Working Travel: Realizing a Dream in a Year

Chapter 2 Departure, one year in exchange for precious memories

An ordinary day

At noon on May 2010, 5, I had a farewell lunch with my parents. This was an ordinary day in my life.The sun rose as usual, and I was still breathing air.

"Be careful out there and take care of yourself."

"Everything is under control."

I didn't let them see me off, hugged and left.

The 910 bus started, and I found a seat by the window, watching the familiar scenery recede along the street, feeling empty in my heart.The old tenant has moved out, the new tenant has not come yet, and the dust and smell in the house are still from yesterday.

I changed a coach bus at Nanpu Bridge.The bus kept driving until the sun set. The continuous bumps made me feel so long that I had hallucinations, thinking that the terminal of this bus was the southern hemisphere.Looking at the swaying red tail lights of the car in front, I fell asleep and woke up to the airport. I will take the midnight flight from Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport.

Looking at the departure flight information on the electronic bulletin board and the boarding pass in my hand at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, I silently said to myself, I am finally leaving.From getting the visa to taking this step, 11 months have passed.It's not without wavering, such as thinking about projects that will bear fruit, such as soaring housing prices.Later, I figured it out, the work is endless, and there is no difference between high housing prices and higher housing prices, anyway, it is prohibitively high.Why not trade a year for some lifetime memories.In this life, there are many things that people don't bring with them when they are born, and they don't take them with them when they die. The exception is precious and exclusive memories.I think I will never forget this year in New Zealand. I felt that way when I set off, and I still feel that way now.There are things that make you laugh when you think about them, no matter how small, they are great happiness.

You will say that when you are in love, you will also have this symptom.What about when you break up?What about a midlife crisis?What about when you die?Compared with the relationship of letting go and letting go, our only loyal lover is probably left in this world.Have you ever wondered how to fall in love with the world?You get along day and night, if you don't love her well, who do you love?
The plane took off twice, bid farewell to the annoying heat and humidity in Kuala Lumpur, and the dazzling sunshine of Australia came in through the portholes, making it as bright as heaven.Stepping out of the cabin, I was immediately surrounded by cool air.I wonder: is this autumn?This is the southern hemisphere?It seems that there is no difference!The novelty has not risen, it starts to dissipate.This is not the first time for me to go abroad. The only uneasiness comes from the 200 US dollars and 200 yuan in my pocket-this is all my property.

"Are you crazy?" my friend asked me.

"It's fun to be challenged," I said.

In fact, I originally planned to bring 1000 US dollars, but later changed it to 200 US dollars. In retrospect, it is like this: Before going abroad, I had dinner with a former colleague. He was a few years older than me. We talked about youth and adventures. The family, the experience of going to the capital alone with 200 yuan.

"At that time, I lived in the most dilapidated bungalows and ate the cheapest food. From job fair to job fair, I was like a dog."

"Now that you think about it, don't you feel happy?"

"Ah."

Then he was finally hired by a European company.

"Guess how I felt the day I signed the contract? Just one word."

"what?"

"I finally survived in Beijing."

For some reason, this sentence moved me sincerely, it is a kind of heroism unique to small people.Immediately, I realized that this was something that had to be experienced first-hand.If we go all out, let's take 200 yuan and go abroad to try it out.In case it works out, I adore myself.

The staff at the Gold Coast airport told me that you can leave the airport with a transit visa.I think, there are 10 hours, since you come, you can take it easy, let's have fun by the way, and treat it as a warm-up for the working holiday.I exchanged all my RMB into Australian dollars and got on a bus.The scenery outside the bus presents a very different style from Shanghai, with green grass everywhere, unknown white birds walking leisurely on the grass, palm trees radiating heat, and the buildings are generally low and wide bungalows. Yes, it is abroad.The piece of land that has completely occupied me has been thrown far away.There is a stop called Surfers Paradise (Surfers Paradise), the name is very ecstasy, I decided to get off there.

The person sitting behind me is also an Asian, dark-skinned, Japanese-looking.

He showed me the way to the beach.I passed by two modern skyscrapers, and continued to walk along a footpath paved with ochre-red stone slabs. Both sides of the road were full of people who looked like tourists, as well as unusually active seabirds, bouncing around. Grabbing the French fries and bread crumbs on the ground, a large metal arch soon appeared in front of my eyes, with the words "Surfers Paradise" written on the top of the curved bracket. The vast blue sky unexpectedly appeared in front of my eyes.

I have seen the sea of ​​Qingdao, the sea of ​​Xiamen, the sea of ​​Hainan, and the sea of ​​Zhejiang in China, but none of them can compare with this sea. The sea is the sea, the sky is the sky, and the sand is sand. Rocked me with a trio of poses.

There are quite a few people on the beach, those who play ball, play UFO, sunbathe, walk their dogs, and of course surf, but they are not too lively. Compared with Tianya Haijiao, it should be described as deserted.

I suddenly remembered that today is Thursday, don't these people go to work?Yes, they must be on vacation, like me.Thinking of this, I couldn't help laughing.To be precise, I am self-deprecating, I have not recovered from the [-] to [-] in the big city.

What should be done now is to make the suit and tie gray, let the annoying customers disappear, and let the dark KTV get out.

