Off to KALGOOLIE...OUTBACK?!?!?!?

 What do you do when you have been fired from a job???? GO ON HOLIDAY...DUH!!!!

Go to the beach

take a tour of the prison at night....yeah I guess.

walk around town...play a game of lifesize chess??? 

Go to the market.

watch street entertainment.

hangout at the park and read a book.

Go out with cute foreign boys??? 

Check out new career paths

Think about getting a job so I don't become homeless.....

Meet another AMERICAN in time for THANKSGIVING!!!! YAH!!!!

Thanksgiving feast....not my favorite meal.

After spending two weeks in Perth (technically one week in Perth and one week in Fremantle), I have two job options. I can work on the beach all summer

 or work in a mining town bartending. I would LOVE to be so close to the beach but if my main goal is to make money/ save money then I know that I need to head towards the mining town of Kalgoolie....so off I go. One 7 hour train into the unknown....

I have been in Kalgoolie for almost a full week now. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT SO FAR. I have my own room, tv and mini fridge which seems like the biggest luxury EVER after spending the last 7 months sharing a room with 8-10 people. I have a boss that is wonderful and kind. I have a manager that is simply amazing and the people I work with are FABULOUS!! I am going to work so many hours at a wage that is worth the work at a job that is fun! I love everything here. The people are not small town people. They are mostly miners that are working in one of the many mines around Kalgoolie or live in Boulder (the town I actually live in) doing random jobs.  I have joined a gym that I attend daily and have to run 12 minutes to...its in Kalgoolie so technically I have to run to the next town just to go. (thats dedication). My room smells like campfire 80% of the day thanks to the pizza makers that cook in a wood burning oven. (campfires are my favorite smell in the world). I feel happy. Energized. At home for the first time in a long time.....I could not be more happy with my current location....even if its miles away from the beach. I plan on being here until the end of March (near my birthday)....and then I only have a few weeks left on my VISA. I can’t believe I am buying plane tickets to leave this country that I have called home for the last 7 months....and by the time I leave it will almost be a year. I am trying to slow down time.....how is it going so fast?!?! I am realizing that I am not going to get to see everything I intended on seeing....One year is not long enough.... It's December so I bought a plane ticket to the Gold Coast to retrieve all my belongings that I left at Ji’s house and to Sydney for NYE!!!! I couldn’t be more excited about the holidays!!! I will miss being home but this is the next best thing I can do! LIFE IS SO FULL OF BLESSINGS!!!!!!!

Blessings in DISGUISE!!!!!!!

This was the first thing I saw when I got into town....
.maybe just for a second I thought about getting back on the bus....lol

I have been in Broomehill for almost a month. I work at a small country pub in the middle of NOWHERE. Seriously. In town there is one petrol station, one post office a couple of houses, an abandoned Catholic Church, and my pub/hotel. I share my job with a Swedish girl (whom I don't love) and my job is fairly easy.

Swedish roommate/girl I work with. 

 I work one week in the pub with crazy racist locals and one week doing light housekeeping making beds and helping in the kitchen. I live at the pub for free but only get paid 400 dollars a week which is not much in Australia especially for the amount of hours I work. I guess I like the town enough but there is literally nothing here to do. Luckily I have made friends with a German backpacker and he keeps me sane! 

Funny story: I hung out with him for the first time and then he invited me to celebrate his 21st birthday.......true life I am too old for that. Bahaha He is really lovely though.

German friend on his birthday. He is drinking straight out of the battle of Jim Beam.....classy.

Well I thought I would be in Broomehill until right before Christmas until I was surprisingly FIRED! 

I went to work and was sat down during my lunch break to say that my roommate and I were not working out. My boss gave us our notice and said we could finish the week if we wanted (it was Friday at noon) and said if we needed to talk it over then we could get back to him. I was surprised how I handled it...I didn’t cry (I think I am finally a real grownup). I did ask how come I hadn’t received any negative feedback before today and he didn’t have an answer. They were changing management over during my time at the pub and there was a lot of miscommunication over several issues going on in the hotel. I was angry but I wasn’t having very much fun in Broomehill so it was a nice way out. I booked my bus back to Perth, hostel and packed all of my things in a couple of hours. Thankfully my wonderful German friend Stephen came and collected all my belongings and let me stay at their house for the night and dropped me off at the bus station in the morning. My last night was simply perfect and spent with the people who were my sanity in my 5 weeks in the country. They were also leaving on Sunday so timing could not have been more perfect. I am really embarrassed to say that I was fired but I don’t think I could have done any better than I did. I think it was a mistake and I still don’t really understand but I do truly believe it was meant to be.

