Public transportation
No travel blog would be complete without a mention of the public transportation system. Quite frankly, I should be thankful that the signs are in English BUT I still managed to get lost more than once. I was doing well, catching the ferry every morning before work and then riding the train into town. I don't have to walk very far to get to my office and the scenery is beautiful, even when its raining. We've been staying with family friends this week and the transportation situation a little more complicated. First, I have to take a bus, then a train and then another bus to get to my office from where we are. Second, the area the train stops in to grab my second bus isn't a great part of town so I got the privilege of seeing all kinds of weirdoes.
This last week, I had made it to the first bus and was dropped off at the train station. I found my way through the station and to the platform I needed. When I arrived to the stop where I needed to exit the station and board the bus, I realized I was in Kings Cross, a neighborhood not known for being upscale. I walked out of the station and was immediately made aware of the quality of people around. Many seemed like they had been up all night and, as I waited for the bus, a man with few teeth tried to make small talk with me. I acted like I was on the phone so I had something to do; anything to look like I knew what I was doing and shouldn't be a target. Unfortunately, I didn't know what I was doing because I got on the bus going the wrong direction and had to get off, walk across the street and get back on another going the right way. (I've actually done this twice. Obviously, you SHOULD pay attention to the sign on the bus as well as the number). The bus driver looked at me like I was lazy when I walked off the bus after only one stop and actually commented on my "oversized" coffee as I disembarked, embarrassed. I had purchased said "oversized" coffee because they were having a special where you get a free donut with your purchase. Unfortunately, I realized after beginning to eat the donut that there was a hair baked into it. I don't think I'll be eating any more donuts.
While on the bus in The Cross I witnessed a drug deal go down when we had stopped to let people off and have seen several homeless-looking individuals yell for no particular reason. I really don't enjoy even having to visit this area in the day-time and, thankfully, do not need to wait outside on the street at night. After I get off the bus coming from work, I can go straight into the train station where I am whisked away to better neighborhoods. I know Sydney is no more dangerous (and no safer) than any other big city. I guess I just thought that my prior experiences with people who were so friendly and so nice were the norm. Now, I don't know whether the people in these types of places are or aren't nice but, you don't even want to find out when someone is swearing at passers-by from a park bench. I guess there's tragedy and ugliness everywhere. But, there is always a sweet with the sour. After I had gotten on the wrong bus coming home and had to get off after one stop a second time, I realized the correct bus was waiting at a traffic light. I sprinted up and knocked on the glass. The driver looked annoyed but cracked open the door just enough to hear me speak. I looked at him, sighed, and said I got on the wrong bus, shaking my head disbelieving that I had made the same mistake twice in 24 hours. He just smiled, opened the door and asked me where I was going. He even signaled to me when I needed to get off the bus so I didn't get lost again. I guess there's always a little hope in the madness. Plus, now I don't have to worry about craving another donut...ever.
-by Supriya Dunham
This last week, I had made it to the first bus and was dropped off at the train station. I found my way through the station and to the platform I needed. When I arrived to the stop where I needed to exit the station and board the bus, I realized I was in Kings Cross, a neighborhood not known for being upscale. I walked out of the station and was immediately made aware of the quality of people around. Many seemed like they had been up all night and, as I waited for the bus, a man with few teeth tried to make small talk with me. I acted like I was on the phone so I had something to do; anything to look like I knew what I was doing and shouldn't be a target. Unfortunately, I didn't know what I was doing because I got on the bus going the wrong direction and had to get off, walk across the street and get back on another going the right way. (I've actually done this twice. Obviously, you SHOULD pay attention to the sign on the bus as well as the number). The bus driver looked at me like I was lazy when I walked off the bus after only one stop and actually commented on my "oversized" coffee as I disembarked, embarrassed. I had purchased said "oversized" coffee because they were having a special where you get a free donut with your purchase. Unfortunately, I realized after beginning to eat the donut that there was a hair baked into it. I don't think I'll be eating any more donuts.