For the next year, every day will be my vacation!What's the matter after one year, the cool sea breeze, hurry up and tear me apart!At this very moment, I belong to myself.The midday sun soon made me sweat and a little sleepy, so I took out my map and unfolded it in the shade of a tree by the side of the road, with my backpack under my head for a pillow.I couldn't sleep at first, after all, sleeping in public in broad daylight was something I had never done before.Strange, I take it for granted at this time.Probably infected by the lazy atmosphere around him. .

I was woken up by the impact, and felt something fell on my shoulder. When I opened my eyes, it turned out to be a lump of bird droppings. It must be bird droppings, I comforted myself.

With nothing to do in the sticky hours of a hot afternoon, I got up and walked around, and at the entrance to the beach I was greeted.That was a kind-hearted old man. Although I only vaguely remember the content of the chat at that time, it was the first time I had a relatively in-depth communication with a local in a foreign country. I knew what he was talking about, and he also understood what I meant. .This inspires me.

When we were about to say goodbye, he handed me a pamphlet. It turned out that he was a missionary. I rejected him abruptly, a little embarrassed.

On the way back to the bus platform, I picked up a newspaper at the free newspaper station down the street.Remember to do your homework on the Internet before you set off, and some seniors wrote articles, teaching many ways to find a job, including a local newspaper.I turned to the recruitment information page and found that there was very little job recruitment information, and some of them were only drivers, electricians and other highly professional types of work.

I have hands and feet, but what can I do?I stared at the newspaper in a daze, feeling very useless.If New Zealand's newspapers are like this, then I must die a very ugly death.

I started to worry, imagining all possible situations.With such a mood, at midnight on May 2010, 5, I set foot on the land of New Zealand.

Annoyed first night

The first thing I did when I arrived at Auckland Airport was go to the toilet.There was no one around, so I stepped into a compartment, closed the door smoothly, and implemented the long-planned plan.

After 1 minute, I looked at the toilet with disappointment. The legendary clockwise vortex did not appear. After pressing the valve, all the water was sucked up immediately—this is a vacuum toilet!I was not reconciled, so I went to the sink again. The same problem, the water drained out before it had time to accumulate.

It has been more than 10 hours since I arrived in the southern hemisphere, but I can't find any evidence!I was a little frustrated, I finally arrived at this place after flying for two days and two nights, and there was nothing new about it.

As soon as I thought about it, I felt that it was too hypocritical. A big man is not looking for a place to live at 12 midnight, but looking for something new.I couldn't help laughing, and hurried out of the airport hall, and got on the night express bus.

The carriage was empty, with a few small yellow lights dimly shining. Besides me, there were two young girls with huge luggage, who looked like backpackers.How daring, I admired secretly.

I put on my glasses and checked every stop the bus stopped. I had heard that the International Youth Hostel (YHA) in Auckland was recommended.

I quickly found its location on a simple map I got at the airport exit, compared the bus route, and decided to get off at the terminal.

Before the departure, another young man with a Central Asian face came up. His backpack was at least as big as two of mine.I didn't expect it to be so late, and there are still companions, maybe we can go to the youth hostel together.I relax and look out the window, there are street lamps, silhouettes of hillsides and shadows of trees, but most of the scenery is drowned in the darkness of night.When the bus stopped for the first time, the Central Asian man got off the bus. Looking at the deserted streets, I wondered if he was going to pitch a tent for the night?
The bus kept stopping at new platforms, and the passengers left one after another. In the end, I was the only one left in the whole bus.At this time, I told myself, Wu Fei, wake up, you are fighting alone, don't keep thinking about having someone to accompany you, this country is not related to you.

The car approached the station slowly, and the driver told me that we had arrived at the terminal.

I asked him: "Do you know how to get to the International Youth Hostel?"

"It's too late, you should get off at the first stop."

I actually reversed the uplink and downlink of the traffic line!This time I was dumbfounded.

"Then what other hotels are around here?"

The uncle is well-informed, and he must have known at a glance that the young man in my attire was trying to take advantage of it.With a swipe of his pen, he brushed a few strokes on the map and circled several BBHs.

Tips
Budget Backpacker Hostel, a backpacker budget hostel organization covering the whole of New Zealand, has more than 370 members. Almost every backpacker traveling in New Zealand has experienced BBH accommodation. For young people on working holidays, it is recommended to apply for a A BBH membership card.For NZD 45, cardholders get NZD 3 off per night's stay.Theoretically, the discount is only for the cardholder, but I've actually borrowed cards from friends as well. The BBH card also includes a 20 New Zealand dollar phone card, which is very cost-effective for international calls.Each BBH in New Zealand can get a free BBH brochure, which has ratings for each inn. BBH scores above 90 points are either invincible location, excellent scenery, or thoughtful service. Readers can use this as an important reference for choosing whether to stay or not.

Compared with YHA, BBH has more outlets, better facilities and better prices. YHA has it, BBH has it, city center, communal kitchen, free parking, lounge, TV. BBH has what YHA doesn't have, such as free Wi-Fi, free use of bicycles, free DVDs, free desserts, free breakfast.

I thanked my uncle and walked alone on the deserted streets of Oakland. The night wind blew slowly, and some scraps of paper and empty beer bottles were spinning around on the ground, making a rattling sound.Weekend night, no expected partying, no people, everything was quiet.This is my own city, where I can feel happy, angry, sad, and happy at will.

