Tag: radicalsabbatical

If I Knew Then What I Know Now

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“You have to do what you love to do, not get stuck in that comfort zone of a regular job. Life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it.”

Lucinda Bassett
Flight from Brisbane to Melbourne
Qantas Airline
(October 3, 2019)

This week, I celebrated my fourth month (eight more to go) in Australia.

I’ve been trying to get my sleep schedule back to normal and get used to my new workout routine (I had to switch gyms).

I just got back from three weeks of traveling around Australia, something I had wanted to do but didn’t think I’d be able to do until 2020.

So, you can imagine my reaction when my employer invited me to be a part of their interstate tour around the country as their Tour Production Manager!

7 Steps to 7 Figure Tour Team
Luke (Business Owner – Back left), Brock (Videographer – Top right), Renee (Sales/Coaching Assistant – Bottom left), Myself (Headache creator – Bottom right)

We had the unique opportunity to visit seven major cities in Australia: Canberra, Sydney (where I live), Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

We were promoting a new business course that my employer designed to support Small Business Owners grow their organizations to reach seven figures.

QT Canberra
Canberra, ACT
(September 24, 2019)

I loved meeting different entrepreneurs and hearing about their businesses. Some were personal development coaches, some developed apps, there were some personal trainers and tradespeople, a few accountants and network marketers too. I met some unique individuals: a fire cracker public speaking coach, someone saving Australian wildlife, one person was writing a book, and another implementing a recycling program.

Flying back to Sydney
Tullamarine Airport Melbourne
(October 4, 2019)

Of all the people we met on the trip, no one stood out as much as the gentleman in our row on our flight to Adelaide.

This man was in his late fifties and told us about his dream job and how he got to this very place (sitting on a plane, flying around Australia).

You see, over fifteen years ago, he was about to hit his 40th birthday. For years he was in a line of work that did not fulfill him but he felt he was obligated to stay in it because “that’s what you’re supposed to do”:

  1. Go to university
  2. Get a job
  3. Get married
  4. Buy a house
  5. Start a family
  6. Pay into your retirement
  7. Retire
  8. Die

As he approached his 40th birthday he realized he couldn’t see himself working in his career for another 25+ years and decided it was time to quit the successful career he had built and go ahead and follow his dreams. He shared that while he wanted to “up and leave” his career, he also acknowledged he had obligations to his family. He consulted with his wife and children and they agreed the decision to make a career change was the right decision and encouraged him to follow his dreams, turn it into a career and live and breathe it everyday until he retires.

Fast forward to today, he has been operating a successful business where he buys and sells muscle/collector cars for his clients all around Australia.

As he reflected on his 2nd career after almost two decades, he expressed his relief and thankfulness that he gave himself permission to pursue his dream.

I asked him if he had any regrets from his decision of leaving a career he had established for another career in his 40’s, and he said:

“If I knew then what I know now, I would have given myself permission to do this much sooner.”

He commended me for leaving my career when I did and pursuing my radical sabbatical while still in my 20’s, then asked me why I had waited so long and, “if you knew then what you know now, would you have come sooner?“

I didn’t have the answer.

Flight to Perth
Australia
(October 9, 2019)

As we were on our next flight to Perth, I pondered on that question:

“If I knew then what I know now, would I have come here sooner?“

Yes.

I thought the last four years of building my career, finishing my degree, and growing my network would benefit me when I got to Australia.

Meh.

Now, do I regret doing all of those things? Absolutely not; I am proud of every accomplishment – working in a role that I loved (and still grieving its end), completing my degree with great distinction while I worked full time, and building a global network of professionals from different fields.

However, if I knew then what I know now, I should have come here sooner. I should have come here during a time when I was more fearless and more free spirited – where I’d pack a backpack instead of a suitcase, sleep in a hostel instead of an Airbnb, get a serving/farming job in the middle of rural Australia instead of multiple failed applications to jobs in the populated city.

I have become too much of a perfectionist and have carefully calculated so much of this trip that I have become scared of truly letting go of control, letting things happen as they happen and just say as Mrs. Brown would say, “feck it, it’s grand!”

So, while I am unable to turn back time, I can choose to make the most of things now that I’m here. So, here’s to more of those “feck it” moments during my radical sabbatical!

Sydney Domestic Airport
Sydney, Australia
(October 8, 2019)

Back in my previous career, I used to do presentations with our community partners back in Canada and speak about one of the reasons why people stay in any company, and one of the biggest reasons is the people we work with.

I’ve grown to love the people I once worked with and I can honestly say I’d still be willing to go to the ends of the earth for some of them. The hardest part of leaving was saying goodbye to them; knowing our relationships may change and I may not see them again.

One of the struggles I’ve been dealing with since arriving in Australia is not making friends. I have gotten to know some people through the gym, church, and the odd conversation on public transit, a pub or the beach. The easiest way to meet people is downloading the classic quick dating apps however I’ve noticed that the people on there are not the people I want to meet anymore; I want to face some of my personal fears and force myself to meet people in crowded settings. Yenno, having a social life over the phone (especially when you’re +17 hours ahead) is exhausting – sometimes I feel like I forget how to talk to people in person?

When I started my job after almost three months of (f)unemployment, my biggest fear was making friends at work. Fortunately, it didn’t take very long – I work with some great people and I was able to travel Australia with them.

Southport Sharks Health + Fitness
Gold Coast, Australia
(October 2, 2019)

Some mornings we were responsible and went to the gym …

Heroes Karaoke & Rooftop Bar
Melbourne, Australia
(October 4, 2019)

And some nights we went out … did you know Long Island Ice Tea’s have 4.5 different shots in them? Who knew?

At the end of the work trip, we met a couple of local celebrities Elise & Matt from the hit TV Show, The Block

We were starstruck meeting our favourite “Block Heads”, Elise & Matt from The Block!
T1 Domestic Airport (Virgin Australia)
Perth, Australia
(October 10, 2019)

Now that I am back home, I’m trying to map out some further travel in the remaining eight months that I have left in Australia. There is so much of this country I’d like to see – I have to make it count!

I get compliments on my passport holder by people when they see it.
They ask me where I got it from and I always choke up when I respond.
Hers was one of the hardest goodbyes I had to give.

Question for you: If you knew then what you know now, what would you have done differently?

Better question: can you do it now?

If there is one thing I have learned in these last few months (the lead up and arrival of being in Australia), it is how much fear and doubt prevent us from following our dreams. We make excuses as to why we cannot do the things we want to do; comfort, finances, education, employment – these can become shackles that bind us down.

What will it take for you to break free and act on your dreams, whatever they might be?

You don’t need to wait till you’re 40 (or another milestone age if you’re already past 40) to follow whatever dream you’ve been holding onto.

Thank you for being a part of my journey – I can’t wait to share more with you.

Onwards,
-Zaighum

Three Months Down, Nine More to Go!

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Cronulla Point
Cronulla, NSW, Australia
(September 1, 2019)

“One reason people resist change is because they focus on what they have to give up, instead of what they have to gain.”

Rick Godwin

How do you react to change?

Pause before you answer!

The politically correct response that usually comes up is:

  • “I love change!”
  • “I welcome change!”
  • “Change is good!”

In my conversations with people, change actually scares the shit out of them.

In my own life, I realized how scared I was of change.

Here I was, since 2015 telling people I was going to pursue this dream of living in Australia, only to find every excuse not to do it.

After all, how could I give up everything I had:

  • I had just finished my degree, it was time to grow my career
  • I had an amazing job, like, I really had an amazing job
  • I had a reliable car that was paid off – I was debt free
  • I had a solid group of friends who understood me and were accessible at any moment

Next thing I know, I’m sitting at the departure gate at Vancouver International Airport on June 15th, 2019:

  • I had pressed pause on building a career
  • I quit my job and needed to accept that I was likely not going to be welcomed back
  • I sold my car and was going to be relying on public transit
  • I was leaving my social life, I would be going to the other side of the world and be +17 hours ahead of Vancouver time

Was it hard leaving? Yes.

Do I regret leaving? No.

Let me *pause* here and share what I’ve been up to.

It has been a busy month, let me tell you!

I’ve gone back to work which has taken up a lot of my time.

Sure, I only work four days a week at six hours a day (thanks to the Government of Canada who taxes my income even while I temporary live overseas), however I am feeling fulfilled in the work I have been doing as I help a growing business reach their goals.

