I feel like there's so much to see here and I'm still so nervous and anxious that I don't even want to think about getting drunk and sleeping in late for fear I might miss something awesome. Today won't be so awesome, at least at first. I get to spend 6 1/2 hours at an alcohol training course, apparently they make you do those everywhere, but Sydney and NSW in particular, have by far the most expensive cost to do the course. So the bartending gig I booked next weekend at a rugby game is basically just a wash.
After arriving super early yesterday morning I spent the next two hours stressing about customs and trying to figure out which bus to take. I'm pretty positive they put me on the wrong bus, because everyone else had a ticket print out and I simply had a screen shot I saved that said "Free Bus Ride" that my company had sent me. The bus driver proceeded to tell me to write down all the details of my ticket, so I stole someone elses and copied it but just inserted my information, I wonder how long it took him to figure that out. Regardless I was dropped off first at the hostel I'm currently residing in. It's call "Wake Up!" and as far as hostels go it's pretty freaking sweet! Granted my experience with hostels thus far had only been in Thailand for $5 a night, so I don't know why I was expecting a room with just a fan.
Upon going up to my room I was met by a couple of very awkard Indian kids and because I had arrived so early my bed had yet to be changed and made. So for about ten minutes I stood there awkardly then decided I should go brush my teeth. When I returned I met a new roommate named Fredderick, he's Danish (That's from Denmark) I had stupidly replied, "O so you're Dutch" he did not like that. First impressions aside Fred and I hit it off and soon realized we were both heading to the same orientation. We decided to head downstairs together and ended up eventually spending the whole day hanging out and walking around Sydney.
The orientation was um... a little weird. I didn't know exactly what I was getting into but they bombarded us with so much information it was hard to keep up. How to setup bank accounts, phones, insurance, etc. but they all seemed to do this so much that they sort of sped through their power point the way a nervous high schooler would. I left that portion knowing just as much as I did when I came in, which was basically nothing. Thankfully they were a lot more helpful one on one, but I still have a huge checklist to figure out before I leave Sydney.
The best part of the whole presentation was the Matthew McConnahey esque young surfer dude (if Matt weighed about 100 pounds less and had an Aussie accent) who came to talk to us about surf camp. Surfing was high up on my ToDo list while down under, and while its freezing out and my balls may be in danger of lodging themselves perminantley up in my throat when I go in the water, I decided to nut up or shut up and sign up for surf camp. His whole pitch was basically, it's $99 a day all inclusive, that's cheaper than staying in Sydney and you get to learn to surf. Sounded like B.S. but after a day here I'm convinced it's the truth. So surf camp here I come! Fred even signed up with me!
The rest of the day was spent running around town trying to setup bank cards and tax file numbers, and eating pizza. I have a feeling if I stay in Sydney I'll be forced to eat lots and lots of pizza.
I still haven't really figured out a game plan yet but I decided the surfing thing would be a good way to get my feet wet (no pun intended). Nothing like starting off your year long vacation with a vacation I always say! I'm also not sold on whether or not this program was worth it yet, that parts still to be discovered. But I do know that for anyone thinking about going but who's too nervous it's definitely nice to have something kind of setup for you when you get here. Once I get back from surf camp I'm gonna make myself fully available and see how much work they actually get me, but for now the jury is still out. I've also got some opportunities lined up elsewhere so maybe if I can find something on my own it'll be worth having them as a little supplemental income on the side.
Next step is continue to meet new people, be open, and hopefully get all my shit done before I leave for surf camp. That part probably isn't gonna happen though since I don't think the banks here are open on the weekend, so hopefully what I've already taken out will be enough to get me through till next week. I can't wait to do some yoga on the beach and meet some new Aussies, and others, and hopefully get in touch with some friends of friends and start making this adventure awesome! But as a good friend of mine told me, "Don't have any expectations Logi, just go and meet new people and see where it leads you."
Thanks Ging.
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