Somehow, it’s already been three months since I left home and arrived down under. Time has flown by for me, yet so much has happened. My life has settled down now that I found a home away from home in Sydney. I have three jobs, all for Wake Up! Sydney, the BEST hostel in Sydney (and top-rated in the world!). I work as a kitchen hand for the café and bar, promote events for the bar and hostel, and write blogs for the website. I have the most amazing roommates and the staff has been so welcoming. I’m loving life here and excited for the next few months in Sydney!
Day 68: Sunday, November 18th
I had a 6:30am shift in the kitchen where I learned how to make pizza and sandwiches. My roommate Amber and I went to Manly in the afternoon to take advantage of the Sunday transportation discount. I had a Ben & Jerry’s PB Cookies Waffle Cone and melted a little inside because it was so delicious. Manly is a peaceful place. It reminds me of Byron Bay because of the abundance of little cafes and cute shops. After sitting on the dock for a while, we headed back to Wake Up! to go on the pub crawl because a lot of our friends were going. Sadly, my roommate who didn’t even go to the pub crawl because she was at work broke her rib falling from her bunk bed. So crazy how it happened and unfortunate because it takes 8 weeks to heal!
Day 69: Monday, November 19th
I had an interview for door-to-door sales for Hello Fresh in the morning. I quickly realized it wasn’t for me and declined their offer. I went shoe shopping for another interview tomorrow, finally found these fresh vegan ravioli and a cola flavoured sparkling water I’d been searching for, and visited the hostel’s reception to ask about a travel writing opportunity that was posted in the hallway. I chatted with the social media director and sent her this blog to see if I would be a good fit for the position. After the gym, I had another shift in the kitchen.
Day 70: Tuesday, November 20th
I had my interview with BridgeClimb. It was a group interview and my team won the newspaper tower building challenge. It was a nearly three hour interview and at the END, they told me my availability (which they had before the interview) doesn’t work with their needs. Oh well, interviewing experience is always good! I shipped a package home, including my broken computer.
Day 71: Wednesday, November 21st
I met with Bruce, the manager of the hostel’s kitchen, in the morning. He offered me a paid position working in the kitchen 20-30 hours per week! It’s the perfect position because all of my hours are at the same place and I’ll get more experience in a kitchen to see if it’s a career path I actually want to explore. I’m really excited and feel so lucky that it worked out like this! I met with the social media manager again in the afternoon and she hired me, TOO! I now have three jobs all at the same place: working for accommodation in the kitchen, working in the kitchen, and writing travel blogs. I went to Side Bar after I finished work at 10 to celebrate my new jobs.
Day 72: Thursday, November 22nd
It may be Thanksgiving in Australia, but nothing interesting happens here! I had my first paid shift at Wake Up from 6:30am-1pm. Looks like early mornings are going to be normal now, so it’s lucky I can literally roll out of bed and head to work because I woke up at 6:25am. I took a long nap after work, ordered a burger from a place I’ve been dying to try for a late lunch, and went to bed early.
Day 73: Friday, November 23rd
I worked in the morning and went to the gym. Facetimed my family who was about to eat Thanksgiving dinner at home. It was weird seeing everyone together while I’m halfway around the world. A girl who used to work for the hostel but still lives here had a birthday dinner in the evening. It was nice being with a bunch of the Wake Up! staff members outside of the hostel for a night. We ate at a Mexican restaurant that had huge frozen margaritas for happy hour. After dinner, I began feeling homesick because everyone there knew each other so well and although they weren’t excluding me at all, I missed having friends that I knew as well as the ones in Seattle.
Day 74: Saturday, November 24th
Worked in the morning, relaxed, and then helped out my roommate who does event promotion for the bar and hostel. We led a beer pong competition and it was a blast! After, we split a Domino’s pizza because they have vegan cheese in Australia.
Day 75: Sunday, November 25th
Worked in the morning, worked out, cooked, did laundry, and went to bed early.
Day 76: Monday, November 26th
I work crazy hours this week. Worked 8.5 hours straight and then worked 3 hours again in the evening! It was an exhausting day.
Day 77: Tuesday, November 27th
Worked 9 hours straight and an additional 4 in the evening! But I managed to go to the gym so it was okay!
