My first job - Feel like having a dream.

Everyone, I'm back to the city. Yes, for only 2 days work. I got to return to city or else I'll get crazy.


Alright, let's begin the story.

On Sunday. I was supposed to get the 18:33 train and should arrive Sheppraton at 20:49.
5pm, I packed up my luggage, left the house in Gardiner and moved on to Melbourne Southern Cross Station. When I was on the way, I called Phill and told him that I am on the way. But he said that I'm gonna arrive too late because Sheppratton was not the final station, I'll need to get on another couch to a town named Cobram, which takes one more hour. He said it was too late for him because he got to wake up early on the other day. So I decided to stay in Melbourne for one night and take the first train on Monday. After settled down, I meet JoJo and Cat on Monday night, who arrived AU for 3 months and arrived Melbourne for few days. I stay in the same hostel with them which named Flinder Street Hostel (AUD 24 per night). Place are OK but I wont rather stay in other hostel. Wing show them the shop which could buy food at a lower price, and I bought some food for myself too. After that, Wing went home and the 2 ladies went to Casino. I bought myself a dinner and then returned to hostel.

Monday morning, after having breakfast with JoJo and Cat, I rushed to the train station and get on the train. Everything was still in schedule, it toke me 3 and a half hour to Cobram. I called Phill, he came to the station and pick me up. After buying some food in Safeway( one of the largest supermarket in AU), he drove me to the place I stay. And the nightmare begins. Let me try to describe the place. It's built with iron plate, like those place in New Territories which live some druggy. Place are very dirty, dried mud everywhere on the ground, lots of drawing inside the room, spider web on every corner. The kitchen was more terrible, spider web on the cook set!!! On that moment, I just couldn't believe I was there. During the night I could hardly sleep, start thinking about the reason I am there. I could be sleeping on my own bed, not really clean but at least a lot better. I could have Grandma cook every meal for me. Start thinking how stupid I am. Start thinking to return Hong Kong in the day after.

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I believe it was a test, for everyone who arrived Australia with WHV. After a period of time, staying in a place which is completely different from home, you'll start thinking what is all that about. Well, I read dad and mom's letter and I feel the answer.
I come here because I would like to experience the world, and to find out what is always around me but I had lose sight of them. I can now feel the support from my family, I can feel love and care, which has been ignored or may be just didn't feel it when I was in Hong Kong.
Sorry Mom and Dad, and I love ya~ :)
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The first reason I wanna leave is because of dirty, the second reason is that I couldn't accept the sudden change of living environment. I don't have internet, I don't have phone, I need to cook myself and are not really eatable. I am still so dependent. I feel glad that I know more about myself and I don't believe it's a shame. I really need to start get used to it. And I definitely need to learn how to cook. +_+

On Tuesday morning, I woke up at 6am and start working. I work with 2 brothers and a guy named Dan, all of them are Australian and are full time fruit picker. There were a row of plum trees and you need to pick the plum by hand, put it into the bag in front of you, and fill it into a bin. You will need to climb up the ladder in order to pick those on the top of the trees. Check out the photo and you'll probably know the size of everything. It was a tough job but my body could handle it. I filled up 2 bin in the first morning and 1 bin after lunch, that's half row, all of them said it's quite good for the one who haven't fruit picking before. -.-v The 2 brothers filled up 7 bin in total, and Dan filled 3 bin, same suck as me. haha. There were some scratch on my hand but thats what every fruit picker do have.

And here comes the third reason I wanna left, it is about the salary. I had a little chat with Dan. I receive AUD28 when I filled up a bin but he, who come here by himself ( Not going through Phill), get AUD40. wtf? I guess there are some "Agency Fee" collected by Phill. Well......

After the day work I told Phill that I wanna quit, he had nothing to say for sure. And I told him I could finish the remain row of tree for him. The second night I feel much better, I woke up for 3 times only during the sleep at night. I start working on 5:30 am, and filled up 2 more bin, then I back to my place and get ready to leave. When I was packing my things, Phill told me about the salary calculation,
he usually deposit into the account, but first I worked too short and second it's not much money, so he paid me by cash. AUD140 !!!!!!!! My first salary!! Not much and not a good story but at least I earned something. He drop me off in the Cobram station and now I'm on the way back to Melbourne City.


Everyone who has supported me, not matter you have had dinner with me, just have a photo with me, or just saying good luck, I would like to say THANK YOU, you helped me to go through this difficulty, I feel myself recharged. It was just 2 days, like a dream, but I feel I have grown up, a bit. :D

It's now 19 Dec 2007 16:28, 2 hours to Melbourne. My next objective is to find a accommodation and stay until Christmas, and to look for some city's job, yes well, not really prepared for farm work. Wing has invited other friends to stay in Gardiner, so I'm not able to stay there any more.


And start from today, I am on my own. Time is getting harder and harder. I miss everyone of you, especially my family. Take care mate!



It's now 19 Dec 2007 20:35. I suddenly lost myself. I don't feel safe here in Australia. No idea why. May be as what I said, I'm too dependent. Got to back to my room and read dad's and mom's letter. And as what sister said on phone, find some friends and have a talk...
CHEERS UP ALAN!!!


Check out the photos here!


c : Thanks!

Donal : Got it! My friends~ Of course I know what kind of person you are.. haha

Raymond : yeah... Look at my recent photo...still thinking where to cut...haha

wfred : Not having fun actually.. haha Dont drink too much, you gonna pay.

Joyce Gu Jeh : yeah, time is not easy now... got to find ways to relax myself.

joejoejai : not relly duh.. DO good in your exam and football match... haha

perry : yo! Thanks man!