One Month Update

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to do a quick life update since my last post was focused on mental health. I just want to say a massive thank you for the love that was shown on that blog post. I was blown away by the kind comments and the number of people who said they were going to share it with a loved one. I’m looking forward to writing more about mental health in the future. For now though, a little life update on plans/ how I’m feeling over a month into the trip.

One of the reasons I’ve been pretty slack in updating this blog is because truly there doesn’t feel like there’s much to update you on at the moment. Most days are a mix of working, trying not to spend too much on days off and squeezing in time with friends when our shifts align. I’ve had a few people ask me about what job I’m doing. I’m working FOH at a cafe not far from the CBD. It’s been great to be back in a customer facing role and I’m picking up enough hours to top back up some of the money I’ve spent since being here. It has been difficult at times though- life genuinely feels pretty similar to back home just with having to go back to a hostel instead of my own bed. It is amazing how quickly a completely new place can become familiar though. I don’t constantly need google maps on to find my way around now! The only thing that hasn’t settled yet is the weather- it still hasn’t picked up and I’m definitely craving some sunshine. I haven’t had the taste of the Aussie dream just yet. In hindsight I’ve probably done it all in a really difficult way- going solo to the other side of the world, heading straight to a part of the country that doesn’t typically get backpackers passing through and starting work within the first week when I hadn’t had time to catch my breathe. I don’t like to make things easy for myself! But I am proud that I’ve pushed through and now I feel I am forming such a lovely base in Adelaide.

However, I have been finding that I am longing for a change of scenery again. I’m really excited to start travelling properly and finally making my way up the East Coast to tick off the bucket list adventure I’ve had in my head for so long. I also have some exciting plans coming up including a pre-christmas trip to Perth to see some friends who I have made since being here. I’ll then be back down in Adelaide to spend Christmas with my Aussie family before flying into Sydney to ring in the New Year (major bucket list moment). From there I will start my East Coast adventure up to Cairns. And then after that I have absolutely no idea.

I won’t pretend everything feels easy. I’ve been wrestling with decision fatigue lately- constantly chosing where to be, how long to spend, the stress of how much everything is. I am so aware of what a privilege it is to be doing what I’m doing but I very often don’t feel I am cut out for the lifestyle of instability and lack of structure. Maybe my personality isn’t made for ‘winging it.’ That is something I am learning about myself but I will keep pushing through and who knows, maybe I will fall in love with the budget nomadic backpacker life but at the moment I struggle to see that becoming a reality.

I’m excited to see more of Australia over the next couple of months and updating you along the journey. As I’m writing this I am feeling a lot more settled and the homesickness days are becoming less frequent and less all consuming. My confidence is growing daily and I am still embracing the ‘pinch me’ moments that I keep having. I’m feeling proud of the growth that has happened already and look forward to the sunshine and adventures that are yet to come.

I’ll leave you with a few random pictures that I have collected recently. One of the highlights was going to see my friend Liam’s swearing in ceremony at the Police Academy. Not many people can say they’ve shook the hand of the Police Commissioner of South Australia 3 weeks into being here! Very random but such a cool experience.

Much love

Rach x