My ode to Sydney

As my adventure here in Sydney is coming to an end, I feel like I need to look back on my new life that I’ve created in this beautiful city. From the start to the end, the good, bad, ugly, amazing and everything in between. I arrived to Sydney just under SIX MONTHS ago (where does the time gooo?!?!?!) with no expectations or a solid plan. All I knew was that I needed an adventure, a change, push the limits, get out of my comfort zone, find myself and discover what I’m really capable of. And boy, I am not leaving disappointed! What a journey it was! Full of surprises, fear, doubts, some tears and uncertainties...but going through it all, not giving up and slowly getting my shit together, I got rewarded with so much luck, happiness, confidence, feeling of absolute freedom, pride and self-accomplishment – I’d do it all over again. Not to mention all the amazing (and not so amazing) people I’ve met along the way that have made such a big impact on my life here. I won’t say I loved and enjoyed every minute of it because I most certainly did not! There were so many times I really just wanted to pack up and leave, send my boss to hell (Mimi, not you!!! :D), question myself and my decisions, all the moments when I literally just wanted to quit....but I didn’t. Thanks to my new friends, amazing roomies and mostly my improved and strengthened character. I couldn’t have imagined a better start, thanks to my fellow Europeans Jasmin, Anna and Pakdat whom I met right at the airport before even placing my feet on Australian soil. Despite the fact, our little team started to fall apart after a week or so, we shared so many amazing experiences and made beautiful memories. As the weeks went on, I started to meet more and more people, but also realized I’ll have to say goodbye to many far too often. Living a “backpackers” life is awesome, really, but it also sucks...a lot!! As others were leaving to travel or find their luck in a different city, I stuck to Sydney and in the end I made myself extremely proud of how fast I actually managed to get on my feet. I still can’t believe how much I’ve learnt in the past months. Some jobs I had were an absolute JOKE hahaha...remember my door to door knocking career that lasted whole 3 weeks???? I CAN’T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY DID THAT! ME?!?!?! A genuine people hater spent three weeks talking to so many for more than 5 hours a day...I literally can’t hahahahaha I definitely learnt some good lessons the hard way, but hey, isn’t that what makes it fun to look back at. :D I was literally forced to leave my comfort zone even before I got off the plane in Sydney (hahaha Jasmin...14 hours sitting together on the plane...and we only started talking 30min before landing haha two scared babies :D). I can’t even count all the situations that made me feel so insecure and uncomfortable, or when I was too scared to face the challenges that were thrown my way...I did have to put all my fears aside and literally grow a pair of balls. And that’s exactly what I did. I proved to myself yet again that I am capable of anything and everything I set my mind to. 

Never in my entire life have I ever changed as many jobs as I have here in the course of about 3 months....but I did exactly what I was aiming for – try a bunch of new things.  I’ll definitely never forget my first job – My dear Proteini, that I was holding on to for the first two months...I’m so thankful to Megan who actually gave me a chance and a job despite the fact that I had zero professional experience in hospitality...oh how many banana breads I baked there and how many sweet potatoes, zucchinis, carrots and broccoli florets I chopped, the first time I took an order without having to write it down...it all sounds so funny and stupid now but at the time, it was the tiny victories like that, that kept me going. Of course I can’t forget the oh so long door to door fundraising career at Plan International...I can’t believe I’m gonna say this, but  it actually gave me something positive too. Besides the newly acquired skills, breaking my personal mental boundaries, handling situations and learning some cool selling tricks...the people I’ve met and called them my team. Roxy, thank you for everything that you’ve taught me, whole – then –Roxy’s team – you guys are the best!, Melty, Sarah and Louise...I’m so happy I took the job at Plan, otherwise we would’ve never met...and legit, I can’t imagine how my life here would’ve turned out then! :D Luckily we’re all from Europe soooo....reunions!!! :D 

