Let's Go Surfing, Surfing By-ron Bay

Live music Saturday night

This weekend in Byron, I was actually able to volunteer at the Byron Bay Surf Festival. It ended up being a relatively busy weekend for me because I was meant to volunteer in the morning and at night, as well as work a short shift in the middle of the day at the Lazy Italian.  

And I say I was meant to work in both the morning and at night because I couldn't find the information tent in the morning for the life of me.  I asked several different people, and no one knew where the tent was. 

I got to wonder around all of the different shops being set up in large tepees, which was a really cool idea.  Vendors were selling everything from wet suits to surfboards to just food to keep the fanatics well-fed.  Nonetheless, I couldn't find the information tent anywhere so, overtired, and a bit cranky, I walked back to the Arts Factory.  I  got to relax for a few hours until my shift at least.  

A combie everyone colored
on with chalk

Once finished with my 3.5hr work shift, I wondered back to the festival, and actually found the tent this time.  I was given a t-shirt and told to help pack up the tent.  After that was done, we were meant to just be crowd control for the live music.  It was definitely not a bad gig, especially since there was already security there.  We basically just had to try to pick up trash and keep an eye on people, while listening and watching the show.

By the time the main act, Donavon Frankenreiter, came on, the whole area was packed.  Aside from picking up a little bit of rubbish, we basically just got to chill out until about 10pm.  It was an early night for me, like usual, but it was a really fun day in general.

What Started as One Eventually Became Four

I have an internship with both Mojosurf and Loka(a new hop on hop off tour along the east coast of Australia) until March 1st 2015.  Because I am only an intern, I receive free accommodation from Mojosurf, and a small weekly allowance from Loka. As I said nearly a month ago, I needed to find another job since I came here with such a small amount of money. Now I have two more.

I applied at the Lazy Italian about two weeks ago, and just heard back from them this week.  After talking on the phone to the owner yesterday, I arranged for a trial last night.  I got to have my first shift.

The Lazy Italian is a small shop down one of the alley ways in Byron.  There are several similar shops that all compete for the business of each person that wanders through, looking for somewhere to eat.  Obviously, we serve Italian food, but even better: it's all homemade.  Everything.  Even the chicken and beef are raised locally.  

I only had a 3.5 hour shift yesterday, which went by extremely fast.  I was only learning, but everything was pretty easy to grasp.  I am basically a hospitality all-a-rounder, mostly taking food orders and serving dishes to patrons.

At the end of my trial, my manager told me that I did a really good job, and asked if I would like to have two more trials this week.  I did, of course.  She also mentioned that I would be working at their other restaurant right next door, Fishmongers, once I had gotten used to how the Lazy Italian operates.  

So what started as one internship in Australia, turned into 4 jobs.  Even if I have no life, I am pretty excited to finally feel a bit more financially secure.

Kayaking With Dolphins

Mondays definitely don't always have to be bad. Like this morning.  One of the benefits to working in the tourism industry, especially with Loka, is that companies want you to experience their tours so that you can send business their way.  

With Loka, travelers get to hop-on and hop-off of their Loka buses in different towns and cities, such as Byron Bay.  If the travelers decide to stay in Byron for a few days, we will have several tours that they can book directly through Loka.  This would obviously be the most convenient way for travelers to book activities, so there is a major benefit to being one of those recommended companies.

Cape Byron Kayaks is one of our Byron featured companies.  Out of complete luck, I was at the right place at the right time (the Byron Bay Brewery for a work meeting at about 4 PM) last Thursday.  The owner of CBK knows my bosses, and sat down to have a beer with us.  She told us we all needed to come out for her kayaking tour someday soon.  My bosses agreed on Monday morning, and told me to come as well.

I was excited, yet still a bit nervous, only because I had been sea rafting at Spot X and our raft tipped over twice, trapping me underneath for a few seconds each time.  Plus, I have always had a bit of a fear of kayaks because I was always afraid of tipping my kayak over with my legs stuck inside, unable to escape.  Luckily, I knew that sea kayaks were a bit different, and do not secure your legs inside them.  You just sit on top of the kayaks, basically.

