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I don’t do well with free time, I never really have. I don’t know what to do with myself and can very easily get stir crazy. In the last two weeks since I left Waterfront Restaurant, I have had PLENTY of free time. I guess quitting was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing, in the sense that I was miserable there but a curse as now I don’t really have much to do, and well, no source of income. I have found myself in this awkward limbo of a lifestyle where I’m sort of just waiting for the next chapter to begin. I was hired at the Sydney Tower Restaurant but getting started there has been the slowest process ever. At this point, I really need to work as the money is dwindling and for some reason everything seems to be getting more expensive at just the right time. I was told today that I’d finally be starting my training next week. Thank God! Chloe hasn’t started working full hours at Meyer yet so the two of us are enjoying our beloved free time together. Not having a packed schedule though has given us a bit of a chance to explore but not having a job has equally limited it. I guess there are times when I regret quitting when I did, but I’ll be the first to admit that this transition phase I am in currently is quite the learning experience. The words trial and error seem to have become my life motto in the past few weeks.

No one said this trip was going to be easy and I was quite surprised when the first few weeks went by seamlessly. We aren’t travelers moving to a new city every week and seeing new and exciting sites on the daily. We are trying to make our lives here in Sydney and sometimes that can be hard and not always as exciting and glamorous. At this particular moment, things are tough. With no job, an apartment that seems to be getting smaller every day, and construction workers who wake us up at 7 am, remembering why we are here is more of a challenge. People ask me all the time why I came here and with the aforementioned annoyances, it’s easy to ask myself the same question. Why am I here? I mean really….change has never been my forte and I don’t care for the unknown. If someone were to tell me as recently as a year ago that I’d find myself in Australia shortly after my college graduation, I’d think they were crazy. My entire life, I have had one plan, one goal, one vision of what my life was going to be like and randomly moving across the world was not part of it. But, somewhere along the lines, things changed and I now find myself for the first time not having a clue as to what I’m doing. Seeing so many of my friends from college move to NYC or LA to follow their dreams is so strange to me. They aren’t only pursuing their dreams, but going after the life I wanted, the life that was supposed to be mine as well. And meanwhile, here I am in Australia, doing god knows what. But is that really such a bad thing? I mean, I have spent so much of my life with blinders on that I forgot the significance of spontaneity. As soon as things started getting difficult here, it became so easy to whine and wonder why I gave up the security of my old life plan in favor of the unknown. But then, just when I’m getting tired of doubting myself and asking myself the same question over and over, I find these little moments…these little instances that make everything ok and even make me proud of the fact that I was brave enough to put myself in the most uncomfortable position I can imagine for myself. In people, places, and things I can all of a sudden find clarity and can once again get into the mindset that brought me across the world in the first place.

Upon graduation, I had few ideas as to which step was next. For the first time, I was allowing myself the freedom to explore, to just go and see what else is out there without worrying about falling behind on the strict timeline I had set for my life. I wanted to force myself to become comfortable in the uncomfortable, and to really see who I am and what I have to offer the world outside of the tiny bubble that has been my home for the past 22 years. Chloe and I are not backpackers traveling around, and I will actually be the first to admit that we are a bit too high maintenance for that, evidenced by our piles of luggage, and we really aren’t here for any specific purpose. We are here just because…to live, to establish ourselves in a foreign environment and see how we fare. I know that in the next few years, my life will take me in many directions, whether it’s going back to school or finding a job to devote myself to. But before all that, I want to make sure that I give myself a chance to really live for me while I still can. Before I have to settle down, I need to make sure that I have seen things, that I have explored, marveled, experienced and learned a bit about the world. Knowing that Sydney is only the first stop in this journey makes me more excited than anything else and gives me the motivation to make the most of my time here.

Pardon the following clichés, but life isn’t always about organization and security. It’s not always about knowing the next step and having complete control over the future. Life is about taking chances and trusting the unknown to deliver something that you would never have thought of on your own. Life is letting go and having a little faith in the world and learning that you really don’t know everything. The past six weeks have been incredible. I have laughed, I have cried, I have been amazed, annoyed, have seen some strange things and met some crazy people. I have let go of my inhibitions and need for security in many ways and still have a long way to go. And even though I’m unemployed and going broke, even though my apartment looks more like an oversized closet than a place to live, I still love it. I love this city, I love the energy, the buildings, the beach. In this newfound free time, I have found things to do and places to go that bring me so much joy I almost forget about the little things that bug me. Whether it’s a good night out, walking around the harbor, taking a dance class, laying on the beach or getting into some crazy situation that only Chloe and I would find ourselves in, at the end of the day, those things are what make the struggles all worth it. And regardless of the stresses, I couldn’t be more excited for the coming months and the stories that have yet to be made. Yea, things are hard, life can be a bitch, and yea, I may not know what I’m doing….but I’m sure I’ll figure it out along the way.