But to be honest I’d also say that 80% of this whole “jobs” thing was pure luck haha the stars have aligned, things have simply fallen into place. Exactly what happened with my last job at Bondi Wholefoods. When I left my job as a door knocker, I was basically unemployed for about two weeks (with weekends still working at Proteini). I was trying so hard to find another job, sent so many applications that were left unanswered, walked in to several cafes and had no luck. I was getting really impatient and scared. And then, one day I was making this really long list of every single cafe in the neighbourhood that I could walk to and leave my CV. Only one was still opened at that time. Bondi Wholefoods. Luckily Mimi (the manager) was still there (at 6:30pm, I know now that she never stays there so late so lucky meee hahaha). I left my resume but didn’t expect anything...she got back to me the next day and I was hired three days later. Luck, luck, luck, luck. For sure I won the lottery with this one as to this day I loved every second of it!! So thank you Mimi for giving me the opportunity to become your smoothie girl. You are the best boss I’ve ever had and such a wonderful human....I love you dearly and for sure I will miss your death stares from around the corner while supervising the whole place and all the laughs that we shared. Of course I can’t go past my amazing team of co-workers..Thanks to each and every one of you – my smoothie girls - Anabanana, Trini, Niki, Carla, Julie, Michelle, Eli and Ali...the amount of bananas we peeled, oranges we cut, the number of all freaking acai bowls we made (don't wanna see one for pretty long time now!!), yummy smoothies and those incredible walnut and macadamia crumbles we ate, sickening!! Thanks to the the rest of the smoothie, grocery and kitchen sections - Gusti, Edwin, Caroline, Rene, Tom, Chenny, Ogi, Quinn, Raj, Bishnu, Sabin and everyone else that I might have missed out...I love you all soooo sooo much and cannot express enough of how grateful I am to have met you and have the honour to call you my friends. Thank you for the best working environment, best food and best company at and off work. I hope we get to see each other again – someday, somewhere.  LEGENDS for life!! <3 <3

Lastly, I couldn’t have done it without my amazing roomies. Another lucky shot for me, getting this apartment. Yogitha, Amy, Monica and Pedro. You guys are simply the best! Thanks for all your help, words of encouragement, fun times, food that we shared and overall a wonderful place I called Home. I am going to miss you dearly but surely you’ll miss me more, well just because the shared food plate in the fridge will be empty from now on :( hahaha but seriously, never stop being awesome and crazy. See yaa in two months monsters! :D

BUUUUT, enough nostalgia! It’s time to get this show on the road. Onward to the new adventures, seeing a whole lot more of what this country has to offer. Then hop to New Zealand in between for an exciting CAMP REUNION with my two fave kiwis!! Can’t wait to see you guuuuys!! :) Off to Cairns in the morning; exploring the oldest rain forest in the world, tick Great Barrier Reef  snorkeling off my bucket list and so much more...fingers crossed the money won’t be too tight...we’ll see.

Sydney, I’ll always remember you as a city of “firsts”...first real experience of living abroad, first time house hunting by myself, first job search, first time renting a place, first time dealing with taxes, first time being a (responsible) adult. Oh how scary but wouldn't change it for the world. I will see you again and most certainly I will never forget my time and people here. Thanks for all that you taught me and all that you gave me.

With Love,

D*

Merry Christmas ya filthy animal! ;)

Long time no see! Življenje je blo v zadnjih dveh tednih precej hektično. Gužva v službi, kjer se zdi, da delamo kot norci, pa ne zato, ker bi dejansko ves čas norel okol ampak predvsem zarad vročine in vlage, ki nas v zadnjem času doleteva (z izjemo božičnega dne in danes...ko je “mrzlih” 20 stopinj hahaha). Avstralci so prejšnji teden pričeli s poletnimi počitnicami tako da se je predpraznična norija začela že zdavnej. In končno so se začel tut praznični dogodki v mestu, kar je tut meni dalo mal občutka, da se Božič res približuje s svetlobno hitrostjo.