I picked the nearest hotel on the map and groped my way to find it.Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. Queen Street (Queen St) is the busiest street in Auckland, but I can't find any signs of prosperity.The road is not wide, and the forked roads can be described as narrow. Many dark alleys in European and American movies look like this, dormant with violence, alcohol and drugs.My heart beat slightly faster, and 10 minutes later, the signboard of the Backpacker Inn came into view. There was a fat man standing at the door, with gray-blue cigarettes curling up, and he looked at me coldly.

What does this man do?robbery?Solicitor?Still passing by?I bit the bullet and walked around him, upstairs.

"The front desk is on the second floor." He shouted loudly from behind.

I turned around, forced a smile, and hurried upstairs.There was a girl at the front desk, I asked the price and it was NZ$25.

"Is this the cheapest?"

"Correct."

"Can I go to another place and check the prices?" I feel like a fool.

"Of course!" She seemed very happy, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

I went downstairs and met with Brother Fatty again. He asked me why I don’t live here, and I said I went to another place to check the price.

"It's the same everywhere!" he said behind me.

Two days and two nights of flying have already made me feel exhausted, so I decided to make a decision after looking at another one.A hundred meters away, the yellow signboard of Fat Camel is right in front of you.The front desk told me that there is a special price for the shop, only 19 New Zealand dollars a night, I was overjoyed.

"Then I'll stay overnight."

"Just one night?"

"..."

I was questioned.Where are you going to live tomorrow?A voice said, it shouldn't be so fast to find a job, right?Another voice said, don't belittle yourself so much, maybe you will have a job tomorrow.

Finally I said, "Just one night."

The elevator made a loud noise and sent me upstairs.Carefully opening the door, someone turned over in the darkness. I unloaded my bag and sat gently on the edge of the bed.My head is so hot and painful, I really want to just lie down and sleep soundly!But reason tells me that the battle has just begun, and the money will be spent in a few days. Will I still be able to sleep by then?This is not Shanghai. If you have no money, you can go home and eat and drink.My hometown is thousands of miles away.

I immediately felt great loss and depression.I never thought it would be so hard to leave home.I thought I could be carefree if the sky was high and the earth was far away.

When I think back to myself at that time, I was probably in the same situation as a captive eagle. I had been locked in a cage for too long, and I didn’t know that I still had the ability to soar high.Yes, how can the frog at the bottom of the well face the sky high and the earth wide?Fortunately, I had the opportunity to take off.Every teenager who wants to fly has to find a practice field where there is no way out.

As a result, I didn’t fall asleep until after one o’clock in the morning. Before going to sleep, I checked my luggage and found that the tripod was missing. The camera and the charging cable of the camera were still in the tripod bag.This is one of my most important luggage.I remembered the lump of bird droppings during the day again.How unfortunate that the southern hemisphere welcomes me like that!

I suppressed my anger, went back downstairs, and asked the front desk to help contact the night bus company.

"I left something on the car, it's..." I suddenly didn't know what to say about the tripod, "it's three-legged, it's for taking pictures..."

"You mean a tripod?"

"Yes! Yes! Probably in that car."

Unfortunately, although the front desk tried to contact the bus company, but because it was too late, there was no relevant personnel to answer.She said that she would continue to help contact the next day.

I thanked her, went out and turned right, and went back to the inn where I inquired about the price before. The fat brother was gone. The girl at the front desk was quite surprised to see me. She must be thinking: Is it possible that this kid visited all the inns in the city? over again?It's too much shopping around...

When I explained my purpose, she said she didn't see any tripods.I had no choice but to go back to the fat camel and fell on the bed again.Before leaving, I promised the TV station to use a video camera to record my working holiday life, but now the charging cable and tripod are all lost, and the original plan is completely messed up.Tomorrow I have to open a bank account, apply for a tax ID number, translate a driver's license, buy a mobile phone number, find a job, find a place to live...

These chaotic thoughts made me extremely irritable, but my body was exhausted to the limit, and finally I fell asleep.

humble brave

I woke up at 6 o'clock and my roommate was still asleep.Knowing it was going to be a long day, I pulled myself out of bed and took a hot shower to refresh myself.

Go straight to the post office and apply for a tax ID number, also known as an IRD number.

There were not many people in the post office, and there were actually Chinese faces behind the counter. While queuing up, I wondered whether to speak Chinese or English later.It wasn't long before it was my turn, and I said in English, "Excuse me... I want to apply for a tax ID number, how can I go about it?"

The other party handed me a form, and after filling it out, I handed it back to the staff together with my passport and driver's license.She was about to confirm the receipt, when she suddenly said to me: "Your driver's license cannot be used, and a translation must be required."

"It has English on it."

"That doesn't work either, it has to be translated."

The translation cost dozens of yuan, and I was reluctant to spend the money, so I had to perfunctoryly say: "Okay, I'll go and translate right away."

Turning onto Queen Street, I was stunned, almost all the roads were Asians!With yellow skin and black eyes, I almost thought I was in China, and everything in New Zealand was just a dream.

I asked for directions and planned to go to the Automobile Association to try my luck and get a mobile phone number and bank account opening along the way.The staff of Vodafone Bank explained the various packages to me. I didn’t understand them well, and I was too embarrassed to keep asking, so I said, “OK, OK!” When they say OK or Yes, it means that they didn't understand... I think it makes sense. Orientals are a bit ashamed to admit their ignorance.