7 Steps to 7 Figures Intro Event
The Sydney Boulevard Hotel
Sydney, Australia
(September 26, 2019)

I’ve been asked to join our team as the Event Producer as we embark on a seven city tour of Australia where we are meeting with small business owners and business leaders; introducing them to seven areas each business leaders need to familiarize them with in order to make their business successful.

It’s funny, one of my goals was to visit different cities in the country before my Radical Sabbatical was over, and now here I am: three months into my trip, visiting Canberra, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth for work … how cool is that?!

View this post on Instagram

So, shoutout to the trainers and my workout pals from @f45_training_engadine for keeping me motivated, accountable and encouraging me (while kicking my ass) during every session. . Today marks the end of the 8 Week Challenge and I’ve dropped 11kg (24.25lbs), 6% body fat, two pant sizes and a shirt size. . I trained five days a week, walked everywhere I went (sometimes walking a few extra blocks to the next train station or just walking to my destination), prepped all my meals and snacks (portioning and weighing), and cut out my favourite things: potatoes, bread, and booze. . F45’s motto is, “Team Training, Life Changing” … well, my life has been changed and I’m looking forward to seeing where we go from here ✌🏻 . . . . * Disclaimer * – I will put you on blast if you even try and body shame me, 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 will 👏🏻 not 👏🏻 take 👏🏻 this 👏🏻 moment 👏🏻 away 👏🏻 from 👏🏻 me 👏🏻😌 . #zpsradicalsabbatical #zptakesstraya #workout #training #f45 #f45challenge #f45transformation #f45training #f45family #challenge #results #weightloss

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8 Weeks with F45 Engadine!

Another big accomplishment I was able to reach was getting back into a fitness routine.

When I joined the 8 Week Challenge with F45, I had no idea it would mean giving up the holiday staples: bread, potatoes, and booze.

Yet, here I was – sacrificing afternoons that used to be dedicated to jumping from bar-to-bar to all of a sudden box jumping. I ate the same thing almost everyday, grocery shop on Thursday, meal prep on Saturday.

Drastic changes in my eating habits and paired with going to the gym five days a week paid off!

I found other ways to incorporate practical changes into my life:

  • I would get off the train a station early from my destination to walk the extra few km’s
  • At the train stations, I would take the stairs instead of the escalators
  • It usually takes 20 minutes to walk from my house to the train station, so I would pick up my pace to do it within 15 minutes or less
These trainers changed my life
Caringbah, NSW (left) and Alexandria, NSW (right)
Alana, Cassie, Stephanie, and of course my favourite vitamin, CALcium
Granny’s 91st Birthday Party
Engadine, NSW
(September 21, 2019)
She might have dementia and ask me who I am every five minutes, but when she remembers, she tells me I’m her favourite … can you blame her?

Another major milestone was celebrating my granny’s 91st birthday.

There is some significance to being able to do this:

  1. Last year, all of my Granny’s overseas family (Australia/Canada) flew to the Philippines to celebrate my Granny’s 90th birthday
  2. She has dementia, and quickly forgets who we are
  3. Her health continues to fluctuate, I mean c’mon – she’s in her 90’s

As I shared in my last post, my Granny was being brought to Australia from the Philippines – a plan no one had any idea was in the works until the week it actually happened.

We weren’t even sure if she would be able to be admitted onto the plane, she’s so frail.

Yet, here she was with all of us. I continue to standby my belief that everything fell into place the way it did and when it did; that I am in Australia for such a time as this.

It was magical watching her come down the driveway last Saturday.

She shuffled down the carport after arriving fashionably late.

As she walked down, her 90 year old best friend who she hadn’t seen in over three years was standing there. My granny called out her name and began to cry, her best friend crying out too and sharing a hug.

I tell you, there was not a dry eye in the carport.

Granny with her cake
Engadine, NSW
(September 21, 2019)

She was dancing in her seat, laughed with us, sang her songs, and would continue to comment on our teeth (she lost her dentures and is currently without anything … sigh).

3 Generations of Punzalan’s – celebrating the matriarch of our family
Engadine, NSW
(September 21, 2019)

At the end of her party, she was absolutely wiped out; good thing we made it her “Birthday Lunch” instead of “Birthday Dinner” =)

Tuckered out from her Birthday Festivities
Engadine, NSW
(September 21, 2019)

While I’m in Australia, Canadians are preparing to head to the ballot box for the 2019 Federal Election.

The Canada Elections Act states that a federal election must be held on the third Monday of October in the fourth calendar year following the previous federal election. As the last election was on October 19, 2015, the next fixed election date is October 21, 2019.

Greens, Conservatives, NDP, or Liberal – your voice matters!
(oh, PPC is also an option … but like, c’mon)

I’ve always believed that it is our democratic duty to head to the ballot box and contribute to the democratic process to choose who will lead our country for the next four years.

Whether you are a Canadian citizen living at home and abroad, you should ensure your voice is heard.

Canadian electors living abroad who have previously resided in Canada can vote by special ballot in federal elections, regardless of how long they have been living abroad. The deadline to apply to vote by mail is Tuesday, October 15, 6 p.m., Eastern time.

Elections Canada will send a package which includes your Official Special Ballot Paper

I encourage everyone (decided or undecided) who is able to vote to visit Vote Compass, a really useful tool for everything to determine which party best aligns with their values.

Oh, if you live in (or know someone) in Markham-Stouffville or Vancouver-Granville, they gotta check out the Hon. Dr. Jane Philpott, MP and Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, MP
These two are independent MP’s up for reelection and are icons in Canadian Politics!

I’m voting, will you?

Hillsong Waterloo

I have found community with my new church family at Hillsong.

It wasn’t an easy decision at first – I wrestled with it for weeks.

Some people have reached out to me and asked how I can attend Hillsong knowing the stance of Hillsong’s Senior Pastor, Brian Houston towards the LGBTQ2+ Community serving in their church?

Do I agree with their view? Absolutely not.

Do I think they’ve missed the mark? Yes.

Do I believe they genuinely love all people? Wholeheartedly yes.

Here’s the thing, all I’ve ever seen demonstrated and experienced at Hillsong Waterloo is: love.

Love, love, and more love.

Here’s a perfect example: a couple of weeks ago, this guy walked into the front of the church during worship. As he made his way to his spot, he was quickly greeted by the people around him (including two pastors); hugs, jumping up and down and high fives all around.

He was beaming and wore his “Sunday Best”: a simple black v-neck showing his silver chain, rolled up blue jeans paired with a spotless pair of white Vans. Oh, and he was rocking a fierce and classic set of newly filled French Tips.

The best part?

He stood in front of the church, arms wide open, worshiping his Jesus.

I was overwhelmed with emotions. He embodied the meaning of “come as you are” and the Christians around him welcomed him with open arms (literally).

Here’s a fun fact about Brian & Bobbie Houston. While they may hold (what I believe to be an outdated) belief that LGBTQ2+ Christians cannot serve in ministry, Pastor Brian has been an active opponent of Conversion Therapy (eh, least they’re on the right side of that issue).

Regardless of where you stand with Hillsong, consider this statement that was released on February 14, 2019:

“At Hillsong we want to be known by who we are for. We are for people finding hope in Jesus, we are for people finding love and acceptance, and we are for helping people in any way we can. Our focus is on pointing people to Jesus as “the way, the truth, and the life”. No matter where you are in the world, when you enter our doors, you will be greeted with a sign that says, ‘Welcome Home’. That is the heartbeat of Hillsong Church. Indeed, that is the heartbeat of God.”

Yup, you should go for it!

So, let’s go back to what I was saying earlier.

It was hard to give up the great life that I had in Canada, however I have gained so much in just three months of being in Australia.

  1. I have a job that energizes me and is giving me an opportunity to travel across the country
  2. I am living a more active lifestyle and I’m taking the steps to reclaim my body
  3. I get to make some more memories with my Granny while she’s on this earth
  4. I still get to participate in shaping the future of Canada by voting in the upcoming federal election
  5. I saw the love of Jesus towards the LGBTQ2+ Community in a church that I did not believe was able to show it

Is there something in your life that you are afraid to give up?

Giving it up might mean a financial setback or may not be the fan favourite option.

People might question your decision to change; heck, you might not even be ready to pursue the change (I know I wasn’t).

However, imagine what you have to gain?!

