Kelsey's travel diary

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Boy oh boy. I mean I knew at some point the fun would end, but didn’t think it would be like this. I am not even going to lie to y’all, I am stressed. My aunt is right, I definitely do over stress. The past two months have been absolutely unreal. I slightly regret spending so much money but it will come back.

Are you ready for this? Grab some popcorn & a bottle of wine & enjoy:

The unknown; is a scary thing.

1. I don’t think it is helping that I haven’t been to the gym. I’ve gone 3 times in the past 2 months. So now I just need to get back into the swing of things, but it is very hard when you don’t have a car or a gym close by.
2. I also haven’t talked to Erin in a while either and thats where I am struggling. I am so used to seeing her every single day. For the past 5 years. I miss the house, I miss tooty, (our cat. well, Erin’s cat, but she’s mine too), I miss Erin, I miss our couch. There is a lot I miss. I’ve missed it ever since I left but when I was busy for the past two months I kinda put it on the back burner you know? Now that I have to actually settle down I am non stop thinking about home.
3. I’ve put my faith a little on the back burner too which is not like me. I’ve gotten a little carried away with just having fun. Which, nothing wrong with that but I just need to be better about putting God first. Always. No matter what. I cannot wait to find my home church here.
4. Cairn’s is NOT FOR ME!
5. Bartending – I am over it. Especially in Australia. The wage is great for most people coming from everywhere but the states. Well, more so Nashville. I knew coming here that the wage was going to be a lot lower than what I was used to making bartending. So I should not be whining about it but it’s more than that. These late nights are not it. I did it for so long but now that I’ve had 3 months off and finally got on a good sleep schedule I can’t handle it anymore. I don’t want to. I just simply don’t know what else I would do.

Cairn’s:

First impression last year was that it was pretty but I definitely couldn’t live here. Second impression coming back still the same. Now that I am actually “living” here I am not happy. I feel like if I had a car it would be a little different. Then I could explore areas around here. Don’t get me wrong it is pretty up here, but cairn’s just isn’t for me. Imagine if PCB, New Orleans, and any ghetto town in Indianapolis had a baby. Thats what cairn’s is like, well the center of cairn’s at least. I don’t feel safe to be honest.

Gilligan’s:

My first initial thought after working one shift was that I miss Lucky’s. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth. Nashville bartending definitely turned me into a spoiled brat. The manager Rose is absolutely amazing! She even drove me home the other night. So I hate that I hate it. I keep telling myself to stop being a baby & push through for 88 days but I am just not happy. I didn’t move to Australia to be unhappy. I love the high volume of it, I love the bartending aspect, I love my coworkers. It really is a fun environment but I’ve grown out of that kind of life style I think. Australia has SO many rules as well so it’s hard to retrain my brain especially after bartending for 7+ years.

Examples: (QLD Rules- different per state)
– No shots or doubles after midnight
– Can only take shots at the bar
(so if I wanted to order my table a round of shots every single person has to go to the bar to take it. I can’t allow them to take the shots away from the bar)
– No free pouring (Jiggers only)

There are way more than that but I can’t even think anymore. I know it’s all about just retraining my brain & that’ll come with time. I could get into more detail but I don’t want to bore y’all with that. My friend Bryce got me the job so I of course feel bad about that. Short lived. HA. Needless to say I know I’ve made up my mind about leaving Gilligan’s and Cairn’s, it’s just a matter of where to go next.

I have options but I just don’t know what the right one is. Back to square one. I still need to complete my 88 days of work to get my second year visa. I had it in my mind that I should get it done right away so I don’t have to worry about it later. Now I am wondering if I should just go out to Perth for a few months, get a casual job out there just to save up money, and then eventually do my 88 days. Or do I stay over here on the east coast, go to Airlie beach or go up to Port Douglas & hopefully find a job for my 88 days then go to Perth? Ugh.

Everyone keeps telling me to not stress, follow my heart, it’ll all work out. Easier said than done guys. I know it all will but again, the unknown is just not my favorite.

I think this is enough for now. Sorry to have whined this entire time. Just being real. Welcome to Kelsey’s brain, it’s a fun place to be.

Xo