Australia holds a special place in my heart and all though I grew up in Switzerland, I dreamed of Australia since I was 19 years young. That was 21 years ago. It all started with a friend, moving to this amazing and very spiritual country and I was hooked from the moment he said he was leaving.
I started to “eat” up every book I could find, every TV documentary and every magazine snippet about Australia. I was breathing and living here before I ever stepped foot onto Australia.
But despite my “ache” of wanting to be here, another 11 years would pass until I was eventually able to do so rightly with a sponsored working visa.
My teens
While I grew up in a middle class family I was tremendously happy, until my parents decided to divorce when I was 16. At this point I as still so naive and green behind my ears (unlike kids today) that this hit me very hard. Suddenly I had to be the strong woman in the house, looking after my little sister and my mother.
Life as I knew it had taken a dramatic downturn.
I soon learned that I was basically on my own and not long after I finished school and started my apprenticeship.
The next few years
After I was remodeled, going from a naive teenager to a hard boiled chef, my yearning to see the world and far away places only intensified. One good thing about being a chef is the ability to work anywhere in the world with relative ease. But before you drop everything you do and quit your current job, consider this:
Working as a chef is closely associated with the following:
- Very long working hours
- Tons of stress
- A noisy environment
- Crap pay
- Idiot bosses (except a minor few)
- Working in 50 degree kitchens
- Not enough customer appreciation to really make this job fun
- A high turnover rate of staff
Once I finished my 3 year apprenticeship I was ready to move away from home. The next few years saw me working in some top hotels and restaurants in Europe:
- 2 years around Switzerland (that’s when the Australian bug hit me)
- 1 year in one of the best clubs/restaurants in London (where I met John)
- 1 year back in Switzerland since my visa had run out for the UK, cooking for more celebrities in a 5 star hotel (at that time John was able to get a working visa and move from England to Switzerland to live and work with me).
- and 2 years in Germany, one being in a two Michelin Star hotel.
In all that time I only had two motivations, first I wanted to be a famous chef (which quickly lost its fascination) and second I wanted to travel the world. Therefore both John and I had planned early to save up to travel and we took off on a 1 year trip around the world as backpackers.
In that time we traveled to:
- Bangkok
- Australia (3 month)
- New Zealand
- Fidji
- Hawaii
- Canada (west coast)
- USA (west coast)
- Chicago
In all that time we lived very well and enjoyed many trips. We had saved up hard for this to happen and never had to work (like so many backpackers seem to do when they travel). We carried a cool tent and lived mostly on campsites or double rooms in hostels.
The return home
When we returned home to Switzerland we had to find work to replenish our shrinking finances. So another 2 year stint followed, in which we started to seriously plan for our migration to Australia. Coming here previously was kind of like a sabbatical, trying to figure out whether we would really love living here (I always knew I would actually, but John wasn’t too sure yet).
As luck had it and to cut a rather long story short, we managed to score a job in the middle of the South Australian bush for two years. It was conditional and attached to a sponsorship working visa.
Therefore it was essential for us to stick with it, regardless of what happened, otherwise we would be sent packing to were we came from.
Arriving at our dream destination
I never forget the first time we set foot onto Australia as new residents. Both John and myself cried from sheer joy and the sense of achievement we had to have made it this far.
There was no way we would ever risk losing this, no matter what came next.
The first year of hell
Our first year working for a boss here in Oz was absolute and utter hell. We worked long hours (as usual), but to make matters worse we only had two days off in the two years we spent working at this hotel. Those two days were Christmas day.
John’s days off were on Wednesdays which made it a 6 day work week and mine were Mondays. Add to that the lack of knowing anybody and finding it very hard to make friends, since we were always working and having to run a very busy hotel with two kitchens and many staff.
But we were determined to stick it out. Nothing and nobody would steal our dream to live in Australia as citizens!
Adapting
So we did, we stuck it out and survived living and working there until our sponsorship run out two years later. We quickly found new work here in our new home town and have been living here in the last 8 years.
