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Melbourne the culture city of Australia where you have four seasons in one day and everyone is happy! Well yes, yes and kinda yes. Melbourne as a city is beautiful, one side is called south bank, which is full of expensive apartments and a long wide river running through it. On the other side is the hussel and bussel of a big city without the big cityness.
Day one we got off the bus trip and stumbled out into this huge station. We got out our phone and read our idiot proof directions from Cats to her mums. Looking down the list, train, bus, TRAMS... what was this? After one slight mix up we arrived in south bank, the posh end!!! After three months of not seeing Cat we were both a little nervous, but we really shouldn't have. She stumbled to the door with her hair everywhere and her good old gringo pants to greet us. Hugs went all round, we did a quick catch up and a freshen up all round but there wasn't much time we had some protesting to do! EQUAL Rights all round is what we were fighting for, by the end of it, we had been roped into refugees and asylum seekers too.
We met some of Cats friends who were all true Melbournions, crazy cool outfits, with funky hair and a wonderful outlook on life. We finished our rally and headed to a roof top bar to see the whole city. After taking in the sights of our new home we headed to 2 Duke Street, Richmond, Vic 3121... I only know it so well as it was the address I told everyone, every employer, the bank, tax man and family! The house has a cool atmosphere, chilled out and easy to relax in. Still being backpackers we ate noodles, drank our first glass of goon and caught up with Cat, it seemed like we had been friend for years. We went to a house party then headed to a club. We had an wicked night just playing pool and having a few drinks.
The following day the hard graft started, the morning was spent researching jobs then the afternoon was filled with applications coming out of my ears. The next few days were spent applying for job, looking for somewhere to stay and arrange finances. We moved into a hostel in the city and found a cool deal of paying for three nights and getting the fourth free in a six bed dorm in the cheapest hostel in the city. We moved in and went exploring the city, in search for jobs and other opportunities. I managed to get an interview for a Sports Marketing company which went well. That afternoon we went for a usually walk around the city to get some air and de stress form job hunting when we saw Fitness First. We went in and asked for reception or cleaning jobs as we knew there wouldn't be a pool, but we were desperate! Unfortunately there wasn't anything at that site but they suggested we tried on line. As we walked out we saw two young men on the street handing out leaflets. I always joke with Becki that I will take anyone's leaflet as it could be me one day.. karma at its best! We got chatting to this guy called Danny, who lived with the General manager of Chadstone Platinum. We rushed home straight away and e-mailed him our CV's and crossed our fingers. Feeling confident with our day, that night we ventured down stairs and watched a live band. Melbourne is known for its live music scene and this pub fitted the bill just perfectly, small, dark dingy but excellent atmosphere and talent.
I had my second interview for the Sports Marketing job the next day, I was set off loose on the trams of Melbourne, managed to make it there safe and sound and aced the group stages. We were then split into groups and I had a lady called Tiffany, who had been working for the company for two years. Tiffany used to play professional basketball for Australia and was very tall, she made me look like a midget. The interviews didn't really explain what the job entailed so I went out with Tiffany to a shopping centre. It was about an hours drive and on the way I had a 30 question test...! I arrived as soon as they started I knew it wasn't for me. It was 100% commission based, with no base rate or starter buffer. You had to sell scratch cards which were for charity, raising money for the Olympics. Although it was a good cause, you only got $2 per card you sold and yesterday one girl only made $11.
I had to get the train back at my expense for a final interview. On the train journey home I got a call from Murray the manager of Fitness First. Due to my desperation I asked if I could come in today for an interview, he was shocked but agreed, so I rang Becki told her to get up and dressed as we had jobs to get, and I walked out of my current interview there and then. I arrived back to the hostel, we jumped on the train and headed to Chadstone shopping centre. The interview was more a casual chat, I kinda got the impress he wanted us as much as we wanted the job, he said he would let us know by the end of the day. We waited at the end of the phone, jumping every time the phone made a sound, but no news. I was starting to feel a bit low at this point, but a call home lifted my spirits and gave me hope to continue. I had it in my head we didn't get the job so first thing in the morning I rang him to find out the news expecting the worst, to find that a little belief goes a long way and he wanted both of us to start on Monday!! WHOOP WHOOP....maybe the Australian dream could come off. We had to buy posh clothes but atleast we could chill out and start to enjoy Melbourne for what it is.
That weekend we got things ready for work and stepped up the house hunting. We were still staying strong that we would live in separate houses, so we applied, applied and applied again. We did get some funny phone calls, that sent shivers up our spines, so we decided we would both go and see the houses together for safety reasons. We looked at a few but nothing stood out and a lot were unfurnished which wasn't really an option. We found a backpackers house which was near Cats and Richmond train station. The rooms and houses were fairly basic and there weren't any mod coms but it did have four walls and a roof over our heads and was cheap. We reassessed the situation and decided to take the house in Richmond and have separate rooms all due to the location of the property. In less than one week in Melbourne we both had a house and a job all to start on Monday, I am not gonna lie it was touch and go for a while and some of the jobs we applied for, I don't think our parents would have approved of.... but hey "everything will be alright in the end, if its not alright then its not the end..... RIGHT?