For example, imagine someone building their career with the same company for decades and then leave it to start a new career?

One could focus on everything they’re giving up: the comfort of the known, the familiarity of the organization, or the reputation and network they have built over the decades.

Or one can focus on what they have to gain: an opportunity to disrupt their narrative, learn a new industry, or more importantly – a better life for their family.

So, whatever it is in your life – may you move away from your fear of losing it all and move triumphantly towards everything you have to gain.

Onwards,
-Zaighum

For Such a Time as This

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Sydney Central Business District (CBD)
Sydney, Australia

Last week, I went back to work for the first time in over two months.

I woke up at 4:30am, showered and did my hair, packed my change of clothes and lunch, and walked to the gym.

I showed up to the first gym session at 5:15am.

After the 45 minute workout, I quickly washed my body and changed into work clothes.

I walked out of the shower facility and was met with cheers from my Gym Family.

They haven’t seen me outside gym clothes, they were just as excited to go on this big adventure as I was.

I got to the train station at by 6:15am and waited for the train to arrive just after 6:30am (express trains from where I am run every thirty minutes until 8am).

I reached the the next train station by 7:20am and I walked 10 minutes down the street to the office.

8:00am, the clock started and it was time to work.

I was welcomed to the team with open arms (literally, because they’re huggers) and was given a list of things to do.

After my day was over at 5:00pm, I made the commute home and walked through the door just after 7:00pm.

I made dinner, cleaned up, and was in bed by 9:00pm.

Rinse and repeat for five days; it was exhausting.

I was excited for my first week to be finished and find out what the next adventure would be.

And then I got a job offer to stay.

While flattered that they were willing to keep me on, I politely declined.

My goal with re-entering the workforce is to avoid working eight hours a day or five days a week – nor do I want to spend my day commuting. After all, these were the things that I did back in Canada which contributed to my decision to drastically change my life by packing up and moving overseas to embark on a new path.

I also have to keep in mind that my income in Australia will be taxed in Canada (sigh) … that’s right friends, double the taxes!

I just wanted a job where I can meet new people, experience a new industry, and fund my trip to explore new areas I haven’t been to.

I was going to apply to be a server at this really neat burger place a few towns over called Grill’d – they have a Beyond Burger which is to die for.

Grill’d Healthy Burgers
The Beyond Burger

Before I could stop by the restaurant and apply (and sink my teeth in that Beyond Burger), I was approached by the company I had done temporary work for and was offered everything I wanted while working in Australia (hours, flexibility, rate) in exchange for my background and expertise in operations, processes, systems, organization, and leadership.

I sat down with the Owner and the General Manager and discussed what the needs were. We discussed how I had over 200 applications rejected during my job search and then I was randomly put into this temporary placement. Just when they needed someone to come in and support them in reaching their organizational goals, I arrived.

I got up and gave them both a hug, I’ll be back to work on September 2nd and stay until the next great adventure makes itself available.

“And who knows but that you have come to this place for such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14 (NIV)

The last few weeks, I’ve been wresting with my decision of packing up my life and coming to Australia?

Why was I so compelled to leave a career that I loved, a stable income, a limited but happy social life, and all the comforts of being home?

Of all the times to be in Australia, why did everything fall into place for me to be here right now?

And then last night I found out my 90 Year Old Granny living with Dementia was being brought back to Australia from the Philippines.

The last time I saw her was at our 2018 Punzalan Family Reunion in September to celebrate her birthday and I left the Philippines wondering if I would ever see her again.

So, I got up early and took the train to the airport and waited at the arrival gate for her.

She came down the arrival gate and I ran up the ramp, tears streaming down my face as I broke down on my knees holding her frail hands. She stared at my face, placed her hands on my cheek and then she smiled with her toothless grin. She asked me how my mother was, and asked me, “did you come here to see me?” She remembered that I’m from Canada and used to sing for her.

As I pushed her wheelchair to the car, I realized she is the reason why I am here. I am here, during this season, to be around her, for such a time as this.

The opportunity to build on my career isn’t going anywhere – I can always go back to that.

For now, I will continue to embrace this season of rest and self-discovery during my Radical Sabbatical.

Most importantly, I will enjoy this time to be with my family and this exciting opportunity to create more memories with this wonderful woman in my life.

Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport
Sydney, Australia
August 25, 2019

While I’m on the topic of significant moments in Australia, I got really big news this past Thursday!

Back Story:

When I first landed, I set up a meeting with my previous employer at their Australia office. During our conversation, I quickly realized I would be walking away from the office for the last time as there was no room for me on their team.

I got into the train and cried the entire ride home.

It was time for a career change, I needed to let go of the company that I had served with all my heart for almost six years and let go this idea of going back to work for them at this time in my life.

This experience forced me into this unique opportunity to embark on a new career path and while I was scared shitless of the idea of pursuing it, I knew that everything I had gone through prepared me for such a time as this.

So, I went to an Education Counsellor in the city who specialized in International Students and I applied for a program that I had wanted to pursue for sometime and meet my goal to achieve my Masters by the age of 30.

Present Day:

I’ve been accepted into the Masters of Social Work (Qualifying) with the Australia College of Applied Psychology in February 2021!

ACCEPTED!!!
August 22, 2019

Pretty cool for someone who has only been here for two months, eh?!

Oh, I celebrated my 2nd Month in Australia!!!

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney, Australia
August 17, 2019

To celebrate month number two:

My day started out for breakfast at Royale Speciality in Surry Hills. Royale Specialty prides itself as Surry Hill’s first espresso bar devoted to serving only natural process coffee.

For those coffee connoisseurs out there:

“The natural process, also known as the dry process, is a back-to-basics approach that stems from Ethiopia. The fruit is left on the bean, and there’s little disruption to the coffee while it dries. It requires certain climatic conditions & investment by the farmers to ensure the drying of the fruit and seed in time. This process can create the most flavourful coffees with interesting notes and characteristics. Well picked and processed natural coffee can bring out incredible cupping notes, and offer consumers amazing sweet flavours with some naturals tasting more like a tropical fruit salad or fruit compote than coffee. And what’s more, natural coffee is the most eco friendly way of processing coffee as it is produced without water.”

Then, I visited the Zensation Tea House in Waterloo.

The moment I walked in, I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace.

A vinyl record of some of Elton John’s best hits were playing in the background.

The aroma of Dim Sum, Noodles, Buns, and sweet desserts filled the air. Maybe its because of how hungry I’ve been while on the F45 Eight Week Challenge (which is almost done) but that was what I smelled first.

I couldn’t eat any of it (sigh) so I sat at a table and looked at the Tea Menu.

There were pages and pages of options, some teas I have heard of and tasted and others I have not.

I settled for the Milky Oolong Tea imported from Alishan, Taiwan.

According to the menu:

“This full leaf tea derives its name from the creamy and buttery scent while the palette is light with peach, gardenia and hints of coconut. This can be attributed to the tea grown at high altitude. A truly complex and luxurious infusion with light honey colour and smooth aftertaste.”

I kid you not, it was one of the best teas I ever had (I drank five pots worth).

After I had my tea, I walked over to Rosebery and visited a place called The Cannery. While it isn’t as cool as Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, there are several local eateries, desserts, and vendors to experience.

The Cannery
Rosebery, NSW

One place that really stood out while I was in the area was Archie Rose Distilling Co. which offers tours and tastings throughout the day and of course a full service bar. I love my Whiskey, and you best believe I’ll be stopping by here sometime in September!

Archie Rose Distilling Co.
Rosebery, NSW

So, friends – take a moment and consider these points in your own life:

  • Instead of whining out in despair, “why me?!“ … assertively ask yourself, “why me?“ (do this out loud)
  • Reflect on the last three to five years – have there been specific events that have lead up to this moment in your life?
  • If you are a person of prayer, a vision board maker, or someone who speaks out daily affirmations or manifestations; is what’s happening to you in this moment something you’ve been seeking all along?

I hope no matter what situation you are currently finding yourself in, you can pause and reflect if what you have been experiencing is supposed to prepare you for such a time as this.

Onwards,
-Zaighum

Pivot

Zaigh's3 Comments
This was likely the first thing you thought of when you read the title
(that’s what came to mine…)

“Your job isn’t to know the how, it’s to know the what and to be open to discovering, and receiving, the how.”

Jen Sincero

At this point, I’ve applied to over 200 job postings.

