Swagman #10 - To Venture Out of Sydney - New South Wales, Australia

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New South Wales, Australia

I never explained how I got my work visa.

Outside Sydney at last

When I was working in Manhattan my friend Megan was dating an Aussie and was
researching ways to come down here for an extended visit. Of the numerous
companies that came up in her search, BUNAC seemed the best. For $495 US you
receive your Australia work visa (4 months), Lonely Planet: Australia, a
booklet of useful information, airport pickup when you arrive in Sydney, 2
free nights in a hostel here, and an orientation that assists in the process
of finding employment and accommodation. When you arrive in Australia you are assisted by the International Exchange Program (IEP). Megan wound up staying in New York, and when I realized I
wanted to go I contacted BUNAC and got started. After talking about it at
home, Joe jumped on board and about a month and half later he had already
left.

Although BUNAC has done me no wrong, I must say that I managed to avoid all
of the benefits they offer. Joe met me at the airport, so I never took the
shuttle. He had already gotten an apartment, so the only time I stepped
inside of the hostel was to inform them that I had arrived alive but that I would
not be staying there. I was quite lucky in my job search - I spent my first
two days here getting orientated with the city, one getting my RSA, and on
my first day of searching I was hired on the spot by St. Pat's Pub.

When I first went to IEP I told them that I had found a job, an apartment,
and that my brother had sat through the orientation and could tell me
everything. So I got off without having to do that. Shortly thereafter,
things started to get confusing and Joe was absolutely no help. So I went
back and luckily met Nikki, who I spoke to for about an hour. It was nice to
meet a real life Australian and find out that some people are actually born
and raised in Sydney, because it could be rather easy to believe that
everyone here has immigrated from another country.

George and Nikki

As with most Australians, Nikki is in love with her country and can talk
about it endlessly and with an astonishing amount of facts and figures. I
learned more about Australian history from her over breakfast than from
anything I've read in guidebooks. She also explained that the most beautiful
place in the world was just a few hours north of Sydney, and that her family
has a vacation house there. She enjoyed taking foreigners up there, so that
they could see some natural beauty away from the east coast beaten path.

After about a month and a half I finally had a weekend off of work to go.
She told me that she didn't want me to write the name of the town in this
travelogue, in hopes that it would remain how it is and not have to cope
with a sudden influx of tourists and travelers. I explained that there are
probably about three people who read this travelogue. Out of respect, however, I will
omit the name. But I can say that it is not in Lonely Planet or Let's
Go, and is the perfect example of how books like that are guides and not
step-by-step instructions. Millions of copies of these guides are sold every
year, and travelers are still discouraged when they go to the spots listed
and find them to be overflowing with other travelers who read the same
guides. Venture away from the guide and you'll find spots that may not be
written about but are just as beautiful.

Beach at the secret town

I had spent about two months in Sydney and had never ventured beyond its
borders. It was amazing to see more - white beaches, crystal clear water,
mountains to climb, forests, dolphins and whales, searching for koalas in
the trees. Nikki led me around with so much enthusiasm that I couldn't
believe she had been coming here since she was a child, because Australians
also never seem to take their country for granted. What's beautiful is never
overlooked and will always breed more pride and love.

On the car ride to and
fro she introduced me to Australian bands like Powderfinger, Crowded House,
Hunters and Collectors and Peter Allen, who's kind of like the Elton John of
Australia. I ate Vegemite, which is actually quite good. I was made an
honorary Australian. And she insisted that I do all of the talking at shops
and restaurants, because people looked bewildered when they heard my accent.
After the numbing effect of constant work, it was nice to remember why I
came to Oz. A fish needs to be thrown out of the water occasionally to
realize it's alive.


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