Day 78: Wednesday, November 28th
Worked from 6-3 and 6-10 again. My feet were killing me by now! I asked my managers if there was a way to switch around my work for accommodation hours because I was exhausted from so many double shifts and long hours in the kitchen. I feel blessed because the managers were so helpful in finding a solution so that I wasn’t working such long hours. Starting next week, I’ll be working in the kitchen for a job; and for accommodation, I’ll be writing one blog and working event promotions! I am pumped to have these positions because I’m gaining experience in a kitchen, seeing if I love writing as much when I have a prompt, and being social as an event promoter. This hostel just keeps getting better and better.
Day 79: Thursday, November 29th
Worked a few hours in the morning. My roommates Dani, Amber, and I went to Westfield mall about a 20 minute walk away. We were searching for retro costumes to wear to our staff party next Tuesday. We ate dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant that even had the vegan menu items labeled. We walked through Darling Harbour on the way home. I met up with Aggy and a few friends in Side Bar and we decided to go to Ivy, another bar nearby. This bar has a swimming pool on the roof and was about seven stories tall. I’ve never seen anything like it!
Day 80: Friday, November 30th
Slept in and had a new roommate move in! Her name is Katie and she’s from England. I met with my new manager about my role in event promotions. I’m even more excited now! Katie and I grabbed a beer at the café at the hostel before meeting up with Dani and Amber. We briefly visited what was supposed to be a beautiful place decorated for Christmas, but was closed for a wedding. When we got back, we went down to Side Bar because most of the staff was there.
Day 81: Saturday, December 1st
Woke up early for work, got a much needed pedicure with Dani, took a nap, went shopping for clothes to wear to the Christmas party again, journaled, and watched Miracle on 34thStreet.
Day 82: Sunday, December 2nd
Worked, went to the gym, and then headed to Manly to take advantage of the Sunday transportation discount where I saved nearly $20 on ferry fees! I shopped for new clothes but still didn’t find anything I like. Wandered through the beach area for a bit and then met Averill and Yoie for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. It was wonderful having a conversation with adults after being surrounded by backpackers for so long. We had a tasty dinner and frozen margaritas.
Day 83: Monday, December 3rd
Worked in the morning and then met with Jaimmi, my manager for blog writing. We ended up going to a costume store because we both desperately needed to figure out our costume situation for the staff party the next day. In the evening, I worked my first official shift as an event promoter for the free pizza night. It’s harder work than you would imagine, but really fun and social.
Day 84: Tuesday, December 4th
Worked in the morning making sandwiches for the staff party in the evening. Everyone in the hostel was in such a positive mood and filled with excitement for the staff party. At about 3:45, my roommates and I finished getting ready and went down to the reception area where other staff members were waiting. It was amazing seeing the costumes everyone came up with! The retro theme was a big hit. We started the night at a café/bar in Darling Harbour before setting sail on a private boat through Sydney Harbour for 4 hours. The views were beautiful and the company was even better. Working for a hostel generally requires an outgoing, friendly personality. As you might imagine, that makes for fantastic conversations and lots of laughs. After the boat, we took a bus to a bar in the city. This was the first night that I really began feeling like I had a home away from home and had REAL friends that went beyond surface level. I’m lucky to be surrounded by fascinating people from all over the world. Wake Up! has already given me so much and I’ve only been back in Sydney for about a month!
Day 85: Wednesday, December 5th
Slept in, caught up on my journal, and promoted the Wine and Cheese event in the evening.
Day 86: Thursday, December 6th
I went to Newtown for the day to wander around and check out more of the vegan spots. I had a lentil roll for lunch and bought a few things at the bulk food store. I went to the gym in the evening and got to know my new roommate Katie better. Amber, Dani, and Aggy went to Melbourne for the weekend and Billy moved out, so it’s just Katie and I for the weekend.
Day 87: Friday, December 7th
My official one month at Wake Up! I had the day off so I wrote, did laundry, and ran errands. I went to a spot called Spice Alley with Katie and two other coworkers, Andrew and Cameron. We went to a house party for a bit, but I left early.
Day 88: Saturday, December 8th
I cooked up a dish bursting with flavor: vegan bacon, potatoes, vegan cheese, peppers, and onions. I HAVE to make it again. I finally bought my non-slip kitchen shoes and found a little cardboard Christmas tree to buy. Alex, a girl I met up the East Coast, is in Sydney now so we caught up on life. Katie, Erik, and I went to the gym together and then Katie and I worked the beer pong competition for the hostel.