  1. Office Jobs: Reception, Mail & Courier, Admin Assistant, Office Assistant, Personal Assistant, Marketing Assistant, Marketing Coordinator
  2. Non-Profit Jobs: Donor Relations, Fundraising Assistant, Corporate Sponsorships
  3. Hospitality Jobs: Events Assistant, Event Coordinator, Banquet Lead, Concierge

I don’t even remember what companies I’ve applied to at this point, but I’ve never seen so many notifications in my inbox.

I read the posting, look at the qualifications, and I apply.

And a few days later I get a response along the lines of:

“Dear Mr. Punzalan – we have reviewed your application thoroughly and while we are impressed with your experience and qualifications, we feel as though there are other applicants that meet a certain set of criteria set for the role. We’ll keep your application on hand and if something comes up, we’ll be in contact. All the best with your job search. Warm regards.”

Back to the drawing boards.

It has taken a toll on my pride.

My days consisted of: Gym, Breakfast, Job Boards, Snack, Job Boards, Lunch, Job Boards, NAP, Job Board, Snack, Job Boards, Dinner, Job Boards.

Somewhere in between, I would read my book (you HAVE to read it) or binge watch a Netflix original series (I’ve done three).

The only times I left my house was to go to the gym or to go grocery shopping.

There was one day where I walked into the the washroom and just stared at the mirror. My hair was a tangled, my facial hair was a mess, I was wearing the same sweats I wore for the last few days and something just *clicked*.

This was not me!

YOU are a BADASS
How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life
by: Jen Sincero
It’s a must read!

So, I made a deal with myself:

  1. I’m only allowed to apply for jobs at night, when I come home from being out all day
  2. If I do stay at home, I have to at least get dressed and walk around the block – no more lounging in my sweats all day.

I decided it was time to change my mindset, I had to pivot from the path I was going down and onto a more positive one.

I mean, c’mon …

I’M IN AUSTRALIA!

So, I do what I always do when I need to reset: I went to the beach.

Cronulla, NSW
July 25, 2019

I walked around and realized how much I was missing by sitting at home all day.

It is “winter” in Australia. I laugh at this season because even though it’s winter, you still need sunglasses because of how sunny it gets. Even though it’s super windy these days, there is not a drop of rain; it’s basically Vancouver during October/November.

Here’s what I’ve been up to:

One of the things we started doing at F45 Engadine is this 8 Week Challenge. You work out five days a week and stick to this super strict meal plan (measuring, portioning, weighing food, meal prep). You also cut out bread, potatoes, and alcohol (UGH).

I came all this way to a new country, and now I’m on a diet?

Sigh.

So, I’ve been trying to find ways to make it fun, I mean there’s only four more weeks left on this program (I really can’t afford to stay at this gym – they charge $65 a week, yikes).

Last Saturday, I went into the city for the first time in weeks.

There are so many tempting things to do when you visit the city, my favourites are day drinking and eating at every single bar that I visit.

It’s a great way to meet new people. I usually sit at the bar, someone comes up and while they wait for their drink you just turn over, say hello and make conversation.

Since the challenge started, I made it an excuse not to go out.

However, I’ve been killing this challenge so, and I felt as though I could handle going into the city and not be tempted with food.

I went, I overcame temptation; I crushed it.

Darlinghurst, NSW
August 3, 2019

Here’s how crazy the evening went!

I was walking around the city, enjoying the usual night life that is a Saturday. One of the best spots to go is Darling Harbour, they have so many cafe’s, restaurants, and buskers.

While I was walking in the area, I took my headphones out and I heard my name being called.

I looked around, quite confused. I’ve never heard of another Zaighum before, so someone was obviously calling me. It was strange though, because I don’t really have any friends here and who would know me?!

I looked behind me, and it was an Australian local who was on a Working Holiday Visa back in Vancouver back in 2016!

We met at Oakridge Centre in Vancouver at the David’sTea.

We caught up for a bit then went our separate ways – what a random event!

Hillsong Waterloo
Waterloo, NSW
August 4, 2019

During one of my first workouts at F45, I was paired with this fire cracker Italian woman who lifted heavier weights than I was lifting and simply walked to next station while I basically crawled.

At the end of the session, Pina introduced herself and we started to chat in the parking lot after class. During our conversation, she asked me what my weeks used to look like back in Canada. I spoke about my job and the work I did during the week and then spoke about the Church I went to on Sunday’s.

She lit up when I brought up Church, and she didn’t miss a beat by inviting me to hers.

I’ve only been to one church since coming to Australia, and I was trying to figure out what the next Church I wanted to visit would be.

Pina then revealed she was a Pastor for Hillsong City Campus, Waterloo.

I was taken aback for a moment.

I was working out with a Hillsong Pastor; crazy!

I found a Sunday I was freed up, and decided to go.

It’s quite a distance to go to Hillsong from where I live. I walk 15 Minutes to get to the train station which leaves every 30 Minutes and goes into the city which takes about 45 Minutes depending on which line you take to Central Station. They have a Community Shuttle that leaves the station 45 Minutes before the service starts (which of course, I missed). I thought about walking, but I was getting close to the start of the service. So, I hailed an Uber which ended up picking someone else and took them to church, oh and I still had to pay for it (I got my refund the next day, but it was a pain to get). The second Uber came and I arrived at the church about 15 Minutes after the service started (I really dislike being late).

When I walked into the church, it was everything I had expected. There was a cafe, a gift shop, lounges, foosball, and Hillsong branded signage just about everywhere. Oh, and there was even a Basketball Court (yup, a Basketball Court).

I walked into the Worship Centre and was quickly greeted by an usher and asked to sit on the “inside of the row”. I almost said no because I am a back row, isle seat person … but I should’ve came earlier, SO I sat where I was told to sit.

The room was dark with a full light show on stage. There were photographers, videographers, producers, and of course the full band, worship leaders, and a choir.

Yup, I was at Hillsong.

It was the first Sunday of the month which meant they were going to take up communion and they ended up doing What a Beautiful Name.

This song gets me every time and I found myself absolutely undone (you can replay the bridge over and over, it’s quite something).

Once worship was over, the message was delivered via Live Feed from the other Hillsong City Campus, Alexandria.

The pastor spoke about how sometimes our plans change, no matter how much we want to be in control. How sometimes we have this vision of where we want to go and we continue to hit roadblocks and setbacks. Sometimes these occurrences aren’t in place to tell you to “ditch the dream” and give up. Instead, they are in place for you to go down a different route to reach your goal.

God isn’t telling you to completely go off your path to reach your goal, He’s just telling you to pivot onto a different path to get there!

I had a goal of working in Australia to fund my Radical Sabbatical and was negotiating with the company I had served for almost six years to help me out. Unfortunately, I had learned that week that they did not have anything available and could not accommodate me; a devastating conversation and outcome I had prepared for but still stung nonetheless.

The path I had planned on going down was no longer an option and I needed to accept the outcome and pivot onto a different path.

The following Tuesday, I was staying true to my commitment to myself and headed into the city for a day of wandering. As I was out and about, I received a phone call from an Agency that came across my application and asked me if I was open to interviewing for a one week placement in the city as an Administration/Events Assistant for a Conference Speaker/Coach who facilitates corporate events for up to 150 professionals in a four-day session.

Being a Temp has its perks:

  1. You get paid weekly
  2. You have flexibility to say yes or no to contracts
  3. No week is the same (depending on the length of your contract)
  4. You meet new people
  5. You are exposed to new companies/industries
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I was putting on my blazer today and stood still for a few moments while I stared at myself in the mirror. . I haven’t worn a blazer since I left my job in Canada. . I needed to wipe the tears that fell down my face as I stared at my empty lapel. . Every morning, I used to open up a box that sat on my dresser and pick one of the many pins that I had collected over the years to place on my lapel. . I would walk into every community event or agency meeting, reach out my hand and say, “Hello, my name is Zaighum and I’m with McDonald’s.” . My identity was in the brand I proudly represented and wore on my lapel for all to see. . Today, I’m walking into a boardroom of strangers and for the first time, I will reach out my hand and will just say, “Hello, my name is Zaighum.” . And that’s okay. . #zpsradicalsabbatical #zptakesstraya #interview #newbeginnings #freshstart #restart #lettinggo #letgo #unemployed #funemployed #movingon

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Sydney, Australia
August 7, 2019
My first job interview since 2013

I walked the twenty minutes from Central Station in the city and met with the Recruitment Consultant who gave me the run down of the company and job.