While on the bus in The Cross I witnessed a drug deal go down when we had stopped to let people off and have seen several homeless-looking individuals yell for no particular reason. I really don't enjoy even having to visit this area in the day-time and, thankfully, do not need to wait outside on the street at night. After I get off the bus coming from work, I can go straight into the train station where I am whisked away to better neighborhoods. I know Sydney is no more dangerous (and no safer) than any other big city. I guess I just thought that my prior experiences with people who were so friendly and so nice were the norm. Now, I don't know whether the people in these types of places are or aren't nice but, you don't even want to find out when someone is swearing at passers-by from a park bench. I guess there's tragedy and ugliness everywhere. But, there is always a sweet with the sour. After I had gotten on the wrong bus coming home and had to get off after one stop a second time, I realized the correct bus was waiting at a traffic light. I sprinted up and knocked on the glass. The driver looked annoyed but cracked open the door just enough to hear me speak. I looked at him, sighed, and said I got on the wrong bus, shaking my head disbelieving that I had made the same mistake twice in 24 hours. He just smiled, opened the door and asked me where I was going. He even signaled to me when I needed to get off the bus so I didn't get lost again. I guess there's always a little hope in the madness. Plus, now I don't have to worry about craving another donut...ever.
-by Supriya Dunham
The Job
Here’s an update about my job with AroundYou, a local Sydney start-up. I’ve passed my preliminary two-week trial and I’m hitting the ground running trying to help them establish their procedures and policies. It has been so exciting and I’m learning so much about what I want to do in business as well as honing my skills for use as I move forward in my career. First of all, helping a start-up come up with all their policy and procedure manuals as well as systems to make sure everything fits together is a challenge. It’s like a giant puzzle and I love it! Secondly, the people I work with are fantastic and extremely helpful (especially as I ask the same questions over and over). I’ve learned some things over the course of working at Massage Envy and AroundYou and some things have become blaringly obvious:
1. Be humble – Going in with the attitude that you’re going to revamp everything can be really intimidating for everyone. If you assume that your ideas are the best ideas, you will fail miserably. A willingness to admit that you may be wrong and acceptance of others’ ideas will help you succeed.
2. Interview everyone – from receptionists to the main talent, these people know what is wrong and what is tolerable. Making their priorities your priorities will gain the trust of the team AND make it easier to do your job. Just don’t make any promises you can’t keep.
3. Be adaptable – If something won’t work, don’t expend additional energy trying to make it work; shelf it and move on. This idea ties in with humility – finding out your idea isn’t practical or you thought something worked a certain way and it doesn’t shouldn’t make you feel less. Knowledge is power. Embrace change and adapt to it or you’ll always be behind the curve.
Something I owe to my experiences here is that I’ve become more confident in my abilities. I’ve also learned what questions are the right questions and I’m not afraid to ask them. Asking the right questions forces people to pause and reflect on why things are the way they are. Asking for permission to change something that isn’t working forces people to commit to the change without feeling like you’re forcing their hand. I just hope that the changes that I ask for actually work. I guess we’ll see!
- By Supriya Dunham
1. Be humble – Going in with the attitude that you’re going to revamp everything can be really intimidating for everyone. If you assume that your ideas are the best ideas, you will fail miserably. A willingness to admit that you may be wrong and acceptance of others’ ideas will help you succeed.
2. Interview everyone – from receptionists to the main talent, these people know what is wrong and what is tolerable. Making their priorities your priorities will gain the trust of the team AND make it easier to do your job. Just don’t make any promises you can’t keep.
3. Be adaptable – If something won’t work, don’t expend additional energy trying to make it work; shelf it and move on. This idea ties in with humility – finding out your idea isn’t practical or you thought something worked a certain way and it doesn’t shouldn’t make you feel less. Knowledge is power. Embrace change and adapt to it or you’ll always be behind the curve.
Something I owe to my experiences here is that I’ve become more confident in my abilities. I’ve also learned what questions are the right questions and I’m not afraid to ask them. Asking the right questions forces people to pause and reflect on why things are the way they are. Asking for permission to change something that isn’t working forces people to commit to the change without feeling like you’re forcing their hand. I just hope that the changes that I ask for actually work. I guess we’ll see!