<3

tata

Well that was fast. I worked just a handful of shifts at Waterfront before handing in the towel. It seemed great at first...it's a nice restaurant, the location is amazing, the people are so versatile and interesting. But underneath, it's a hell hole. In the nine days that I was a valued employee at dear Waterfront, I worked a whopping eight shifts, most of which were 8 hours long ending at 1 am, with a few days as a hostage from noon to midnight. My first few shifts were entertaining enough. I struggled through with the help of my Spanish friend and a semi-attractive Polish man. It's not that the work was hard (unbenownst to me, I was hired as a drink runner and not a waitress) it was just overwhelming and tiring. I would come home exhausted, and just didn't have time to do anything. What's more the pay was awful. Tipping isn't big in Australia but the hourly wages are higher. However, Waterfront does a flat rate per shift and considering that a single shift is eight hours, the money rounds out to about less than I'd make at any other restaurant. It was the last straw when a friend of mine told me that I'd probably be making more money at KFC. Not worth it. I struggled with the decision of leaving, and even asked my manager for fewer shifts next week. But then I manned up and quit. I told them that it just wasn't a good fit and that I wasn't going to be able to stay. I'm happy with my decision. I was hoping that it would get better....but truth be told, it was just getting worse. I was a bundle of energy when I started working there and with each shift, I got more and more, for lack of a better term, over it. Even the other employees were telling me to get out while I still can...that it will only get worse with summer. So....with that, I kicked Waterfront to the curb and proceeded to have an amazing night out celebrating. HUGE improvement already. There are a few people I will miss...but I will most definitely not miss the hours, the pay, the semi-attractive Polish man who turned out to be 100% jerk, or hearing "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston every time I walked past the Indonesian bartender. I didn't come here to devote my life to working, but to rather work to support myself. And I'm happy I realized that before I got even more sucked in. On a positive note, I have a trial for another company this week and start working in the Tower next week. Now that I know what sort of work experience I am looking for, I'm sure it will all turn out just fine.

Whew!

makin moneyy

That whole be careful what you wish for thing has definitely become my motto this last week. I originally set out looking for one job and somehow ended up with one for each day of the week. I for sure thought it would be a bit more difficult. The day we moved to Bondi, our taxi driver suggested that we look for work in a brothel…that it could be our best bet and it would undeniably make us some money. Well, that right there was my first exposure to working class Sydney. But luckily, after only one day of searching, it looked like I’d have the ability to be picky when it came to choosing work...suitable work that is. So then I was faced with the task of not only picking a job, but turning others down. This is all great and I really should consider myself lucky. But for those of who you know me well, you know that decision making isn’t really my forte and unless I’m being asked to climb the Swiss Alps naked, I don’t really like to say no. But after some research, trials and interviews, I narrowed it down to two jobs that I’ve accepted.

I had my first trial last Wednesday at Waterfront restaurant. It’s a nice upper scale restaurant nestled in between the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge, right on the water. It’s actually three restaurants side by side that sort of look like a combination of Venice, Italy and the inside of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. They are all connected and have enclosed outdoor patios as well as rooms upstairs for weddings and other functions. After the trial shift I sat with the manager who offered me a position there. I accepted and went back last Friday night to start training. Besides the amazing location, the people are great. There are so many different nationalities amongst the staff that going to work almost feels like going to the UN. Besides Australia, I have met people from Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Colombia, Ireland, India and Indonesia. One of the girls who has been training me is from Barcelona and is taking classes in English in order to stay in the Australia. We have a little arrangement to help each other with languages while at work. She helps me with my Spanish and I help her with her English. It’s been great so far, and seeing as there are only three people in the entire restaurant, including myself, who speak Spanish, it can get kinda fun. I already enjoy it there and I think it’s obvious. Some of the staff commented saying that it’s like I’ve been working there for months already. Minus the fact that I was there til 1am the other night helping set up for two weddings, I think I’ll like it there.

The other job I accepted is at the Sydney Tower Restaurant. It’s located at the top of the Sydney Tower in the CBD. The building looks sort of like a space needle and is considered a bit of an icon here. I love it there because it is in the heart of the city and is just a great atmosphere. There is a bit of construction going on in the area due to the new Westfield shopping center set to open in late October. But the tower expects a lot of new business as it will actually be located within the new shopping center. The Sydney Tower Restaurant is a rotating, self service buffet, but they are looking for wait staff to take and run drink orders. Below that is a lounge and below that is a fine dining restaurant. Most likely I’ll be moving within the three levels. In addition, they do a lot of private functions and cocktail parties and pull from within their staff to work those events. I’m so excited about this position. The tower has a phenomenal view of Sydney and is just plain awesome to be in. I won’t be starting work there for another three weeks which will give me time to settle into the other job and finish training.