A dream come true
In the time since we left the South Australian outback we have been married, became Australian citizens, traveled the world a lot more, traveled around Australia a lot more, bought two houses and started two businesses (of which one is my failed MLM business).
We did all this with these things
- Our very own money and working hard to earn it
- Our sheer passion for what we dreamed of and keeping the focus through hard times!
Conclusion
Both John and I have had the privilege to travel extensively around the world thanks to our flexible job. But make no mistake. Most chefs end up taking drugs or becoming alcoholics, because they can’t deal with the stress.
Instead of all that, we chose to save our money for better things and travel.
The thing is, once you travel you can’t stop. 
We are fortunate to live in the country of our dreams and we are both excited about our future.
If we can do it, so can you!
Monika
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Monika,
What a wonderful and inspiring story. When I read this, I really took it to heart, in my mind’s voice you are talking right to me.
Everything starts with a dream. All things are created twice, first in the mind, and then physically (tip of my hat to Stephen Covey for this).
Dream it, then do it.
@ Brett: yes, keeping that dream is the most important part in the whole process. It’s what keeps you going in the dark days.
As for living your dream in NZ, you have already sowed the seeds and before you know it, you will be there - just hold that thought!
@ Monika,
You are right. The seeds have been planted, and they will grow. We will bring in the harvest (I just love farming analogies…)
We *will* get there. It is inevitable. We will be getting the photos for our children’s passports done this weekend (the final piece for the expression of interest to immigrate).
Thank you for the words of encouragement.
Hi Monika,
What a tremendously inspiring post!
While I was living in Papua New Guinea I used to spend a lot of time in Australia and always thought, “this would be a fantastic place to live!”
Sometimes, I don’t think people realize how difficult an [successful] overseas move can be, so I am glad you covered all angles in your story.
Mark
ps - apologies, but I think the link to my site is broken
@ Mark: sorry for the link stuff up. I fixed it now (had a double dot com in there). Thanks for pointing this out.
The reason I did write this post is to show others that it can be done. Like you said, it isn’t easy, but if we all had easy we wouldn’t appreciate what we have would we?
I’d love to go to Papua New Guinea myself one day. I’ve read a fair few books and saw some interesting documentaries about the tribes there.
I totally agree with you Monika…”Once you travel you can’t stop”. That’s our “problem” right now - we keep thinking “I wonder where we might eventually settle down” but then can’t imagine ourselves being in one place for more than a year.
Australia is a pretty strong contender though - we got married in Sydney - and I’m not surprised you fell for it. Love your story of doggedly pursuing your dream - what are you going to set your mind on next??
@ Lea: hey it’s cool having you stop by here between your jet setting around the world.
I’m sure you will settle for something really stunning. I’m about half way through your book and have to say that I’m very impressed. I can relate to what you were writing about so much.
In fact it helped me to start dreaming again. My mind is set on earning enough money to get John out of the kitchen and then travel around Australia again in a caravan or tent running our business from the road while enjoying life.
And from there we will progress to traveling the world for 6 month every year at least while spending the rest here in Australia.
At least that is what is on our minds right now. We’ll see what will happen.
Congrats on getting married in Sydney - great choice and no wonder you fell for it.
Maybe one day you will end up here for good. I have a feeling you would love it.
I love Australia. My best friend lives in Australia and once ( a very long time ago) I was in love with an Aussie!
I would love to move there someday. I just feel like I belong there.
@ Tammy: wow, you feel the pull?! I know exactly what you are feeling right now. I had the same feelings. Kind of like a magnet that kept pulling me closer and closer.
I wish for your dream to come true. You know you can!
Yup. Ever since I met my Aussie in 2002, I have been “drawn” to live there. He is long gone, but I still love the thought of someday, being able to travel there…
@ Monika & Tammy,
I understand how both of you feel. That is how it started with me.
I saw some pictures of New Zealand (at an unlikely place, a Linux developer’s blog page, she lives there). It started immediately - I knew I belonged there.
It ate away at me for well over a year until my wife and I were able to travel there. And as I said, on the third day she asked when we could move there.