Day 89: Sunday, December 9th
Went to Bondi Beach and the Bondi Markets. I had yummy tacos and bought a neat printed towel and tote bag. I also found the Aussie version of Cards Against Humanity for $20 cheaper than anywhere else. Relaxing at the beach was nice and the ocean was even nicer. Before I went home to get ready for work, I got my second piercing in my ears! I LOVE it. I’ve wanted it for years and now I’ll have a piece of Australia with me forever (instead of a tattoo, which I don’t want). I worked the pub crawl at night which was a bit stressful because it was my first time and there were a lot of things to remember. But it was fun and I’m excited to work it again.
Day 90: Monday, December 10th
Worked in the morning, Facetimed my dad, worked out, wrote my blog post for Wake Up!, and worked the free pizza night.
Day 91: Tuesday, December 11th
Worked in the morning and then met up with Alex again at the gym. After, we went to Peanut Butter Bar and got these incredible vegan pancakes covered in peanut butter. It was nice talking to her because we met so long ago so it just feels easy. In the middle of the night, my roommates and I were awoken by loud screaming from somewhere in our room. Turns out, it was my roommate Aggy who has a tendency to sleepwalk. She was sitting upright with her hands above her head screaming, “GUYS it’s breaking! My bed is breaking!” She thought she was holding her bed up to prevent it falling and was panicking about it breaking. A few minutes later, she fell back asleep after laughing like a witch. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in the middle of the night.
Day 92: Wednesday, December 12th
Worked, bought costumes for the beach party themed event at the hostel, and cooked. I also got a yummy Crufet (unknown spelling?) pastry. I worked the wine and cheese event at the beach party and it was really fun! I liked dressing up and getting a giant pineapple floatie to bring to the beach later.
Day 93: Thursday, December 13th
It was my day off so I had a chill day. Bought groceries and then cooked a fried rice type of dish. Katie and I went to check out some places in the Harbour that we were considering for New Year’s Eve. It’s a big deal here and we’re trying to find amazing views with affordable prices. Places that charge $950 a person are NORMAL. After we walked around, I went to a Christmas market and got a chocolate chip donut covered in chocolate glaze with chocolate covered potato chips. Mind-blowing. The market was held at a museum about Australia’s convict history. It was interesting to read and see the old barracks. Minutes after I got home, a storm with thunder, rain, and lightening started. When it rains here, it POURS. In the middle of the night, for the second time this week, Aggy woke everyone up in the middle of the night with her sleepwalking! This time, she was standing above Amber’s bed yelling and asking why she was sleeping in the wrong bed (she wasn’t, she was in her bed). She kept repeatedly asking why we put her to bed in someone else’s bed (she went to bed on her own). She was SURE that she wasn’t sleepwalking until the morning when we were all laughing about it.
Day 68: Sunday, November 18th
I had a 6:30am shift in the kitchen where I learned how to make pizza and sandwiches. My roommate Amber and I went to Manly in the afternoon to take advantage of the Sunday transportation discount. I had a Ben & Jerry’s PB Cookies Waffle Cone and melted a little inside because it was so delicious. Manly is a peaceful place. It reminds me of Byron Bay because of the abundance of little cafes and cute shops. After sitting on the dock for a while, we headed back to Wake Up! to go on the pub crawl because a lot of our friends were going. Sadly, my roommate who didn’t even go to the pub crawl because she was at work broke her rib falling from her bunk bed. So crazy how it happened and unfortunate because it takes 8 weeks to heal!
Day 69: Monday, November 19th
I had an interview for door-to-door sales for Hello Fresh in the morning. I quickly realized it wasn’t for me and declined their offer. I went shoe shopping for another interview tomorrow, finally found these fresh vegan ravioli and a cola flavoured sparkling water I’d been searching for, and visited the hostel’s reception to ask about a travel writing opportunity that was posted in the hallway. I chatted with the social media director and sent her this blog to see if I would be a good fit for the position. After the gym, I had another shift in the kitchen.
Day 70: Tuesday, November 20th
I had my interview with BridgeClimb. It was a group interview and my team won the newspaper tower building challenge. It was a nearly three hour interview and at the END, they told me my availability (which they had before the interview) doesn’t work with their needs. Oh well, interviewing experience is always good! I shipped a package home, including my broken computer.
Day 71: Wednesday, November 21st
I met with Bruce, the manager of the hostel’s kitchen, in the morning. He offered me a paid position working in the kitchen 20-30 hours per week! It’s the perfect position because all of my hours are at the same place and I’ll get more experience in a kitchen to see if it’s a career path I actually want to explore. I’m really excited and feel so lucky that it worked out like this! I met with the social media manager again in the afternoon and she hired me, TOO! I now have three jobs all at the same place: working for accommodation in the kitchen, working in the kitchen, and writing travel blogs. I went to Side Bar after I finished work at 10 to celebrate my new jobs.
