A Recap of Our 3rd Month in Australia: A Whirlwind of Changes

Our third month in the Land Down Under brought with it so many big changes. This whole month was a whirlwind of emotions as we celebrated big wins in life, navigated new experiences and embraced new changes. Let’s dive into a recap of what happened.

Big Wins on the Job Search Front

At the beginning of this month, we both achieved a significant milestone: landing our first jobs in Australia. What made it even more special was that these roles are in our respective fields of work. Yet - let's not sugarcoat it - the job hunt was no walk in the park. We waded through a sea of rejection emails and moments of self-doubt. But we made a pact to give 100% focus to securing full-time positions in our chosen fields. And guess what? Our perseverance paid off! We’re incredibly proud of ourselves for our resilience that carried us through this challenging period.

The Australian job market, with its highs and lows, was quite the eye-opener. Yes, the rejections stung, but they also served as catalysts for innovation, prompting us to experiment with different strategies and find what helped us stand out from the sea of applicants. If you're a first-time job seeker in Australia, here are our tried and true top tips to navigate your job search with successful outcomes.

Farewell to Our First Home in Australia

With new jobs came a pivotal decision: bidding adieu to our beloved share-house, which had been our home during our first two and a half months in Australia. Our housemates were more than just roommates; they were our lifelines. From lending us their stuff to lifting our spirits during the grueling job search, they were our unwavering support system. We shared laughs and meals together, celebrated each other's wins in life, and supported each other through tough times. Bidding them farewell was bittersweet, but we’ll cherish those memories forever.

A Sri Lankan meal

Celebrating Milestones with Friends

As our impending move drew near, we gathered with friends and housemates to honour our individual milestones. Surprisingly, we weren’t the only ones experiencing significant life events! One housemate was getting engaged, while another was purchasing a new vehicle. To mark these occasions, we decided to celebrate together over dinner. Amid laughter and heartfelt conversations, we exchanged well wishes for the journeys ahead.

On our final weekend in our shared house, we prepared a special Sri Lankan meal for lunch together with Don, reminiscing about the countless shared meals that had strengthened our bond during those early days. Later that day, we headed out to Macca’s for dinner, followed by a delectable dessert run at Cake Cult - their cheesecakes were an absolute delight!

Our Dream Apartment in the Melbourne Suburbs

We found our dream apartment in a contemporary, laid-back Melbourne suburb. Natural light floods the cozy unit, and minimalist furniture pieces create a serene atmosphere. Our comfy chaise lounge makes the movie nights extra cosier. Close to the beach and surrounded by trees, it feels like a peaceful oasis despite being close to the bustling city. Our morning coffee now comes with a view of greenery, and we’re eager to explore the local cafes and parks. It’s a fresh start, and we’re excited about this new chapter.

Celebrating Our First Car Purchase in Australia

Another big milestone - we bought our first car in Australia! Our grocery runs are a breeze now. No more waiting for the bus in the freezing cold, loaded with grocery bags. Not to mention we can finally go on road trips! I'm so excited I've already started looking up all the road trips we could do. The Great Ocean Road is at the top of our list, and we cannot wait to start exploring this beautiful country! So here's to our first car - our ticket to boundless exploration. Let the road trips begin!

Back in Our Happy Corporate Era

We are loving our new jobs so far. We both have awesome colleagues who are fun to work with. Australia's work culture is very, very positive compared what we had experienced during our previous jobs. For me, especially, it's a revelation. I no longer have to burn the midnight oil or sacrifice my weekends. Our work hours are a disciplined 9 to 5 - not a minute longer. This healthy work-life balance fuels our productivity, and helps us enjoy the work we do. Here's to thriving in this uplifting work environment - a chapter we're eager to write!

And so, life goes on in Australia. We'll keep you posted as our new chapter unfolds.

Love,

Yasho