Že pred dvemi tedni sva s Helen spekli božične piškotke, ki sem jih skrila, da jih ja nismo pojedl že pred Božičem haha v bližnjem parku Darlin Harbour-ja so pričeli s kinom na prostem in božičnimi klasikami (The Santa Clause, Grinch, Home alone...) valda sm bla vsak petek in soboto tam do poznega večera, kar je verjetno eden od razlogov moje kronične utrujenosti..no regrets!! :) prejšno nedeljo smo se z Melti in njenim cimrom udeležiči božičnega koncerta v Royal Botanical Gardens...ki je btw for free – Carols in the Domain, eden najbolj znanih dogodkov v Sydneyu. Noro, fantastično, absolutni must do, če si v tem času v mestu...seveda si mi nismo znal predstavlat kako sam dogodek zgleda in smo prišli popolnoma nepripravljeni.......folk je bil na prizorišču že od zgodnjega dopoldneva (koncert se je začel ob pol 8 zvečer!!) oblečeni v poletne božične oprave z raznimi dododatki (božičkove kape, jelenovi rogovi, škratkovi čevlji itd haha) seveda opremljeni z dekcami, stoli, ležalniki, napihljivimi blazinami, polno hrane, pijače in družabnih iger in so tako piknikovali cel dan med tem ko so “sponzorji” okoli talali zastonj čokoladice, kokakolo, jogurtke in drugo, lahko si se srečal z božičkom, šel zapet božično pesem (da so te pol predvajal na platnu celi publiki haha) al pa se slikat na sani. Na odru so imeli že od poldneva razne nastopajoče, ki so krajšali čas vsem gledalcem do koncerta...mislm, če pa avstralci kej obvladajo, so pa to dogodki na prostem...mi smo prišli pozno popoldne, ko je blo prizorišče že precej polno. V bližini odra že vse zasedeno poleg teda smo bli pa tko nepripravljeni, da je blo itak obvezno, da skočmo še do bližnje trgovine in si naberemo hrane preden se vrnemo nazaj in najdemo plac za sedet. Sicer je pa tukej na takih dogodkih prepoved alkohola in niti ne prodajajo, na prizorišču, kar mi je blo absolutno še najbolj všeč, ker ni nihče pijan okol razgrajov in delov neumnosti al pa komirov nekje na sredi prizorišča. I like it, zelo pohvalno! :) Do začetka koncerta se je nabralo ogroooomno ljudi in kmal mi je blo jasno zakaj je to tako popularen dogodek...koncert je bil FANTASTIČEN!!!! Orkester, zbor in slavni avstralski nastopajoči, light show, prižig svečk in ognjemet za konce....noro. zame je bla definitivno tole prava generalka za novoletno rajanje...vsaj vem, da moram prit pripravljena s hrano, pijačo in dekco za piknik :D torej ja, plani za praznike se že kujejo...tukej ni uno, da si zmislš na Silvestrovo kje boš dočakal polnoč...tukej so vstopnice za najbolj popularne place za ogled ognjemeta razprodane že par mescov v naprej (itak sm use zamudila haha), 31.12. pa že od zgoooodnjega jutr dalje ljudje derejo na prizorišča, da si ja rezervirajo najboljši razgled na najlepši ognjemet na svetu. Me on the other hand....I’M WORKING ON THE 31^st!!! :( in so se mi podrl vsi plani o kampiranju že od zgodnjih jutranjih ur...tako da iskanje in reševanje tele situacije še poteka. Upam, da mi bo uspelo pridt nekam, kjer še ne bo dosežena polna kapaciteta in me bodo še spustil not popoldne....če ne, bom pa jokat začela in jim nrdila sceno...pol me pa lahko sam še spustijo not al pa aretirajo in pošlejo v keho. Hahaha poročam :D i’m already so exciteeeeeeeed aaaaaaaa, tole bo mega mega mega mega!! :)

