On December twelfth, 2014, I arrived in Sydney with my life a freshly clean slate (learn: massive big query mark). I’d simply give up a job I loved, moved out of an condo that had been my residence for five years, offered/saved 95% of my belongings, and booked a one-way ticket to Australia and not using a plan.
It’s humorous as a result of I pleasure myself on being a really sane and cheap particular person – however what rational being would flip their completely good life upside-down with out the promise of one thing higher? Not solely that, however a life that they’d devoted the whole thing of their faculty years getting ready for, dreaming of, and going into debt for?
It’s insane, and I’m properly conscious of this.
And but, SOMEHOW… on this massive ol’ pumpkin-sized head of mine, it made sense. A lot sense, in reality, that to do anything could be, properly, flawed.
The easiest way I can clarify it’s that there appears to be this internal voice (aka intestine intuition, or instinct) that steers me in direction of sure choices. After I ignore it for too lengthy and attempt to rationalize as an alternative, it persists and will get even louder.
However over time I’ve realized that my internal voice at all times is aware of finest, so I would as properly hearken to it sooner slightly than later. With that, I moved to Australia 3 years in the past and my life has been magical ever since.
And that’s why I truly celebrated my Aussieversary this 12 months. I’ve skilled and endured a lot these previous 3 years and am at some extent the place I have a look at my life and really feel overwhelming gratitude for what it’s grow to be.
Folks consistently ask me in particular person why I got here to Australia and the way I’ve managed to remain right here, and I’m positive there are many individuals on-line who is perhaps inquisitive about my journey as properly.
So right here’s a glance again on my first 3 years in Australia. If there’s anything you need extra readability on, be at liberty to depart a remark on the backside and I’ll reply!
My journey to Sydney.
So off I went to Australia three years in the past on a working vacation visa, two big suitcases in tow, and a mattress at Base Backpackers booked (which btw is a very horrible get together hostel, and the one hostel I may ebook utilizing my Jetstar resort voucher).
I had journeys to Queensland and Tasmania lined up throughout my first two months within the nation, and the obscure notion that I’d begin off in Sydney to “get it out of my system” and later find yourself dwelling in Melbourne (y’know, figuring I ought to give one other Aussie metropolis a attempt after my 12 months finding out overseas in Sydney). Past that, I had not a clue what the 12 months would have in retailer for me. I didn’t have any long run lodging sorted, nor any job lined up, nor any pals ready for me Down Beneath.
And that was very deliberate as a result of I used to be intent on leaving the 12 months open to all prospects. What number of occasions in our lives can we truthfully say we have now no ties or obligations? I needed to see what magic may occur once I wasn’t tied to any plans, individuals, locations, or issues – once I had nothing found out anymore.
My unique Sydney fam!
My first 12 months in Australia was all about following my whims and dwelling carefree. I labored half time for a sleep coach in alternate for room and board and a life at Bondi Seashore, turned deeply desirous about yoga and spirituality, moved on to Melbourne the place my ungroundedness manifested in me being… not-so-much a prude (i.e. I could have gone just a little overboard Tindering), spontaneously hopped on a street journey from Melbourne to Perth with just a few strangers, moved as much as the Kimberley for just a few months to work my first-ever hospitality job (I used to be dish bitch and meals prep extraordinaire, aka a kitchen hand), returned to Melbourne to accommodate sit and plot my subsequent transfer, and unintentionally fell into search engine optimisation freelancing.
I meeeeean… holy! Would I’ve accomplished ANY of the above throughout my “outdated life” within the US? Nope, undoubtedly not.
Nice Ocean Street, 2015.
By way of this sizzling mess of a 12 months, my one certainty was that I needed to remain in Australia ceaselessly. I felt it 11 years in the past once I did my 12 months finding out overseas at Sydney Uni; I felt it when that internal voice urged me (with elevated frequency and quantity within the years main as much as my massive transfer) to get myself again to the land Down Beneath; I felt it each single day throughout this primary 12 months again in Australia.
I can’t actually clarify why precisely I really feel so drawn to Australia, however I don’t assume it’s that necessary. I don’t must know why – I simply must belief that intuition and honor it.
Hanging out on the Mornington Peninsula.
With my compass pointed in direction of Australian everlasting residency, I kicked off my second 12 months within the nation on the vacationer visa after my working vacation visa expired. Not that the apparent wants any explaining, however being a vacationer is unquestionably NOT a direct pathway to residency. It did, nonetheless, purchase me a while whereas I found out a extra long run plan to remain right here.