I am so glad I went this morning.  We got all geared up and headed out, paddling fiercely to get beyond the breaking waves.  Once we truly made it out into the ocean, it was incredibly peaceful.  We kept our eyes open for whales and dolphins mainly, but even when you looked straight down in the water, you could easily see the sea bottom.

We didn't get to see turtles or whales, but we did see several dolphins up in front of our kayaks, maybe 10 meters away.  It was awesome just to see the dolphins that close to us.  They were diving in and out of the water very lazily,careless of the 30 kayakers gawking at them.

We even got to ride waves into the beach.  My first attempt was awesome and we rode the wave straight into the beach, where TimTams, tea, and coffee awaited us.  We headed back out to look for more marine life, but eventually just headed back into shore, riding waves in yet again.  Our second attempt was less successful.  The waves were much bigger, and I probably wasn't steering as I should have been.  Our kayak tipped, but our helmets eliminated any risk of injury during the crash.

I really didn't have much of an interest in sea kayaking before this experience but I have to admit I thought it was really cool, and I would do it again for sure.  And definitely with Cape Byron.

Beyond just the great experience overall, on thing that really means a lot to me is when instructors remember your name, and one of mine today kept referring to me by name, even giving me a hug at the very end, asking how my experience was.  All of the instructors were truly having a good time while they were out there, which was contagious to myself and the other travelers.  If you have the opportunity to go while in Byron, I highly suggest doing this tour.

I Have a New Guest

I wasn't really sure how I would react to snakes in Australia.  Spiders I knew I wouldn't like because I don't even like the small ones at home.  During the summer months, I used to have tons and tons of spiders spinning webs outside of my apartment door.  At night, they would come out and hang in front of it, so it was always a challenge to sneak into my apartment.

Actual Python near my tent

Snakes, however, I didn't encounter very often.  To be honest, I don't even remember the last time I saw one back home.  When I was younger, my brother used to find Garter snakes all of the time in our yard, since my parents lived out in the country.  They weren't venomous snakes, though occasionally my brother would get bitten.  The 'wound' was really only like a paper cut.

Now I'm in a country with loads of snakes, both venomous and not.  I think if I saw an Eastern Brown snake, I would have a heart attack because I really don't want to die or even be sick in the hospital because of a bite from one of them.

This weekend, I actually saw a Python near my tent.  Growing up, some families kept Pythons as pets.  On rare occasions, I remember seeing massive snakes wrapped around people's necks and shoulders like a fashion accessory.  A pet like that, however, you don't really expect to see out in the wild.

It was a bit of a shock at first, but after knowing it was a Python (which are nonvenomous snakes), I wasn't really bothered by it at all.  It was coiled up like a garden hose , but I really would've liked to see it slithering through the grass or wrapping itself around a tree.  I posted the photo on Facebook and, of course, my friends and family back home were horrified.

No one at the AFL was really the least bit afraid.  A few people, including myself, came to gawk at the animal, but aside from that no one was even the least bit alarmed. I thought it was a Python right away, but another backpacker confirmed my suspicions when one of my friends asked what it was. 

I think that because there are so many things that can kill you here, a nonvenomous snake is the least of my worries.  It even eats rodents, so really, it's a pest-remover.   Now I just need to be able to see Huntsman spiders in the same light. 

Tomorrow is a Mystery

Bartending during Pub Crawl

A year ago, I would've been excited for the week because it would mean the school week would have been over.  I always bartended on Friday nights, but work was more like a party anyways.

Now all I can think about is where I am going to be in a year from now.  I'm unable to get a second year working visa, because Americans are unable to get them, but I think I do want to live in Australia.  It's just a matter of how.

Attempting to surf this past spring

It's interesting because my boyfriend and I have been talking about marriage in the future a lot lately, however, that is something that would happen down the road from now.  It's truly exciting, though, to think about the future, especially since I'm done with school and can begin life as an adult.