We speak of it daily. Right now, with a metre of snow in the front yard where we are, NZ is *really* calling…
Sometimes you just know where you belong. When I was walking the streets of Auckland, I knew that was the only big city I have ever felt was “home”, and I’d never been there before. When at Karekare and Piha beaches, we found serenity.
Waiheke Island is the most likely candidate for where we will live when we get there. (That’s where I am standing in the little pic I use on Wordpress.)
It just goes on and on. The people, the language, the food, the air, the landscapes. I could have cried when we we drove through the Waikato Region. I had seen it in the “Lord of the Rings” movies, and didn’t believe it could be so green - until I saw it with my own eyes. And it was better than I’d imagined…
Thanks for this inspiring post! Australia is a land of my dream too, I had my honeymoon there and absolutely love the country, the weather and its people.
I’ve always harbour hope of living, working and bringing up the kids in this wonderful country but it is easier dreamt than done due to our deep-seated family roots in this part of asia.
I know it’s a shame on my part to think this way but it makes your story of your journey of working towards what you believe in, and achieving your dream all that more inspiring. Perhaps one day I can enjoy my retirement in Australia, would it be too late then?
Hi Monika - just letting you know that I enjoyed your post so much that I just had to link to it today…
Hope all is well in OZ!
Hey Monika, I loved the post! As a child of Oz I know where you’re you’re coming from.
Growing up in the suburbs of Sydney in the late 60s/early 70s me and my siblings had a magical childhood that kids today in Europe just couldn’t even imagine. Maybe I should write a book about it one day!
Being a foreigner in someone else’s country is second nature to me, so living here in Spain is wonderful - we have comparable weather to how I remember it in Sydney - we just don’t have the same language and the stars of course are different in the night sky!
I really feel for you about that rotten first job in SA, your boss must have really used you and John knowing full well you had to stick it out to get your residency papers. Some people eh?
Monika! no kidding?!? I haven’t even read the rest of the article yet.
I live in the states, after high school I did my apprenticeship (12 years ago) at an amazing hotel in downtown Denver, CO.
I was mentored for 4 years, the apprenticeship was 3 years long and regulated by the A.C.F. - American Culinary Federation. I studied under 17 chefs in 5 restaurants plus banquets, garde manger, pastry.
Heres the kicker 15 of the 17 chefs were Swiss German Or Swiss French, the hotel was basically run by the swiss. So cool!!!
I am in love with Australia my self.
Fell all giddy and a little dumb but oh well.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Landon
@ Landon: isn’t the world a small place. Great to hear parts of your story, cooking up a storm. Yeah, the Swiss certainly made their marks for high quality cooking back in those days. I’m not sure how they would perform today, since many great chefs hail from all around the world.
Great to have you stop by and comment. I also look forward to meeting you. If you keep your dream alive and work toward it, you will step onto Australian soil one day!
Hi Monika,
Thanks for telling your story.
Glad you like Australia. Working visas are the pits. I wish they were outlawed - or at least properly policed to get rid of the kind of abuse you suffered.
I live in Sydney and hope to move to the Blue Mountains soon - housing in Sydney is unaffordable. For non-Aussies reading this Sydney is in the top 10 cities in the world for housing affordability.
Do you have a favourite sort of food to cook? I guess you were trained cordon bleu(?)
Evan
@ Evan: welcome fellow Aussie.
Sydney is a lovely city to visit and I love the Blue Mountains. I stayed there once on a 10 day holiday and it was great. Plus on another visit we hiked the steps of the three sisters. I hope it will work out for you to find a suitable home there.
Hi Monika,
The number of steps in the giant staircase (going up the side of the three sisters) is 905 - yes I counted. I thought you needed to know. And the metal stairs hanging out over hundreds of feet of empty space . . . well, let’s just say that I don’t have any plans to do it again any time soon.
At the moment I am scouring accommodation websites and applying for jobs. I hope to move soon.
@ Evan: 905, oh my goodness was it really that many? Thanks for the refresher. I still remember that railway that hangs over the canopy. I reckon I was close to a heart attack when I sat in this thing.
