Alright kids, so, those who know me decently, know that I'm not much of a reader. It's not really my thing. I realized once that I would much prefer to write. But that's a bit hypocritical if I don't read others blogs and stuff, is it not - expect people to take an interest in what I have to say?
Anyway, when I first found out that my fright to Australia was gonna be like 42hrs or something ridiculous, I picked up the book found at my parents place and decided to read that. It was odd. A romance novel of sorts, but one in which the chick ends up sleeping with 3 stepbrothers and making that relationship work. I'm still unsure as to what my thoughts are on it. Regardless, when I came to Margaret River, I went into the library looking for something. I came across this book called "Tunnel Vision" about a guy trying really hard to make it as a professional surfer. It was an easy read. He talked about his travels and how he tried to make it as a comedian, and how he was having struggles making it as a surfer. I was quite enjoying it. The library however wanted $20 for a card and $80 deposit for being a temporary member. So, like a true backpacker, I sat there and photographed the last 165 pages I still had to read with my phone... that way it was free (most annoying part was that I didn't know how to turn off the shutter noise on my phone, so, sorry to everyone sitting around me that day, I must'a been annoying)
Once I finished this book, I wanted to find the author. I wondered if he was still living in Margaret River (he was a local, and talked about the pubs and the beaches and the streets I meander every day). I spent 45min-1hr looking into all the social media outlets, googling him. The other information that I found was that the last thing he did was move to the USA to become a bull rider now. He apparently had a blog about it, but it had since been taken down. I eventually gave up, but still humoured the thought that I would run into him at Wed night acoustic sessions or something,
That was about a month ago, I went to Perth to try to work the Fringe after that, and received the serial killer book which I am still powering though. The other day I was at the beach with Jake watching the kite boarders on a windy day, hanging in the car and chatting. Jake was explaining the waves to me (a lot of boys try to explain them to me. I like the look they get talking about it, they're always so excited). He was using all the terms that I should have known from reading a surfer book, "The break", "crumbly waves" blah blah, but I needed reminders. I mentioned the book cuz it had a glossary, and he asked who the writer was. I didn't remember but had a photo of it on my phone. "The guy who owns the book shop?" he asks when hearing the name. "No, the guy who owns the book shop is the father of the kids I'm AuPairing for" I reply back. And then stop to think. I know his name, of course. and stared at my phone looking at the name of the author - are you shitting me?
The guy I had wanted to track down before is the guy who place I end up right now? I mean, I knew the town was small, but really. I sat there with my mind blown for a long time. Today while walking through town, I finally told him how I had found out. Super random. And now I wanna hear all of his stories. I think that would be a great way to spend an evening. Drinks and travel tales.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Monday, February 9, 2015
Making Friends
I had been on my best behaviour all day. Drinking minimally, getting some sleep, even showering and doing my hair. It was a Tuesday, my first day of work at the Mexican Restaurant, I was to start at 6pm.
I put on my new $9 dress that I got at target, drank an energy drink and walked into work. On the walk there, my heels began to bleed (stupid flats I got my mom to buy me that I thought were gonna work themeselves in, I only wear thongs these days) so I went into Target to buy some bandaids. The girl was sympathetic and gave me some staff ones for free.
I showed up to work and was ready to go. But the night was quiet and the wind was picking up? Was Margs actually going to have a rainstorm? That has never happened really. Just that one amazing storm that happened in Perth a week back, that blew my mind. Low and behold it starts pouring like crazy. Me and the other waitstaff just sit there watching. It was very spiritual.
I was done work within an hour and a half. It was a slow night. I ate some $5 tacos and decided to go make some friends.
Walking across the street to Settlers Tavern (the it place in town) I bought a bevy and looked for somewhere to hang. I sat down but felt stupid sitting alone and walked up to a table with a couple guys, asked them if I could join.
They were hilarious. In town on contract from Perth, doing something in relation to the cell phone towers. We exchanged some stories then decided to play some pool - doubles. The team I was on I made sure was good, cuz I suck at pool but hate losing. Minutes later I was getting yelled at for "not even trying and leaving it up to luck). I argued a lot with those guys. We drank too much too.
A couple days later, I was doing my usual walk through town looking for work and eating ice cream. Gumtree (the Australian equivalent of craigslist/kijiji) had an ad up for a house share with a dude named Jake. I shot him a text and decided to do the walk over to see his place. It was farther than I wanted, 2.5kms out of town, but really nice. I chatted with him a while. He was a local that worked away, seemed pretty legit. He offered me a ride back, but I said I could walk. He insisted as he was going to drink at a buddys. I invited myself along.
His friends were cool. I introduced myself as Jakes fiance, I mean, we'd known each other for like and hour now. Their place was gorgeous, really sweet rural type house. His mates kids even through some movies onto my jump drive which was sweet. We were drinking DevilsCut JimBeam and I don't know how strong the drinks were, but I was pretty tipsy by the time we made it back into town. We swung by KnightsInn as I knew people at karaoke, but peaced out right quick to go to Settlers. It was done for the night, no more live music. We decided to play pool. The table was racked up but no one at it. We waited a few minutes till I looked outside - dudes from Tuesday, man were they gonna get an ear-full. They got bitched out, I got a free drink.
I got in at 1am having to pick grapes at 5am. Really, me not working out as an AuPair isn't that far fetched.
I put on my new $9 dress that I got at target, drank an energy drink and walked into work. On the walk there, my heels began to bleed (stupid flats I got my mom to buy me that I thought were gonna work themeselves in, I only wear thongs these days) so I went into Target to buy some bandaids. The girl was sympathetic and gave me some staff ones for free.