I already started that life, but it's going to be different when I have a salary and probably work during the week, having weekends off. I want to keep surfing, and hopefully can on the weekends or even in the mornings.

When I was younger, I always wondered what I was going to be like when i grew up.  To be honest, I still wonder the same thing.

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

When I first got to Australia, I had a nasty cough.  I would imagine it was from my poor diet and drinking habits from before I left the States.  I celebrated a bit too hard during my going away party, which seemed to last for about two weeks straight.  And I wasn't eating very much.  When I was eating, it was terrible food.

So I got sick.  Luckily, I got over my sickness relatively quickly.  I was able to run, go hiking, swim, surf, whatever.  I woke up every morning quite early and went for a walk into town.  

Then everyone at work and the hostel seemed to be getting sick.  I figured that I would be fine since I had just gotten over being sick.  I wasn't that lucky.

I started getting the sniffles and was sneezing all the time.  Then the cough came.  It kept me up at night so then of course I was tired all the time.  One morning I even woke up with an irritated eye.  I was just useless all around.

I haven't stopped smoking yet either, which is something I desperately need to do, both for my health and my wallet.  Combine my smoking with staying up late and occasionally partying, and you have the recipe for a poor immune system.

I'm getting so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want to just be healthy, ready to wake up early each morning and attack the day, as cheesy as that sounds.  What I really need to do is stop complaining and talking about what I am going to do, and just do it.

Everyday is a Journey, and the Journey Itself is Home

There are so many things going on constantly in Byron Bay; it keeps you busy and makes it easy to meet new people. The video above will give you a good idea of things to do while in Byron.  Below are events going on each week I am here:

On Sundays, the Byron Bay Brewery hosts Karaoke night.  People are invited to participate from all corners of the world. We can always hear the thunder of the bass and screeching of the untalented from the Arts Factory.  It makes for good entertainment nonetheless.

The Ginger Pig is a popular spot on Monday nights because it hosts Rasta night.  I haven't been to the Rasta night yet, but I have heard about the laid back music and atmosphere of the reggae scene.

Tuesdays are a big night at the AFL: the talent show.  People gather from both the jungle and mainland to participate as spectators at the famous talent show.  Acts include hula hoopers, guitarists, singers, and even comedians.  Like the karaoke on Sundays, not all who participate are talented, but it's still a good time.

Wednesday nights can prove to be very beneficial for those who participate in trivia at the AFL.  Each participant pays a two dollar fee and can win a number of free excursions, such as a trip to Nimbin, snorkeling, or even skydiving.  In addition, the winning team gets to keep all of the money from the entry fees.

Thursday night at the Brewery is another eventful evening: ArtsExposure.  This includes fire-spinners, decor, graffiti and DJ's, not to mention $3 beers and $4 hot dogs.  It's a perfect opportunity to check out the works of local artists without breaking the bank.

Fridays and Saturdays are pretty much fair game for any bar or club in Byron Bay.  Occasionally you will hear of beach parties, but mostly people head to the larger venues in town, such as Cheeky Monkeys, Woody's Surf Shack, The Northern, or Cocomangas.  Loads of travellers are seen wandering around the streets of Byron on the weekends.

And then it starts all over again. 

Give Me Some Soup--I'm Homesick

I expected to feel homesick during my trip; how could I not? My parents are the most laid-back people in the world, always having fun in their own ways.  Their energy is contagious for sure.  It is kind of funny how you don't realize how good something is until you don't have it anymore.  It used to drive me nuts to visit my parents because they would be asking me questions nonstop, but now I'd love to just be sitting with mom, telling her all about my trip.

And the food. I miss my parents' cooking so bad.  They are both amazing cooks and always have gigantic feasts for special occasions.  Even when they met my boyfriend they had a BBQ with tons of food and good drinks.  They also went all-out for my Graduation/Going-Away party; my friends were very well-fed.