In the meantime I embraced the digital nomad life, loosely basing myself in Sydney and jet setting to different international locations on visa runs each 3 months, freelancing whereas touring. With the ability to dwell and work anyplace appeared like a dream at first, however all I needed was to be in Australia – not consistently having to flee the nation to adjust to the principles of my visa. These journeys overseas felt so compelled, and made it troublesome for me to construct any momentum or routine right here in Sydney.
I noticed, halfway by the 12 months, that I truly had one of many abilities on Australia’s expert occupation record, which meant I is perhaps eligible for a talented unbiased visa – no sponsorship wanted. I’d be capable of dwell and work in Australia indefinitely as a everlasting resident, doing regardless of the heck I needed. It could be my golden ticket! (I’d simply should earn it… little did I do know simply how a lot effort it might require!).
Again in Sydney in 2016 and reunited with my bestie!
This second 12 months was fairly annoying for me not simply due to all of the shifting round, however as a result of my future was so unsure. How lengthy would I be capable of get away with staying in Australia on the vacationer visa doing periodic visa runs? (I lasted 10 months earlier than I acquired interrogated by Immigration once I returned from the Philippines). When would I be capable of give up home sitting and Airbnb-ing and make my residence right here? Would I be accredited for the unbiased expert visa? If not, was I keen to get an workplace job and have some firm sponsor me in order that I may keep in Australia long run?
Oh, and throw in 6 months’ value of prepping paperwork and proving my value with a purpose to apply for the expert unbiased visa. I needed to chase down job references from individuals who barely remembered me, take an English check (TWICE), get fingerprinted and request police checks from two totally different international locations, endure a medical examination, beg individuals from again residence to dig up outdated paperwork and ship them to me as quickly as humanly potential, submit outdated tax types and checking account statements, and fill out an inordinate variety of redundant types. I’d actually cease no matter I used to be doing at any time when Immigration contacted me for extra documentation and motion their request, simply to make the visa utility course of go as quick because it probably may.
My god, I accrued SO MANY grey hairs this 12 months. It was an enormous ol’ stress get together!
Home sitting in Sydney. I could not look pressured, however I SO was at the moment!
By the beginning of my third 12 months in Aussie, I used to be properly over being nomadic and desperately needed a house. I returned to the nation in January on a pupil visa (at this level, my unbiased expert visa grant was at the very least just a few months away) and signed a lease on a 2-bedroom condo in North Bondi, the place I’d fallen in love with on the very begin of my time in Australia. I assumed I would miss the liberty from my nomadic years, however I’m nonetheless in love with my ‘settled’ life in Bondi. I’m a 5 minute stroll from probably the most stunning seashores on this planet – will that ever get outdated?!
Being settled in Sydney has allowed me the time and area to construct relationships, work alone private improvement, and set up well being and health routines. Seems I really want these items with a purpose to be my happiest self! I’ve acquired my core group of pals in Bondi in addition to my journey buddies that I’ve been occurring plenty of weekend hikes and tenting journeys with. I’ve additionally been attending yoga and pilates reformer courses often and really feel so a lot better for it.
I’m nonetheless freelancing for work and avoiding the workplace job life just like the bubonic plague. The majority of my work is search engine optimisation, however I’ve been in a position to begin making a good revenue off this weblog due to show adverts, and I’ve additionally accomplished some images, net design, and writing gigs this 12 months. I don’t actually really feel like every of these items is my calling in life, however I’m EXTREMELY grateful that every one of this work permits me the liberty to set my very own schedule and be anyplace on this planet.
With my Bondi babes on my Aussieversary.
Since I began out the 12 months on a pupil visa, I needed to enroll in class – so I selected a very easy advertising and marketing certificates course at a university that exists primarily for foreigners like me who’re simply in search of a visa to remain in Australia and don’t significantly care about incomes a level. It was trying like I’d should endure about 3 months of college earlier than my new visa got here by, which I felt fairly okay about.
WELL. In reality, it ended up being simply over 6 months of college. It wasn’t practically as horrible as I imagined, however nonetheless fairly painful at occasions (as in: Whoa, did the trainer or that classmate actually simply say that? And is that this truly our project?). It was completely nothing like my Cornell schooling and at occasions I felt like my mind cells had been simply evaporating with each minute spent in that classroom.
My expert unbiased visa and everlasting residency had been lastly granted on September 4th and I swear to you, I needed to have been the happiest particular person in Sydney that day. I’ve by no means felt so relieved in my life! I promptly dropped out of college and enrolled in Medicare – hooray public well being care!
