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Gerbie on tour 30
Mar. 31st, 2001 09:30 amIt has been quite a while since the last time I told you all about what's going on in my travelling life, but there is a very eazy explanation for that. Not much has happened in the last couple of weeks since I am back in Sydney, yep again Sydney. In fact I have been busy doing two things mainly.
Firstly I have been looking for a job and after that I have started a search for a cheap car. Work seems logical, as my journey has been going on for such a time now, that supplementing my budget doesn't seem to be a luxury anymore. The car I hope to buy is necessary to continue my journey through this gigantic country.
Finding a job turned out to be more complicated than I had anticipated. I consider my main obstacle the fact that I have no talent whatsoever for lying. The easiest jobs around are sales positions, all commission based obviously. But I can't see myself selling mobile phones door to door, hoping that some poor old, ignorant old age pensioner puts a signature down, nor would I want to be the 17th person to interrupt your evening meal because I have got this offer for you you can't refuse. Unfortunately there is not enough bastard in me to enjoy these jobs, nor would I be any good in them, so that rules me out.
Most employers or agencies ask a three month commitment for any job that requires any skill, diploma's or experience, which doesn't go down well with my plans. And as I am not willing to lie and just start the job, then leave only halfway through my contract, there are some more closed doors for me.
Which leaves manual labour. Jobs that require more force than skill. Where dedication is far more important than experience. These jobs are around irregularly and pay cash in hand at the end of the day, though you might not have a job anymore the next day, one can never tell. Therefore I think I can consider myself lucky that I have found a job working for another backpacker, Frisian-Dutch origin, who has made quite a name for himself in the north of Sydney. He is the handymen with two right hands (which compensates for the two left ones I bring along) and has got so much work, that he needs someone to help him out, i.e. me.
So since a forthnight I am his assistant and have been busy most of the time sanding and painting, with some other small tasks included as well. Not exactly a dream job, but it pays reasonably well and as they say 'beggars can't be choosers'. No reason to complain to be honest, the work pressure down under is not as it is in some parts of the world and with the two of us on the job, we easily get through the days. I think I will make easter without any problems this way.
My second main task in Sydney is buying a car. My flight out of this country will be from Perth and as there is quite a bit of Australia inbetween there and here, a car is the best way to see a bit of the country while getting there. With backapackers budgets being fairly limited the idea is basically to buy something as cheap as possible, then make Perth and sell it again there to other travellers who want to explore the country.
This also turns out to be a not so easy task. The fact that I have never in my life owned a car before definetely is no advantage. Especially in the beginning I hadn't got a clue what to look at. In the meantime I have seen several cars; from other backpackers, at the carmarket and at some dealers. I still haven't bought one yet, so that'll be my main task in the coming fortnight. But at least I know a bit more about cars now, know a little what to look at and have good faith in the fact that I will be a car owner for the first time in my life before easter.
After easter the journey will continue again then and the next travel reports will be emailed around the world again. Until that time I obviously hope to read plenty of emails here in Sydney.
Goodgoan,
Gerben
Firstly I have been looking for a job and after that I have started a search for a cheap car. Work seems logical, as my journey has been going on for such a time now, that supplementing my budget doesn't seem to be a luxury anymore. The car I hope to buy is necessary to continue my journey through this gigantic country.
Finding a job turned out to be more complicated than I had anticipated. I consider my main obstacle the fact that I have no talent whatsoever for lying. The easiest jobs around are sales positions, all commission based obviously. But I can't see myself selling mobile phones door to door, hoping that some poor old, ignorant old age pensioner puts a signature down, nor would I want to be the 17th person to interrupt your evening meal because I have got this offer for you you can't refuse. Unfortunately there is not enough bastard in me to enjoy these jobs, nor would I be any good in them, so that rules me out.
Most employers or agencies ask a three month commitment for any job that requires any skill, diploma's or experience, which doesn't go down well with my plans. And as I am not willing to lie and just start the job, then leave only halfway through my contract, there are some more closed doors for me.
Which leaves manual labour. Jobs that require more force than skill. Where dedication is far more important than experience. These jobs are around irregularly and pay cash in hand at the end of the day, though you might not have a job anymore the next day, one can never tell. Therefore I think I can consider myself lucky that I have found a job working for another backpacker, Frisian-Dutch origin, who has made quite a name for himself in the north of Sydney. He is the handymen with two right hands (which compensates for the two left ones I bring along) and has got so much work, that he needs someone to help him out, i.e. me.
So since a forthnight I am his assistant and have been busy most of the time sanding and painting, with some other small tasks included as well. Not exactly a dream job, but it pays reasonably well and as they say 'beggars can't be choosers'. No reason to complain to be honest, the work pressure down under is not as it is in some parts of the world and with the two of us on the job, we easily get through the days. I think I will make easter without any problems this way.
My second main task in Sydney is buying a car. My flight out of this country will be from Perth and as there is quite a bit of Australia inbetween there and here, a car is the best way to see a bit of the country while getting there. With backapackers budgets being fairly limited the idea is basically to buy something as cheap as possible, then make Perth and sell it again there to other travellers who want to explore the country.
This also turns out to be a not so easy task. The fact that I have never in my life owned a car before definetely is no advantage. Especially in the beginning I hadn't got a clue what to look at. In the meantime I have seen several cars; from other backpackers, at the carmarket and at some dealers. I still haven't bought one yet, so that'll be my main task in the coming fortnight. But at least I know a bit more about cars now, know a little what to look at and have good faith in the fact that I will be a car owner for the first time in my life before easter.
After easter the journey will continue again then and the next travel reports will be emailed around the world again. Until that time I obviously hope to read plenty of emails here in Sydney.
Goodgoan,
Gerben
