Sydney

G'day!

Here I am about to leave this wonderful City after 6 months from landing here. It was pretty amazing especially when I had no planned agenda for Australia. I arrived on a rainy summer day mid-January with just my backpack and a Working Holiday visa. Thankfully, I have relatives, mum's cousin, Eddie and his family who picked me up from the airport and took care of me for the first few weeks. During those weeks I was both anxious to go around at the same time find a job. Job-hunting for a similar role as I had in UK (that of an Online Manager or similar) was proving itself difficult. However, I wasn't sure whether I wanted such a role again. I was tempted to deviate from my career path and do something different and with a little more fun, perhaps.
I ended up taking a cafe barista course and one day on walking down King Street in Newtown found Pastizzi cafe. A coffee shop which sold the traditional Maltese pastizzi (probably best described as hot ricotta pies). I couldn't believe my eyes - there was a whole variety of them and not just riccotta and mashed peas. Lenny, one of the partners, was thrilled to know I was Maltese and made me taste quite a few of them, they were yummy! I plucked up courage and asked him whether he would need any help in the coffee shop and guess what?! he told me was actually looking for someone at the time. It was as later described, a match made in heaven; Maltese pastizzi (and eventually coffee) being served by a Maltese girl :)
I really did enjoy working there and ended up staying for about two months. I'm glad to have made many new friends (not the mention dating requests!!!) especially with the people who run pastizzi; Lenny, Debbie, Freddie and his partner Andrew, Nonna - beloved Sicilian cook, Miraj, the Nepalese team who made the Pastizzi, the rest of the waiting staff and not to mention my regular customers. They were a mix of Aussies and early 1980's Maltese immigrants and their families. Will never forget the fenkata nights, which happened every last Sunday of every month. On those nights we would serve a traditional rabbit dish which went down so well with everyone.

I had left Pastizzi Cafe as I was offered a job with Vodafone Australia. It had all happened so quickly and suddenly, it was like winning a lottery. A dear friend of mine, Merrenna recommended me and a week later I was asked for an interview, well I wouldn't even call it so. It was more of a chat over a coffee with Harry. He called a couple of hours later to tell me I was in and within a week started an about 3 to 4 month contract with the Online Team. It was challenging initially especially having not worked in such an environment for about 6 months. But within a week I felt I was back at Vodafone and with a bang! Having spent 9 years with the company, between Malta, UK and a bit of Portugal, Vodafone Australia quickly grew on me. I must say it was one of the best Vodafone experiences ever. I managed quite a few projects thanks to some amazing colleagues, whom I will dearly miss. The photo is a view of the City from Level 18 at Vodafone Tower, that is where I worked :)

In the meantime, given such an opportunity I started planning for, as people call it a long holiday. I wanted to see the Greater Oz and not just Sydney and I had to do it quick primarily cause my Visa would run out in 6 months and secondly, I anyways have to head back to Malta by March 2009 for my sister's wedding. So, I kicked off my traveling project again.


During my weeks counting down to this day, I continued to discover wonderful Sydney with Roz and John - a wonderful couple whom I had got to know back in the UK and thanks to their hospitality, lived with them in Haberfield for about 5 months. We toured the beaches around the City in summer, took the ferry from one to the other, then as the season turned, John and I hit the bushes. We relished the Sunday walks which were a mix of bush and coastal ones, until the day I managed to sprain both ankles at once!


I must say it was quite a downfall for me which narrowly blew all my travelling plans. Luckily, I had 6 weeks remaining and thanks to the magical hands of physio, Charlie, frozen mashed peas, endless rolls of sticky tape, a combination of rest and working out at the gym to strengthen them and my other leg muscles, and (hardest of all) staying away from walking everywhere, anywhere particularly in the bush, I somehow find myself all packed up and ready to leave tomorrow. I'm now just hoping my ankles will continue to toughen up over the next couple of weeks before my Alice Springs, Ayers Rock tour starts.

All in all, my stay in Sydney was great, more than I ever wished and hoped for. I was here for quite a few big events too, namely World Youth Day, seeing QE and QV cruises at Sydney harbour, the Mardi Gras, Chinese New Year celebrations and dragon boat racing. On top of everything I also got to meet a dear old school friend of mine, Natalie. It was a great reunion and so sweet of her to knock on my parents' door just last week on her holiday in Malta.

Now, I look forward to coming across the other big Aussie cities such as Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne over the next months. But can't wait to hit the Outback, what Aussie's describe as the true Australia. Well then, Australia (beyond Sydney) here I come! :0)

I hope to keep this blogsite up to date along my travels,
wish me luck
love to all
Nicky
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