The reality is cruel. Once again, I was ruthlessly rejected by the staff of the Automobile Association.She told me that there is a translation company called Huaye on Hobson Street, not far away.

Tips:

IRD, the full name is Inland Revenue Department, which is the New Zealand Inland Revenue Department. If you work legally in New Zealand, the company needs to pay taxes for the employees. Young people who work and vacation usually choose to return to the country after one year expires. At this time, they can apply for a tax refund.You don't need a driver's license or a mobile phone, but you must have a tax ID number.Two documents are required to apply for a tax ID number. According to the official website, mainland backpackers usually provide translations of passports and driver's licenses.What should I do if I cannot obtain a driver's license in China?Don't worry, share the successful experience of my two friends.They go directly to the office of the Inland Revenue Department in Takapuna (Takapuna) on the North Shore of Auckland. With their passports and the Bank Statement (Bank Statement) provided by the account bank, they successfully apply. They can go directly to the various offices of the Inland Revenue Department or post office Or Automobile Association (Automobile Association, referred to as AA) agent.

It seems that he can't bear to let the child not be tied to the wolf, and he has to spend what should be spent.When I arrived at the translation company, I was told that the translation would take half a day and I could pick it up in the afternoon.Before leaving, an older lady in the office said, "Are you looking for a job?"

"Yes." When I heard these two words, my eyes must have lit up.

"Just came to New Zealand, don't rush to work, look around, there is a sky tower opposite, you don't need to pay for it. If you want to work, please read our newspaper, there is job recruitment information on it!"

Huh?I actually forgot about it.Finding a job is the most important thing now!I grabbed the newspaper and thanked you repeatedly.Turn to the page of recruitment information, wow!But I was so happy, I saw that various positions occupied a full page, and almost all of them were recruited by Chinese.

saved.

At that time, I was filled with such a feeling, and my whole body was light.This is really ironic. I mustered up my courage in China and went all the way just to lose one job, and then I became like a beggar in the blink of an eye, expecting someone to give me another job.

Once the mood is relaxed, the courage will follow.I didn't walk very far along Hobson Street, and I saw a storefront with a few lines written in Chinese on the glass exterior wall:

20 full-size standard pool tables

belgian crystal ball
Global Crown and other advanced clubs

Good guy, it turned out to be a billiards club. It was in broad daylight, the lights were not turned on inside, it was a little dim, and the dark green tabletops were hard to discern from the deep pool tables.I found that I have not yet got rid of my dependence on my mother tongue. When I see Chinese or Chinese signs, I always feel close to them unconsciously.The idea of ​​"they are all descendants of Chinese people, they should help me" always popped up in my mind.

I went straight in.There is a guy behind the counter with his head down, not knowing what he is doing.

"Hey, are you busy?"

"It's okay," he raised his head, "what's the matter with you?"

"Do you recruit people? Part-time jobs are also fine."

"What time can you go to work?"

I didn't have much hope at first, but I was overjoyed when I heard the words: "It's all right, I just arrived in New Zealand, I have free time, and I'm here whenever I'm called."

He took out a pen and paper and said, "Please leave your name and contact information. I will ask the boss and call you if I have any news."

"thanks, thanks!"

Before I left, he stopped me: "Hey, don't tell people that you just arrived in New Zealand when you look for a job."

I was taken aback for a moment, and then I had an epiphany. After thanking you again and again, I walked out of the billiard hall, feeling happy.This is the first time for me to use such a primitive and direct way to find a job, because before I left in the morning, the front desk of the Fat Camel Inn told me: "In New Zealand, the most effective way to find a job is to ask at the door! Because it takes a lot of money to advertise." Most of the shopkeepers are unwilling to pay for the money.”

Looking back now, that kind of happiness may be just because I finally took the first step, rather than seeing the hope of success.But as long as you can keep moving forward, isn't it a matter of time before you succeed?

The tree opposite the billiard club has been dyed in autumn colors, red and yellow, and it is very beautiful under the blue sky.Inadvertently, the southern hemisphere opened its arms to me.

As long as you take the first step, the road ahead will be much easier.I went to many cafes and restaurants along the street.My previous work experience, science background and service industry are really irrelevant, so when I was preparing my resume, I thought, what should I use to attract future employers?Since you have no relevant experience, you can only find a way to prove that you are a special person, right?Yes, thinking of this, I searched my experience in recent years and found that apart from going to and from get off work, I was lucky to have some unique memories: the extreme northern winter at minus 30°C, the endless marathon finish line, and the experience of being a copyright agent. There was a mistake... I suddenly realized that the next year may also become a deep-rooted past. For this, all the hard work is nothing.Every time I think about the tears and sweat that I have shed because of chasing happiness, I will probably laugh happily, so happiness can be expected in advance.

At the Esquires coffee shop on the corner of Hobson Street and Victoria Street, the clerk told me they were looking for night staff.I flinched a bit, but after thinking about it, talking is better than nothing, so I left my resume and made an appointment to come over and talk to the supervisor tomorrow.