Prejšnji teden smo imeli še službeno silvestrovanje. Vsi smo bli povabljeni v privat hišo na eni najlepših lokacij ob obali, dve minuti hoje do plaže Tamarama in z norim razgledom na morje. Hiša pripada lastniku naše franšize lokala in jo v glavnem uporablja samo kot party hišo, v njej namreč ne živi. Torej model ma kr neki keša pod palcem, da si lahko prvošč tako bajto, na taki lokaciji in jo uporablja samo za casual feštice. Pripravili so nam polno nekih kanapejčkov z lososom in kaviarjem (prvič v lajfu sm probala kaviar...and I’m not sure I’m a fan! Haha), pečeno račko, ostrige, za poplaknt pa je blo na voljo polno dragih buteljk, vodk in seveda piva. Pol so nam prnesl pa še pice in za sladico brownije iz našega lokala. Not a bad Chrismas party at all! :) I still love my job and I also got a raise! Tko da nekej pa že delam prov :D končno se tut mal bolj domače počutm z  ostalimi zaposlenimi, ki so tam že dalj časa in so med sabo že vsi prijatelji, valda je trajalo, da sem kot novinka tut sama pršla v ta krog – no evo, pa je! Fajn mi je v službi res in še bolj se tega zavem, ko poslušam druge okol sebe, ki nimajo tako dobrih izkušenj na delu. No vseeno mi pa absolutno paše met dva frej dneva v tednu, da grem mal naokol! Tokrat sem šla proti jugu naše zvezne države v mesto Wollongong. Najprej sem se ustavila v obalnem mestecu Coalcliff, kjer so nedavno zgradili čudovit most, ki objema klife v obliki črke S in je postal priljubljena razgledna točka tega predela države. Jaz sem na enem blogu izvedela še za “skrivno” razgledno točko, do katere prideš skozi goščavo ob parkirišču. Definitivno vredno vseh pajčevin v katere sm se zapletla na poti gor :o razgled je neverjeten in popolna tišina...

(you’re wondering how I took the photo?! ....put my phone on upside down sunnies hooked on a tree branch...gotta be creative when you’re travelling solo, hey :D). Obiskala sem še Nan Tien, največji budistični tempelj na južni polobli in lahko rečem, da me je popeljal direkt na Kitajsko. Valda nism pomislna, da bi oblekla dolge hlače al pa vsaj do kolen, zato sem si mogla tam izposodit sarong, ker drugače ne smeš v tempelj (izposoja sarongov je verjetno za vse butle turiste kot sm js, k nimajo blage veze kako se je treba oblečt za v tako ustanovo, upsii :D). Js sm bla čist očarana nad ozračjem v templju...tako mirno, tako spokojno, ful mi je blo zanimivo opazovat ljudi, ki so dejansko prišli tja iz verskih razlogov, njihove običaje, prižig dišečih palčk, prikloni....v tempelj lahko vstopiš le bos, tam ni dovoljeno slikat, snemat ali se dotikat kipcev Buddh-e, ki jih je tam na tisoče. Na posest templja ni dovoljeno prinest mesnih produktov in v lokalu strežejo le vegi hrano.  (not sure why :D). Po ogledu sprednjega in glavnega templja, sem šla še do Pagode, kjer sem se preizkusila v pisanju kitajskih pismenk...which was super interesting and super super hard! Ampak je rekla teta, da mi je šlo boljš k kakšnim kitajcem! Mogoče mam pa talent za kaligrafijo...hmmm :D šla sm še na vrh hriba, pozvonila na “srečni” zvon in si privoščila kosilo v restavraciji. Ni kej, zelo lepa izkušnja, ki me je predvsem navdušla nad obiskom Kitajske...enkrat :)  več naj pa povejo slike!

