Being one of the lucky 100 to be granted the visa annually is a feat, but it is also the first step to many, many challenges ahead.
From packing your life into a suitcase to settling down into your new environment, every step will be like a mini life achievement!
In the first month of my visa, I’ve lived in 3 cities starting from the south and heading up north. I began my journey in Melbourne, stayed about a week there before jetting off to Townsville.
How’s Townsville like?
Townsville was a very lovely place but it was a bit too quiet for me (I’m used to the hustle and bustle of the city). Townsville is more of an industrial / administrative town with a relatively quiet CBD.
I spent about 10-11 days in Townsville where I lived in a suburb called Aitkenvale and travelled often to the CBD with hopes of landing some work. But alas, I was not fated to find work in the quiet lil town. However, I met the nicest people there who I am glad to still keep in touch with until today (one of which I met on the flight to Townsville!)
I still recall a day when I was walking and stumbled upon a whimsical shop that was selling chocolates and coffee (my favourite kinda shop). As I was talking to the lady, something got to me and I bawled in front of her (so embarrassing ok!). I was missing home a lot and was second guessing my life decision and she was just so sweet that I just broke down.
She ended up consoling me. We talked and became friends. She even gave me a personal alarm to keep myself safe. I could never thank her enough and am so grateful until today for that encounter.
My Favourite Place
The Strand – my favourite place there
I love love love love love loveeeeeed sitting on the Strand. The Strand is Townsville’s beach foreshore. There is just something so calming about sitting there and taking in the wonderful sea breeze. There were not that many people around to do any people watching but that was what I loved most about it.
Oh and unlike bigger cities such as Melbourne, shops closes really early here. The Maccas nearest to my Airbnb closed at 3PM! ON A SUNDAY! I cried cause I had no food to back me up lol (which got me into a frenzy of buying chocos and snacks the next day…)
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my short stay in Townsville. It may not have given me the opportunity to stay but it definitely gave me the chance to meet some really sweet people. And for that, I am eternally grateful and have zero regrets jetting off to Townsville.