I didn't dare to eat out at noon, so I ate the special bread I bought in the supermarket in the morning.The bread was dry but I filled the tap water at the hotel before going out and it was a terrible lunch.After the meal, in order to cheer myself up, I decided to go to the Sky Tower to see what the lady of the translation company said.This is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere. Imagining the feeling of climbing high and overlooking it makes me open-minded.I walked back and forth a few times in the lobby on the ground floor of the Sky Tower, but I couldn't find the elevator to go up.There was an old lady behind the service desk, so I went up to ask her about it.As a result, the old lady said, "Have you bought the ticket yet?"

"Huh? Isn't it free?"

"No, NZ$25."

"Oh, thank you, where are the tickets?"

"It's on the basement floor, where the elevator entrance is."

I thanked the old lady and ran away.

Although the travel information provided by translation companies is a bit dodgy, they are not bad at what they do.I quickly got my driver's license translated, went back to the post office near Fat Camel, submitted my tax file number application, and then continued my stay for two nights.After thinking about it, several major events in the plan were settled one by one, and I could concentrate on my work.I pulled out the newspaper and started researching.

Painters, carpenters, cooks, coffee makers...

Alas, none of them.

Keep looking, here are some new discoveries.

Dishwashers, restaurant floors, cashiers...

Alas, I am a college graduate, and I am going to be reduced to this?It would be a lie to say that there is no gap in my heart, but when there is no food, how much is self-esteem worth?
I immediately dialed the number listed in the newspaper.

"Hello, is this the ×× Restaurant?" I asked in Chinese.

"Ah, yes." It sounds like Cantonese.

"Are you a recruiter? I saw an advertisement on the Chinese page..." Before I knew it, I became half a Cantonese.

"Oh, looking for a job? You wait!"

after awhile.

"Hello, do you have a work visa?"

"Yes, I am a Working Holiday Visa!"

"That won't work. We need a Work Visa. We can't afford to run away after 3 months on that kind of visa."

When I heard it, I was stunned.I even made several phone calls and got the same answer. I was in a hurry.Is the working holiday visa just a flashy display?But I haven't heard of any senior who lived on the streets and died in a foreign land.

young man feeding birds

I have learned to be good, and no longer talk about being a newcomer, because no one will sympathize with you because of this, this world is so realistic.I also no longer take the initiative to disclose my visa type. I can't learn to cheat, so I have to choose to remain silent.

After a round of phone calls, I started wandering around the city.I happened to pass by the library in the city center. On the large glass curtain wall, it was written that free internet was provided. This was really timely for me who was eager to find a job!Of course you have to go in.There are quite a few people surfing the Internet, as well as readers who read books and magazines. I think of my college days, those days when I slept in the library and my saliva flowed to the ground.On more days, I went to work in the library: tidying up the bookshelves and being on duty.Until I was absent from work after watching a drama, and then I was fired...

Alas, wait, maybe the Oakland library needs staff too!When I thought of this, I immediately asked a librarian for confirmation. To my surprise, he told me that a library was recruiting people, and then gave me a website, which I clicked to enter, which was the job of a library assistant.I was so excited, as if reunited with a long-lost friend, I wrote a lot of words, filling every blank in the open questionnaire.This took me a long time.

I left the library only when I felt hungry, sat on the floor by the door, took out bread and gnawed on it.The crowd passed by me, I didn't care about them, and they didn't see me as a person.A few sparrows landed, and they gradually gathered together, bouncing towards me.Their eyes made me feel quite pitiful, and I was a little hesitant to give them something to eat.While lamenting that I didn't even have a job, I still scattered the bread crumbs. Watching them peck happily, I felt the joy of peace in my heart.Also a life in the world, a sparrow needs only a little crumbs to satisfy.Compared with them, I am happy enough to enjoy bread to my heart's content.

From this day on, I have the habit of feeding birds.

After feeding the sparrows and myself, I started looking for work everywhere again, but the answer I got most was still rejection.At first, I couldn't hold back my face, but then I became numb.Even so, the fact of not having a job loomed coldly in front of me like a mountain.To cheer myself up a bit, I decided to have a good dinner.In the end, I enjoyed a meal of braised meatballs on Victoria Street. It was a long-lost feeling of happiness. It had nothing to do with cooking skills, but the taste of hometown.It is true that you will be homesick when you are away from home, and you will be more patriotic when you are abroad.

Back at the Fat Camel Inn, the bus company still did not bring good news, I knew I had to find another way to solve the problem of photography.Unable to sleep at night, I ran to the terrace outside the library with my computer in my hand, and logged on to the work website aimlessly.Sitting next to me were a few guys who rubbed the Internet like me, smoking cigarettes without any scruples, bursting into bursts of laughter.On the wall opposite the library is a painting of a window, and a woman stands by the window, seemingly full of thoughts.During the day, I feel like women are looking forward to the start of a good day.But now, I think she is like the old lady in "One Night in Beijing" who has been waiting for a thousand years, she will not sleep until her lover returns.

I suddenly miss the sparrows during the day, they must be sleeping now
failed interview

The next morning, I headed to the Esquires coffee shop at the agreed time.This is a night shift position. I thought about it all night and suddenly figured it out.

My father has worked in a pharmacy for 10 years, no weekends, rain or shine.He is almost 60 and has never complained.I always advise him, forget it, it's too hard, but he doesn't listen.For me, my parents retired early, left the comfortable small city, and plunged into the prosperity and loneliness of big Shanghai.Shanghai may not be suitable for them, but here I am.