V zadnjih dneh pred božičem je blo vse precej hektično...poleg tega, da sm vsak dan delala, smo še kovali načrte za našo večerjo in božično rajanje. Španka je hotla prpeljat 15 ljudi in je prčakvala, da bomo mel kr cel parti. pa smo jo hitr postavle na realna tla, da tole ni dobra ideja, sploh pa nočm met v hiši 15 špancev in mehičanov, k vem kašni norci so...you never know, pa kej razbijejo, polijejo po tepihu, odgovorne smo pa me. Na-a. Ne bo šlo. Je pol hitr zreducirala cifro na plus one. Najtežja odločitev je bla seveda, kaj se bo jedlo. Zmenil smo se, da bo vsak neki naredu....js sm zbrala pičičeeeee wopwop pa piškotki so bli itak že nrjeni. Španka se je lotila španske omlete in empanadas, pa je doma pogruntala, da je namest listnatega kupila vlečeno testo...je bla tako šokirana, jezna in žalostna, da ji je šlo kr na jok hahaha reva, se mi kr mal smil, k njena angleščina ni preveč dobra, pa vrjetno niti ni vedla, da sta fillo in puff pastry dve različni stvari. No sm jo hitr potolažla, da bova brez problema rešile situacijo, sam mal (velik) malsa bova polile na vsako plast testa pa bo. In se je izkazalo za odlično. :D moji pičiči so ratal u piko in so jih vsi pograbil...seveda je blo treba zraven servirat omakce z glavno zvezdo roziko na čelu. Sm se počutila kot doma in z mislijo na moje Bajske, sm uživala v tej naši dolenjski specialiteti. Hrane smo mel za izvoz. Ker smo kafič na 24. Zaprli prej, nam je ostalo ogromno hrane in ker smo bli zaprti dva dni zapored, smo mogl vso to hrano odnest domov al pa vržt v smeti...js sm šla iz službe tako otovorjena k delovna mula, s senviči, muffini, zavitki...kar sm hvala bogu na konc večera vse raztalala kolegom za domov. Did I mention that I love my job?? :D torej božična večerja je bla absolutni success in usi smo se mel res fajn. Dobra hrana, dobra družba, korejkse in španske božične pesmi pa svečke tut, čeprov res ne vem kaj mi jih je blo treba pržigat, ker so sam še dodatno segrevale že tako prevroč prostor...jao Božič poleti...mindfuck. :D noč je bla kratka, jutro pa precej zgodnje, da sem klicala domov še na božični večer in bla priča odpiranju dariiiil! No, če že v živo nisem tam, sem bla pa vsaj preko telefona in televizije (?!?!) doma, wtf...zihr sm ob 7 zjutrej na tv ekranu zgledala precej lepo haha no božični dan je pri nas minil v znamenju pohoda po vzhodni obali mesta. Z ekipco smo se podali na lov za dobrim placom za ogled novoletnega ognjemeta...and I think we found the one. Hopefully! Zvečer sm bla pa tok izmučena, da sm dobesedno padla v postlo...naslednje jutro pa....res se ne spomnim, kdaj sem nazadnje spala do 9 in vse skupaj 10 ur...sm mogla bit res gotova! Ampak čaka nas še en nor teden...ne morm vrjet, da je samo še par dni do novega leta....kam gre čaaaaas tako hitroo?!?! Al jutr je treba že spet v službo jooooj in to ob 6:30. No, je treba delat, da bojo dinarji padl, ni več tako daleč dan, ko bo treba odrint na novo potovanje....torej let’s goo make some money and the most of what’s left of 2017, in se vam javim spet prihodnje leto :) vsem vam želim krasne praznike, upam, da ste lepo preživeli Božič in da bo skok v novo leto še lepši in boljši. Pa pojejte kej tatarčka še zame, kr ga tle ni!!!!!! :’( :’(

And this week's Fun facts about Christmas time in Australia:

...hvala da ste spremljali moje dogodivščine v tem letu in upam, da boste z mano še naprej, because there is much more to come in 2018! ;)

Vesel Božič pa srečno, zdravo in uspešno v 2018 vam želim all the way from Down Under!!! <3

Lupčki v Slovenijo xxx 

p.s. s klikom sem preberi dogajanje iz pred dveh tednov :)