He spoke to me about my qualifications and asked me if I was okay taking on a one week placement, knowing I would be back to the (f)unemployed life once it has completed.

I am more than fine with it.

After my meeting, I went to my interview with the company who showed interest in me.

It was nerve-racking as I followed my GPS, the thirty minute walk felt like forever.

I walked into the office, it was a office shared space – I love these models, beautiful community can come out of it.

I was ushered into the boardroom to wait for the HR Manager and other members to interview me.

As everyone came in, I stood up, reached out my hand for the hand shake (as you read in the Instagram Post above, it was one of the moments I had to prepare for) and then sat opposite the HR Manager.

My interview began and instead of the scripted questions that were on their computers, we began to speak on my entire Radical Sabbatical journey and what it has been like to find work.

There was a lot of laughter and comforting from the team; we both agreed this could be my foot in the door to the workforce – opening the doors for other opportunities once employers see that I have worked in this country.

At the end of the interview, we parted with a hug (handshakes are overrated anyway) and I was on my way.

The next day, I was informed by the Agency that the team wanted me to join them for the week, calling my interview “genuine and unforgettable”.

I am going back to work tomorrow!

The moment I chose to accept how things were going and pivot from my previous path and go down another, things began to fall into place.

The same day, I received another phone call from another Agency in the city saying they were impressed with my background and wanted to interview me the week after my placement completed.

It’s only up from here, I’m going to be just fine.

“You have to change you thinking first, and then the evidence appears. Our big mistake is that we do it the other way around, we demand to see the evidence before we believe it to be true.”

Jen Sincero

So, friends.

Are you on a path to reach your goals and you are continuing to experience road blocks and setbacks?

Don’t scrap the goal, just pivot onto a different path and see where it leads.

It might be a small change with a big result.

Can’t wait to let you know how the week goes.

Onwards,

-Zaighum

Today, Not Someday.

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A Humpback Whale breaching just outside the harbour
Sydney, NSW

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

– Mark Twain

“I’ll do that someday.”

Do you catch yourself saying that a lot?

There are so many things I want to do but I put it off for “someday”. I want to do it, I hope I can do it, I wish I can do it, I dream I can do it, I even pray that I can do it; but when the opportunity finally makes itself available, I don’t do it.

I’ve given myself a “someday” for just about everything I’ve ever wanted to do:

Someday, I’ll lose weight. Someday, I’ll learn how to use the weights at the gym. Someday, I’ll go bungee jumping. Someday, I’ll go skydiving. Someday, I’ll go on a road trip. Someday, I’ll go to grad school. Someday, I’ll put myself out there and meet new people. Someday, I’ll travel every continent.

Someday.

New Years Day at the Sydney Opera House
January 1, 2019

The moment before that picture was taken (above), I made the decision to stop dreaming about living in Australia someday, and to just go for it.

Five months later, I began my one year Radical Sabbatical here in beautiful Sydney, Australia!

As I continue to journey along this season of (f)unemployment, I’ve decided to do some of the things I’ve always wanted to do but never gave myself an opportunity to do.

I made so many excuses not to do them:

  1. I had to work
  2. I didn’t have enough money
  3. I didn’t have the free time
  4. I needed to hand in an assignment
  5. I’ll go someday
Whale Watching
Sydney, Australia
July 9, 2019

I’ve always wanted to go Whale Watching. I lived in the West Coast of Canada, there are so many opportunities to go Whale Watching and see our beautiful Orca Whales or Dolphins swim and breach along our coast.

I was in Circular Quay on Monday, trying to figure out what I wanted to do during the week (I have a lot of free time on my hands, as you can tell). There were multiple booths for Whale Watching, I walked up to each one and asked them about pricing and the schedule. The average price was about $90 (something I was not that thrilled to pay for). I walked over to one of the last booths which was Captain Cook Cruises, and they told me I could go the next afternoon for $55.

Sold.

I walked up the Wharf on Tuesday. It was quite a lineup to get onto the Catamaran. Fortunately, when you’re the solo traveler, you can get any open seat at the upper deck (yay).

We were given complimentary Barf Bags (so thoughtful). I chuckled to myself when they were being handed out. The waters didn’t seem that rough?

HAH!

Once we left the harbour, the boat was hopping on the waves and you couldn’t walk on the boat without holding onto something (guess who fell down the stairs, sigh). People were using those bags, some people used theirs up and were going off the side of the boat, and one guy didn’t make it past opening the washroom door (everywhere … it was everywhere).

Helpful Tip: stay hydrated, but don’t eat before you go onto the open waters.

Anyway, the scenery was breath taking. You look back and can see all of the cliffs, beaches, and the city skyline. Ugh, what a view!

Then you look out into the water and you realize you’re on sailing the Pacific Ocean. The wind was blowing, the sun was out, there was not a cloud in the sky.

The Skipper slowed the ship down, and we were told over the loud speaker that there were two hump back whales swimming ahead. Moments later, we had a pod of dolphins (you can look at some short clips in the instagram post above).

People who know me well will tell you I am one of the most emotional people you’ll ever meet.

I was a wreck watching these mammals come up for air.

Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one on this ship that appreciated the opportunity we were experiencing because there were a lot of people crying.

Phew.

Climb Fit
Kirrawee, NSW
July 10, 2019

The next day, my cousin was chatting with me at breakfast and asked what my plans were for the day?

I didn’t have any, was likely going to bum around the city.

She told me she was going to their her kids Indoor Rock Climbing and asked if I wanted to tag along?

I’ve always wanted to go, I just never had the time or anyone to go with so I jumped on the opportunity!

While I’ve never been too afraid of heights, there’s something about the idea of rock climbing climbing that has always made me queasy. Oh, and they don’t give helmets (seriously … even the ones I’ve seen in Manila, Philippines give you a helmet).

Nonetheless, my little cousin was belaying for me, and I faced my fears and climbed to the top (the video below is my 2nd climb … the first one I skinned my knee and cussed in the video, oops).

Climb Fit
Kirrawee, NSW
July 10, 2019

I woke up the next morning and realized that one year ago I finished the final class of my Bachelor of Arts in Leadership. To celebrate, I went into the city for a walk.

There’s a patch of grass as you enter The Rocks below one of the pillars of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

I laid out in the sun, the calm breeze brought the subtle salt water smell to where I was. Boats sailed by, the running groups were training, and the cars and train going over the bridge made up the typical downtown noise.

I reflected on the significance of that moment.

On the evening we finished our class, Leading in the World.

We were asked by our instructor what our degrees would do for us once we walked out of the doors of the university?

Some of my colleagues said they would use their degrees to become teachers and others said they would become counsellors.

I’ve always said my degree would give me the courage to pursue my dream of being in Australia.

And it has.

I quit a job that I loved, paid off my debt, packed up my bags, and pursued a dream that was on my heart.

I left the only life that I knew back in Vancouver. I’ve pressed “restart” and have this rare opportunity to create a new identity, create new structure, meet new people, learn more about myself, try new things and take the time to find whatever it is that has drawn me to Australia.

I am living my dream right now; today, not someday.

Dawes Point (The Rocks)
Sydney, Australia
July 11, 2019

So, think about this:

What is that thing you’ve always wanted to do someday?

The big question:

What is stopping you from doing it today, not someday?

I hope you pursue the first thing that came to your heart.

I promise you, it’ll be so worth it!

Onwards,
-Zaighum

*Restart*

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“So take a deep breath,
Pick yourself up,
Dust yourself off,
Start all over again”
-Frank Sinatra

Soaked by sea spray and rain on the ferry to Manly, NSW
July 4, 2019

Friends, let me tell you something that I hope you’re able to accept.

You’re allowed to press the “restart” button.

Press it as often as you want and as many times as you may need.

Seriously, you’re allowed.

After my massive meltdown last weekend, crying over all of my expectations that have fallen a part, I’ve scrapped all of my plans and I’m taking things day by day.

I can afford to, so I will.

Since making this decision, I’ve never felt so free.

“When you release expectations, you are free to enjoy things for what they are instead of what you think they should be” – Mandy Hale

With all of my free time, I’ve been getting out of the house to see places I’ve never taken the time to actually enjoy.

On average, I’ve been walking doing anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 steps per day.