Am I worth their sacrifice?In the years after graduation, I asked myself the same question over and over again.The pressure of reality is nothing compared to the overwhelming love that accompanies sacrifice.No matter how much I evade reality, I'm still their son.People say that the love of parents is selfless, but what is the kind of giving that doesn't care about the feelings of their children, if it is not selfish?

If I have the opportunity to work the night shift, I will feel better. This is what I think. I have worked hard and sacrificed my parents’ sacrifices, and I stand on a position of empathy. Maybe I can talk to and persuade them on an equal footing.

In this way, I started the interview with anticipation.

"May I have a look at your work visa?" The manager of this store is a Chinese girl named Jo, who looks pretty without her face.

I turned to the visa page and handed over my passport.She glanced at it and returned it to me.

"How long can you stay here?"

I hesitated for a few seconds and said, "3 months."

"Huh? Only 3 months?"

I showed her the visa again and said, "I'm on a working holiday visa and can only work for the same employer for 3 months."

"It's a pity that we can't use you. It takes at least two months to learn how to make good coffee. We can use you just now, and you are leaving..." She showed a very embarrassed look, "Your resume is very good, we can Give you training. But this is really not the case.”

In a short period of time, I have experienced the ups and downs of my mood, and I am so close to success, just a little bit, just a little bit...

But I soon pulled myself together and gave her a firm handshake to express my gratitude—I really do appreciate her, for she was the first person in this strange land to speak positively about me.Maybe she was just being polite or expressing comfort, but for me, a little encouragement means a lot of strength.

When I left the store, it started to rain in the gloomy sky before, and the rain quickly turned heavy. The crowd ran in a panic in the shower. I walked leisurely and let the rain fall, hoping to calm my heart.Unknowingly, I came to the door of the library again. Today's library is uncharacteristically, and the loud singing voice flows out through the thick glass, which makes me more and more curious.It was only when I went in that I realized that today was a certain music festival, and there were two young people playing and singing on the stage of the library. Their expressions of self-satisfaction seemed to own the whole world.And the fact that the library can sing out loud is also an eye-opener for me.I was listening to music while surfing the Internet. By the way, I left a message for a friend on the Internet.

At the end of this afternoon, I got a job trial opportunity through the job posting in the newspaper, which was a Japanese restaurant on the North Shore.The man who answered the phone was named Andy, with a northeast Chinese accent, not much older than me.

"Have you ever been a cook?"

"No. But I can learn, and I can endure hardship."

"This one……"

I knew that the other party was hesitating, so I immediately became anxious, and my earnest words almost moved me.Finally he said: "Don't worry, I know about your situation. Back then... I came here in the same way. How about it, you can try it next Monday morning, and I will tell the boss to try to let you stay."

Speaking of the word "before", his voice gradually became lower, perhaps because he remembered some past events.New Zealand is a foreign land, and the difference between us is only the time when we get and forget the nostalgia.

When the sun sets, the sky is very clear, and the clouds seem to be transparent.Auckland's weather is really what people describe, like a child's face.I strolled to the ferry terminal on Queen Street at the end of the city, and there was a great view, a good view can really change the mood.At the pier, I saw a fat Asian boy, dangling at a loss, and then he kept looking in a certain direction blankly.At that time, I understood a truth: the same people who have fallen in the end of the world, why should we know each other when we meet again!This is simply a wise saying on the road.It's a pity that he is not a girl, otherwise I must be thinking of another poem: "The rivers and lakes carry wine in the down and out, with a slender waist and light hands."

I approached and said, "Hello, brother."

"Hello." He was a little nervous.

"Listen to the accent, are you Japanese?"

"correct."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Wu Fei. May I ask your name?" I asked him in Japanese.

"My surname is Tanaka."

"Then, Tanaka-san, why did you come to New Zealand?"

"I was fired from the company..." There was a slightly lonely expression on his face.

"It's so miserable? Why did you choose New Zealand? It's so far away."

"Why... I don't know..."

I thought to myself that this kid is also a bit interesting, for a reason that I don't know, he actually flew over half of the earth.Being able to stride along with the feeling is by no means something that ordinary people can do.Whatever the outcome, at least following the felt process is usually enjoyable.

"But I'm not much better than you, and I'm almost out of money. No, I've been looking for a job for two days, and I haven't touched the door yet."

We looked at each other and laughed.His smile is like that of a high school student, shy and innocent.

We chatted all over the world, and finally I asked: "I said Tanaka, what ideal do you have?"

He blinked his small eyes, thought for a long time, and said, "I want to be a rich man! What about you?"

"I want to write a book, any book, otherwise life will be too boring," I said, "It seems that we are all people with ideals, let's work hard together!"

Since I was a child, when I was asked about my ideals, most of them would answer cool-looking answers like scientists or pilots, but I didn’t know what kind of life those professions could bring us.

It wasn't until we swam in the big river of reality and got farther and farther away from happiness that we began to think about what to do to make life more interesting, but we were often unable to do what we wanted.Is there anything more tragic than letting a person who does nothing see his ideals when he was young?In my favorite "Bi Mian Party", there are such lyrics:
like a slave to fame

Various ways of bundling

How to resist the invitation

come up with all sorts of excuses

Tomorrow's Wealth and Closure

I also rely on you to support me (meaning to save face)
I always worry that one day I will abandon my ideals for the sake of fame and fortune, so before that day comes, if I don’t do something quickly, I’m afraid I won’t be able to forgive myself in this life.

