As always, there are exceptions to this rule and Brisbane is one of them. Our first impression was spot on. We were used to the beachside towns that are relatively easy to navigate around. Even Sydney had the mix of big city through to beaches galore. Brisbane is an arse. There is no beach nearby – unless you count the big fake one in the city (I’ll get to that) – and everything is one way. For travellers who have no clue as to where they’re going, this is bad news. It also didn't help that the signposting was terrible. There was either not enough of it, or two signs one after another saying completely different things.
Our first day in Brisbane entailed lots of driving around and getting lost and bickering arguments because of this. We were all hot and bothered by the weather and the stress of having next to no money left. We needed to get on with Brisbane whether we liked it or not!
The word of the day was “uie”, short for u-turn. If we had a dollar for each time we used that word, we’d have gotten ourselves a free night’s accommodation. At one point during our stay we took a u-turn down a one-way street which was pretty scary.
Eventually we arrived at the hostel and relaxed a little bit. The Brisbane YHA had great facilities (e.g. TV rooms, pool table, roof top terrace) but that wasn’t our priority, we needed jobs and fast.
Once we checked in, we searched out the jobs folder and looked at what was available. Brisbane is the only other YHA which advertises jobs. The YHA we stayed at in Collaroy (Sydney) is the other hostel. Steff did especially well with the labour jobs advertised in Sydney but rarely were jobs ever listed for females. Unfortunately, when it comes to jobs for backpackers, people can be specific with who they want and what they want.
It didn’t surprise Mel and I when Steff came over five minutes after we arrived to tell us he found a job and is due to start the next day. My stomach flipped with worry. As Mel searched through the file, I looked online to see what was available. Mel passed me the file once she finished and I searched through the piles of paper. A lot of it was out of date, for work outside Brisbane or telemarketing/canvassing. I really didn’t know what to do.
Mel came over to me moments later to tell me she had arranged a job interview for a telesales position. The advert was quite vague on the wage but anything is better than nothing of course.
It was another knock to my confidence and my brain started whirring through all the what ifs. I came up with zero that day. It was too late to call offices so I decided to hunt for restaurants and cafes the next day and see if anything was advertised. I wasn’t very confident though.
We all went to the nearest shopping mall. Steff searched in panic for work gear, a begrudging effort seen as he threw out his work boots and kit back in Sydney. Mel was looking for office ware and I just came along for something to do.
My attempt at optimism for the day was purchasing a smart dress for future job interviews. I felt like Anne Robinson on The Weakest Link but apparently I looked nice. No refunds allowed so there was no going back. Everyone was sorted so we departed back to the hostel.
I found it difficult relaxing that evening. I managed to bag a bottom bunk which was a welcome relief. I collapsed in my bed and felt the weirdest sensation when my head bounced back up again. I turned over to find that there was something which looked like a pillow so I tried again. My whole body sighed yet the same thing happened again. I felt the pillow only to find that what should have been a puffy cushion of comfort, was a flat pancake of an effort. For all the flashy facilities that the hostel holds, they scrimped on the pillows. Strange.
*****
Whilst Steff got up early and left for work I stayed in bed. I decided to get up with Mel so I wasn’t a complete bum. Mel looked lovely in her new shirt matched with a pair of black yoga pants. I sat on my bed in my sleep ware staring at Mel with the same fascination that a young girl does at her mother as she gets ready. Despite the age gap, I do look up to Mel in many ways – the way she is able to transform from out-of-bed-dishevelment to fantastic in minutes baffles me. I tend to look like a prison mug shot most of the time! I’d need at least an hour.
Another point to add is how Mel is incredibly adaptable to any situation. For this reason she can bounce off of most personalities effortlessly. I’m very hit and miss. Sometimes I can get it right but there are other times when I forget my audience. It’s only as I clock each person’s face as I animatedly impart some random story or fact on something that I’m passionate about, that I realise they have no idea what I’m talking about nor do they give a crap. It’s usually film related but recently I find myself harping on about Japan, writing or music that nobody has heard of.
I digress, once Mel had left I slowly got ready and made the decision to look for a waitressing job. As I was heading out, I ran into Steff who had ditched the labouring job. He was made to do dangerous work for a low wage which wasn’t paid daily. For labouring, daily pay is definitely a must as it’s so unpredictable. Back in Sydney, there were so many times when Steff was guaranteed a week’s work but it was called off because of the poor weather. If you don’t get money for that day’s work, you could be waiting a good few days until you see it. Us backpackers have bills to pay!
Steff and I headed out but my heart wasn’t in it. I really didn’t want to do waitressing work again. Not only that, but I didn’t like the idea of starting a job only to quit after a few weeks. It’s not really fair on the prospective employer and it could bite me in the bum for future wages.
After wandering around fruitlessly, Steff and I went further into the city to meet Mel who had been successful at her job interview. Mel told us that there were more vacancies and we should both apply. You only have to give 48 hours written notice to leave which was perfect. The wage wasn’t great but like I said, it was better than nothing.We arranged an interview for Monday so I had the weekend to relax before I had to start working again.
The hostel held a cheap barbeque that night so at least we didn’t have to worry about food. For $5 we got a steak, sausage and salad. The queue was massive and they didn’t have enough extras for everyone. The steak was nice but I’ve eaten so many cheap sausages here that I didn’t enjoy that one.
As our funds were so low, we stayed in that evening. It was here that we met one of our dorm roommates – Dave. He was very chatty and it was this night where I was finally introduced to the infamous Goon. Now I thought Goon was a brand of cheap wine like Lambrini in England. It is in fact a collective saying for any cheap shitty wine. Whoops.
Dave offered Mel and Steff a cup for which they politely refused. I decided to give it a go. It was shite so it was definitely Goon!
Everyone departed the room - Mel and Steff left to visit the supermarket before it closed and Dave…no idea, I’m not his keeper! With that, I contorted my pillow to resemble some form of cushion and settled down to watch a film. I couldn’t remember which Fast and Furious films I’d seen so I started watching each of those in the series.
Dave came back in the room and I heard him mumble something. I wasn’t sure if he was speaking to me or not as I had my headphones in. It was only later when he went out that Mel and Steff told me he tried talking to me and I kept ignoring him. Shit. Well that’s just great, now I look like a dick. Mel and Steff laughed at how much it got to me. So much so, that they decided to bring it up in conversation when he came back. I took a few more swigs from my Goon to hide my blushes. He didn’t seem that bothered and happily joined in the ribbing session Mel and Steff started. Great, now there’s more of them!
We had a full room that night. One guy only asked me whether to put a padlock on his locker or not. I shrugged but pointed at Mel and Steff saying that they’re a bit dodgy. I don’t think he understood me but I thought it was funny. The other guy was polite but all I got was a “Hi” as he entered the room. He looked really young so I didn’t want to scare him.
I slept a bit better that night and looked forward to my weekend of doing nothing. It’s nice to have a bit of space and time to myself.
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