After I had left the place I looked around on the airport. It was big, spacy and busy, like pretty much any airport anywhere. I went through customs and immigration, all taking up a long while. All I wanted was to finally get to the hostel and relax while figuring out my future plans.

What seemed like hours later I finally got my bag and continued my journey. Just a few days ago I had booked a hostel to stay in for the first few nights. It was cheap, all I can afford. I would not have my own room but a shared one. It was however in a great location. Not too far from the airport, a little outside the city, yet the former was easily accessible.

The ride to the hostel was short, nothing interesting. I was beginning to notice the heat. When I left Germany it was pretty cold, as it always is in autumn. Here however they are currently in Spring, almost summer and quite frankly it is way hotter than I anticipated it to be.

After I had completed the check in I dragged all my laguage to my assigned room. The photos of the hostel certainly looked prettier on the internet. Where I was expecting a lovely family environment and brightly colored walls was a pretty empty atmosphere and slightly bleached walls with a few run down spots, such as the common room.

It will only be for a few days though, I said to myself and opened the door to a small, slightly smelly room. A bunk bed was pushed on each side of the wall, only one of the eight beds seemed to be empty. I dumped all my things on the not yet taken bed.

I debated going out to explore versus staying in and starting with a nap. I chose the former as I was beyond exhausted. Since I was planning to stay for at least a couple days here I would have plenty of time to see the area, no rush.

I woke up a few hours later. Whilst I would have loved to just turn around and keep sleeping I decided to go to the local supermarket. I asked at reception where said supermarket was and apperantely there is a Woolworths just around the corner. Whatever that is.

Everywhere I heard people speaking with a strong Australian accent. It sounded quite interesting but some parts were not entirely easy for me to understand. One thing I had learnt about the Australians beforehand was that they love using abbreviations for everything.

The supermarket was quite similar to the ones at home, yet there were some small differences. The products varied, the language printed on the items obviously was different and the local currency is the Australian dollar. On first glance everything seems to be a lot more expensive but when you convert the AUD to Euros the prices don‘t actually vary that much.

I had bought a frozen pizza and was now waiting for it to heat up.

„Hi, can I sit there?“ A girl approached me and pointed to the empty seat opposite of me. There were a few empty tables in the room, it was late, way past dinner time. Yet she choose to sit with me rather than sit by herself in peace. „Sure. Hi“ I smiled at her. She was pretty. Brown shoulder long hair, warm brown eyes and the most gorgeous smile I had ever seen.

„I am Maia“ She introduced herself. The British accent couldn‘t be missed. I introduced myself to her, told her my name and that I am from Germany.

„So what brings you here?“ Maia asked me.

„That‘s a long story“ I said.

„Well I have time“

For a few seconds I was tempted to just say that I thought Australia would be fun or something but I chose to tell the actual truth. After all, most likely, I won‘t see this girl again after today. I certainly won‘t after I leave the hostel, which I hope to do soon.

„It was a spontanous decision. I had a rough day, like super rough. My boyfriend broke up with me and I lost my job- all on the same day. I just needed- and wanted- an escape. To not be around the company or potentially run into my ex….plus there was nothing holding me back“

We stayed in the kitchen for a long time. I had finished my pizza a while ago, we are just sitting there talking. I learnt a little more about Maia. She arrived in Australia a couple months ago, has done a road trip on the South coast of Australia, from Melbourne to here and now does not have much money left, that is why she chose to come here and work.

„Where do you plan on working?“ I asked her, not only to be nice and keep the conversation going but because I hoped she would have a great idea for work around here, maybe something I could do.

„ I am not sure yet. Thought about buying a car and driving up the coast...work on a farm somewhere. Could be fun“

Everything about her was truly mesmerizing. The way she spoke, her voice was quiete soft yet firm in a way. Her eyes sparkeled of joy, you can tell she was truly listening and interested in having this conversation. Maia was easily one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen.

„What are your plans in Australia, Lilli?“ I had zoomed out a little, her question brought me back to reality. A weird reality may I add. Sitting in a shared kitchen in a ugly hostel on the other end of the world eating a frozen pizza whilst having a conversation with a beautiful stranger.

Plans. If I just had any.

„I guess getting a job would be good“ Maia nodded. „It always is“ „True“ I said. I added that, quite frankly, I had no idea what kind of job I could be getting.

Our conversation was interrupted when another girl came looking for Maia. She was tall, much taller than me. Blonde hair, short and curly. I can‘t exactly tell where is she is from, but my guess would be somewhere from Europe as well.

„Hi, I am Olivia“ She introduced herself to be shortly before focussing her attention on Maia. „let‘s go darling, we are late already! Get up“. Being the curious person I am I would have loved to know where they have to go.

„Coming, coming. Calm down. Bye, Lilli. Nice meeting you. Maybe I will see you tomorrow at the party at the hostel?“

„Sure“ I said, I can‘t remember being invited to a party other than by my best friends. Sure, it wasn‘t her party but it seemed like she wants to see me at said party tomorrow.

I really wish we could have sat here longer, talking more about all the different things like we did before Olivia came.

I had a few friends back in Germany. But only a few who I would occasionally meet and hang out with. Most of them I have known for the majority of my life. I rarely ever met new people, I haven‘t made any good friends recently. I highly enjoyed the company of someone new tonight, hearing parts of someones life story and telling mine.

Maybe coming here was a great decision after all.