The weekend was spent buying smart clothes for work and trying to mentally prepare ourselves for full time work. This might sound crazy but you have to remember we had been complete free spirits, going with the wind, making last minute decisions and taking each day as it comes. Well no more, we were signing up for responsibility, new environments, someone telling us what to do and when to do it. Don't get me wrong yea it was money and it was the long term plan but still being told what to do, not sure how well that will go, I guess time will tell!
We moved into our house on the Sunday so we didn't have to rush on the Monday after work. Cat helped us get are stuff from the hostel to the house and with in minutes we were unpacked, well we did only have a backpack after all. That night we went over to Cats as it was Sunday, which meant family night. Family night consisted of, the whole house, friends and family coming over for food, Doctor Who and games. Now I hate Doctor Who but I stuck with it so I could enjoy the other parts.. it was a struggle sometimes as Doctor Who really is rubbish!!! The best part of the night was Least and Most. This is when we light a candle sit in a circle and all take turns to say what they are least grateful for and most grateful for that day. It was such a simple thing, but everyone stopped and gave it 100% of their attention and it is something I will take home with me.
We walked the 15 minute walk home and got ready for our first night in our new house. Almost time for lights out when AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! I did the worlds most girlist scream! It was huge.... yes the one thing all English people dread about Australia, the reason we love England so much, SPIDER!! Yep, day one of the new home and I found me a pet, a huge black hairy spider. Becki came running in and as soon as she was it she was gone, she ran straight to the toilet screaming. Looks like I had to be the man then! I tried to get a glass to trap it, but it was too big and too high for me to reach. Mum had always taught me that spiders were our friends and they were always more scared of us than we are of them... but hey mum most spiders aren't as big as your hand! I tried all the techniques mum had taught me not to be scared, I named it "Simon" talked to it, but in the end the theory that we eat 3 spiders in your lifetime got too me. If I eat Simon I would surly choke to death!! So I ended sleeping in Becki's room with the door firmly shut.
Monday morning came quicker than expected, we got dressed and headed to the train station, if our parents could have seen us I am sure they would compare it to our first days at school. The train journey seemed to fly by, I think it was all the mixed emotions we were both feeling. I know I was scared, excited, anxious but kinda pumped to get some roots and bring on this sales thing!! Becki on the other hand had a few more demons to battle with. First off she would be going down a rank or two, in England she was the boss, now she was at the bottom and starting from scratch in a field she had never experienced. For those who don't know Little Becki hates change and as a result she has only really worked for one employer where she excelled in her position so this adventure would test her on all levels, but I am sure she just saw it as a big challenge.
We arrived at Fitness First Chadstone Platinum super early as I was in charge of organising train times. We both looked at each other took a deep breath in and walked through the doors. Of course we had nothing to worry about, Murray the club manager was lovely and was just as nervous about us being there as we were. We were his first employees who he had employed and had the opportunity to mould into the Fitness First script machines he wanted.
After work we called Cat as Simon was still there, and she was as much use as a chocolate tea pot, she googled the spider and it was a Huntsman. Harmless to people but one of the biggest spiders around. Knowing Simon wouldn't hurt us gave me some relief and I decided he could stay. Luckily Kevin our landlord came round to make sure we had moved in ok, so it was my opportunity. Ok Cat was scared, but she wasn't a true Aussie, she had an Irish passport as well, Kevin was Aussie so he wouldn't be scared of a tiny huntsman. Nope, he was petrified! This is when my image of an Australian started to change.
He did say, that Simon was a big boy and he had to go, he used a mop to knock him down and tried to catch him. Becki was shaking in the bathroom, and I went in to help. Huntsmen are known for jumping and Simon showed us his skills and he jumped on Kevin's back. Knowing how scared Kevin was, I said slowly that the spider was on his shirt, he screamed and threw his shirt on the floor and we both jumped on it, Simon was no more! I was secretly glad as I didn't want to share my room with him!
Work for the first week was ok, we just got to know the club, staff and processes. On day three I got a text from Bridie and it said "i am bouncing off the walls on my own in Melbourne I need you!" so I sent her the directions to work and she rocked up to our club backpack and all and we all saw it in Murrays eyes from that day on we would be the vein of his life!!
Bridie moved into my room and we decided it would be easier if she just stayed while Rachel and Liz came so we could all be together. We didn't do much the rest of that week as we were all tired, trying to save pennies and buzzing inside for when Rachel and Liz touched down.
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