Heading West Part 4: Sydney and Concerns

I had only two concerns;
1. The choice of reading material and;
2. The pressure.

The choice of book was 'Cell' by Stephen King- a story of mayhem stemming from technology. Being on a flying piece of technology, unnatural fears started to develop (you succeeded once again Mr King). But I persisted because I frankly like Stephen King.

Nobody had given me any preparation on dealing with pressure- I knew about it of course, but still. Descent into Sydney had my eardrums expanding painfully inside my head. At least I was feeling some of the pain of the characters in the book- you should try it, it is really immersive.

Sydney airport was as you would expect- big. With lots of people, but oddly lax. People flowed and waited in line- everything was chaotically ordered. I reaffirmed that my bag was on its merry way to Perth, while I left to go through security. I managed to save a man's laptop as he walked away- a Dell no less. A brief thanks and a nod and he was off chatting on his phone again. Businessmen.

With time left, I sat down for a coffee from a spirit/cafe bar- it was satisfactory. It started to dawn on me that I may have reached a point where coffee was just coffee, and not the magic youth drink of community it was in university. Sighing I wished for a companion.

I lined up alone, sat in my emergency lane double seat alone- perhaps the person who was going to sit there decided as quoting the safety sheet- 'Did not wish to help in this way'. Ha strike two for the Frolicking Jester.

Not wanting to miss my flight I go to the terminal with an hour spare. Many of those seated are doing one of three things;
1. Reading a magazine or book. With the knowledge of a 5 hour flight ahead- I worried for the magazine people.

2. Taking advantage of the wifi system. Trying to look impressive in their suits, their flashy laptops and focused look. Doing work or not, it was hard not to notice them.

3. Mild talking and vacant staring. Preparing for their long journey to Perth.

I await the flight- hopeful for the future, and will try to remember my father's recent advice to swallow upon descent to reduce the pressure on my ears. To bad it doesn't work on my fears.

Heading West Part 3: My Opinions on Flying

My opinions on flying- it is quick, you get that odd god-like feeling looking down upon the world- flying through oddly sedentary clouds. I thought clouds would be a lot more active in the center as we flew through- but not so, they do however make for some quite complex topography- hills and valleys for their all white kingdom.

I even saw what was either a butterfly or the Bat-signal raining shadow onto a town below and marveled that the people of that town might never know the benevolent forces watching over them.

I found in a few short minutes how different everything was from up here. With the last item I could point out being the quite full Weir. Then I experienced a problem exclusive to both gods and those continually on a plane- everything starts to look the same, and the few differences are insignificant.

This time I was lucky to be flying Quantas as they offered complementary packaged water, tea and lemon slice (frozen, and too sweet for my tastes, but free food nonetheless). I had been placed in the emergency row- and it was my duty to aid in an emergency- my first flight and I already had responsibilities over lives. I took this as a sign of good things to come.

Heading West Part 2: The Frolicking Jester

My bag was light, I had never really been much of a clothes horse, concern of what lay ahead still plagued me- what if I didn't find anything, would I just be another lonely, unemployed (I have a casual job but you know) Graduate with visions of possible success. Was I doomed to be continually going over speed bumps like some of the characters in my head.

How can anyone have fun with the possibility of failure? My thoughts turned to the Norse Gods- they knew as we do that they were to die, but it did not stop the Quest, the journey of discovery that is life, and the Frolicking Jester does have a way of stumbling into us when we least expect it.

I waited in the foyer at the airport, when another thought crossed my mind- would I even like flying? Popular culture has more fun showing flights gone wrong than right. What if the plane went down and this was the last thing I ever wrote? What sort of Arty Graduate hack would I seem like? But then I remembered a hack is usually employed- ha strike one for the Frolicking Jester.

Heading West

5th October 2010, today is the day of starting possibilities. Just a week and a half ago I had received an unexpected reply to an application. The Editorial Counsellor wanted me to appear in the lobby of The West Australian by 9:15 am, in two weeks time. Stunned I recorded the information and wondered whether I had actually made it up a level of the mountain of job hunting.

As usually about an hour later my mind was recording all the facts that made this situation less remarkable. I would not be the only one there, in fact probably many would be under taking this test. A test, I was not sure of- was it a subbing test, a current affairs test, or a writing/shorthand test? Maybe all of them, it was to go for three hours. An expensive trip to undergo a test- would it be worth it?

I decided early on I would prefer to go because of the following;
- I had sent an application, to not go to a call back is unprofessional and they could not send the test out of state.
- I had planned to go to Perth later in the year as a job hunting prospect.
- I had family over there, and I was the only close family member who had not gone over there.

At various times leading up to the day of my flight, I had run into some ex-coworkers who all seemed pleased to have moved on- to better pastures? Debatable, but the point is they seemed happy, an emotion that I will admit I am not over exposed to. Thinking about possibilities and the future has often lead to more concern than joy.

I informed them of what was coming up, some saying it would be a 'good fit' for me; I wondered for a moment whether I could use a quote as a reference, but instead took it for what it was and smiled.

I was informed to have fun, to enjoy myself. With the desire to succeed and the road blocks and the worry, I swallowed harm and smiled- I can try, the Gods and potential energy will decide the rest.