Dawn at Bondi Seashore on my Aussieversary.
I didn’t make a fuss over my first two Aussieversaries. In reality, I’m not even positive if I remembered them – I wasn’t even in Australia for both one.
However this third one – oh yeah, I celebrated. I didn’t throw myself an enormous get together or splurge on something, however I did determine to get up in time for dawn and yoga on the seashore and go for an early breakfast with my Bondi babes (keep in mind that I’m NOT a morning particular person, so it was truly a reasonably large deal for me to do that).
I celebrated my new everlasting residency and the magical life I’ve created for myself these previous few years.
I celebrated my residence, my friendships, myself.
With my journey babes at Soar Rock.
I didn’t intend for this submit to be an intensive chronicle of my Australian visa journey, but it surely’s been an enormous a part of my 3 years on this nation.
In some methods, issues are practically the identical as they had been 3 years in the past. I nonetheless do not know what I’m doing with my life when it comes to a profession. I’m nonetheless perpetually single. I’m nonetheless paying off my pupil loans (properly, simply one in all them now!).
BUT.
I’d prefer to assume that I’m a a lot better model of myself now than I used to be once I first arrived in Australia.
I’m much less essential, extra affected person, and extra current.
I’m studying to belief my instinct with out query and let it information me by life one step at a time, slightly than feeling anxious about not having sure issues found out by this level.
HI I LIVE HERE NOW.
Hitting the reset button on my life is the very best factor I’ve ever accomplished for myself. It allowed me to purge all of the crap that had accrued in it over the course of 30 years, and rebuild my life with intention from the bottom up. Bodily belongings, sure, but additionally crap that had creeped in from numerous individuals, environments, and habits. It ALL impacts our vitality and wellbeing, usually in methods we’re unconscious of.
I’m now very conscious of all the things I let into my life. I’m additionally very intentional about leaving plenty of area in it, slightly than speeding to fill it with issues I have to do, people who I don’t care to spend time with, or issues that don’t actually serve me. I say no to something that gained’t carry me pleasure, and go away area for issues that can.
I really feel a lot lighter and happier now than I did earlier than I moved to Australia.
I imply WHAT. Who thought I’d ever be into yoga?!
Right here’s to a different 12 months of chasing freedom within the place that makes me the happiest!
It’s humorous as a result of I pleasure myself on being a really sane and cheap particular person – however what rational being would flip their completely good life upside-down with out the promise of one thing higher? Not solely that, however a life that they’d devoted the whole thing of their faculty years getting ready for, dreaming of, and going into debt for?
It’s insane, and I’m properly conscious of this.
And but, SOMEHOW… on this massive ol’ pumpkin-sized head of mine, it made sense. A lot sense, in reality, that to do anything could be, properly, flawed.
The easiest way I can clarify it’s that there appears to be this internal voice (aka intestine intuition, or instinct) that steers me in direction of sure choices. After I ignore it for too lengthy and attempt to rationalize as an alternative, it persists and will get even louder.
However over time I’ve realized that my internal voice at all times is aware of finest, so I would as properly hearken to it sooner slightly than later. With that, I moved to Australia 3 years in the past and my life has been magical ever since.
And that’s why I truly celebrated my Aussieversary this 12 months. I’ve skilled and endured a lot these previous 3 years and am at some extent the place I have a look at my life and really feel overwhelming gratitude for what it’s grow to be.
Folks consistently ask me in particular person why I got here to Australia and the way I’ve managed to remain right here, and I’m positive there are many individuals on-line who is perhaps inquisitive about my journey as properly.
So right here’s a glance again on my first 3 years in Australia. If there’s anything you need extra readability on, be at liberty to depart a remark on the backside and I’ll reply!
Yr 1 (2015) in Australia
So off I went to Australia three years in the past on a working vacation visa, two big suitcases in tow, and a mattress at Base Backpackers booked (which btw is a very horrible get together hostel, and the one hostel I may ebook utilizing my Jetstar resort voucher).
I had journeys to Queensland and Tasmania lined up throughout my first two months within the nation, and the obscure notion that I’d begin off in Sydney to “get it out of my system” and later find yourself dwelling in Melbourne (y’know, figuring I ought to give one other Aussie metropolis a attempt after my 12 months finding out overseas in Sydney). Past that, I had not a clue what the 12 months would have in retailer for me. I didn’t have any long run lodging sorted, nor any job lined up, nor any pals ready for me Down Beneath.
