Well I've done it. I've moved in here in Brisbane.
I think Brisbane is going to keep me very happy for the few months I'll be spending here. I have been in Brisbane a full 3 weeks and I've managed to make some great friends, learn the city pretty good, find a very nice church, line up a temp job, and am in the interview process for my more long term job.
So! Friends in Brisbane! On the Tuesday after my first Sunday here in Brisbane I went to a CouchSurfing Social Event. Depending on the size of the city and the amount of people in any CS community sometimes the CS ambassador to that area host social events, usually at a bar type place. Brisbane does fortnightly meetings on Tuesdays. At this event I ended up meeting 4 awesome people: Paul(AU), Claire(UK), Noa(BE), and Andrea(IE). They invited me to go climbing with them the following day and I've been hanging with them ever since (Noa left to go work on a farm but was replaced by a girl named Katey(yeah you wanted to know that right?)). We go climbing an average of 3 times a week! And I can't really explain how happy that makes me. We climb together, hang out together, and have all become surprisingly good friends over a short amount of time.
The City! Brisbane is an amazing city. It's 2 million people and change, and pretty spread out. I love the public transport system here, some people hate it, but I try to look on the sunny side (At least I don't have to walk) It's taken me a while to learn the city and I know there is still tons I don't know. But, I can get from my place to anywhere people want to meet and back (with the help of the internet every now and then) via the bus system. Most importantly I can get where I need to rock climb all the time, a place stereotypically named "Kangaroo Point". The city has tons to offer to make sure I never get bored. Usually I don't like big cities(Some could argue that this still isn't), but this is defiantly the largest city that I have still liked.
Church! Keperra Baptist- Thanks to Em Aitkin (Russia mission trip friend mentioned in last post) I have gotten plugged in and am loving it here. It's not the biggest church but it has a good heart and is full of genuine people. I've only gone to a hand full of services and event type things, but I'm being welcomed and am sure that soon I'll be a regular. Thanks to Em being awesome- She has already talked with the appropriate people and wants me to help with a youth camp in September. So that combined with my continued appearance at other church functions will hopefully get me felling nice and at home ASAP :)
Temp Job- So Paul, the guy I met at that CS social event, gave me a job! He owns NFI (a furniture instillation company) and is currently letting me do warehouse work- organizing bays, cleaning the warehouse, unloading and loading shipments, inventory.... that kind of stuff. He is currently in the process of selling his business and I am currently looking into a job closer to my house, so this is definitely a temp job. But it's a nice temp job that I am familiar with thanks to my previous warehouse experience.
More Permanent job! Bunnings (Pretty much the Australian version of a Lowes) There is a Bunnings a block from where I live, and Robyn (the lady I am renting a room from) suggested that I apply there. Apparently they liked my application and gave me a phone interview! I ROCKED the phone interview, made a joke, rocked the "foreign" accent and now I have a group interview on Tuesday. And I know once I get face-to-face I've got the job! Unfortunately, yes, I did have to trim the beard. I know I know, it was a sad day. But I would not have gotten the job with the crazy beard I had. So I trimmed up some and am looking forward to working at Bunnings!
I love feeling plugged in here in Brisbane. It makes me happy that I have a community of good friends who are active and nice people. I am very excited to be part of a rockin church. Australia is treating me very well so far. I have yet to go camping (Something I hope to fix within the next two weeks). Several of my friends are currently traveling abroad including my good friend Connor Lawson who named his blog Connor Goes Abroad - No idea where he got the name but I am really looking forward to reading it!
I hope this blog post finds you all well and I look forward to hearing from you!
Take Care
Happy Trails
Steve
PS- New Twitter: @SteveGoesAbroad and New ICQ # 670274477
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
That Time I Got Extremely Excited About Moving to Brisbane!
Well Hello There!!
It's an exciting time in Steve Crosby's life. I have been in Australia almost 3 weeks. And I've been busy. So, even though amazing adventures haven't been had, as far as climbing on mountains or swimming below a waterfall goes... I am ecstatic about life...
Upon arriving in Australia, Chris from CouchSurfing picked me up from the airport and made my time in Sydney as good as it could have been! Chris is one heck of a CS host. He understands the plight of backpackers and does everything he can to show you a good time, let you relax, and keep Sydney light on your wallet. After staying with Chris for a few days, I received a warming invitation from Sarah Mirela (a friend I met in Russia back in 2006). Sarah extended the spare room in Phillips house in Gold Coast (a city about an hour from Brisbane). Phil is Sarah's boyfriend who she now lives with. My time with Sarah and Phil has been amazing. In keeping with the legit hosts I've managed to find, Sarah and Phil are some of the nicest and most inviting people around. I've been on complete vacation since I arrived in Australia and I'm having a blast. Fireworks shows, fun days out, hanging out with their friends, and just relaxing in an amazing house.
But it can't all be fun. So, while relaxing in paradise. I managed to secure a place to live in Brisbane through an old friend, Andrew Fainges. I ran into Andrew at a get together on Anzac Day(April 25, My Birthday) that was being hosted by a dear friend Emily Aitken. To be clear, I know Sarah, Andrew, and Em all from a Russia mission trip in 2006. And I'm glad that I already have friends in Brisbane. I have obtained my RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol), something important so I can now be a bartender in Queenstown (the state that Brisbane is in). I have also started looking into churches in Brisbane that I can get plugged into, many look like great churches with young adult programs. The CouchSurfing community in Brisbane is very active so I look forward to going to community nights and meeting other locals and travelers. Also, I've been looking into ceramic studios that I can work at. I've gotten a few promising emails back from studio owners. Most who feel, at a minimum, I can put in enough work for free studio space and materials. So I'm getting back into ceramics, a hobby that I have missed dearly. And who knows, maybe some more money on the side from selling my work if that option presents itself.
