First night down under

I’m not sure it will ever be possible to get used to flights that last over 9 hours. Even if you were in first class it is a thoroughly disagreeable experience. For those of you who are under the impression that flying a top notch airline, like Cathay Pacific, makes the trip less painful, you are wrong. Straight up wrong. Although the flight experience on Cathay isn’t bad compared to, say, Air Canada, it is dwarfed by the experience of flying Luftansa, which also, without question, sucks.

After we were graciously transported by Andrea’s Uncle Errik from the airport to his apartment we had a nice lunch, called our parents at home, and gabbed about our plans for the next week. After catching up he dropped us off at our hostel and we got our keys for our huge loft room we just flopped down on the bed and passed out. Exhaustion, it seems, catches up to even these experienced travellers. :)

Upon waking each of us had a much needed shower and we headed down to the hostel’s pub, Birdee Num Num’s, for some fish, chips, and beer. We were laughed at for trying to use 30 year old Australian money donated to us by Andrea’s mum, but after a quick trip to the ATM we were back in the game and the beer was flowing…down our gullets. Although many of our friends warned us about the bad quality of Australian beer, we can say first hand that you are wrong and it is tasty.

Just before dinner I started to feel anxious for some reason. Maybe it was a combination of my lack of a good night’s sleep, the heat, and the time pressure I began to feel about setting up an apartment, phone, internet, learning the new transit system, finding a reliable grocer, bakery, market, learning where the good neighbourhoods are, and so on. Not to mention I cannot get my Xbox 360 to work, even though I was assured I had all the necessary parts to make it work properly down here!

But seriously, I began to think, what the hell am I doing? I just dropped my entire life and flew completely around the world for a working holiday, an unpaid internship, and no apartment! But Andrea reassured me of our plans, reminded me that we aren’t under any pressure to do anything, and thoughtfully kept fetching us more beer. After a few pints, some good food, and a great local live duo playing several North American indie rock jams, my enthusiasm for this adventure was renewed and good times were had.

In a strange place, sometimes a little reminder of home can make all the difference to stop that nagging voice in your head that tells you to play it safe. That feeling in your stomach that tells you that you are making a mistake is an enemy of change and is a guard against adventure. But I believe this feeling is truly a signpost to your mind and body that you are doing something challenging and exciting. Someone once said that if something isn’t hard it’s not worth doing – I’m not sure if entirely believe this, but I do believe that something is gained by pushing yourself to do something challenging or out of your character, and that is what this trip is all about.

Hopefully Andrea and I can blend Aussie and Canadian attitudes together to achieve a mindset that is definitely one to life by – No worries, mate, just give ‘er!