And that was very deliberate as a result of I used to be intent on leaving the 12 months open to all prospects. What number of occasions in our lives can we truthfully say we have now no ties or obligations? I needed to see what magic may occur once I wasn’t tied to any plans, individuals, locations, or issues – once I had nothing found out anymore.
My unique Sydney fam!
My first 12 months in Australia was all about following my whims and dwelling carefree. I labored half time for a sleep coach in alternate for room and board and a life at Bondi Seashore, turned deeply desirous about yoga and spirituality, moved on to Melbourne the place my ungroundedness manifested in me being… not-so-much a prude (i.e. I could have gone just a little overboard Tindering), spontaneously hopped on a street journey from Melbourne to Perth with just a few strangers, moved as much as the Kimberley for just a few months to work my first-ever hospitality job (I used to be dish bitch and meals prep extraordinaire, aka a kitchen hand), returned to Melbourne to accommodate sit and plot my subsequent transfer, and unintentionally fell into search engine optimisation freelancing.
I meeeeean… holy! Would I’ve accomplished ANY of the above throughout my “outdated life” within the US? Nope, undoubtedly not.
Nice Ocean Street, 2015.
By way of this sizzling mess of a 12 months, my one certainty was that I needed to remain in Australia ceaselessly. I felt it 11 years in the past once I did my 12 months finding out overseas at Sydney Uni; I felt it when that internal voice urged me (with elevated frequency and quantity within the years main as much as my massive transfer) to get myself again to the land Down Beneath; I felt it each single day throughout this primary 12 months again in Australia.
I can’t actually clarify why precisely I really feel so drawn to Australia, however I don’t assume it’s that necessary. I don’t must know why – I simply must belief that intuition and honor it.
Hanging out on the Mornington Peninsula.
Yr 2 (2016) in Australia
With my compass pointed in direction of Australian everlasting residency, I kicked off my second 12 months within the nation on the vacationer visa after my working vacation visa expired. Not that the apparent wants any explaining, however being a vacationer is unquestionably NOT a direct pathway to residency. It did, nonetheless, purchase me a while whereas I found out a extra long run plan to remain right here.
In the meantime I embraced the digital nomad life, loosely basing myself in Sydney and jet setting to different international locations on visa runs each 3 months, freelancing whereas touring. With the ability to dwell and work anyplace appeared like a dream at first, however all I needed was to be in Australia – not consistently having to flee the nation to adjust to the principles of my visa. These journeys overseas felt so compelled, and made it troublesome for me to construct any momentum or routine right here in Sydney.
I noticed, halfway by the 12 months, that I truly had one of many abilities on Australia’s expert occupation record, which meant I is perhaps eligible for a talented unbiased visa – no sponsorship wanted. I’d be capable of dwell and work in Australia indefinitely as a everlasting resident, doing regardless of the heck I needed. It could be my golden ticket! (I’d simply should earn it… little did I do know simply how a lot effort it might require!).
Again in Sydney in 2016 and reunited with my bestie!
This second 12 months was fairly annoying for me not simply due to all of the shifting round, however as a result of my future was so unsure. How lengthy would I be capable of get away with staying in Australia on the vacationer visa doing periodic visa runs? (I lasted 10 months earlier than I acquired interrogated by Immigration once I returned from the Philippines). When would I be capable of give up home sitting and Airbnb-ing and make my residence right here? Would I be accredited for the unbiased expert visa? If not, was I keen to get an workplace job and have some firm sponsor me in order that I may keep in Australia long run?
Oh, and throw in 6 months’ value of prepping paperwork and proving my value with a purpose to apply for the expert unbiased visa. I needed to chase down job references from individuals who barely remembered me, take an English check (TWICE), get fingerprinted and request police checks from two totally different international locations, endure a medical examination, beg individuals from again residence to dig up outdated paperwork and ship them to me as quickly as humanly potential, submit outdated tax types and checking account statements, and fill out an inordinate variety of redundant types. I’d actually cease no matter I used to be doing at any time when Immigration contacted me for extra documentation and motion their request, simply to make the visa utility course of go as quick because it probably may.
My god, I accrued SO MANY grey hairs this 12 months. It was an enormous ol’ stress get together!
Home sitting in Sydney. I could not look pressured, however I SO was at the moment!