Day 72: Thursday, November 22nd
It may be Thanksgiving in Australia, but nothing interesting happens here! I had my first paid shift at Wake Up from 6:30am-1pm. Looks like early mornings are going to be normal now, so it’s lucky I can literally roll out of bed and head to work because I woke up at 6:25am. I took a long nap after work, ordered a burger from a place I’ve been dying to try for a late lunch, and went to bed early.
Day 73: Friday, November 23rd
I worked in the morning and went to the gym. Facetimed my family who was about to eat Thanksgiving dinner at home. It was weird seeing everyone together while I’m halfway around the world. A girl who used to work for the hostel but still lives here had a birthday dinner in the evening. It was nice being with a bunch of the Wake Up! staff members outside of the hostel for a night. We ate at a Mexican restaurant that had huge frozen margaritas for happy hour. After dinner, I began feeling homesick because everyone there knew each other so well and although they weren’t excluding me at all, I missed having friends that I knew as well as the ones in Seattle.
Day 74: Saturday, November 24th
Worked in the morning, relaxed, and then helped out my roommate who does event promotion for the bar and hostel. We led a beer pong competition and it was a blast! After, we split a Domino’s pizza because they have vegan cheese in Australia.
Day 75: Sunday, November 25th
Worked in the morning, worked out, cooked, did laundry, and went to bed early.
Day 76: Monday, November 26th
I work crazy hours this week. Worked 8.5 hours straight and then worked 3 hours again in the evening! It was an exhausting day.
Day 77: Tuesday, November 27th
Worked 9 hours straight and an additional 4 in the evening! But I managed to go to the gym so it was okay!
Day 78: Wednesday, November 28th
Worked from 6-3 and 6-10 again. My feet were killing me by now! I asked my managers if there was a way to switch around my work for accommodation hours because I was exhausted from so many double shifts and long hours in the kitchen. I feel blessed because the managers were so helpful in finding a solution so that I wasn’t working such long hours. Starting next week, I’ll be working in the kitchen for a job; and for accommodation, I’ll be writing one blog and working event promotions! I am pumped to have these positions because I’m gaining experience in a kitchen, seeing if I love writing as much when I have a prompt, and being social as an event promoter. This hostel just keeps getting better and better.
Day 79: Thursday, November 29th
Worked a few hours in the morning. My roommates Dani, Amber, and I went to Westfield mall about a 20 minute walk away. We were searching for retro costumes to wear to our staff party next Tuesday. We ate dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant that even had the vegan menu items labeled. We walked through Darling Harbour on the way home. I met up with Aggy and a few friends in Side Bar and we decided to go to Ivy, another bar nearby. This bar has a swimming pool on the roof and was about seven stories tall. I’ve never seen anything like it!
Day 80: Friday, November 30th
Slept in and had a new roommate move in! Her name is Katie and she’s from England. I met with my new manager about my role in event promotions. I’m even more excited now! Katie and I grabbed a beer at the café at the hostel before meeting up with Dani and Amber. We briefly visited what was supposed to be a beautiful place decorated for Christmas, but was closed for a wedding. When we got back, we went down to Side Bar because most of the staff was there.
Day 81: Saturday, December 1st
Woke up early for work, got a much needed pedicure with Dani, took a nap, went shopping for clothes to wear to the Christmas party again, journaled, and watched Miracle on 34thStreet.
Day 82: Sunday, December 2nd
Worked, went to the gym, and then headed to Manly to take advantage of the Sunday transportation discount where I saved nearly $20 on ferry fees! I shopped for new clothes but still didn’t find anything I like. Wandered through the beach area for a bit and then met Averill and Yoie for dinner at a Mexican restaurant. It was wonderful having a conversation with adults after being surrounded by backpackers for so long. We had a tasty dinner and frozen margaritas.
Day 83: Monday, December 3rd
Worked in the morning and then met with Jaimmi, my manager for blog writing. We ended up going to a costume store because we both desperately needed to figure out our costume situation for the staff party the next day. In the evening, I worked my first official shift as an event promoter for the free pizza night. It’s harder work than you would imagine, but really fun and social.