I was doing my daily devotional the morning of my firing and came across this verse that was very fitting for my day and days to come: 

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.

-Psalms 104:2

The devotional said each time you’re tempted to wish that life was other than it is, give thanks. Each time you’re  tempted to fall into despair, sing God’s praise.Each time you’re wondering if this is really all there is, sing of God’s wondrous deeds, for they are great, and our troubles really are comparatively small. 

So I am back in Perth and I have had a series of wonderful days and feel refreshed, happy and excited about my upcoming adventures. I thankfully had 5 free days stay at a hostel in the city, got to catch up with a friend from my previous job, met several other lovely people and was surrounded by love. I know I am lucky that losing a job that is replaceable is my biggest trial and I am working hard at being so thankful for blessings in disguise.....Better things are bound to come!!!

6 months in AUSTRALIA!!!!!!

I have been living in Australia for 6 months TODAY!!!!!! Weird?!?!?! I have seen quite a bit of Australia but I still have loads to see before I leave this country!!! I still haven’t cuddled a Koala, seen Melbourne, Sydney or Darwin...

I am loving my time traveling and learning about a new country, its culture and loads about myself. I started this journey just because I wasn’t ready to grow up and get a real job or start graduate school...and I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do with my life.

 Being in your 20’s is difficult, especially when you don’t quite fit the mold of “normalcy”....I had no desire to get married and settle somewhere and start a family. I had zero desire to settle whatsoever. I wanted a life that is full of unexpected twists and turns and unknown people and places...I wanted the kind of fairy tale that most people only dream about. The kind that doesn’t begin with Once upon a time or end with they lived happily ever after.....I wanted to create my own adventure. So here I am.

Australia has been such an eye opening part of my life. Most people assume that I am just vacationing by the beach everyday and well I WISH I WAS. I have worked the majority of my time here so far and plan to work the next six months straight. The money I make in Australia will go to future travel plans and towards paying off my stupid loans. I have plans to go to South East Asia on my way home and to Guatemala  sometime next year....my hearts desire is to keep traveling!!!!!!

I have so many great memories, met amazing and inspiring people and really fallen in love with my life again. I have a hunger for traveling that is only satisfied by more adventure. I thought I must be so strange to have this huge desire for such a silly life until I met so many people exactly like me. I have met people who have lived life in the most astonishing way....people that inspire me to dream bigger and truly believe in doing something amazing with my life. The lessons learned while traveling are not something I can get out of a book....the experiences have taught me just how strong, passionate, and incredible I can be....it has caused me to really look deep in myself and challenge myself to new and (sometimes) terrifying things. 

I have realized that life is quite simple. Love others and the rest will fall in place. Maybe thats part of growing up. Simplicity has been my favorite part of Australia....I read books (lots of them), I have conversations with strangers, I indulge myself in other's cultures, I talk about things that often make me uncomfortable, I write, I run, I live life with passion. Everyday is not perfect...believe me I have been in some uncomfortable situations that have really opened my eyes but I am feel so blessed to be a little traveler!!!!!! I am excited to see where the next 6 months take me!!!

Month 5- falling in love, unemployment, moving to the country.

I can’t believe its already October!!! Happy Aussie Spring time!! (ps I am so jealous of everyone’s posts about pumpkin spice lattes, college football and fall weather but when Summer comes during your winter...who will be jealous then??? lol)

So we finished our roadtrip and are back in Perth which for me means looking for a new job and place to live. Gotcha was a really great job for people who are interested in sales. For me, I am too honest and compassionate to be good at selling things. I mean I empathize with the customer....which makes me terrible at my job! I can check off promotional representative and sales off the list of things I want to be when I grow up. I love love LOVE the girls I worked with but I know when something isn’t making me happy and when you only have a year in a place, being happy is the only reason to do anything.

