It’s been a couple of months now since I decided it was a good idea to move to the other side of the world where I know no one, have no job and nowhere to live. Ever since, I’ve been Google-ing everything, saving money and booking things like there’s no tomorrow, and for the moment I’m at a point where everything is sorted. So now that I’ve got all the necessaries out of the way, I’ve had time to kick back and think about what all this actually entails… leaving me somewhere between excitement and good old blind panic.
At New Year, I remember saying to a friend that I had absolutely no idea what 2011 would bring me. I had no actual plans past the end of my pending hangover and the year ahead all felt a little bit bleak and uninspiring. Little did I know that only a few weeks later I would be making a decision that could potentially change the direction of my life forever. Here’s how it happened…
Back on Valentine’s Day, having had a less than perfect day at work (non-valentines related), I got home, posted my ranting national rail blog and in the midst of my work-related frustration and upset I figured that now - RIGHT NOW - was the opportune moment to set some life-changing cogs into motion. This is what I refer to as “hitting the wall”: the point where you drop to your knees, scream “I can’t take this annnnyyyymmmoooorrreeeee” and cry. Then decide to do something about whatever it is you’re screaming about, and then cry again because you’ve finally realised that you have the power to change your fate.
A few weeks prior to that, a week or so before my 25th birthday, a relative in Australia mentioned the job climate in her neck of the woods (she also mentioned the glorious weather she’d experienced during her weekend at the beach – not what you want to hear when you’re wrapped up in a blanket and can only see grey when you look outside) and how she always has travellers (of the non-gypsy variety!) working short-term at her company. Back then the notion of heading down under was instantly written off with a “ha! I WISH!” but nevertheless, she’d planted the thought in my mind and there it was - hanging in the vast spaces of my brain and rattled around my skull with every step I took towards my office.
As my birthday approached and the quarter century crisis kicked in, I realised that I was at a point where it was either sink, swim or hire a jet-ski to get the hell out of there. I remembered the previous year I promised myself that I would celebrate my 25th having taken a positive step in my career, be renting my own home and have my own car. Or failing that, I’d be sat in the Rod Laver Arena watching Andy Murray loose another Australian Open. But instead here I was, one week away from that target and finding nothing had changed. My goals were still exactly the same. I had not moved. Then, exactly like in the cartoons, a light bulb appeared above my head and it all clicked. I knew exactly what I wanted and I started doing my research.
Flash back to Valentines Day and my fit of rage… I grabbed my passport, flung open my laptop and began filling out an application for an Australian Working Holiday Visa. Ten minutes later and I was done - finger poised over the submit button and ready to click. But then up popped the mini sensible version of myself on my left shoulder… “Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not logical to simply up and move to the other side of the world. What if something terrible happens? There are sharks. BIG sharks. And they will… eat you.” But then BANG - on my right shoulder appeared the smiley, spontaneous and awesome version of myself who told Miss Snooze Stations over on the left where to go. So I took this photo…
A memento of the moment that could have possibly changed my life for the worse / better. Aaaaaaaaaand… CLICK. Done.
The next morning I received my confirmation email granting me a one year Visa and since that point everything has changed. I now have hope, something to work towards and the excitement and satisfaction of knowing I’m going to live out a life-long ambition.
I’ve done ridiculous amounts of research, made lists, thrown lists away and spent hours figuring out how I could spend the year. I now have a vague idea of how I want things to pan out, but to be honest, I know that as soon as I land I’ll ditch my plans and simply go with the flow. Yay for adventure!
So instead of a plan, I’ve put together a bucket list of 25 things I want to do / accomplish while I’m there:
1. Be accepted for Visa
2. Get on the plane (alone) without panicking / crying
3. Find somewhere to live
4. Open a bank account
5. Get a tax file number
6. Find a job
7. Sort out a mobile phone
8. Make some friends
9. Watch the sunrise over said new city
10. Learn a new sport / activity
11. Get a surf lesson from a local surfer
12. Sydney harbour bridge climb
13. Visit the Hunter Valley
14. Take a hot air balloon ride over the outback
15. Hike in the Blue Mountains
16. Go to the Australian Open
17. Visit Victor Harbour (family friends)
18. Visit the street in Melbourne where my parents used to live
19. Visit Tasmania (to meet a newly found family member)
20. Go whale watching
21. Learn to dive
22. Celebrate Australia Day / my birthday doing something typically Aussie
23. Go to Ayres Rock
24. Visit Canberra
25. Go kayaking with the dolphins
Number 1 can be ticked off and I’m sure there’s plenty more I’ll add over the coming months, but it’s not paramount that I do everything - I know I won’t be able to do all of them. Most importantly though, and if all goes to plan, the week I turn 26 I’m not going to be sitting at home, eating a whole birthday cake to myself and watching Andy Murray lose another Australian Open final. I’m going to be there. And on my birthday, Australia Day, I’ll be in the sunshine, eating a whole birthday cake to myself with a surf board under one arm and an inflatable Kangaroo under the other. Because that it my happy place.
Fits of rage – they’re underrated!
No comments:
Post a Comment