The principal of Fudan said this in his 2009 New Year's message: ... It is a bit frustrating that the word "idealism" seems to be synonymous with "not eating fireworks". "Idealism" cannot be so pejoratively understood.From a philosophical point of view, idealism has the nature of the other shore. You can approach this "other shore" as much as possible, but you will never reach the "other shore".It "can't come, but yearns for it".Idealism is a beacon of "the other side", without which the "this side" cannot be illuminated.

On the one hand, this passage provides a stronger reason for chasing the ideal, on the other hand, it also implies that the end of the ideal is just a new ideal, and the only choice is to constantly surpass ourselves.

Of course, I didn't say these words to Tanaka, after all, there was a language barrier.But whenever there is self-doubt and denial, I use it to encourage myself.

In the end, I don’t know who suggested it, and Tanaka and I shouted “Work hard, struggle!” to the end of the sea and the sky. It’s so much fun and fun to pour out all the depression of these years.A few seabirds flapped their wings and watched us from the top of the street lamp.

sudden job

My cell phone rang suddenly, and a strange girl's voice came from the microphone.

"Is it Wu Fei?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"I'm Salma, I saw your message."

"Oh... I thought you were missing. I was ready to fuck off. If I was a little later, I wouldn't be able to get your book."

"Haha, sorry, I don't surf the Internet often, so let's make an appointment tomorrow?"

"Okay, after lunch, how about meeting on the first floor of the Sky Tower? Let me introduce two friends to you by the way."

"no problem."

Salma is a girl who, like me, is a working traveler.She arrived a few weeks earlier than me. Once chatting online, she asked me to help me bring a book of advanced mathematics in Chinese.I studied advanced mathematics desperately in Fudan, and it was useless for 5 years after graduation. Unexpectedly, it saved my life in New Zealand.

Autumn nights get dark early, and the sea surface after 6 o'clock has been dyed colorful by neon lights.Tanaka and I strolled leisurely from one road to another, not thinking about tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the day after tomorrow... How wonderful it would be to be carefree like this every moment of working vacation.

When we parted, Tanaka asked me: "Feisang, what are your plans for tomorrow?"

"Oh, I'm going to the North Shore for a job test tomorrow. By the way, it's a Japanese restaurant!"

"Oh," Tanaka said, and after holding back for a long time, he said again, "I'll go with you."

My reaction at the time was the same as that of readers, I was shocked.This person's whim skill is definitely not at the same level as mine.

"At 8 o'clock in the morning the day after tomorrow, I will take a bus to the North Shore at the station in front of the pier. If you want, let's go together..."

This is our last conversation.If there is a reunion, will he walk towards me with a sack full of yen, blinking his small eyes, and smiling innocently?

The next afternoon, I met Salma at the Sky Tower as scheduled.She is Muslim and I recognized her easily.Along with her friend Joanna.Salma got off to a smooth start in New Zealand, not only got a job, but also got a house.What is interesting is her experience of renting a house. At that time, she was eating in a restaurant, and her later landlord came in and asked loudly if anyone wanted to rent a house.So they hit it off.In her own words, "I'm just extra lucky".Salma has also brought me luck, so I believe her luck is not accidental.

As soon as she saw me, she happily greeted me to take a seat, and then stuffed me with a white plastic bag.

"You came all the way to bring me books. I don't have anything good, so I brought you something to eat. Some instant noodles and snacks, don't mind."

There is no more perfect greeting ceremony than this. After two days, the bread and water almost made my mouth sour.I hastily handed over the ultimate cargo of the trip: advanced mathematics textbooks.

We chatted for a while, and Jordan, another friend of Salma's, arrived soon after.

"This is the friend I mentioned to you who is looking for a job, Wu Fei," Salma introduced us, "This is Jordan."

"What job are you looking for?" he asked me.

"It will be all right."

"Have you ever worked as a carpenter?"

"No." I said truthfully.

"I might be able to help you find work in that area, carpenters are in high demand in New Zealand and that's what I do."

"Can I work right away?" I asked, which is my biggest concern now.

"It may take a while. You want to work right away?"

"Yes, the sooner the better."

"He's running out of money," Salma interrupted.

Jordan thought for a while and said, "I'll help you contact a friend who is a foreman. He should have a job picking kiwis. I worked under him before, and he's a nice guy."

He immediately started calling, and I pricked up my ears, hoping for something to appear.

After hanging up the phone, Jordan said, "Tomorrow someone from the foreman's family will come to Oakland on business. You can take his car back to Opotiki in the afternoon."

"And then I can go to work?"

"Correct."

I still can't believe that two long lost days were reversed in such a dramatic way.

Joanna said, "Then let's go."

She got up, greeted some of the uniformed Sky Tower staff, and led us into the elevator.It wasn't until this moment that I realized that she was working here, and I also got the opportunity to climb the Sky Tower for free as a matter of course.

The elevator began to ascend silently, and soon reached the 360-degree viewing platform. The panorama of Auckland was unobstructed under my feet, and beyond, the glistening ocean could be seen.