I always got along really well with my dad too.  When I was younger, I used to be in choirs and musicals--my dad never missed a single one.  He was like my #1 fan.  My mom went to the ones that she could, but she always worked pretty late at night.  When I was in Girl Scouts, my dad even chaperoned a trip; I can only imagine what that would've been like, being one of the only men for miles, and having to supervise a bunch of screaming girls.  And now that I'm older, I can just sit with my dad, have a few beers, and just talk about whatever.

I haven't gotten to Skype my parents yet, but I hope I can very soon.  It'll most-likely be just under a year before I even get to see them again, though I can't wait until I do.

You always remember those really painful good byes too.  I knew I landed this internship about 6 months before I left, so it seemed like it was ages away.  Then I had to actually stop by my parents' house to say good bye for a while.  I hugged my mom right when I got there and started crying.  But they had another BBQ for us, so I had to keep my spirits up.

Then came the BIG good bye. I gave my parents each a hug for about one second and then wiped my eyes and walked to the car.  I couldn't handle a long good bye.  I would've been bawling my eyes out.  Having to pull out of that driveway and head on to start the road trip was unbelievably difficult.  And now it's all I can think about. My heart is heavy.

It's Not Good-Bye; It's See You Later

Me with Maren and Yuan the last night I saw them

One of the most bittersweet things here at the AFL is meeting new people because it means eventually you have to say good bye to them.  People come to Byron for visits, not typically to stay long term.

Kyle

You make friends with them, hang out with them, go to the beach with them, and then they travel elsewhere.  The nice thing is that you meet people through people and the overlap of friendships is constant.  You're definitely never alone.

Alice

Nonetheless, I have still had a few people leave since I have been at the AFL. First it was Maren and Yuan.  They came to Byron when I did after our week at Spot X; they only stayed for a few days.  One of my friends from California left a week ago already, and now, my friend Alice leaves today at 11 AM.  I was fortunate enough to see her this morning in the kitchen so I could at least say good bye.  The nice thing about Alice leaving is that she just started her one year visa, so she plans on traveling, but also plans on coming back to Byron again.  That will be awesome to see her a couple of months down the road.  It'll be like a reunion.

Conor

Contrary to the people who leave are the people trapped by the cool vibes of the AFL, unable to leave.  Conor was one of those.  He had actually planned on only staying for 2 nights; it turned into over two weeks.  He even had a bus scheduled at one point; an hour before he was meant to leave, he decided he was going to stay for a few more days, even though he couldn't get his money back for the bus he missed.  I believe he actually leaves Australia today to head back home.

Douglas

 Then there are the people who get jobs and plan on staying in Byron for the long haul.  I am extremely happy for my friend Douglas in that aspect.  He was running low on money and was thinking about leaving Byron to head back to Sweden, but yesterday he found out he got the bus driving job at the AFL.  He already did his farm work so now he just needs to apply for his second year visa.  He plans on staying in Byron for another 6 months.

At Kelly's in Oshkosh. Note: Even the bar owner is in this picture.

It's funny because the AFL reminds me a lot of my home back in Oshkosh.  It's known as a college town--the university is really what keeps the town alive, in my opinion.  My favorite bar attracts all kinds of people, and it really becomes a big family.  So many of the people I hang out with back home either have worked at Kelly's, do work at Kelly's, or drink religiously at Kelly's.  The problem is that when they graduate and need to find real jobs, they leave Oshkosh, sometimes to different parts of the country.  They almost always come back at some point or another, but it feels like losing a family member.

I'm experiencing the same sort of feeling here in Byron Bay; bittersweet is the perfect word for life here at the AFL.

Optimism is Key

In preparation to come to Byron Bay, I had many expenses to pay, both planned and unforeseen.  Just to get here, I needed to pay the people who set up the internship with Mojosurf, pay for my Working/Holiday visa, and buy a plane ticket.  Then my goal was to just save, and save, and save.

Instead, I barely saved any money.  I needed to buy a new phone over the summer, which cost me nearly $800.  I also prematurely quit my good-money-making job because of a coworker I didn't get along with.  Luckily, I found a new job.  However, it didn't pay nearly as well.  I struggled to pay bills, let alone save money.  Then, of course, the month before I came here, I had a road trip out to the L.A. airport with my boyfriend, his brother, and two of their friends.  I was nearly broke by the time I got to Byron Bay.

