Home sweet home

It seems that the final piece of my uncertainties have officially been solved! This last Saturday I committed to a house located in my beloved area of Surry Hills. I look forward to moving out of China Town and escaping the hustled and over-crowded streets known as George and Pitt. Though this has been a lovely and familiar place over all my Australia travels, I need to move on.

My new home in Surry Hills is located in the heart of Crown Street, which is painted with small cafes, local music venues, Irish pubs, small fruit markets, parks and trees with flowers that are starting to fall with the change of seasons, and heaps of vintage stores. I can’t think of a location that would be more suiting! Settling in my new home at 366 Crown Street Surry Hills NSW 2010 (in case you wanted to send anything:), I am creating a new home with my immediate 23-year-old Irish roommate, another from France, another from Egypt, an Irish couple, and a gal who recently moved to Sydney from Perth. It seems like a rather cohesive and friendly group, with everyone living a bit quieter of a lifestyle. Based on my social and active role as a receptionist, I thought that this environment would be suiting!

Surry Hills is located only minutes walk from Oxford Street, 10 minutes to the Paddington area, 10 minutes from China Town, 15 minutes from the CBD, and buses that lead me directly to the city’s most beautiful beaches. The house is a bit older and not fancy by any standard, but it had a good feeling when I visited it. Joylynn came to the home with me on Saturday, and with her supported affirmation, I decided to commit my stay!

Being in Sydney is great, but I always have been a bit more of a nature-oriented person myself. It amazes me the amount of sadness and emptiness that is apparent on so many faces. During the day I tend to spend most of my time alone, with a lot of thoughts evaluating my life. It is during these moments that I am able to really analyze my heart and motivates and discover changes that I want to exist in my life. It is interesting getting comfortable with being alone because I tend to surround myself in very social environments. I guess I am just trying to get comfortable with this space – and I think that I am realizing that even though it can be incredibly lonely, I really do my best thinking in these moments!

Highlight of the week: the arrival and reuniting with my brilliant friend Lisa from Germany! Lisa and I originally met while working in the Outback during my first visa. Though our paths crossed for only over a week, she is one the people that I grew closest to during this time. Lisa is a 21-year-old who is leading a life very different from everyone else back in Germany. Though they may not understand her intentions and may experience moments of envy, she is going forth with her dream to return to Australia for another year.

In many ways, Lisa is a kindred spirit to myself – kind of like the younger sister that I would want if I wanted one. Though it is difficult to articulate through words, Australia brings about a sense of peace and inner understanding that neither one of us has experienced before and seem to only grasp while here. It goes without reason that we are just most ourselves and comfortable in Australia. Lisa is a great friend to me and I constantly admire her ability to express strength and such a gentle spirit at the same time. I love her deeply and am saddened that she has moved north to Brisbane, but I have no doubt that we will meet again quite soon.

It seems like the 80’s have struck Australia in full force with the midriff-baring shirts, tight and high-wasted jean shorts, and a black bra is the newest found hot accessory often being revealed. I think that I will stick to my boho/simple ways on this one and wait for this fad to fiddle out…

Overall, I am still really happy! I look forward to getting out of the hostel lifestyle – six roommates, awkward social interactions, drunken games in the common areas played by the 20-year-old travelers, and waiting for the hostel’s only elevator, have all gotten a bit old after nearly three weeks. I can’t believe I am saying this… but even the free food shelf has gotten boring!

I can’t explain it, but I just feel that this is where I need to be and it amazes me how the pieces have fit together so easily. It’s funny because after many unexpected and undesired changes of plans in life, I decided that we cannot really expect things to be a certain way because they always seem to go in the opposite direction of our plans (God is funny like that sometimes). I came to Australia with the hope of getting an office job and living in Surry Hills, but I almost expected that this wouldn’t happen because it was what I wanted – I came with an open mind and ready to move to the Outback again if need be. But for the first time in a long time, things are going in a direction that I would have hoped! I still recognize the instability of life and won’t be disheartened if things change. My friend keeps telling me how proud of myself I should be with all my efforts, but the only response I have to give him is that I feel incredibly blessed and like everything has been outside of my hands.

Words that have encouraged me today: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” 2 Chronicles 20: 15, 17

Peace and Love,

TK