Joanna introduced us the sights in detail, from the clock tower of the University of Auckland to the island where Gu Cheng committed suicide... But my mind was distracted, and various meaningless voices drifted away from my ears.It turns out that what changes a child's face is not only the weather in Auckland, but also the mood of the person.No matter how much hardship, it is possible to dissipate in the next second.The people around were staring into the distance, they would not have known that two days ago, a man, who was poor in money and hungry, escaped from the bottom floor of the Sky Tower in desperation.And this man, standing beside them now, has the same scenery reflected in his eyes.In the later days of working vacation, when I feel tired, I will think of this moment, and then gain the strength to persevere.

That night, without any psychological burden, I threw off my arms and had a long talk with a few roommates at the Fat Camel Inn.

"Aren't all the smart people in our army..."

"Our country has deserts full of flowers and goats that spit..."

"In the past two years, I have only had a few days of working holidays without work. It's not hard to find a job..."

"Chinese characters are difficult to learn, give up..."

Germans, Swiss, Chileans, Chinese, English is not our mother tongue, but there is no difference between our youth and our yearning for this world. We chat and chat, and we are tireless.

I began to feel that the world is really big.On Monday morning, I took the D2 bus to try out a Japanese restaurant on the North Shore.Andy told me that the restaurant is located in a group of office buildings and is easy to identify.As the name suggests, the North Shore is located in the north of Auckland. To get from the urban area to the North Shore, you need to cross the sea. The bus runs on the cross-sea bridge. The sea is full of golden light, and the sun is shining on your face.

After getting out of the car, I found that there were several tall buildings across the road, and the rest were large green spaces and residential houses.Is this the legendary "office buildings"?I moved towards the appointed place with suspicion, and soon I met Andy who was smiling.

He took me to a small Japanese restaurant, and there were already people in the kitchen busy preparing sushi and tempura for lunch.Because of my previous work, I have a special liking for Japanese food, and I am already eager to try it.

"Wait a minute in the kitchen, the boss is talking to the customers," Andy told me, "just work on it later."

So, I watched the chefs wash, cut, boil and fry with great interest, and at the same time imagined myself in the kitchen.I feel that this work is quite exciting.

Not long after, the boss came in, glanced at me coldly, then called Andy over and muttered in a low voice.

"Sorry, the boss said that this place is no longer occupied," Andy said awkwardly when he returned to me, "But he still has a store in the city, and he will take you there later."

I idled away in the kitchen for a while, then followed the Malaysian boss into the car.In the car, he seemed to be interested in talking, talking about her daughter, who is about my age and working in Canada.

"Young people, if you are aggressive, if you want to come out and see the world, I will let her go, but you still have to work hard." His focus is obviously on the last sentence.

"That's it, that's it." I agreed.

This restaurant in the city is much bigger than the North Shore, so I quickly changed into my uniform and entered the kitchen.Compared with the small and orderly kitchen before, this kitchen seems crowded and chaotic.In a small space, there are actually nearly 10 people busy.The boss arranged a senior for me and said, "Teach him."

"You, unpack that bag of rice rolls." The man ordered while he was busy with his work.

I thought to myself, I don't even know where the tools are, what to dismantle?What do you want to do after dismantling it?I stood there stupidly, and everyone around me thought I didn't exist.I used to yearn for the warm and quiet atmosphere in the movie "Seagull Canteen", but the real kitchen life is not as romantic as the movie at all.

I grudgingly worked for a while, then asked my boss, "Does this count as work?"

"Today?" He looked surprised, "Try it for two or three days first."

I can't wait that long, looks like it's time to get out of Oakland.He watched noncommittally as I took off my uniform and walked out of the restaurant.

Under the scorching sun at noon, a few sparrows were walking by the side of the road, and I remembered my friends outside the library.For them, does the so-called sense of accomplishment really exist?Being forced to leave Auckland, I can gradually feel a sense of unwillingness and frustration. Even though I can find a job elsewhere, my wish to stay in the bustling Auckland has come to nothing.What kind of mood did those young people who were forced to leave Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou set foot on the train back home?
I suddenly remembered that I still had something to do, so I took out my mobile phone and sent a short message to Andy: "Brother Andy, I plan to go to Opotiki to pick kiwis, although I didn't stay to work with you, thank you very much care."

He replied to me: "There are many black foremen in that place, be careful, call me if you need anything, and I will pick you up."

It takes more than 10 hours to drive from Auckland to Opotiki, what a man!I was so moved that I didn't know what to reply.It was meeting a kind-hearted person like Andy that gave me more confidence in the working vacation that started after a stumble.I have always had the feeling that the mutual contribution between people is decreasing forever. There are too many reasons for this, such as the overwhelmed life or the influence of the declining world.While in New Zealand, I was temporarily less pessimistic because I experienced so many beautiful and simple relationships.

At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, I was waiting for a car under the Sky Tower, and my friend Cui Ge, the foreman, would drive me to the kiwi fruit orchard I was looking forward to in my dream.In China, I have imagined the idle life of "picking chrysanthemums under the eastern fence and seeing Nanshan leisurely" countless times.Once on a business trip in Germany, the car was running on the vast, green fields. I told my colleagues that my ideal is to be a farmer.

The day has finally come.

(End of this chapter)