I showed up to work and was ready to go. But the night was quiet and the wind was picking up? Was Margs actually going to have a rainstorm? That has never happened really. Just that one amazing storm that happened in Perth a week back, that blew my mind. Low and behold it starts pouring like crazy. Me and the other waitstaff just sit there watching. It was very spiritual.
I was done work within an hour and a half. It was a slow night. I ate some $5 tacos and decided to go make some friends.
Walking across the street to Settlers Tavern (the it place in town) I bought a bevy and looked for somewhere to hang. I sat down but felt stupid sitting alone and walked up to a table with a couple guys, asked them if I could join.
They were hilarious. In town on contract from Perth, doing something in relation to the cell phone towers. We exchanged some stories then decided to play some pool - doubles. The team I was on I made sure was good, cuz I suck at pool but hate losing. Minutes later I was getting yelled at for "not even trying and leaving it up to luck). I argued a lot with those guys. We drank too much too.
A couple days later, I was doing my usual walk through town looking for work and eating ice cream. Gumtree (the Australian equivalent of craigslist/kijiji) had an ad up for a house share with a dude named Jake. I shot him a text and decided to do the walk over to see his place. It was farther than I wanted, 2.5kms out of town, but really nice. I chatted with him a while. He was a local that worked away, seemed pretty legit. He offered me a ride back, but I said I could walk. He insisted as he was going to drink at a buddys. I invited myself along.
His friends were cool. I introduced myself as Jakes fiance, I mean, we'd known each other for like and hour now. Their place was gorgeous, really sweet rural type house. His mates kids even through some movies onto my jump drive which was sweet. We were drinking DevilsCut JimBeam and I don't know how strong the drinks were, but I was pretty tipsy by the time we made it back into town. We swung by KnightsInn as I knew people at karaoke, but peaced out right quick to go to Settlers. It was done for the night, no more live music. We decided to play pool. The table was racked up but no one at it. We waited a few minutes till I looked outside - dudes from Tuesday, man were they gonna get an ear-full. They got bitched out, I got a free drink.
I got in at 1am having to pick grapes at 5am. Really, me not working out as an AuPair isn't that far fetched.
A Day in the Life
So, I am currently spending my days in the surfer town of Margaret River, Western Australia. After spending about a week in Perth hoping to work a gig that was getting delayed, I got a call from the Mexican restaurant here asking me to come in for a trial. I talked them into letting me come in on a Tuesday rather than Friday. About the same time, I applied for an AuPair (live in nanny) position with a lady that was keen on meeting me. Things were about to take shape, I mean, I had like $6 to my name, but things were going to look up.
I took a bus into Margaret River, settled into the hostel on the outskirts of town and just roamed around as I do meeting people. The AuPairing gig didn't really work out, After a few days of me going out to all hours of the night, and the kids wanting to be with mom in the mornings, we mutually agreed I would probably be better off in a house-share situation. Although the kids and lady are both amazing! The waitressing gig is also on hold. I did my trial then went in for another shift, but with school starting up again, they're just not busy enough to give me any hours. So this is where I'm at:
I get up in the mornings about 4:30am. I walk down to the recruitment office that organizes teams to go out to vineyards for grape picking, as wine season has begun. (Working on a farm is a necessity at some point during your vacation, as it allows you to stay and work in Australia for a 2nd year. Catch is, you have to apply before you turn 31 or you're shit outta luck - stupid government rules, and my clock is ticking). Grape picking is pretty much like wwoofing (free labour on a farm in return for food/board) as it pays less than $3/bucket, so it equals out to like $9/hr. I'll have a bitch session about that another time.
After 5 hours and making no money, I like to hitchhike straight to the beach. Sometimes it is amazing and I nap in the sun, swim a bit, read my Backpackers Serial Killer book (there was a dude in Australia that would kill backpackers for fun. A movie called WolfCreek 1&2 are about him if you care to watch it, I am currently reading his "true story" thanks for that recommendation!!! dicks). Sometimes it's windy and less stellar. That's when you meet people and watch all the kite boarders do their thing.
After the beach, or sometimes before, I swing by the ice cream shop to have my usual chocolate cone and see what the word is in town. Send out a few job emails. Have some drinks, see where the night leads me.
I took a bus into Margaret River, settled into the hostel on the outskirts of town and just roamed around as I do meeting people. The AuPairing gig didn't really work out, After a few days of me going out to all hours of the night, and the kids wanting to be with mom in the mornings, we mutually agreed I would probably be better off in a house-share situation. Although the kids and lady are both amazing! The waitressing gig is also on hold. I did my trial then went in for another shift, but with school starting up again, they're just not busy enough to give me any hours. So this is where I'm at:
I get up in the mornings about 4:30am. I walk down to the recruitment office that organizes teams to go out to vineyards for grape picking, as wine season has begun. (Working on a farm is a necessity at some point during your vacation, as it allows you to stay and work in Australia for a 2nd year. Catch is, you have to apply before you turn 31 or you're shit outta luck - stupid government rules, and my clock is ticking). Grape picking is pretty much like wwoofing (free labour on a farm in return for food/board) as it pays less than $3/bucket, so it equals out to like $9/hr. I'll have a bitch session about that another time.
After 5 hours and making no money, I like to hitchhike straight to the beach. Sometimes it is amazing and I nap in the sun, swim a bit, read my Backpackers Serial Killer book (there was a dude in Australia that would kill backpackers for fun. A movie called WolfCreek 1&2 are about him if you care to watch it, I am currently reading his "true story" thanks for that recommendation!!! dicks). Sometimes it's windy and less stellar. That's when you meet people and watch all the kite boarders do their thing.
After the beach, or sometimes before, I swing by the ice cream shop to have my usual chocolate cone and see what the word is in town. Send out a few job emails. Have some drinks, see where the night leads me.
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