On Tuesday, I was brought to Bondi to do the Bondi to Coogee walk, a scenic 6km trek in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

There was a spot on our walk where we stood for a little while. We stood at the edge a cliff and stared at the waves crashing against the rocks below. The sun was setting, the wind blew a steady breeze, and it felt as though no one was around except for us.

I felt an overwhelming sense of peace come over me.

Something in my heart whispered:

“This moment.
This moment right here?
This is what you were waiting for.”

“Smell the ocean, feel the sky; let your soul and spirit fly” – Van Morrison

On Wednesday, I did my regular trip to Cronulla.

Cronulla isn’t a busy tourist attraction like Bondi or Manly. The locals know about it, and that’s how I like it.

School was still in session this week (school holiday’s started this weekend), so the beach was extra empty during the day.

I walked up the stairs and made my way towards one of the private beaches I found back in 2015.

I love the walk just to get there. You can see all the beautiful houses, the architecture is so fascinating. There are different types of flowers and plants as you go along, I asked if I could pet every dog that walked by, and played peek-a-boo with the kids in the strollers as they passed by.

There are different vantage points that you can stop at and just absorb the view.

When I finally arrived at the hidden beach, no one was there.

I literally had the entire beach to myself.

Bliss.

I curled up on a rock, rolled up my sweater to use it as a cushion as I rested my head.

The sand just beyond the rock was not blemished by footprints, the water was still, and you could hear different birds chirping overhead.

There was a moment when I said out loud, “isn’t this beautiful?”

I propped myself up and looked around.

I forgot I was alone.

That is one of the trade-off’s about packing up your life and relocating to the other side of the world for a little while.

I don’t know a lot of people here, and the people that I do know work during the day.

I’ll get used to this kind of solitude in time.

“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch – we are going back form whence we came” – President John F. Kennedy

On Thursday, I took the ferry to Manly.

I stood on the outside deck. My hair was blowing in the wind, the ferry was bouncing over the waves, and I was drenched from the rain and sea spray.

There is so much beauty along that route, I hope you have a chance to see it for yourself.

I got off the ferry and just started walking towards the beach.

Things have changed since the last time I went there, but I knew the route.

I got to the edge of the beach and looked around.

“Left or right” I asked myself.

I turned right, and began to walk along the seawall.

Manly, NSW
July 4, 2019

I love being by the water.

I don’t really like swimming in it, but the walk is always nice.

I was in an area I’ve never been to, so I had to look around specific landmarks to make sure I remembered them in case I got lost (something I am prone to experiencing when I’m in this country).

Manly, NSW
July 4, 2019

As I was wandering up the hills, I stumbled upon this staircase.

I stood at the bottom for a little while. How cool do they look?

These stairs represent everything that is happening to me during my Radical Sabbatical.

There are different flights of stairs that are in front of me right now. I won’t know what’s at the top unless I start climbing them. Sure, the unknown can be scary, but you have no idea what you’re missing until you start climbing!

Is there a flight of stairs that you are standing in front of?

What’s stopping you from the climb?

I hope you find the courage to start and see where it leads.

I climbed the staircase and followed the trail.

There were different vantage points that I found, the view was breath taking!

I found a bench near the third picture (the cliff & waves). I needed to sit down, my feet were killing me.

I looked around at the different people just steps away from me.

A tradie (tradesperson) was leaned over a ledge smoking his cigarette while his workmate eating lunch and blasting music from the truck in the parking lot. A family of tourists were taking a selfie nearby, propping their phone into a tree (their selfie timer game is WAY stronger than mine). A couple of backpackers were lounged out at the vantage point nearby. There was another couple taking a nap in their car in the parking lot.

People watching is so fun.

It is such a privilege to be in a position to just “be” for a little while. I saved for months knowing this might be my reality; now I get to live it.

I have a few things planned this week:

  1. I’ve been going to the gym from 6:00am – 6:45am, Monday – Friday. The people I see always ask me, “why are you here at 6am when you don’t have to?!” They’re right … why am I waking up this early?! I’ll think I’ll start going to the 6:45am sessions.
  2. Two more weeks until the Sutherland2Surf! I’ve never ran more than 10km, let alone in a group of other runners. I need to train hard.
  3. Bar hopping on Friday, that’ll be a good time. My friend from my RSA Course is from New Zealand. She doesn’t really know people around here either; so a couple of wanderers out on the town? Should be a good time.
  4. The family is getting together on Saturday for Happy Hour! A family who likes Day Drinking? These are my peeps!

So, that’s two days planned out.

Everything else is going to be on the fly, I’ll likely plan them out as I walk back home from the gym.

What a life.

Hope you have a great week, friends; can’t wait to tell what happens next!

Onwards,
-Zaighum

I’m STILL (f)unemployed and it’s time to start enjoying it!

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“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the most of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.” – Gilda Radner

Taking the Shuttle Bus into the City because there’s Track Work being done in the suburbs.
June 29, 2019

I can’t believe I’ve been (f)unemployed for a month.

I really thought I’d be getting ready to go back to work by now.

It didn’t actually hit me until I was on the bus going home.

I’ve sent 65 Resumes in under two weeks.

That’s right, 65.

Of the 65 resumes I’ve sent out, I’ve had ONE interview (by phone).

Yup, just one.

Both the Talent Acquisition Specialist and I agreed that while the job was perfect for me, I would be spending four hours per day on the train (two hours there, two hours back).

I had no choice but to go back to the drawing boards.

I was devastated.

All of my work experience, all of my education, all of my volunteerism.

Wasn’t that enough? Am I not enough?

Can you believe someone is this distraught about not working?

At the height of my emotional breakdown and identity crisis, I got a surprise phone call from a friend of mine living in Calgary, AB.

We did the usual catch up, then things got real.

He asked me how much I had saved to go on this trip? I brought what the Government of Australia asks Working Holiday Applicants to have in cash (or access to) when you arrive in the country. He asked me if I was alone? I wasn’t, I’m surrounded by family who I can reach within an hour. He asked me if there was food in the fridge? There definitely was. He asked me who I was staying with? I am staying with my cousin and her fiancé.

Then he asked, “then why are you in such a rush to go back to work?”

I was getting frustrated, I began to well up and my voice finally cracked as I said, “because I don’t know who I am without one.”

Without missing a beat, he said, “you did not pack up your life in Canada to just do the same thing in Australia.”

How fortunate am I to have friends who are willing to call me out on my shit?

I know of people who had it far worse when they did their working holiday and just came home early.

That won’t be me.

Sure, I’m not where I had planned to be, but I’m going to be just fine. Everything is falling into place (even though I can’t see it).

Who do you have in your life who can give you the tough love that you need to snap out of your pity party?

Perhaps you might need to give them a call and receive a pep talk.

Maybe you have to give someone a similar talk like the one I just got? I wasn’t expecting it or even asked for it … but oh, did I ever need it!

I’m blessed.

NO … MORE … PITY … PARTIES
June 25, 2019

“Our self-identity should be defined as who we are as individuals. What we do for work is only a piece of our lives.” – Rachael Tulipano

So, I’m pressing pause on actively looking for employment for a little while. My “coffee shop job” isn’t going anywhere after all.

#wearyourpride
June 30, 2019

What am I choosing to do to make the time pass by?

I signed up for a one month gym membership (yes, I did). An acquaintance of mine told me about circuit training that he did at F45 Training. I will be going to the 6am classes, something that I was doing three days a week back home; I’m upping the game to try and do five a week!

I signed up for the 11km run! Sutherland 2 Surf is on Sunday, July 21st! It starts off in Sutherland and takes you all the way down to Wanda Beach in my favourite area Cronulla. I’ve never ran this kind of distance before and I’m so excited to push myself to do reach this new personal achievement!

“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it an remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
Genesis 9:16 (NIV)
Cronulla, NSW
June 26, 2019

In order to get ready for my 11km run, I’ve decided I won’t just walk along my favourite beach … I’ll be running it! You can do a beautiful 10km run by running from South Beach to the Dunes and back. It’s a steady run along the boardwalk with beautiful ocean as far as your eye can see. I can’t wait!

Surry Hills, NSW
June 27, 2019

When I don’t have plans in the shire, you best believe I’ll be going into the city! On Thursday, I went out for coffee and brunch with a new friend. We ended up walking over 23,000kms around the city where we went bar hopping, saw new suburbs I’ve never been to, tried some new eateries, spoke about our education, and we even went dancing in an underground club. I actually enjoyed myself. Like, who am?!