[…] about following your dreams with Monika at The Writers Manifesto, as she told us about her Journey to the Land Downunder. It is a dream that I also […]
Monika - this is really inspiring. Your hard work has really paid off. I would really love to move away from the UK but I’ve always wondered if it could really be a possibility for me.
I had considered America, but I’d read so much about strict entry requirements. Maybe Australia would be better for me?
After reading your posts, I’m definitely going to look into it further.
I thought about waiting until my kids were older but, if I keep that attitude I suppose I’ll wind up putting it off forever.
Cath - you can totally do it, if you put your mind to it. We are pretty far along the way to relocating to New Zealand (a dream for my wife and I), and sure, we have been working on it seriously for about a year and a half, but it will happen for you if you want it to happen.
And if it helps to encourage you further, we have a 6-year old and 3-year old triplets. My wife and I were just talking about it again in the car today. We don’t want to see one more winter here. The kids are the perfect age to move. So the push is on.
Good luck to you as well - follow your dreams - one step at a time - and you will get there.
PS - I love your blog. And if you move to Oz, then that would be another person to visit when we go to visit Monika…
Hi Brett - that is brilliant. And like you say, if you can do it with four young kids there is a chance for me also.
And it will be great if you can visit when we move over there. It will be fun knowing that there’s other bloggers nearby.
Hi Cath - well, thanks, I have to say that I have drawn my inspiration from people such as Monika, it is infectious and it is a great feeling once it starts. There is definitely a chance you will do it - more than a chance - if you decide to do it, I’ll bet it is a certainty.
PS - I had replied to your comment on my old blog (sorry to hijack your comments section, Monika), the RSS will work on my new blog which will be “up” shortly - thanks to lots of help from people like Monika
@ Cath: sorry for my late reply. I’m still playing catch ups from being away and things going pear shaped. I so agree with Brett though on what he said.
You can do it and coming from the UK, you will love Australia all the more. It would be cool to have you here anyway. Just make sure its Queensland as this is simply the best.
Ok, I admit I’m biased now. But seriously, the most important thing you can do is to see a well experienced migration agent. It will go a long way in getting you here.
Don’t make the mistake on going with an “el cheapo” version just to safe some money. (Just a hint)
If you ever need pointers, don’t be afraid to ask me.
@ Brett: thanks for helping to keep the forth up here while I was slacking off on a city trip. Poff, if I had known how much trouble I would run into, I probably wouldn’t have gone in the first place.
LOL, but it wasn’t all bad. John and I had a ball.
@ Monika: my pleasure, my friend, and you weren’t slacking off, you were sharpening the saw. Very important to do that
I second you too on a migration agent. I am working with someone in Auckland myself, and it has been very helpful so far.
Someday the three of us will all be on the same side of the globe - I’ll make the flat whites!
@ Brett: I’ll look forward to that.
You might have some stiff competition now. John has his Barista credentials, so watch out.
Yep, agent is in my eyes a must. Most people who try to go without it lose out.
@ Monika: as will I, my friend
then I will have to learn from the Master (hi John *raises his regular coffee cup*)
I know the people we have worked with have given us all kinds of tips and encouragement, as the process can be drawn out. But it can be done - you’re living proof
Hi Monika - No worries - I guessed you would be busy. I hope everything’s ok now.
Thanks - I was wondering whether to use an agent or not. I would hate to try to do things ourselves then screw everything up.
I’m going to do a search on Queensland now. I’ll probably need to ask you tons of questions - so thanks for the offer.
@ Cath: I would strongly suggest to go with an agent. Australian migration laws are a pain in the neck in the best of times and since they always change, this won’t help if you go it your own way.
However, I do know or have met people who did it themselves and they got approved rather fast. Still, I believe it is more secure to use an agent.
Questions are welcome, no worries.
[…] is great - in fact, their winter’s are probably warmer than most summers we get in the UK. Monika Mundell emigrated to Australia to start a new life and get away from her negative family. It was hard work for the first few […]