I had to move out of the Gotcha house on Monday (which was also a public holiday) so I moved into Shiralee backpackers hostel . I (of course), was put in a room with 3 boys...2 germans and an Aussie. They were super nice, quiet and went to bed before 10:30pm (in a hostel this is a  dream come true). This was the dirtiest hostel I have ever stayed in but it was cheap and my only option for a couple of nights because most of the hostels were booked up or crazy expensive. I went into the kitchen and couldn’t find a glass for my wine...so I had to drink out of the bottle (Backpacking makes me super classy). I befriended my Aussie roomie Ben and his 2 mates. They had driven from Melbourne to Perth (Florida to California in American terms) in hopes of finding a job in the mines. You can’t throw a rock in Western Australia without hitting a guy who works in the mines or has a desire to do so. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!! People who work in the mines make upward to 200 grand a year.

 Tuesday I had a job interview with a backpacker recruitment agency to bartend in a mining town. I was really hoping to get a job there because I have friends who bar-tended there and made upwards to 15 grand in 3 months time. (ummmm yes please). BUT since I have ZERO experience they wouldn’t hire me...womp womp. I feel like I missed out on bartending in college. I spent loads of time at bars....should have been a bartender lol. 

I moved hostels on Wednesday to Governor Robinson backpackers hostel which was only a couple of blocks away from my other hostel and a couple of dollars more expensive. It was by far the nicest hostel I have ever stayed at. Everything was clean and comfortable. I was hoping by the weekend that I would have a job. Living in a hostel is quite expensive ($210/week) and although I absolutely love the environment, it is a hard lifestyle to uphold. During the day I looked up jobs on the internet, applied, called around and applied some more. It helped that every other backpacker around me did the same thing all day. I think the idea of running out of money and being real life homeless in Australia crossed my mind a couple of times because I was more determined than I have ever been to get a job this week. I had another interview with a potential Au pair family but they were not willing to pay enough money so I had to turn it down. I applied for a couple of social work jobs and even got called for an interview but it was for a live in youth worker and they wanted me to get all these certificates and such that would have costed me 400 dollars before actually giving me the job....so I had to also turn that down. I was getting really restless and beginning to really stress out when I saw an ad on Gumtree (website like craigslist...its the backpackers lifeline) for a barmaid position urgently needed in a town 3 hours away for free rent, internet and food plus a nice wage. I emailed immediately telling him that I didn’t have any experience but I was willing to learn!!!! He called me later that day saying that he would be willing to train me....so I HAVE A JOB AGAIN!!!!!! He wanted me to get there ASAP so I researched how to get there and bought my bus ticket for Monday the 8th of October (it was Saturday). Just in case you are worried that this is super sketchy...Bartending in a country pub is pretty popular in Western Australia because Perth is really the only big city on this side of Oz.

I celebrated by going out to eat in the city at La Cholita an AMAZING mexican restaurant that serves the BEST MARGARITA I HAVE EVER TASTED!!!!!!

I couldn't decide between a Dos Equis and a Margarita...so I got both!

 I also got a hair cut which is the first one I have had in 5 1/2 months.....I am really roughing it lol. 

New haircut!!! I cut about 4 inches off!!!

I don’t want to forget to tell you how much I loved PERTH. I don’t know which city to compare it to...maybe Washington, DC. 

this picture didn't turn out like I wanted. Its the city at night!
SO PRETTY!!!!!

Look what I Found Audrey!!!! It was really secret though because I never found the actual cafe!

Everyone walks around in suits and business attire and looks super fancy. You can get a takeaway coffee at every corner and the train can take you anywhere your heart desires. I went to the beach, museums, looked around shops and wondered around for miles and miles. One of my favorite things to do was watch all the street performers. There were break dancers, Bollywood dancers, magic shows, musicians, and everything in between. How could you ever be bored in a city so AMAZING?!?!? The city makes me forget that I am traveling alone....

Speaking of traveling alone I never ever ever thought that I would like doing it. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever go out to eat, see a movie or go on vacation alone I would have laughed in your face. Yeah right...I could never do that!

Traveling alone is AWESOME though. I never have to discuss my future plans (or make them), I can do what I love to do always ( never having to compromise), I am always on my own schedule and I can make friends when I want company. Backpacking gives you the flexibility to make loads of friends along the way so I am never truly alone but I have mastered the table for one scenario!!

So I am on my way to my newest adventure:

BroomeHill, Western Australia

Population: 700

 The town consists of my pub/hotel (where I live), petrol station, a winery/B&B, two churches (Anglican and Catholic), and a post office. I will be saving SO MUCH MONEY here!! hahaha Well I will keep you posted on my bartending adventures!!

WARNING -----> Its about to get CHEESY!!!!!