This is all just a huge weight lifted off my shoulders and its great timing to. The cost of living out here is ridiculous so having a source of income will be amazing. The process has been a bit slower for Chloe who is just now starting to hear from the stores that she applied to. She has an interview with Meyer-the department store- on Thursday….so here’s hoping. I think the next challenge for us will be making sure that we balance our work and play time. I’m already being scheduled a large amount of shifts at Waterfront, which I might have to talk to them about. While I am here to live and work and such, I do want to explore, see, and do as much as I can. My jobs will function to help me to do that. I am someone who likes a busy schedule, but I’ll have to try my best to not get caught up in work and allow myself some freedom. So, I may not be making the money I’d be making at a brothel, but I’d say I’m doing pretty well so far. I have a busy week ahead, but it should be a good one. =)

A Novel by Whitney

And the hunt is on! The search for employment began today and I'd say it had a pretty successful start. Sort of like finding a place to live, finding work was a bit more difficult at first than anticipated. There are so many jobs, and databases filled with applications and information...it's just finding the right ones and going about it in the proper manner that takes trial and error. Chloe and I had been searching websites with companies looking for employees, but I found that to be a little impersonal. I'd much rather go in person and use my stunning good looks and sparkling personality for all their worth to "wow" my future employers. ;) But really, since I don't know the city too well yet, I found that applying blindly was not going to work for me. Chloe and I printed out resumes this morning and set out into the city to hand them out to whoever would take them. We had narrowed the field a bit, knowing that we want to work in the city itself. Several people have told us how easy it is to get stuck in the "Bondi Bubble," that this town is so pleasant and convenient that it's easy to, well, not leave. Not that I mind spending as much time in Bondi as possible, but I have just fallen in love with the city as well. I did end up applying at a few local restaurants near our apartment who are looking for people to work a shift or two on the weekends. It can't hurt, and making a little extra dough going into summer would be nice. Anyway....we first tackled the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) in the CBD (Central Business District). BIG mistake with timing....it was lunch hour in the heart of the city. But in this building are two large department stores, Meyer and David Jones, as well as many other smaller retail stores. Chloe wants to work in retail so we wandered around looking for stores that were hiring. Most ended up telling her to apply online. I had different luck however. I'm sort of picky when it comes to where I want to work. I knew I wanted to work in a restaurant in the city and I knew that I wanted an iconic Sydney location, whatever that means, and above all, it had to be busy. Restaurants that fit this requirement turned out to be hard to find as there are no chain restaurants here....so I had no information to lead me to the right ones. I left my resume at several nice restaurants in the CBD and then moved over to the harbor. I applied at a few more locations there which proved promising. Once I got used to the fact that they don't really do open interviews but rather contact you days later, I started feeling a little more reassured. But I did speak with the manager at the last place I left my resume with and set up a date later this week to do a trial shift. Guess we'll see how that works out. Overall, we had a very productive day. Furthermore, tomorrow, we move into our real apartment. It should be a bit of an adjustment as it is smaller and Chloe and I clearly never absorbed anything our mothers taught us about organization. Sorry Mom. But it's all pretty exciting yea? I think so.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I LOVE it here? Well, I LOVE it here. I decided this morning to take advantage of my lingering jet lag and took an early morning walk along the beach. Just looking out at the water and Bondi itself, I felt so unbelievably happy to be here. It was a gorgeous and serene morning with a ton of the friendliest people I have ever met wandering around. Seriously, it's times like this that make you come to realize that life doesn't suck. We live in a beautiful town close to an amazing city. We have even somewhat started to be social. Thanks to Chloe's cousin who gave us some contacts, we have met some great people who have sort of taken us under their wing to introduce us to Sydney's nightlife. We went to a club on Wednesday night in Bondi Junction that we loved and then spent Friday night on a party on a boat cruising around Darling Harbor--yea, I know right? We then visited a few clubs in the city which we will without a doubt be frequenting. We have really met quality people who are not only nice but ridiculously entertaining who are taking care of us and making sure that we are enjoying what Sydney has to offer. Definitely some keepers. ;)

So we really do seem to be doing well. We are not 100% settled, but very much on the way. Hey, we have bed sheets and food in our refrigerator....tell me that's not a good start. By this time next week, I think it might be safe to call us residents of Sydney and not just visitors.

Ohh and Ps....don't worry, I will start taking more pictures.

<3

Woo Hoo!

