Andrew Aigner-MuehlerLIVING OVERSEAS from my eyes.. MY INITIAL AND SHORT RETURN HOME
January 26th 2008 05:44
MY INITIAL AND SHORT RETURN HOME
When I left London, after my first stint there. I left bound for the city that never sleeps, New York. I didn’t have a green card nor J1 visa, or what ever. I was planning to live and work there for six months illegally. I had heard from people who had lived and worked there before, and they were saying how easy it is too find work, and too get paid under the table. I was there for ten days, and found the total opposite. Mind you, it was not even two years after the United States biggest tragedy, 9/11. The economy in New York was just starting to pick up again. It was probably just the wrong time for me. So, I left New York and returned to Australia via a night in Mexico City.
That night in Mexico City when I arrived, I did something that many people would not do. I arrived around midnight, didn’t have any accommodation booked. I was hoping the airport would have a accommodation listing board. I was wrong. I asked this man, if he spoke English, and then asked him where I could find accommodation. He said “come with me, come with me”. He took me to his car, by the way, I didn’t know who he was, he was just wearing blue overalls. I just knew he took me on this long drive, down these side streets and that. All I could think off is just talk, talk and keep talking. If I keep talking, if he thinking of doing anything too me, he will get fed up, and dump me somewhere, hopefully. Not to worry about, he took me to his hotel, that he worked at, the Regent. He didn’t want me to pay him for the journey, so I showed him my thanks, and gave him a good tip. He was a nice guy, we were both talking in the car. I probably didn’t have to be worried, but couldn’t help thinking what could happen. The next morning I did a three hour tour of the city and in the afternoon I left Mexico City bound for Sydney.
I was so glad, too touch down in Sydney, as I wasn’t quite sure the United Airline plane was going to make it, it was a bumpy ride, not sure if it was turbelance or that airplane was that old. I was thinking at the airport, should I stay in Sydney for a couple of days or should I return to Adelaide straight away. I returned to Adelaide, stayed the first night in a hostel, the next day I hired a car and drove to my sisters place, and gradually surprised everyone one by one.
My intensions were good, I intended to settle down back then. I found a job in Adelaide after two weeks, but it only gave me around fifteen hours per week, and that’s not enough. I worked at the Chifley Hotel as a porter for six weeks, while in the mean time applying for jobs.
Around two weeks before I left the Chifley, I applied for a front desk reception job in the tourism industry in Hervey Bay in Queensland. Had a couple interviews by telephone, tried to have a interview by web cam, and the next thing I was on a plane again, followed by a coach to Hervey Bay. Guess where I was working? Beaches Backpackers.
My time at Beaches was great, all the staff got along great. Halve the staff would change every three or so months because the backpacking staff could only work for three months.
While working at Beaches, I gathered a few things, one thing I noticed was the way, backpackers traveled, and where they were coming from. Most of the backpackers came from Britain meaning England, Wales and Scotland, as well as Ireland. They also came from Korea, Germany, Canada, Scandinavian countries, huge groups from the USA and then drip and draps from other countries. Most of the backpackers would fly into Sydney and get a package from Wanderers travel or Travelbugs and head north up the coast, if they didn’t get a package they would at Extreme Travel in Byron Bay which was the first stop for most of the backpackers, after Byron Bay, most of them would stop in Brisbane, then Noosa, then Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, Cairns and then would fly out to Malaysia or back home.
Beaches as well as Koalas, and Fraser Escape were the main hostels for the backpackers to stay out, with Beaches the place to stay because of the parties in the bar. The staff would also stay after work to have a drink or two or more with the backpackers.
While living in Hervey Bay, there is no public transport, there is a intercity service to and from Maryborough, there is no use for a vehicle, hence me only having a bicycle. If I wanted to head out of town I would hire a car or go by Greyhound Pioneer. I lived in a three bedroom unit half way between the shopping district and work, no more than a ten minute walk. I was a also only a couple minutes from the beach as well. The beach in Hervey bay is great, white sandy beaches, the water is clear and not cold sometimes feeling like a spring.
