The time reads 2:30 am, an hour before my set alarm. I lay my head back onto my pillow and will myself to sleep a little longer, but it's no use: I wake every 5 minutes or so before finally just getting up. I'm too excited for sleep. I pack diligently, ensuring that I have all my belongings. I move about the dorm as quietly as I can, a courtesy my four Japanese roommates did not bestow on me when I was trying to catch some Z's at the ripe time of 9:00 pm the previous night.
I check out of the YHA Auckland and carefully make my way down the steep city street to the bus stop. I sit amongst the other groggy travellers and listen to the soothing sounds of The xx drifting from my headphones.
I check in at the Air New Zealand counter and breathe a sigh of relief that neither my checked bag nor my carry on are overweight, an occurrence that is nothing short of miraculous.
I get in a slight spat with an older Middle Easter man when he tries to push my items through security as I'm still struggling to organize them... I guess I'm a little grumpy after all.
I wander restlessly for a couple hours until it's finally time to board. I know I should probably try to sleep, but I can never get comfortable enough to sleep on planes (especially stuck in an aisle seat) so instead, I down coffee like it's going out of style and immerse myself in The House of Sand and Fog. It's beautiful, but rather melancholy and as I read, I find myself growing more and more annoyed by the antics of one of it's protagonists. I close my book and begin playing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on the console on the back of the seat, remembering when I was a kid and there was only one inflight movie and you had to crane your neck to try and get an unobstructed view of one of the few televisions dangling from the ceiling.
Before I know it we've landed and everyone begins shoving their way towards the exit. Something has spilled all over my backpack during the turbulent flight and I can only hope it's water. This time I've had the foresight to bring my own pen so going through security is mostly a breeze. Until the gruff and intense boarder patrol officer starts interrogating me about why I'm travelling alone and why my passport doesn't have a New Zealand stamp. I explain that it's brand new.
"Under usual occupation, you wrote 'server.' What's that supposed to mean?"
"Waitress?" I suggest hopefully.
He continues to stare at me in confusion and annoyance.
"Like... I worked in a restaurant... Brought people food and drinks... That kind of stuff."
That launches him into more questions regarding my previous employer and I'm so nervous I nearly forget the name The Shack. Airport security makes me anxious, as if I'm guilty of some treacherous crime that I'm not even aware of.
Eventually, I do make it through. I take out cash and am mortified to discover that the exchange rate is $1.80 NZD to every $1 AUSD. I instantly feel poor.
I stop for my fourth coffee and a small sandwich as I am utterly famished. The price tag, $14.00. I feel even poorer still. I chitchat with the barista who asks where I'm from. He's from North Carolina but spent a lot of time in Vancouver. He tells me that he came to Australia 5 years ago for a funeral and never left. It makes me think how random and spontaneous life can be, and I can't help but wonder if maybe I'll find myself in a similar situation. Only time will tell...
I get on the airpot shuttle and slump down at the first open seat I see. There are already people on the bus who have come from the Brisbane airport, they've left their various items scattered across the seats to mark their territory as they get out to stretch and use the washroom.
I listen to my headphones and gaze out the windows, anxious to get going. A woman boards the bus and glares at me. She starts saying something. I remove an earbud and ask her, "Sorry, what?"
"Someone was sitting there," she snaps.
"Okay, I can move if you want... Not a big deal." I gather up all my things and shlep further back on the bus as she continues to glare at me.
The bus ride is quite quick and soon I'm standing at the Byron Bay Visitor Centre, luggage in hand. I trudge down to the YHA and ask if they have any rooms. The manager is very friendly and we chat quite a bit. I tell him I've come from Raglan and he says one of his staff members came from there, a tall, German guy.
"Steven?" I ask, excitedly.
"Yes, that's the one!" Small world! (Small town?)
I ask if he's looking for staff and he tells me they are and asks me to come back the next day with a CV.
I settle in and then cruise around town, checking everything out.
I'm immediately overwhelmed and overstimulated. Everywhere I turn there is a bar or restaurant or cafe or expensive store. It's not even summer yet, but already there are heaps of beautiful people, from everywhere and every walk of life. It's not even spring yet, but it's already hot. Hotter than the hottest summer day in Tofino. I wander around, overwhelmed, trying to take it all in at once. I swear, Byron is bigger than Tofino and Raglan combined times four. After coming from winter in sleepy little Rags, it's a bit of a shock.
I try to meet Jules at her work but somehow walk by it three times before finally noticing the sign. As soon as I get there, her boss asks her if she wants to go put up some flyers, so the two of us walk around and catch up. She goes off to her nanny gig and I sit at the beach for a while. It starts getting overcast and windy so I go back to my hostel and chill out till Jules finishes work and comes to meet me.
She has a case of beer in hand and the two of us shell out $2 for a game of pool while she tells me about the 7 year old throwing a pencil at her face and telling Jules she hates her.
We go out for a couple more beers then go to the caravan park to have a fire with a few people.
All in all, it's a great first day.
But in the morning, my head is throbbing. I stay in bed until 10:00, way later than I'd intended to sleep, so I grudgingly shower and start my job hunt.
I go to print my resume and then come back to speak to the manager. He says I can start housekeeping for accommodation tomorrow and that we can later discuss moving me into a paid position at the front desk. I'm over the moon at my good luck.
I go to a cafe and treat myself to eggs and beans and a nice, strong coffee. Then I start to get organized: I get my new phone number, I peruse the awesome selection of surfboards at the pawn shop and I decide I will buy one as soon as I get a paid job. I stop to look at the bicycle shop, but there is nothing under $100, so I resolve to keep looking.
I get groceries and almost cry out in delight at how cheap fruit and veggies are. 45 CENTS FOR A GREEN PEPPER?! They're 5 bucks in New Zealand right now!
I spend the remainder of my day soaking up the sun, I have to enjoy it while I can because according to the weather forecast it's going to rain for the next 5 days...
I'm so grateful to finally be here and look forward to seeing what this country has in store for me. Stay tuned!