I was watching Eat, Pray, Love (for the millionth time) and the whole movie she is trying to figure out her word for herself. So after loads of pondering I have come up with my word for myself....CELEBRATE!!!! Why??? I think traveling has helped me understand the importance of celebrating life's smallest milestones. Life is sooo short and I don’t want to miss an opportunity to praise God for all the blessing he continues to rain on me every single day and truly celebrate life every second I breath. <3

Gotcha Road Trip

First roadtrip (and last) with the photography company...

We travelled 4.5 hours to Albany, WA with a trailer in tow.

  We will stay here for two weeks and then travel 5 hours more to Esperance, WA.

quick pit stop to take a picture in the flowers!!!

we all think our cottage gets 2 thumbs up!!!

The town of Albany is small but our accommodation is AWESOME! We are staying in a four bedroom cottage on top of a hill with a beautiful view!!! I have my own QUEEN SIZED BED, fireplace and large room!!!!! Its a backpackers dream come true!!! 

I am on this roadtrip with Emma (Holland), Anne Myrte (Holland), and Emily (England).  The girls are amazingly fun and we have had a great time so far. The town of Albany doesn’t really want us here and some of the Moms have even complained about us to the shopping center management. They have a facebook page in which they post racist and unpleasant things about us to other Mums in the town. They have called me the dark skinned girl or the Indian girl on their posts and called Emma the round blonde girl (she is not round in the least). The town itself is really beautiful with the beach just 1.5km away from our cottage. I have been getting up early every morning to run and it has been just beautiful to watch the sunrise over the ocean everyday!!! I really don’t love my job but the girls make it easier to deal with by being so wonderful. 

Emma is the blonde one

Emma is the boss and the mom of the group. She is super passionate about just about everything she does which to be honest, scared the crap out of me in the beginning. I am kind of surprised that I haven’t driven her crazy with my need for chaos and lack of passion for this job. She is constantly busy with things to do...which is exhausting to me but she needs to be constantly doing something. (turns out....I am okay just sitting and reading a book all day....not doing a thing at all) She cooks dinner for us most nights and has introduced me to some Dutch foods from Holland. YUMMY!!!! She is really compassionate and loving and gives me a million hugs all the time!!!!

 Anne Myrte is also from Holland but she has only been working for this company for a week less than me. She is passionate about surfing and photography...only not the kind of photography we do. lol. She has been published in magazines for her surfing photography..so she is practically famous!! duh. She is a free spirit and hippie at heart. I think I have the most fun with her because our personalities are very similar. We spend our day doing silly dances, slacking off and drinking coffee. (For those of you who knew me from working on the ship, not a lot has changed lol....) She is quitting this job as soon as we get back to Perth and moving to a place closer to the ocean so she can surf. We are bunk bed mates in Esperance and that makes us practically best friends....

Emily is the brunette, then its Emma and Anne Myrte

Emily is a English girl from Liverpool and she keeps me entertained constantly. She loves the term F*ck off and uses it periodically throughout the day...She also is confused on meal terms. She calls lunch "DINNER" and dinner "TEA" and uses "ME" in place of MY. For example: she would say "I am going for ME DINNER at half twelve". So confusing lol...She hates sand, the outdoors, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and most things I love. We still get along great despite our differences. She is a photographer but the creative abstract type that is super crafty. She is super posh and girly and I love her alot.

Look how fun we are!!! 

Together we make up a super sweet team. We have fun making fun of each other, doing random things, drinking tea or coffee and shopping and going out on the weekends.

Natural bridge in Albany

Dog rock....not joking. Its a real life landmark.

 Everything is beautiful in Albany. Just some random facts about the small town. Albany has the WORST nightclub in the Southern Hemisphere and we went there...true story...it was the WORST! Albany is known for whale spottings. I thought I saw a whale BUT it was only a rock.....womp womp

Part II of the road trip: Esperance, WA

Esperance accommodation: a trailer park cabin. ummmm NO THANK YOU!!

this bunk bed is supposed to sleep THREE people....

Trying to be happy about our trailer...

So maybe it has the most beautiful beaches EVER...I can live with that!!!

We have dined at the fanciest restaurant in Esperance, danced/sang the night away at the only night club and pub and been sufficiently creeped out by the townspeople of Esperance....successful roadtrip?? I think so!

*This was my first and last roadtrip with the photography company. I gave my two weeks notice and am currently searching for all sorts of jobs in Western Australia...who knows what is next up on the employment adventure but I am excited to see what I end up with!!!!!