(I am very proud of myself that I had courage stepping out of the comfort zone, which made me feel sooo real and alive. The best feeling I have ever experienced.)

At the end of Sep, 2003, I left my hometown-shanghai, that was the first time I took an aeroplane. I was half scared, half excited—yeah, my dream came true (being an overseas student), I have pursued that dream for sooo long.

After finishing 10 weeks’ language course, like most of the students, the first thing on my mind was finding a part time job, I couldn’t spend money carelessly like in China, bought whatever I wanted without thinking about the price. In Australia, whenever, I went to the supermarket, I would automatically convert AUD into CNY, “My god, the vegetables were sooo expensive, was that real? no, no, no…absolutely, it’s not worth buying it.”. Therefore, the best thing I like was discounted tomatoes (they were out of date) and eggs, chicken wings was cheap…I would not buy green-leave veggies even I can afford, compared to the price of China, that was skyhigh.

However, in the long term, that would not be the case. Seriously, I admired very much for someone who had already found part time job  as waitresses etc..why that was not me… During the break, I went to the shopping centre, knocked at the door one by one, most of the time, I heard “no, we don’t have a vacancy” or “How’s your English? Do you have any local experience?” , with my broken English, I said “ thanks” and left with disappointment, I blamed myself “ why my oral English and listening was so bad, why I was sooo stupid can’t get a job like those lucky ones ?”…  There’s life, there’s hope, I was still waiting anxiously for some kind ones who accepted my telephone No. and wrote down my name, “ We will call you if we need.”  I waited and waited with very high expectation and excitement, but I haven’t heard any phone call….

One day, I walked around Uni, I found there were some cafe run by HongKong Chinese…well, there might be the chance, I talked with one lady boss directly, to my surprise, I was offered the position for selling sandwiches ( though the hour rate was  ridiculously low AUD5/hour, that was far below the legal hour rate). Who cares, it’s better got something to start with than had nothing to do, I was very honoured… how excited, I felt like dancing and singing…. I called my family and told them that great news “ Hey, guess what? I have found first casual job in Australia)”.

Sadly, I spoke too soon, I didn’t get the job after a few hours’ training… I was wondering how could that happened, I realized it might be when I was selling rice and veggies, one friend just came by and I added a little bit more just for friendship,  I guess the boss lady must be very unhappy, who knows? I was very upset at that moment, why I had never done those things before, eg, selling food or how to use cash register…I didn't need to do anything like that in China, all I did was focusing on Study….I got no one to blame except myself L

Keep smiling, life is too short to worry about stupid things, have fun, regret nothing, and don’t let people bring you down…that’s ture, my purpose came to Australia was study, I can’t afford wasteing one minute worrying about not finding a silly casual job...

On my way home, I passed by one workshop which belonged to my accommodation in the Uni. I heard that it provided casual cleaner positions for the students….ok, I would try my best, let’s see what happens. “ Hello, I am the resident here, do you need someone do cleaning please?” I asked One Aussie guy, he was very nice and kind “ yes, “please write down your mobile no. and name, we will call you if we have one”.

After bad luck comes good fortune, I was awaked by a phone call the following day, “ Hey, would you like come to work? 15AUD/hour?” “My goodness, are you kidding me? That was 3 times than what HongKong Lady offered."

I couldn’t help laughing, with the time I worked 10 hours/week in 2004, I could pay accommodation and monthly food in a budget rate though. When I went to the market, I would not so mean to myself as I saw the price, I told myself “ that’s all right, it was only 20 minutes’ work.”

Finding a casual cleaning job meaned a lot to me, to be financially independence ,reducing the burden to my family, hanging around with some really nice and kind Aussie friends, speaking and listening English improving, understanding western culture , appreciating what other people did to me—helping strangers with warm-hearted when they were in the bottom of the society etc…..

      ps: I was sitting in front of the workshop waiting for the door open at 9:00AM, so that i could get cleaning materials start 2 hours' work..