The splitting headache that came the next morning.
June 28, 2019

I have a few items on the to-do list this week:

  1. Go to the Canadian Consulate and request my absentee ballot for our Federal Election (just because I’m in a different country, doesn’t mean I surrender my democratic duty as a Canadian)
  2. Continue to go Church Hopping to find a new community (super tough because a lot of these churches are quite conservative, sigh)
  3. Take my “not so little” cousin out into the city
  4. Buy more socks, another pair of jeans and flannel, it’s about to get colder (I think I’ll go to a few thrift shops for the flannel)
  5. Celebrate Canada Day (without Poutine, sigh)

As I kick off week three of my Radical Sabbatical, I’m retelling the valuable words from my friend Somi in my head:

“Zaighum, you are a human being, not a human doing”.

I hope they can help you on your own journey!

Onwards,
Zaighum

This is my “New Normal”

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Royal National Park
NSW, Australia
(June 22, 2019)

“If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton

Nothing is normal as I wrap up my first week in Australia.

For example, I have a the flu.

I do not get sick very often, this isn’t normal.

Today, I’ve been laying in bed with a bin full of kleenex on the floor beside me, bundled under the sheets, coughing and shaking, and lathered in every Filipino’s favourite remedy; Vicks (Biks) Vapour Rub.

Flu vs. Zaighum
Flu: 1 | Zaighum: 0

Evenings are getting as low as six degrees celsius in Sydney.

I’ve noticed that homes in Australia do a great job letting out the heat in the summer, but are not built for insulation in the winter.

I haven’t experienced an Australian winter since 2003, and I was only ten years old; I didn’t really pay attention to the temperature back then.

I’m currently sleeping under a sheet, a duvet, and two additional blankets.

I remember packing clothes in my suit cases and saying to myself, “Flannel? In Straya? I’ll leave this at home.”

Regret.

For someone who is (f)unemployed and on a Working Holiday, I have been quite busy. It’s been go-go-go since I landed, I really haven’t given myself a “day off”. While the home that I live in is absolutely beautiful, I’ve never enjoyed being cooped up inside. Now I’ve been forced to do the very thing I don’t like doing. This isn’t normal.

On Wednesday, I went out to the shops to buy some sweaters, windbreakers, and shoes. Everything was on sale (and of course I went to K-Mart for the cheap stuff).

I even bought interview friendly clothing. A pair of black shoes, some slacks, and a purple and blue button down.

It’s time to start looking for work, something I haven’t had to do since 2012.

I’m not looking for anything specific, doesn’t need to be full time, doesn’t need to be in my field. Just needs to be something to do; I really need a social life and meet people.

I’ve sat in front of my computer looking through job postings on LinkedIn, scrolling through the hundreds of jobs that sound interesting and that meet my skill-set.

I really don’t know what I’m going to do.

Here’s the thing about being on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia:

  1. You can work for any company for a maximum of six months
  2. You cannot accept a Government job or work at a bank
  3. IF you want to stay an additional year, you must do specified work in a rural area of the country; usually some type of agriculture job

Now let’s be real here.

Can you imagine me working on some farm in the middle of nowhere?

If you saw the episode of Schitts Creek where the Amish basically begged David’s family to take him back; that would be me if I had to do specified work.

Schitts Creek
Season 2, Episode 1
Finding David

I love being in Australia, I don’t love it that much.

Not a lot of companies want to hire someone, train them, integrate them into their system, then have them leave in six months.

I don’t blame them; but I wish they would give me a chance.

A lot of people have asked me why I would be stupid enough to move to the other side of the world without a job.

It’s a valid question, at times I ask myself the same thing.

I’ve been asked time and again why I didn’t try and arrange a job with my previous employer.

It’s not that easy.

You see, I’ve wanted to come to Australia since 2015 but one of the things stopping me was my love for my job.

So I used to hold onto this idea of living in the country I loved and work for the company that I loved.

You know the saying, “have your cake and eat it too”; that’s what I had hoped for.

I worked hard to build my network, I visited our Australia office in 2015, 2016 and 2018. I turned “LinkedIn Connections” into friends.

My colleagues in Australia encouraged me to pursue this dream. They would tell me, “you need to move to Australia already, there will always be work here,”

It wasn’t a promise for work, or a commitment in any way/shape/form. It was a possibility, a glimmer of hope; and it was the push I needed to pursue my dream.

So, I wrote some thank you cards to some of my old colleagues who are now my “mates” (their word, not mine; you’ll never hear me call someone “mate”. I prefer “friend” or “pal”) to simply say “thank you” for giving me the hope that I needed to pursue my radical sabbatical. Regardless of their decision, I couldn’t have gotten here without them.

McDonald’s Australia (Maccas) National Office
Thornleigh, NSW, Australia
(June 21, 2019)

Now, enough about the rant of my work struggles, let me tell you what I’ve been up to!

I finally went for a run this week, I need to find a new way to stay active while I’m here. I did 5km in my neighbourhood, it was glorious. I’m training for a 1/2 Marathon in Vancouver when I come back in 2020, I need to start training now. There’s an 11km run coming up called the Sutherland 2 Surf, all the locals have been telling me about it. I think I’m going to do it, it looks like a lot of fun. I might as well do something with all the free time that I have, right?

I did the usual tourist thing in the city. I went down to Circular Quay to see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. I can’t even count how many times I’ve visited the area just to look at both sites; they continue to take my breath away.

  • Sydney Harbour Bridge
    (June 21, 2019)
  • Sydney Opera House
    (June 21, 2019)

I went for a hike on Saturday with my cousin, Mahrck (Bubz to all of us). We went to Royal National Park. I’m very fortunate that it’s really just around the corner from where I live down in Engadine. You gotta look at this post I made on Instagram, the video of the water crashing along the rocks literally brought me to tears; I still cannot believe I live here!

  • Royal National Park
    (June 22, 2019)
  • Royal National Park
    (June 22, 2019)

This is my new normal. I am letting go of the obsession of being in control and instead, face my radical sabbatical day-by-day. In doing this, I feel like I’m stranded in the rain (and it’s actually supposed to rain all week, sigh). Nothing is working out the way I had planned:

  1. No job (not that I can even start till after July 1st)
  2. Haven’t determined my running route (I know the beach route, need to figure out the neighbourhood root); I really need to get active once again
  3. No social life; I need some hobbies (that’ll come with work and getting out of the house more often)
  4. Wasted an entire day in my home due to the flu

I need to stop planning, and instead live in the present; truly embrace “Carpe Diem” – seize the day.

So, as I sit on the couch, bundled under a blanket with the rugby game playing in the background, I am reminding myself of two VERY important realities:

  1. I am on a Working Holiday Visa, emphasis on the HOLIDAY part. I’m here because I was burnt out from my life in Vancouver and needed to completely disrupt my reality.
  2. I JUST got here. I have 51 more weeks in this country and I can make it up as I go. It’s not all going to be figured out in one week and it may not be figured out until I leave.

I catch myself saying, “Zaighum, you need to be kind to yourself.” Try that sometimes, we are our own worst critic after all.

Are you in the midst of your own excessive rain fall? The torrential down pour can be frustrating, especially where you don’t see the sun breaking through the clouds. Sometimes we try and find shelter in things that still let the rain in or get completely blown away in the storm.

Don’t lose hope.

The rain will pass. The clouds will break. The sun will shine.

Your rainbow is coming.

Can’t wait to tell you what happens in Week 2, I think I’m going on a road trip…

Onwards,
Zaighum

I Don’t Know What I’m Doing, and That’s Okay.

Zaigh's2 Comments
This picture was taken shortly after our Captain said, “Ladies & Gentlemen, we are making our final descent into Sydney”

“It’s better to look back on life and say, ‘I can’t believe I did that,’ than to look back and say, ‘I wish I did that.'” – Unknown

Jet lagged.

I woke up yesterday morning at 2am, then 4am, then 5am, then finally wide awake at 8am.

Sydney, Australia is 17 hours ahead from Vancouver, Canada.

I rolled out of bed and made my way into the kitchen. The kettle was already on, Mark (my cousin’s fiancé) was on the computer a few steps away, and it was time for breakfast. A cup of tea and some toast with honey and peanut butter was my chosen meal. I walked onto the deck and sat at the bottom of the steps. It was hitting me, I was actually here.