But I still made it here, and I'm still surviving.  If I hadn't already invested so much money into this internship, I probably would've stayed back at home and tried to earn some more money.  I did pay a lot for the trip already, so I wasn't about to turn back.  

Now, I met a lot of people while I've been here, and many of them are short on money.  Nearly all of them have very little money, in fact.  But many of the people that I have met have also been traveling Australia for months and months.  I felt very unprepared.

I did talk to one of my friends who got to the Arts Factory two weeks before me and was in the same predicament.  My friend is like the happiest person I have met so far.  He never really has money to go out, like myself, but he always has fun around 'camp' and figures that something will happen for the better in the long run.

The optimism is powerful here.  You don't have to have a lot of money or tons of nice clothes.  If you can't afford to drink, you need to learn to have fun without alcohol.  The fun and the adventure are right in front of you; it's all about what you make of your situation.  My situation is pretty good at the moment.

Working in a Foreign Field

Being the intern at Mojosurf is the most grown up job I've ever had. I graduated from college this past May, and knew I was going to be leaving for Australia soon.  It would have been pointless to try to get a full-time job just before having to leave.

My first job was a ice cream scooper at Coldstone Creamery.  I absolutely hated it.  I got a different job at my favorite retailer and worked there for several years until I started bartending.  Back home, bartenders make a very basic wage, but they earn a ton of money in tips. And we can drink behind the bar too. For college students, bartending is the job to have.

Bartending at the Varsity Cub

I pretty much just bartended for the next 3 years or so and it honestly started getting really old.  Dealing with a bunch of drunks several times a week just got annoying.  I couldn't wait for a change of pace.  I had always been at a job revolving around customer service.  I was always on my feet, always talking to people, always moving around.

Bartending during Halloween

Now I'm in an office for about 40 hours per week.  I'm just now realizing how different it is than what I'm used to.  I can obviously get up and walk around, but a majority of my time is spent sitting in front of a computer.

It's hard to say which I prefer: bartending or marketing(desk job).  They are completely different.  At Mojo, I get to escape people instead of people-pleasing throughout my shift.  I can listen to music, eat, and sort of relax.  On the other hand, I'm secluded, away from everyone else.  I don't like the lack of movement just because I feel like I'm just being lazy all day sitting in a chair.  Before people turn into drunk idiots when you're bartending, it's fun to build relationships and just hang out with your loyal bar patrons.  I definitely miss that.

I'm still not sure which I prefer but I think this six months will tell me a lot about what I want to do in the real world.  Even a combination of the two jobs would probably be ideal: if that's possible.

First Real Day on the Job

I woke up early, like always, and headed into town.  I needed to buy a couple things from Woollies, especially laundry detergent because all my clothes reeked from sitting around the fire at Spot X.  

My diet has consisted of carrots, peanut butter, wholemeal bread, and apples since being back from the surf camp--I miss the food immensely.  Until I get a second job, I'll be eating on a college students budget again.  So every morning, I make myself some peanut butter toast and head on into the office.

I got to the Mojo offices and was told I needed to email my resume to my boss, Celia. I hadn't even looked at my resume in ages so that took quite a bit of tidying to do.  After I finished with my resume, then I had to start blogging.  And here I am. For the next 6 months I'll be discussing my experiences as a traveller from the U.S.

Our offices are very open which can be a good or bad thing. My first day it started pouring outside which was comforting for two reasons.  Firstly, I love the rain, especially when I'm not drenched in it.  Secondly, I was at work so it didn't matter if it was raining anyways.  When it's sunny and hot, however, I have a feeling I'm going hate that the outdoors are only several feet away.  It'll be the ultimate tease.

Work went by relatively quickly but I had an extremely uneventful evening. I spent ages submitting my resume and filling out on line applications to numerous jobs.  Then the Internet stopped working and I was out of luck.  Being in bed by 8 PM is sad for a 22 year old but I'm sure that'll change in time.