Hervey Bay was not short of its pubs, but if I can say it lacked it night clubs for the party goers. Most of the young would go to the Beach House, Hanrahans, Bay Tavern, Torquay Hotel or head over to Kingfisher resort which was on Fraser Island. Hervey Bay did have one night club which was only open Friday and Saturday nights. But most people would start at the Beach House and even finish there or at the night club.
The Beach House was my local, which really took off Friday and Saturday nights, but had two different clientals on those nights, I think it had something to do with the on and off pay weeks when people got paid. The Beach House played typical dance music, and was a good place to hang out and meet people.
At times you could also say my place was a bit of a hostel as well, as I had two different Canadian couples stay rent free, so they could save and enjoy their stay in Australia. Evaristo Moyles and Kalena Burns who were just friends were from Summertime in British Columbia, and the other couple Mark Andrew and Gillian Welbourne were from Vancouver. I did have a full time house mate Dave who paid rent and that, who apparently just came over from Auckland, stayed a while in Sydney and then moved to Hervey Bay where he stayed at the Fraser Escape backpackers until he got asked to leave because he over stayed his welcome. Glynnis who owned the shop next to Fraser Escape introduced me to him, she also said Dave was a friendly, trustful and nice guy.
At first, while he had a job, had no problem with him, he paid his bills, we chatted, and had a drink together down the Beach House. Then one day he got sacked from his job as a plasterer, turned to drugs a little and started to sell drugs with Damien, as they thought it was a good way to make money. I didn’t mine that, but I did mine him not starting to pay rent, not paying the hire of the electrical TV HIFI system we had and not even paying for the $400 telephone call he made to one of those numbers, if you know what I mean. In a space of three months he had left me once and came back because he broke up with his girlfriend. At that time I just bagged up all his gear and was just about to get rid of it until he walked in one night. The second time he left he had a few mates around, and the following morning he left with nothing and left me with his mess. Two months later I left Hervey Bay. Don’t worry! He didn’t actually leave me short, sought off. I sold all his furniture which paid for the breaking of the contract for the electrical equipment and for the telephone calls he had made, but was left short for the rent he owed me, but if I had rented it myself I would have paid it all myself anyway, so it was just bonus money for me. All of clothes and shit was given to the Salvation Army. All the little things I bought like plates, cups and cooking stuff etc I also gave to charity, so all what was left was the bag I went there with.
You’re probably wondering why I left Hervey Bay? I left because I quit my job at Beaches Backpackers because I got a first and final warning for something that everyone else did there. I will admit I deserve a warning but not a final warning and also get told not to drink the night before going to work. I will tell you how I got the warning. One night I was closing the office, when my work colleague Sean asked “me to come in to the bar for a drink”, I said to him “I can’t, I have to open tomorrow”, he replied with “c’mon just one”, and I said “okay, just one, only if you help me close”. Anyway we went into the bar, bought a schooner each, and went out to sit by the pool. Until a couple of female backpackers asked us to join their table and we did. Shortly after we moved inside. Like usual we danced on the tables, which was a Beaches tradition. Some how that night I lost my ID, I lost my name badge, female work mates who were from England put make-up on me and walked home.
The next morning I remember my alarm clock going off but must have pressed snooze and slept in a little longer. The next minute Asta, a new staff member on the front desk telephoned me to see where I was. I jumped in the shower to wet myself, got dressed and walked fastly to work. I couldn’t run, because I wasn’t feeling myself. Before walking into work, I bought a Red Bull, water and chocolate milk. I tell ya, I wasn’t up for work, I couldn’t concentrate, but some how I could still do my job, and the till wasn’t out. Anyway I heard nothing more about it, until the following day when Andre the human resource manager came into the front desk and asked me outside to have a chat. After that chat I went to lunch, and wrote a three page resignation letter saying something along the lines I was sorry, and I didn’t agree.
I had given four weeks notice, but at the start of my final week with the company, just before starting my shift the superviser of the front desk Corrina McGowan called me out the back and sacked me, couldn’t give me a reason besides “you’re not needed anymore”. They just couldn’t let me ride it out and leave on a good note. The following week I left Hervey Bay by coach bound for Brisbane, then I flew to Sydney, where I worked temporary for four weeks at Georgeson Shareholders call center. I lived that time in a backpackers apartment in Kings Cross. My final night in Sydney was spent with a English guy James in a strip club. I then went back Adelaide for a week before heading back to London for a visit before going onto Canada.