Day 84: Tuesday, December 4th
Worked in the morning making sandwiches for the staff party in the evening. Everyone in the hostel was in such a positive mood and filled with excitement for the staff party. At about 3:45, my roommates and I finished getting ready and went down to the reception area where other staff members were waiting. It was amazing seeing the costumes everyone came up with! The retro theme was a big hit. We started the night at a café/bar in Darling Harbour before setting sail on a private boat through Sydney Harbour for 4 hours. The views were beautiful and the company was even better. Working for a hostel generally requires an outgoing, friendly personality. As you might imagine, that makes for fantastic conversations and lots of laughs. After the boat, we took a bus to a bar in the city. This was the first night that I really began feeling like I had a home away from home and had REAL friends that went beyond surface level. I’m lucky to be surrounded by fascinating people from all over the world. Wake Up! has already given me so much and I’ve only been back in Sydney for about a month!
Day 85: Wednesday, December 5th
Slept in, caught up on my journal, and promoted the Wine and Cheese event in the evening.
Day 86: Thursday, December 6th
I went to Newtown for the day to wander around and check out more of the vegan spots. I had a lentil roll for lunch and bought a few things at the bulk food store. I went to the gym in the evening and got to know my new roommate Katie better. Amber, Dani, and Aggy went to Melbourne for the weekend and Billy moved out, so it’s just Katie and I for the weekend.
Day 87: Friday, December 7th
My official one month at Wake Up! I had the day off so I wrote, did laundry, and ran errands. I went to a spot called Spice Alley with Katie and two other coworkers, Andrew and Cameron. We went to a house party for a bit, but I left early.
Day 88: Saturday, December 8th
I cooked up a dish bursting with flavor: vegan bacon, potatoes, vegan cheese, peppers, and onions. I HAVE to make it again. I finally bought my non-slip kitchen shoes and found a little cardboard Christmas tree to buy. Alex, a girl I met up the East Coast, is in Sydney now so we caught up on life. Katie, Erik, and I went to the gym together and then Katie and I worked the beer pong competition for the hostel.
Day 89: Sunday, December 9th
Went to Bondi Beach and the Bondi Markets. I had yummy tacos and bought a neat printed towel and tote bag. I also found the Aussie version of Cards Against Humanity for $20 cheaper than anywhere else. Relaxing at the beach was nice and the ocean was even nicer. Before I went home to get ready for work, I got my second piercing in my ears! I LOVE it. I’ve wanted it for years and now I’ll have a piece of Australia with me forever (instead of a tattoo, which I don’t want). I worked the pub crawl at night which was a bit stressful because it was my first time and there were a lot of things to remember. But it was fun and I’m excited to work it again.
Day 90: Monday, December 10th
Worked in the morning, Facetimed my dad, worked out, wrote my blog post for Wake Up!, and worked the free pizza night.
Day 91: Tuesday, December 11th
Worked in the morning and then met up with Alex again at the gym. After, we went to Peanut Butter Bar and got these incredible vegan pancakes covered in peanut butter. It was nice talking to her because we met so long ago so it just feels easy. In the middle of the night, my roommates and I were awoken by loud screaming from somewhere in our room. Turns out, it was my roommate Aggy who has a tendency to sleepwalk. She was sitting upright with her hands above her head screaming, “GUYS it’s breaking! My bed is breaking!” She thought she was holding her bed up to prevent it falling and was panicking about it breaking. A few minutes later, she fell back asleep after laughing like a witch. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in the middle of the night.
Day 92: Wednesday, December 12th
Worked, bought costumes for the beach party themed event at the hostel, and cooked. I also got a yummy Crufet (unknown spelling?) pastry. I worked the wine and cheese event at the beach party and it was really fun! I liked dressing up and getting a giant pineapple floatie to bring to the beach later.
Day 93: Thursday, December 13th
It was my day off so I had a chill day. Bought groceries and then cooked a fried rice type of dish. Katie and I went to check out some places in the Harbour that we were considering for New Year’s Eve. It’s a big deal here and we’re trying to find amazing views with affordable prices. Places that charge $950 a person are NORMAL. After we walked around, I went to a Christmas market and got a chocolate chip donut covered in chocolate glaze with chocolate covered potato chips. Mind-blowing. The market was held at a museum about Australia’s convict history. It was interesting to read and see the old barracks. Minutes after I got home, a storm with thunder, rain, and lightening started. When it rains here, it POURS. In the middle of the night, for the second time this week, Aggy woke everyone up in the middle of the night with her sleepwalking! This time, she was standing above Amber’s bed yelling and asking why she was sleeping in the wrong bed (she wasn’t, she was in her bed). She kept repeatedly asking why we put her to bed in someone else’s bed (she went to bed on her own). She was SURE that she wasn’t sleepwalking until the morning when we were all laughing about it.