It’s been two weeks since I left the farm and moved back south to Sydney — or rather, a suburb west of Sydney called Penrith — to live with Willow and her mum. It’s been two weeks of regularly seeing my friends and going on little adventures with them. Like, playing frisbee golf for the first time, which is really just going for a walk with friends, throwing a frisbee every now and then. It’s been two weeks since I started looking for a new job — but only four days since working my first shift at Café Fred. It’s been two weeks since I drove on the highway in my own car. And six days since it got picked up by a wrecker, and I had to say my final goodbyes.
The possibilities of what can happen in two weeks are endless. Let’s start at the beginning…
About a month ago, I made my way to Sydney for the weekend. It was my friend Jo’s birthday, and I didn’t want to miss it. On a sunny Sunday at The Rocks Markets, we had high tea and wandered around the stalls. I got to meet more of her friends and did quite a bit of sightseeing.
I’d never been that close to the Sydney Opera House — and let me tell you, it’s even more impressive up close. Sydney seems like a lovely and fascinating city to explore. It’s this wild mix of architecture, cultures, and people walking around barefoot, in wetsuits, with surfboards under their arms.
And like I mentioned before, Aussies are crazy when it comes to coffee — in a good way. I only started drinking coffee last year, but the difference between German and Australian coffee is huge. I get now why people actually like the taste, not just the caffeine hit.
Anyway — that was the weekend I realised I needed more of a social life and had to leave the farm. Thought, said, and done.
I’ve been enjoying a bit of a family vibe with Willow and Danae — shared dinners, board games, movie nights… We even went to a community theatre show, where they served biscuits and tea at break. That should be done at any theatre or show.
On weekends, I’ve been to the beach or a different part of Sydney. Living a bit of a tourist lifestyle, for now. Bondi Beach is the hotspot for surfer culture. Newtown is a cool and quirky suburb with amazing food and tons of thrift stores. And I can’t wait to discover more hidden gems around here.
I knew the hardest part of this transition would be finding a new source of income — a job. But I didn’t expect other obstacles to pop up.
On my drive to Willow’s, I noticed a rattling noise and a vibration in the gas pedal anytime I accelerated over 100km/h. Now, I don’t know much about cars — but I know when something’s not right. And ever since I lost a wheel while driving during the L’America road trip last year, I’ve become more anxious about anything car-related.
I managed to book an inspection and service three days later. It needed an oil change and two new CV shafts anyway. What I didn’t expect was this: the engine needed replacing — I had blown a cylinder on the head gasket. The mechanic was surprised it was even still running. But it wouldn’t last much longer. And it didn’t.
A week later, after two small trips, the car wouldn’t start. The repair costs would’ve been higher than the actual value of the car. So, last Monday, I called a wrecker. Half an hour later, the car was gone, and I had $550 in my pocket. Now I rely on the bus schedule, my own two feet, and the two wheels I brought from overseas.
So there I was: no car, no job. Life was great. It felt like being back at square one.
I’d started applying for jobs while I was still in Kempsey, but didn’t hear back from anyone. In Penrith, I changed my strategy. I printed out resumes and walked into every café I could find. It felt awkward at first — but what else was I supposed to do? And you know what? Talking to my new boss, Michelle, she told me she loved the initiative I took. That’s one of the reasons I have the job now.
(Sometimes, you have to do something uncomfortable first to get closer to your desired outcome.)
Anyway — long story short: I’ve been working at Café Fred for the past four days, and it’s amazing. All the girls are warm and welcoming — it feels like a safe place to work and just be. It’s definitely more professional and fast-paced than the last café I worked at. I’m already learning a lot of new things and skills, and I know those will carry me forward — wherever I end up next.
But for now, I‘m going to stay right where I am.
Stay tuned for more! So long.
marie louise travels 