When I left London, after my first stint there. I left bound for the city that never sleeps, New York. I didn’t have a green card nor J1 visa, or what ever. I was planning to live and work there for six months illegally. I had heard from people who had lived and worked there before, and they were saying how easy it is too find work, and too get paid under the table. I was there for ten days, and found the total opposite. Mind you, it was not even two years after the United States biggest tragedy, 9/11. The economy in New York was just starting to pick up again. It was probably just the wrong time for me. So, I left New York and returned to Australia via a night in Mexico City.
That night in Mexico City when I arrived, I did something that many people would not do. I arrived around midnight, didn’t have any accommodation booked. I was hoping the airport would have a accommodation listing board. I was wrong. I asked this man, if he spoke English, and then asked him where I could find accommodation. He said “come with me, come with me”. He took me to his car, by the way, I didn’t know who he was, he was just wearing blue overalls. I just knew he took me on this long drive, down these side streets and that. All I could think off is just talk, talk and keep talking. If I keep talking, if he thinking of doing anything too me, he will get fed up, and dump me somewhere, hopefully. Not to worry about, he took me to his hotel, that he worked at, the Regent. He didn’t want me to pay him for the journey, so I showed him my thanks, and gave him a good tip. He was a nice guy, we were both talking in the car. I probably didn’t have to be worried, but couldn’t help thinking what could happen. The next morning I did a three hour tour of the city and in the afternoon I left Mexico City bound for Sydney.
I was so glad, too touch down in Sydney, as I wasn’t quite sure the United Airline plane was going to make it, it was a bumpy ride, not sure if it was turbelance or that airplane was that old. I was thinking at the airport, should I stay in Sydney for a couple of days or should I return to Adelaide straight away. I returned to Adelaide, stayed the first night in a hostel, the next day I hired a car and drove to my sisters place, and gradually surprised everyone one by one.
My intensions were good, I intended to settle down back then. I found a job in Adelaide after two weeks, but it only gave me around fifteen hours per week, and that’s not enough. I worked at the Chifley Hotel as a porter for six weeks, while in the mean time applying for jobs.
Around two weeks before I left the Chifley, I applied for a front desk reception job in the tourism industry in Hervey Bay in Queensland. Had a couple interviews by telephone, tried to have a interview by web cam, and the next thing I was on a plane again, followed by a coach to Hervey Bay. Guess where I was working? Beaches Backpackers.
My time at Beaches was great, all the staff got along great. Halve the staff would change every three or so months because the backpacking staff could only work for three months.
While working at Beaches, I gathered a few things, one thing I noticed was the way, backpackers traveled, and where they were coming from. Most of the backpackers came from Britain meaning England, Wales and Scotland, as well as Ireland. They also came from Korea, Germany, Canada, Scandinavian countries, huge groups from the USA and then drip and draps from other countries. Most of the backpackers would fly into Sydney and get a package from Wanderers travel or Travelbugs and head north up the coast, if they didn’t get a package they would at Extreme Travel in Byron Bay which was the first stop for most of the backpackers, after Byron Bay, most of them would stop in Brisbane, then Noosa, then Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, Cairns and then would fly out to Malaysia or back home.
Beaches as well as Koalas, and Fraser Escape were the main hostels for the backpackers to stay out, with Beaches the place to stay because of the parties in the bar. The staff would also stay after work to have a drink or two or more with the backpackers.
While living in Hervey Bay, there is no public transport, there is a intercity service to and from Maryborough, there is no use for a vehicle, hence me only having a bicycle. If I wanted to head out of town I would hire a car or go by Greyhound Pioneer. I lived in a three bedroom unit half way between the shopping district and work, no more than a ten minute walk. I was a also only a couple minutes from the beach as well. The beach in Hervey bay is great, white sandy beaches, the water is clear and not cold sometimes feeling like a spring.
Hervey Bay was not short of its pubs, but if I can say it lacked it night clubs for the party goers. Most of the young would go to the Beach House, Hanrahans, Bay Tavern, Torquay Hotel or head over to Kingfisher resort which was on Fraser Island. Hervey Bay did have one night club which was only open Friday and Saturday nights. But most people would start at the Beach House and even finish there or at the night club.