While I love traveling, it isn't free. So I got my Work/Holiday Visa and am stoked about putting some money back in my pocket so I can travel again another day (soon). From what I hear, jobs in Brisbane are not hard to get and all pay very well. (Minimum wage is $16 dollars an hour)(Hopefully I won't be getting minimum but even if I do I'll still be able to save up good money)
Why Am I So Excited? Because, while I LOVE traveling, I also really love making friends and being part of a community. Something that I have been missing ever since leaving the University of Alabama. So, in the interest of making my 5 months in Brisbane as fun as possible, I'm preparing to get plugged into the CouchSurfing community, church groups, a ceramic shop, and work (wherever I end up working, hopefully a bar).
Traveling is fun. But it's not all happy-go-lucky and off-into-the-sunset times. Sometimes you need to plan out what you're going to be doing to make sure you have a hoot. I planned out New Zealand really well and had one HECK of a time. And now I've got a plan for Australia, so I'm confident I'll have a blast here too!
Thanks for all the birthday emails guys! My trip around the world would be nowhere near as rewarding without all of your constant correspondence, encouragement, and prayers. Special thanks to Zach Helton, Kathy Steele, and Dad and Mom for sending me care packages! I haven't received them yet, due to being on the other side of the globe but I can't wait for them to get here!
I would also like to give a special shout out to anybody who is considering traveling themselves. I have received a couple of emails recently from different people who have been reading the blog. I want each of you to know: Traveling can be a unparalleled experience in terms of rewards, friends, and inner insight.
I move into my new place on Sunday! Wish me luck, keep the emails coming, keep the questions coming, and care packages are always amazing(my new address will be given to anyone who requests it!)
It's an exciting time in Steve Crosby's life. I have been in Australia almost 3 weeks. And I've been busy. So, even though amazing adventures haven't been had, as far as climbing on mountains or swimming below a waterfall goes... I am ecstatic about life...
Upon arriving in Australia, Chris from CouchSurfing picked me up from the airport and made my time in Sydney as good as it could have been! Chris is one heck of a CS host. He understands the plight of backpackers and does everything he can to show you a good time, let you relax, and keep Sydney light on your wallet. After staying with Chris for a few days, I received a warming invitation from Sarah Mirela (a friend I met in Russia back in 2006). Sarah extended the spare room in Phillips house in Gold Coast (a city about an hour from Brisbane). Phil is Sarah's boyfriend who she now lives with. My time with Sarah and Phil has been amazing. In keeping with the legit hosts I've managed to find, Sarah and Phil are some of the nicest and most inviting people around. I've been on complete vacation since I arrived in Australia and I'm having a blast. Fireworks shows, fun days out, hanging out with their friends, and just relaxing in an amazing house.
But it can't all be fun. So, while relaxing in paradise. I managed to secure a place to live in Brisbane through an old friend, Andrew Fainges. I ran into Andrew at a get together on Anzac Day(April 25, My Birthday) that was being hosted by a dear friend Emily Aitken. To be clear, I know Sarah, Andrew, and Em all from a Russia mission trip in 2006. And I'm glad that I already have friends in Brisbane. I have obtained my RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol), something important so I can now be a bartender in Queenstown (the state that Brisbane is in). I have also started looking into churches in Brisbane that I can get plugged into, many look like great churches with young adult programs. The CouchSurfing community in Brisbane is very active so I look forward to going to community nights and meeting other locals and travelers. Also, I've been looking into ceramic studios that I can work at. I've gotten a few promising emails back from studio owners. Most who feel, at a minimum, I can put in enough work for free studio space and materials. So I'm getting back into ceramics, a hobby that I have missed dearly. And who knows, maybe some more money on the side from selling my work if that option presents itself.
While I love traveling, it isn't free. So I got my Work/Holiday Visa and am stoked about putting some money back in my pocket so I can travel again another day (soon). From what I hear, jobs in Brisbane are not hard to get and all pay very well. (Minimum wage is $16 dollars an hour)(Hopefully I won't be getting minimum but even if I do I'll still be able to save up good money)
Why Am I So Excited? Because, while I LOVE traveling, I also really love making friends and being part of a community. Something that I have been missing ever since leaving the University of Alabama. So, in the interest of making my 5 months in Brisbane as fun as possible, I'm preparing to get plugged into the CouchSurfing community, church groups, a ceramic shop, and work (wherever I end up working, hopefully a bar).
Traveling is fun. But it's not all happy-go-lucky and off-into-the-sunset times. Sometimes you need to plan out what you're going to be doing to make sure you have a hoot. I planned out New Zealand really well and had one HECK of a time. And now I've got a plan for Australia, so I'm confident I'll have a blast here too!
Thanks for all the birthday emails guys! My trip around the world would be nowhere near as rewarding without all of your constant correspondence, encouragement, and prayers. Special thanks to Zach Helton, Kathy Steele, and Dad and Mom for sending me care packages! I haven't received them yet, due to being on the other side of the globe but I can't wait for them to get here!
I would also like to give a special shout out to anybody who is considering traveling themselves. I have received a couple of emails recently from different people who have been reading the blog. I want each of you to know: Traveling can be a unparalleled experience in terms of rewards, friends, and inner insight.
I move into my new place on Sunday! Wish me luck, keep the emails coming, keep the questions coming, and care packages are always amazing(my new address will be given to anyone who requests it!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)