time I visited.

Anyway, I’ve heard lots about the snow back home - I am a bit jealous! And although being a lady of leisure probably isn’t helping, but I am missing quite a few people back home. It’s annoying that Australia is so far away - but thankfully God created Skype, Hotmail and Facebook which is making it a lot easier to stay in contact. I will try and update Tumblr again soon, but I’ve got to start Christmas shopping soon and looking for a new laptop as the beloved Sony Vaio is on its last legs :(

Australia

Sydney

working holiday visa

Coffs Harbour

Port Macquarie

Visible Results

The Ashes

England