The Beach House was my local, which really took off Friday and Saturday nights, but had two different clientals on those nights, I think it had something to do with the on and off pay weeks when people got paid. The Beach House played typical dance music, and was a good place to hang out and meet people.
At times you could also say my place was a bit of a hostel as well, as I had two different Canadian couples stay rent free, so they could save and enjoy their stay in Australia. Evaristo Moyles and Kalena Burns who were just friends were from Summertime in British Columbia, and the other couple Mark Andrew and Gillian Welbourne were from Vancouver. I did have a full time house mate Dave who paid rent and that, who apparently just came over from Auckland, stayed a while in Sydney and then moved to Hervey Bay where he stayed at the Fraser Escape backpackers until he got asked to leave because he over stayed his welcome. Glynnis who owned the shop next to Fraser Escape introduced me to him, she also said Dave was a friendly, trustful and nice guy.
At first, while he had a job, had no problem with him, he paid his bills, we chatted, and had a drink together down the Beach House. Then one day he got sacked from his job as a plasterer, turned to drugs a little and started to sell drugs with Damien, as they thought it was a good way to make money. I didn’t mine that, but I did mine him not starting to pay rent, not paying the hire of the electrical TV HIFI system we had and not even paying for the $400 telephone call he made to one of those numbers, if you know what I mean. In a space of three months he had left me once and came back because he broke up with his girlfriend. At that time I just bagged up all his gear and was just about to get rid of it until he walked in one night. The second time he left he had a few mates around, and the following morning he left with nothing and left me with his mess. Two months later I left Hervey Bay. Don’t worry! He didn’t actually leave me short, sought off. I sold all his furniture which paid for the breaking of the contract for the electrical equipment and for the telephone calls he had made, but was left short for the rent he owed me, but if I had rented it myself I would have paid it all myself anyway, so it was just bonus money for me. All of clothes and shit was given to the Salvation Army. All the little things I bought like plates, cups and cooking stuff etc I also gave to charity, so all what was left was the bag I went there with.
You’re probably wondering why I left Hervey Bay? I left because I quit my job at Beaches Backpackers because I got a first and final warning for something that everyone else did there. I will admit I deserve a warning but not a final warning and also get told not to drink the night before going to work. I will tell you how I got the warning. One night I was closing the office, when my work colleague Sean asked “me to come in to the bar for a drink”, I said to him “I can’t, I have to open tomorrow”, he replied with “c’mon just one”, and I said “okay, just one, only if you help me close”. Anyway we went into the bar, bought a schooner each, and went out to sit by the pool. Until a couple of female backpackers asked us to join their table and we did. Shortly after we moved inside. Like usual we danced on the tables, which was a Beaches tradition. Some how that night I lost my ID, I lost my name badge, female work mates who were from England put make-up on me and walked home.
The next morning I remember my alarm clock going off but must have pressed snooze and slept in a little longer. The next minute Asta, a new staff member on the front desk telephoned me to see where I was. I jumped in the shower to wet myself, got dressed and walked fastly to work. I couldn’t run, because I wasn’t feeling myself. Before walking into work, I bought a Red Bull, water and chocolate milk. I tell ya, I wasn’t up for work, I couldn’t concentrate, but some how I could still do my job, and the till wasn’t out. Anyway I heard nothing more about it, until the following day when Andre the human resource manager came into the front desk and asked me outside to have a chat. After that chat I went to lunch, and wrote a three page resignation letter saying something along the lines I was sorry, and I didn’t agree.
I had given four weeks notice, but at the start of my final week with the company, just before starting my shift the superviser of the front desk Corrina McGowan called me out the back and sacked me, couldn’t give me a reason besides “you’re not needed anymore”. They just couldn’t let me ride it out and leave on a good note. The following week I left Hervey Bay by coach bound for Brisbane, then I flew to Sydney, where I worked temporary for four weeks at Georgeson Shareholders call center. I lived that time in a backpackers apartment in Kings Cross. My final night in Sydney was spent with a English guy James in a strip club. I then went back Adelaide for a week before heading back to London for a visit before going onto Canada.
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