My new home
Trip Start
Mar 15, 2006
1
32
42
Trip End
May 30, 2007
Sydney,
Australia
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Well its a little wierd to say that. I'm in Sydney. Australia. And I'm going to be here for the next six months. I love this city, I really am pleased I made the decision to return here from Perth, nice as it was. But here it just feels so much more alive; and there's a lot more to see and do.
My intention was to move to a hostel for the first few nights and then start to look for an Apartment or something, somewhere that seemed a little more permanent and you can make your own space. As it is though I have now been in the same hostel for the last 3 weeks, and am not too sure when I might leave.
There is a good mix of those who are here reasonably long term and the transient ones coming through and leaving after a couple of nights. And wow, do we have a great view. Most nights end up sitting on the roof 'til the early hours with this beautiful view over Hyde Park and the lights of the city on the other side. When I was in Sydney the first time I stayed at a hostel in Kings Cross for a couple of nights (the slightly seedier but lively backpacker area) and then in the city for a couple. I wasn't enamered by the thought of long-term living in either. The Wood Duck though is slap bang in the middle of the two, and thus has the bonuses of both.
I also figured I'd have a little bit of 'downtime' for the first week to see stuff and then begin the process of trying to find work.
A rainy yet beautiful day in Sydney
Well my succession of nights out that began in Perth continued on over here and thus the spending of finances would necessitate the search for employment. I set out pretty determined that I should try to get work in what it is I actually want to do, and so started researching photographers and film companies I might be able to approach.As it stands I have one days assisting work lined up. After sending out a bunch of e-mails, I got a phone call within a minute and had a photographer on the other end of the phone saying did I want to work? Of course. Unfortunately this is the only thing lined up so far though (hopefully it might breed more), and so the following week meant a revision of the CV to start hitting the local restaurants for work.
Funnily enough, this turned out to be equally successful. I decided that I would begin by heading for the nice touristy area around Circular Quay (home to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge), on the basis that this might mean more tips and better wages, and then work my way back from there. Having copied a folder full of CVs to hand out, I managed get rid of just one, since the first place I approached offered me a trial that night.
Well I did the shift. It was OK but I was going to have to be a runner for a couple of months before any chance of becoming a waiter. With my new found cockiness and success, I decided the next day to tell them I didn't want it and carry on my search. This time I headed to Darling Harbour, an equally touristy area, and where the Boat Show was recently held. One more CV gone, one more job offer (and a growing head)! This shift turned out to be a bit more fun and thus I am still there. At the moment its actually looking like I might be heading towards bar work, so I'm gonna have to start learning cocktails. For anyone who's seen me trying to throw and catch things, I would have to say they're brave, but it should be fun...
My updates will probably come along a little less regularly now, since I shall be staying put for the next few months, but feel free to e-mail me and let me know of all the news elsewhere.
Til next time...
