Home Away from Home in Goldcoast (Jan 12-Feb 25)

Well I am finally working on the blog! And writing it from the beach! :)

It was time to leave Melbourne and to return to the Goldcoast. We were running low on cash and getting a bit tired of driving and touring. It was time to find work and temporarily settle in somewhere. On our way back to the Goldcoast we spent another night in Sydney to break up the drive and than a night in a small town half way between Sydney and G.C. We also made a stop in Nelson Bay for lunch, a bit of a walk around and some time at the beach. Nelson Bay is the town my sister ended up staying in for a while when she first came to Australia.

Nelson Bay

 When we finally reached the Gold Coast we returned to Micheal & Racheal's apartment in Biggera Waters. We immediatley starting searching for work... something part time, low stress and not too much respondsibility. After a couple of weeks of looking we began to realize there was not much work here and the employers that were looking were quick to hire Aussies. We couldnt really blame them I suppose; my 1 year work visa only allows me to work for an employer for a maximum of 6 months before I must leave that employer to find a new employer..
We had also been at Micheal & Racheal's for several weeks and knew it was time to move on and give them their space back. We decided we would find a place of our own and stay until late April. We had enough cash to stay that long and wanted to be here when my sister arrived in mid-April. I found a 1 bedroom spanish style apartment in Labrador (near Mike & Rach's place), with Broadwater views. The property manager was willing to rent to us for a short 3 months and did not require that we be working so it was perfect!

Our building.
Our balcony is on the second floor on far right of the photo. The  square window to the left is our living room window and the smaller bay type window to the left of that is our bedroom window.
The pool is below our apartment behind the Capistrano Bay sign.



View of the Broadwater from our living room and bedroom windows.



View from our balcony with glimpses of the Broadwater through the trees.

 Unfortunatley when it came time to move in a Cyclone (maybe it's just me but I didn't know a Cyclone was simply a Hurricane that spins in the opposite direction) was making it's way through Southern Queensland. The blowing winds and horizontal rains came right through the seals of our windows leaving our 2nd floor apartment full of water. Than the power went out at Mike & Rach's; at first for 8 hours, coming on for a few hours and than going out for another 2 days! We were showering at our place (their parking garage flooded damaging the equipment to heat the water for their building), storing the food at our place but sleeping and eating at their place because our furniture was all crammed into a dry patch in our kitchen. Trevor and I enjoyed experiencing the Cylcone with all the crazy winds and rain but we are also very sad for all those that lost loved ones, homes, businesses and crops.

The storm passed, we moved in and I was finally hired at a coffee franchise (similar to Starbucks) who informed me I was 1 of over 300 applicants that had applied for the 4 barista positions they were looking to fill at their 2 stores. A week later Trevor was hired to join the conceirge team at Hilton Surfers Paradise. I had a bit of a stressful start at my job but despite that and the long commute (the coffee shop is 40minutes away in the next city) it is working out. The rate of pay in Australia is also really high which is good because gas can range from 1.399-1.549 and groceries are expensive. Rent prices are similar to those at home only you can get a place with a view or at least be walking distance to a beach!



The coffee franchise I work at in Logan, QLD.
(I cannot put the name due to some confidentiality/media clause stuff I had to sign)



The Hilton that Trevor works at in Surfers Paradise.
(the two curved shiny blue towers)

I will make sure not to take soo long on the next post! And will update those of you that still follow, with all of the fun we have been able to squeeze in on our days and afternoons off!