Sydney

In Croatian there is a saying, ‘trbuhom za kruhom,’ literally meaning ‘one’s stomach seeking bread,’ so armed with the undergraduate degree, I moved to Sydney to seek my fortunes. For the first couple of months, I was sharing whilst applying for any science jobs I could find. With time passing and no secure employment, I started applying to any vacancy that I had skills for. So I ended up with the property again. The job that found me was with one of the largest church organisations in Australia and the most amazing property development team, headed by the team leader extraordinaire Adrian. Thus commenced this incredible chapter of my life that lasted for 3.5 years. As I came across many stories of single women struggling financially, even becoming homeless at the end of their working lives, I knew I needed to secure my future and purchase a property.

For the first time in my life, I lived in a large apartment building on busy Pennant Hills Rd, and I knew I would never allow myself to be in the apartment living situation again. Growing up with the space a large yard offers, I craved the space and was dreaming of being self-sufficient. The freedom to experience some space lead to my regular weekend explorations of the nearby Lane Cove Park. I would admire rock formations; one such rock was forming the shape of a massive turtle, intricate root systems of the trees, and watercourses shaping the land. I would enjoy sunny weekend mornings sunbathing nude on the balcony and would have towels ready to cover up when getting up until one day there was a sound of a car crash coming from the intersection 10 m down the road a couple of minutes after I got up to go inside, and I became aware of the ‘butterfly effect’ at work.

Sydney’s top two landmarks. Credit: Pixabay.

At that time I was renting, with almost 1/3 of my pay going towards the rent, until one day I came across the ad for the vacant land featuring over 1000 m² with the northerly aspect within an hour’s drive to Adelaide, and I promised myself, ‘If this land is on the market 6 months down the track, it’s mine.’ In those pre-covid times, country properties were slow to sell, sitting on the market not only for months but for years until the buyer was found. I did not renew my lease and started doing everything I could possibly think of, legally of course, to save up for a deposit, from house-sitting to being an au pair for 6 months for two lovely Indian boys whose single mom was working afternoons, so I would pick the boys up from the school on my way from work and look after them until their mom returned home after work in exchange for free accommodation. I learned so much about the Sikh culture; however, I did get feedback from the boys that I don’t make as good roti as their mom. My new lifestyle choices with the life budget ensured that this land settled under my name, as I affirmed to myself. Although I would prefer an acreage, which may happen soonish, in another state, if it is meant to be, at the same time being aware of the message from Tolstoy’s How Much Land Does a Man Need as a reminder to remain grateful and humble with my manifestation.

And I am grateful for that great time of my life spent living in Sydney, even for those two weeks between two pet-sitting assignments when I was homeless and sleeping in my car. I would get off the train, go to the local library to wash my face and brush my teeth in the bathroom, then settle for the night in one of those cul-de-sacs backing into the park. In the morning, being an early riser, I would catch an early train reading a great book, listening to some classical music through earphones, go for a jog in Hyde Park, then shower at the gym facilities at the building I worked at to get ready for work. I loved those mornings arriving at Town Hall before the crowds, often with promotional product distributors handing out items such as yogurt or juice into your hands as you walk past. Somehow, I found Sydney to be just a large version of Adelaide. Most of my long weekends were spent driving to Adelaide to see my girls, sometimes in one go, but more often with overnight stopovers in Wagga Wagga (Adelaide bound - if driving after work) or Hay, which would be some sort of midpoint destination between the two.

As a little girl, growing up in a quiet village, I was craving a big world experience, a large city with busy streets, air travel, a large car, and lots of possessions. Living in this magnificent Australian city of Sydney taught me that none of those things matter, and I am the happiest when I have the space and live almost the same way I knew as I grew up that I am still being that peasant girl at heart. The memory of my time in Sydney would be always cherished by the most wonderful circle of friends, as those lasting friendships formed then still carry over into my present. The four of us girls were all quite different and unique; however, we all got along with regular catchups and home visits, and there are invites to visit and catch up when we happen to be visiting each other’s towns. This phase is remarkable because it embraces the most beautiful friend-mance with Keith.