Yr 3 (2017) in Australia
By the beginning of my third 12 months in Aussie, I used to be properly over being nomadic and desperately needed a house. I returned to the nation in January on a pupil visa (at this level, my unbiased expert visa grant was at the very least just a few months away) and signed a lease on a 2-bedroom condo in North Bondi, the place I’d fallen in love with on the very begin of my time in Australia. I assumed I would miss the liberty from my nomadic years, however I’m nonetheless in love with my ‘settled’ life in Bondi. I’m a 5 minute stroll from probably the most stunning seashores on this planet – will that ever get outdated?!
Being settled in Sydney has allowed me the time and area to construct relationships, work alone private improvement, and set up well being and health routines. Seems I really want these items with a purpose to be my happiest self! I’ve acquired my core group of pals in Bondi in addition to my journey buddies that I’ve been occurring plenty of weekend hikes and tenting journeys with. I’ve additionally been attending yoga and pilates reformer courses often and really feel so a lot better for it.
I’m nonetheless freelancing for work and avoiding the workplace job life just like the bubonic plague. The majority of my work is search engine optimisation, however I’ve been in a position to begin making a good revenue off this weblog due to show adverts, and I’ve additionally accomplished some images, net design, and writing gigs this 12 months. I don’t actually really feel like every of these items is my calling in life, however I’m EXTREMELY grateful that every one of this work permits me the liberty to set my very own schedule and be anyplace on this planet.
With my Bondi babes on my Aussieversary.
Since I began out the 12 months on a pupil visa, I needed to enroll in class – so I selected a very easy advertising and marketing certificates course at a university that exists primarily for foreigners like me who’re simply in search of a visa to remain in Australia and don’t significantly care about incomes a level. It was trying like I’d should endure about 3 months of college earlier than my new visa got here by, which I felt fairly okay about.
WELL. In reality, it ended up being simply over 6 months of college. It wasn’t practically as horrible as I imagined, however nonetheless fairly painful at occasions (as in: Whoa, did the trainer or that classmate actually simply say that? And is that this truly our project?). It was completely nothing like my Cornell schooling and at occasions I felt like my mind cells had been simply evaporating with each minute spent in that classroom.
My expert unbiased visa and everlasting residency had been lastly granted on September 4th and I swear to you, I needed to have been the happiest particular person in Sydney that day. I’ve by no means felt so relieved in my life! I promptly dropped out of college and enrolled in Medicare – hooray public well being care!
Dawn at Bondi Seashore on my Aussieversary.
Why I’m Celebrating This Aussieversary
I didn’t make a fuss over my first two Aussieversaries. In reality, I’m not even positive if I remembered them – I wasn’t even in Australia for both one.
However this third one – oh yeah, I celebrated. I didn’t throw myself an enormous get together or splurge on something, however I did determine to get up in time for dawn and yoga on the seashore and go for an early breakfast with my Bondi babes (keep in mind that I’m NOT a morning particular person, so it was truly a reasonably large deal for me to do that).
I celebrated my new everlasting residency and the magical life I’ve created for myself these previous few years.
I celebrated my residence, my friendships, myself.
With my journey babes at Soar Rock.
I didn’t intend for this submit to be an intensive chronicle of my Australian visa journey, but it surely’s been an enormous a part of my 3 years on this nation.
In some methods, issues are practically the identical as they had been 3 years in the past. I nonetheless do not know what I’m doing with my life when it comes to a profession. I’m nonetheless perpetually single. I’m nonetheless paying off my pupil loans (properly, simply one in all them now!).
BUT.
I’d prefer to assume that I’m a a lot better model of myself now than I used to be once I first arrived in Australia.
I’m much less essential, extra affected person, and extra current.
I’m studying to belief my instinct with out query and let it information me by life one step at a time, slightly than feeling anxious about not having sure issues found out by this level.
HI I LIVE HERE NOW.
Hitting the reset button on my life is the very best factor I’ve ever accomplished for myself. It allowed me to purge all of the crap that had accrued in it over the course of 30 years, and rebuild my life with intention from the bottom up. Bodily belongings, sure, but additionally crap that had creeped in from numerous individuals, environments, and habits. It ALL impacts our vitality and wellbeing, usually in methods we’re unconscious of.
I’m now very conscious of all the things I let into my life. I’m additionally very intentional about leaving plenty of area in it, slightly than speeding to fill it with issues I have to do, people who I don’t care to spend time with, or issues that don’t actually serve me. I say no to something that gained’t carry me pleasure, and go away area for issues that can.
I really feel a lot lighter and happier now than I did earlier than I moved to Australia.
I imply WHAT. Who thought I’d ever be into yoga?!
Right here’s to a different 12 months of chasing freedom within the place that makes me the happiest!