- By Supriya Dunham
Common Courtesy
The helpfulness of everyone in the city is bizarre compared to other places I’ve been, even in the US. I think this extends beyond just helping one another locally because Australia ranked #1 in 2010 for World Charitable Giving. Now the US is #1 but Australia still ranks as 3rd; this includes monetary donations as well as volunteerism. Examples? I’ve got plenty. First, the airport security personnel were incredibly kind when we were moving through customs and even joked with us about how much luggage we had. They didn’t seem miserable at work or irritated when we asked dumb questions like, “can we keep our sunflower seeds.” They just smiled and said, “Unfortunately, no” when there’s a gigantic sign stating that no plant or animal products can come in.
In another instance, Bryan and I arrived home late and the street lamps were out and the stairs to our apartment quickly become stairs of death (seriously) without proper lighting. Nicely enough, the ferrymen stayed at the dock, ignoring their time schedules, and flashed one of their brightest searchlights up the stairs until every last one of us had made our way up. This struck me and I really began to re-appreciate the idea of charity and random-acts-of-kindness. Any time that I’ve been lost, I know I can ask anyone around me and they’ll offer assistance, regardless of how busy they are. This is the same for bus drivers (though, they are total nut-bags when it comes to rules of the road but that’s a different blog), shop workers, bus boys, etc. People will even stop and ask if you need help if you’re obviously lost or looking at your map upside down. In light of these experiences, I’ve found that I’m starting to become more helpful and less oblivious. If I see people that are lost, I try to ask them if they need help or if an old woman is having a hard time getting off the bus, I take the time to hold her bag. Its like the idea of charity is contagious and everyone just feeds off of the good feeling.
The great part is there are TONS of opportunities for charity, acts great and small, as long as you’re aware of them. I’m going to challenge myself to run the City2Surf 14k in August and raise money for Make-A-Wish Australia. The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Australia can no longer accept new applicants for lack of funding and has over 500 children to grants wishes to in this year alone. Last year, 85,000 people ran in the race and raised over $3.5 million for charitable organizations all over Australia. Bryan and I want to get in on the action. Also, I’m joining Soroptimist International in a membership capacity, just like my grandma and the wonderful women in Reno have motivated me to do. Now, not everyone has to join an organization or run 14k to show they care. It’s all a matter of taking care of each other whenever we see the occasion arise. It’s about being proactive in our compassion. As you act, you gain momentum and soon you can’t help yourself but seek out more opportunities to act. Hopefully, as you do these things, you will inspire others to do the same. Movements have to start somewhere. Why not with me?
-by Supriya Dunham
In another instance, Bryan and I arrived home late and the street lamps were out and the stairs to our apartment quickly become stairs of death (seriously) without proper lighting. Nicely enough, the ferrymen stayed at the dock, ignoring their time schedules, and flashed one of their brightest searchlights up the stairs until every last one of us had made our way up. This struck me and I really began to re-appreciate the idea of charity and random-acts-of-kindness. Any time that I’ve been lost, I know I can ask anyone around me and they’ll offer assistance, regardless of how busy they are. This is the same for bus drivers (though, they are total nut-bags when it comes to rules of the road but that’s a different blog), shop workers, bus boys, etc. People will even stop and ask if you need help if you’re obviously lost or looking at your map upside down. In light of these experiences, I’ve found that I’m starting to become more helpful and less oblivious. If I see people that are lost, I try to ask them if they need help or if an old woman is having a hard time getting off the bus, I take the time to hold her bag. Its like the idea of charity is contagious and everyone just feeds off of the good feeling.
The great part is there are TONS of opportunities for charity, acts great and small, as long as you’re aware of them. I’m going to challenge myself to run the City2Surf 14k in August and raise money for Make-A-Wish Australia. The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Australia can no longer accept new applicants for lack of funding and has over 500 children to grants wishes to in this year alone. Last year, 85,000 people ran in the race and raised over $3.5 million for charitable organizations all over Australia. Bryan and I want to get in on the action. Also, I’m joining Soroptimist International in a membership capacity, just like my grandma and the wonderful women in Reno have motivated me to do. Now, not everyone has to join an organization or run 14k to show they care. It’s all a matter of taking care of each other whenever we see the occasion arise. It’s about being proactive in our compassion. As you act, you gain momentum and soon you can’t help yourself but seek out more opportunities to act. Hopefully, as you do these things, you will inspire others to do the same. Movements have to start somewhere. Why not with me?
-by Supriya Dunham