As of today, we are no longer homeless! It took us a few days to figure everything out, but Monday morning we set out meaning business. Work out clothes, running shoes, maps and phone numbers in hand, we were ready to spend the day out and not come back to the hotel without a set of keys. We had exhausted various neighborhoods within the city and decided to look somewhere different. Our first stop was in Bondi Beach. We had ventured there the day before and liked what we saw so decided it was worth going back. We had heard that it was a bit pricey, but were were hoping to find something in our price range. We started at the edge of one main street and made our way up from the beach stopping at every real estate office we saw. To put a damper on our positive attitude, we learned that most of the apartment showings are over the weekend and there we were on a Monday with only two days to find a place. But luckily, one landlord was willing to show us his complex. Right away we knew we'd be living there. It's not amazing, it's not even spacious in the least. But it will work just perfectly for us and considering other places we had been willing to lower our standards for, this was great. It's a fully furnished studio apartment about a 5 minute walk from the beach and most importantly, is affordable. It has a bed that folds out from the wall, a small kitchen and bathroom. The building is currently under construction and will be for the next three weeks. But after that, there will be some nicer and obviously newer apartments upstairs that we will have the option of upgrading to. Our apartment itself won't be ready for us until the 6th of September. So until then, we are staying in one right down the hall. This temporary one is a bit bigger and more expensive, so I really hope we don't get too comfortable in it...but who knows....maybe we need to make good friends with our Russian landlord, Gary. ;)

Bondi Beach is a short 20-30 minute commute from the city. It's actually surprisingly easy to get to and from via bus, train, or taxi, which is nice considering both Chloe and I would like to work in the city. It's a bit more relaxed in Bondi but from what I understand, the summers here are pretty busy. It's a popular beach for travelers and tourists and in the next month or so it should be filling up. We figured by living here and working in the city we'd have a good opportunity to get the best of both worlds Sydney has to offer. Bondi Junction is a few miles away where the largest mall in Sydney is located...so that is a great convenience. A bit farther from there is Paddington which has Oxford Street. There are blocks and blocks of little boutiques and cute shops there. And just a bit farther from there is the city. In all probability we will get a bus pass or a weekly train ticket. Public transportation is literally a life saver as neither Chloe nor I will be able to drive on the left side of the road without causing a wreck every other block. But yea....we have a home and absolutely LOVE it. We checked out of our hotel today and took a taxi over to Bondi and here we are. =)

I do want to take a second to write a little ode to Seana. Seana works for Chloe's dad and came out here to help us get started. Without her, I really doubt Chloe and I would have accomplished much of anything. Not only was she a lifesaver, but a great friend and a lot of fun. She left this morning and we already miss her a ton. =(

Anyway....step one down. Next....find a job. Wish me luck!

The Landing

I have learned that there are two kinds of people in the world; those who plan things out and those who make it up as they go along. Having always considered myself the former, I'm trying really hard to understand how I ended up in a foreign country with nothing more than a lot of luggage. In theory, packing up my life into a couple suitcases and relocating to a city with no job, no place to live and no real plan seemed like a great and adventurous idea....right? Well, I guess I completely overestimated my spontaneity because the last few days have been a bit overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, Sydney is an amazing city and I am positive that I will have the time of my life here. But the stress of trying to establish a life in a new, fast-paced environment has taken me by surprise.

The first day here was great....we spent a few hours wondering the city, falling in love with every step, opened bank accounts, and purchased phones. But the days to follow were a little more....well...annoying. Finding a place to live in Sydney is like trying to find a taco stand in Chinatown. There is an overwhelming amount of neighborhoods, hostels, shared accommodations, rooms and apartments, but finding one that satisfies your craving is nearly impossible. That being said, maybe it was good that we didn't come with a plan as we would have been easily let down. The last four days have been filled with endless internet searches, newspaper classifieds, and phone conversations with people who don't speak English and who I swear have never heard an American accent. We have walked miles and miles, exchanged angry words with scammers, and actually considered living in a house with 20 other people and a Brazilian who doesn't shower very much. Oh, and did I mention that we were 100% unprepared for the COLD winter here? But truth be told, as frustrating as everything has been, the trip has already been an amazing experience. I truly love Sydney, and can't wait to spend the next few months here. The energy, the fashion, the sites and of course the accent are all so appealing and make it hard to get angry at the stubbornness of the city. On top of that, I am so happy that I chose to come here with such a great person. Chloe and I are on the same page in many respects and want a lot of the same things out of life. We are different, but seem to balance each other out. While I'm stressing about finding a place to live, her optimism and faith that things will work out sort of calm my nerves and keep me focused on the reasons we are even in Australia to begin with. I think we will learn a great deal from one another in the coming months.

So, welcome to my life in Australia. I'll try to keep my blog updated to let everyone know what we are up to as we build our home here....brick by brick. =)

xoxo

Whitney