One Twenty Five

One week ago from this moment I was on a big, jumbo plane moving my belongings, my life and myself from Toronto to Melbourne. I can’t quite pinpoint whether time has been ticking incredibly slowly, or the past week has gone by in the blink of an eye.

I wanted to write this post mostly because my blog posts the last week have made everything look so happy and dandy, and look at how easy it is to move to a new continent! And I do admit it’s certainly been easier than I thought it would be due to the kind people I’ve met, but there have been moments.

Moments where I’ll find myself nearly panic stricken with fright.
Moments where I feel tears about to fill my eyes.
Moments I don’t want to wake up in Melbourne
Moments I feel so alone
Moments I don’t know what to do
Moments I haven’t written about on this blog.

The moments, of course, come and go and then I’m back to planning and emailing and searching ways to create myself a life, but tomorrow marks one week since I’ve been here and I still have no permanent place to live, or job to go to.  I think a lot of my worry comes from money feeding out, but no money feeding in. Which of course we all know can’t last forever.

Apartment hunting is proving harder than I thought it be, and it takes a lot of time emailing, planning, and viewing places only to find out the people are odd, or place is not livable, which gets frustrating quite quickly.  I’m using a temp agency to help find me a job, but may casually serve at a restaurant until I land a 9 – 5, just to earn some extra cash.  So yes.  It hasn’t been all wine, coffee and sunshine, I promise you that.  Im also still living in a hostel (although I lurrrve my roommates), but it’s no fun sleeping with 5 other people in your room.

But.  Despite the panicky moments, and terror that I’m sure sweeps over my eyes a couple of times a day, it’s been incredible and I have not regretted this decision for a single moment.  The kindness I’ve received from strangers has absolutely amazed me this past week and I will forever be indebted to several people here (most notably Maeg and her husband Luke for welcoming me with open arms (and cheese)).

I’m already signed up for 20k team race with a bunch of people, have a high tea date with an old friend from college (who I completely didn’t know was here! Thankyouverymuch facebook). Had lunch yesterday with an Australian who did an exchange with my university in Canada - he also invited me to his beach house next weekend (so. kind.). Last night was invited to Maeg and Luke’s place for a homecooked (delicious) meal. This Saturday I’m meeting a group of friends who (wait for it…) are my sister’s friend’s boyfriend’s friends from when he did a semester here. Am having a (delicious) coffee with a guy someone from my running group knows here. And of course all the lovely people who have read this blog and offered me their help – I’m slowly making my way through the emails! Promise and thank you!! 

I have been in awe of people, really, it’s been incredible.

I haven’t yet felt lonely, but have no doubt in the next few months I’ll find myself hit in the face with it, and fighting off tears on a more permanent basis.  Skyping my brother, sister and parents help, as do emails from friends, but that will only go so far.  I also haven’t found time to go running (which always puts me in a happy mood! C’mon Liz! Go Run!!), find a running group, or even go swimming in the ocean yet! But all in good time, I suppose.

And so back I go, sitting in Melbourne’s public library, to emailing and emailing and emailing “can I live with you” requests, and reviewing my resume to hopefully land a job within the next month.

Oh! And of course, Facebook tells me it’s the Super bowl today! So happy SB N. America!

Liz