I am not a city girl. I was born and raised in Guernsey, a tiny little island of 60,000 people, where there is no city; no high rises, no traffic and no pollution. With an upbringing on this idyllic little island I can’t help but feel disconnected to cities. I can’t stand the traffic, the noise, the jostling pedestrians. I am used to lush open spaces and the smell of the ocean.
I can, however, appreciate a city for the amazing architecture, great food and bustling night life. I love New York, Kuala Lumpur and Buenos Aires but could never imagine myself living in one of these places.
Coming to Australia on a working holiday visa we thought we should make the most of it. We have a few months to work in Australia so why not live in the urban core of the country.
In a few short months Sydney has stolen my heart.
I thought I would despise living in a high rise but I love it. We have an amazing apartment in Darling Harbour with an outlook over the Anzac Bridge and city beyond. Sydney sure knows how to rock a good sunset. We have spent endless hours sitting on our balcony enjoying our dinner with a glass of wine, gazing at the sunset over the city below.
And of course, living in Darling Harbour, everything is accessible. On our doorstep are some of the best restaurants Sydney has to offer. If we can’t be bothered to cook we can pop downstairs and grab something to go or have a lazy lunch people watching. But our favourite is when we get a chocolate craving – we are out the door enjoying a Lindt chocolate fudge sundae within 5 minutes. Just a short stroll across the bridge and i’m in shopping mecca. I have lost so many hours walking around the shopping malls browsing all the new products. On the weekends we hop on the motorbike, campervan or train to one of the amazing beaches or relax in one of the many gorgeous parks.
Cruising down to Bondi Beach on the bike
Another reason I was dreading living in the city was working. Being on a working holiday I’d always imagined working in a retail shop by day and bar work by night scraping in the dollars. This didn’t happen, it wasn’t easy finding a job. In fact, it took weeks and I applied for over 80 positions. Somehow I did manage to land myself an amazing contract job at a software company getting paid double my salary at home. Working a 9 to 5 in this city just isn’t as dull as at home. Whilst friends and family in the UK have been moaning about going to work in the dark and the cold all I can moan about is how damn hot the sun is on my walk to work. My lunch hours consist of getting lost; sometimes in the city or the historical Rocks or, more often than not, in the Botanical Gardens and beyond.
Endless gorgeous views of the city
Sydney never lets me down; there is always something to do. Sydneysiders are always celebrating something. In our few short months we have had Halloween, Christmas, New Year, Australia Day, Valentines Day, Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras. The fun literally never stops. Not to mention their obsession for fireworks. Darling Harbour has hosted a 10 minute firework display every single Saturday night the entire time we have lived here. As well as displays of epic proportions on every single holiday.
I am going to miss this place dearly when we move on. It has been the first ever place I have lived and worked abroad and it has really opened my eyes to the possibilities of what we can do next.
Endless places to explore in and around the city
If you are thinking about visiting Sydney, or better yet, applying for a working holiday visa, I urge you to do it now. I promise you won’t regret it.
Thank you for having us Sydney.
What are your thoughts on Sydney? Did it steal your heart too?