One of the best decisions I ever made was travelling to Australia. You’ll have to read my first book, ‘Basketcase’ to get the full story. But I’ll give you some of the important points. I had just broken up with my boyfriend after a three on-and-off-again relationship finally ended, and I was ready for a do-over. I needed an overhaul. I was living with my parents after university, which was not healthy, and needed to get some distance from my family. So when I got layed off from my job working in marketing (which I hated and was so NOT for me), I thought it was now or never. I packed my backpack, bought a ticket to Sydney, Australia, and gave myself one year to get more connected with myself. I needed to figure things out for myself - who was the person I wanted to be, who were the type of people I wanted to surround myself with, and what type of work I wanted to do that would both challenge and fulfill me. These were all the questions that needed answers. And what better place to do just that ithan Sydney, Australia?
The first few days I toured Sydney. But when I arrived in Manly Beach, a small town situated across the water from Sydney, I knew I had found my home. I found myself a hostel to live in, and asked if they needed a cleaning lady in exchange for living rent free. Done. I then found a job waitressing in the morning at a café, and then waitressing in a trendy restaurant in the evening. I worked a lot. But all I could afford was the flight ticket out there, so I needed to work before I could travel up the coast, which is exactly what I did three months later. But before I got on that bus, I made a friend at that hostel who is now, fifteen years later, my best friend. We hated each other at first (he was an annoying, know-it-all bartender) but overtime we became great friends, and even closer over the years when we both moved back to our home towns. They say long distance puts a strain on relationships. But somehow we became closer over the years, and he even walked down the aisle at my wedding. How cool is that?!
I travelled up the coast myself, experienced the most incredible beach towns one after the other, met some incredible people, and managed to not die from one of the thousand animals that can kill you in Australia. Oh, and I answered a few of my questions. The remaining ones were to be answered in Queenstown, New Zealand, where we’ll go next.
In the meantime, if you’ve got the time and the means, go buy your ticket to Australia.
You’ll thank me for it.
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