I live in Engadine, a suburb in Southern Sydney. Engadine is located about 45 minutes (by train) from the Sydney CBD (Central Business District) in the local government area of the area I grew up in, Sutherland Shire.

Mark’s home is at the end of his street. He put his heart and soul into building it. It’s has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a massive kitchen with a centre island, and a large living/dining area. The windows allow for the natural light to shine in when there’s sun. The deck looks over the backyard which has swimming pool, granny flat (a rental unit) with private gazebo, and greenery as far as the eye can see. Beside the swimming pool, there is an outdoor kitchen area which Mark and my cousin Lovella call “Banksia Bar”, which has a built in BBQ, full service bar and kitchen, plenty of seating, and even a washroom.

When I opened the cupboard, this was the only mug available. How fitting? It takes a lot of strength to completely disrupt your routine and move to the other side of the world to follow a dream. It’s an accomplishment.
(I need to keep reminding myself that it is an accomplishment)

Once you arrive in Australia, there are two things you need to get in order:

  1. Lodge a request for a Tax File Number (TFN)
  2. Open up a Bank Account

I finished the application for the TFN in a few minutes and was informed I would receive it within 28 Days.

If you do a Working Holiday in Australia, you should open a bank account with nab (National Australia Bank). All you need to open your account is:

  1. Passport
  2. Boarding Pass (from your flight into Australia)
  3. Drivers License
  4. Working Holiday Visa Grant Number
  5. A phone number

Sounds like a simple process, right?

Of course not, because I have to do it.

First, I walked out of the train station and wandered up and down the streets looking for the bank. Google Maps failed to tell me that the bank was inside the mall (sigh). Once I got into the mall, the directory made no sense to me and I wandered the halls for about fifteen minutes. When I finally found the bank, they were lined out the door. Once it got to my turn, I was told the next available appointment with an account manager wouldn’t be for another two hours.

After killing time shopping (which is always dangerous when you do not have a source of income), I went back to the bank for my appointment.

I met James, one of the account manager’s. He was awesome, super personable; kindest guy you’ll ever meet. He recently got married, and him and his wife will be doing a one month trip in South America.

As he was setting up my account, he asked me what I planned to do while in Australia?

He was the first local to ask me that question.

I sat there in front of him and stared at the table between us; the small funds I had brought over with me, my travel documents, and papers to sign scattered across the top.

I looked up at him, unsure what to say.

You see, I have a series of well calculated and politically correct responses to this question. I’ve been giving variations for the last two weeks, perhaps you’ve heard them:

  1. I’m going to go on adventures
  2. Find work that relates to my field of study
  3. Looking to expand my personal and professional life experience
  4. It’s my “eat, pray, love” year
  5. Following my dream of living abroad

The pressure of always having these carefully thought out responses has been exhausting.

I smiled at him. James doesn’t know me. We just met and we will likely never see each other again. I am one of the hundreds of clients he will meet over the next six months, so I had nothing to lose by speaking my truth.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, and that’s okay.”

I paused waiting to see what his reaction was going to be.

“That’s so inspiring, I’m so excited for you!”, he exclaimed.

It was?

Relocating to the other side of the world with a heart full of dreams and nothing lined up is inspiring?

Alright.

I need to allow myself to be okay with where I am at right now.

I cannot start work till July because that marks a new tax year for Australians. I need to revamp my resume and cover letter and begin reaching out to the network that I have built over the last four years to inquire about employment opportunities. I have to read over job opportunities, research the company, prepare questions, and go through an entire application/interview process. I need to be prepared for rejection; one of my biggest fears both personally and professionally.

I need to accept two things: I may not get the jobs that I have hoped for and I may need to settle for the serving job at the local cafe.

These are okay things.

I’ve already broken the traditional narrative that has been laid out for millennial’s to follow:

  1. Get a degree
  2. Get a job
  3. Build your career
  4. Start a family
  5. Buy a house
  6. Plan for retirement

No where in that narrative does it say: go and live.

My friend Somi called me before I flew out and said, “Zaighum, you are a human being, not a human doing.“

So I finished my day in my favourite spot in Sutherland Shire, Cronulla Beach. I did my usual routine, walk along the boardwalk and just sit for awhile and just be.

Cronulla Beach, NSW, Australia
(June 18, 2019)

I was walking back to the train after my time of reflection and received a message through Instagram from a colleague I went to College with.

Here’s what she said:

“Hey Zaighum! I know we haven’t talked since our one class at Douglas (which was over five years ago) but I just wanted to say I’m so, so excited for you and this new chapter in your life. I have been following your updates vicariously and I felt the same excitement you felt when I decided to move to Thailand for a year. I know for a fact that you will learn so much about yourself, make life long memories, but more important, meet people that will inspire you. It’s going to be a crazy ride but it will be so worth it in the end. Best of luck, stay safe and simply be in the moment.”

By the moment I got to the end of the message I sat on a park bench with my face in my hands.

I’m not only going to be fine, I’m going to thrive.

So, if you are in a place in your life where you are not sure what the heck you’re doing, please accept these words:

That’s okay.

Onwards,
-Zaighum

Oh, the Places I’ll Go!

Zaigh's3 Comments
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Richmond, Canada

“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!” – Dr. Seuss

The day has finally come.

The last two weeks have flown by, and I am sitting here at the departure gate waiting for my Radical Sabbatical to begin.

I’ve been super emotional these last few days. It’s really sinking in; I’m actually pursuing my dreams.

Gratitude continues to be the word that comes into my head when I think of the last few months leading up to this moment. I worked right up to May 31st (an opportunity that was given to me by my previous employer, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada) then I took my two weeks of (f)unemployment to go on my “Farewell Tour” where I saw some of my nearest and dearest.

It’s fascinating how life sometimes makes you forget how many people actually care about you?! I have felt so much love in these last few weeks; words of encouragement have flooded my phone and are helping me get through this extremely overwhelming time in my life.

Thank you to those of you who reached out and made time to host me in your homes or take me out for a meal. I have received an abundance of extremely thoughtful cards, gifts, and treats that I will cherish forever.

“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go” – Dr. Seuss

My best friend Meghan drove me to the airport, as per usual. She was so gracious as I fumbled through my words and cried for the first leg of the drive. It’s not that I’m sad about leaving, I am just overwhelmed with every possible emotion and the output is tears. I know that in 365 days, she will be outside the arrival gates waiting for me to take me home. Gosh, I am fortunate to have a friend like her!

I went over to the mobile kiosk to print my boarding pass. I was speaking to the staff member about where I was going. She told me she went on a Working Holiday in her 20’s and told me I was in for the trip of a lifetime. Of course, I burst into tears when she asked me how I was feeling.

I got to the baggage check and was chatting with the agent. She asked me if I would like to upgrade to Premium Economy for $1,000 (I did not hesitate to decline). I did however change my isle seat on the left wing for an isle seat in the centre row because it’s looking like I’ll have the whole thing to myself (pppuuuhhhllleeezzzeee let that happen)! I weighed my bags and of course I was 1kg over the limit. I took out a jacket and the agent let me go through without any overage fees (thank you!!!).

Using my handy NEXUS card, I zipped through customs and spoke to some local Australians who would be joining my flight later tonight as we waited for our personal items to clear. They cheered me on as I shared my journey of embarking on my Radical Sabbatical; traveling brings so many people together!

Once I cleared customs and got to my gate, I sat on the floor in relief.

My anxiety passed, my nerves calmed, and I finally felt peace.

The adventure of infinite possibilities starts the moment the cabin doors close, and I am just ready to fall asleep.

Whenever I fly to Australia, I fly direct using Air Canada.
In approx. 14 Hours, you will arrive in either Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane

“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!” – Dr. Seuss

I wish I knew what was ahead of me, yet in some ways I am glad I don’t.

Every single day is a new opportunity and I am blessed beyond words to be able to experience it.

“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss
If you haven’t read this book, you MUST!

“So…
be your name Baubaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So … get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss

I hope you have enjoyed the glimpses of what’s going on in this head of mine over the last two weeks and I hope I’ve spiked your interest enough for you to follow the next 365 Days as I enter this season of self-discovery and find myself.

To see photo’s of my journey day-by-day, you can follow me on Instagram or find out who breaks my (f)unemployment streak by connecting with me on LinkedIn

Onwards,
-Zaighum