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