Building a (Temporary) Home

After a month of living nowhere for longer than a week, it is a different kind of exciting to be ‘settling down' in Adelaide for a substantial amount of time. I loved the three and a half weeks I spent in Western Australia: getting to know Perth, the adventures on the road, the unbeatable sunsets. Life had a constant newness and a rotating cast of characters. Of course, that hasn’t changed entirely since I arrived in Adelaide two weeks ago. I’m still enjoying meeting new people, and in hostel life there are frequent hellos and goodbyes. And even though I am in one city for about six weeks, there is always something to discover, whether that’s a trip to a new beach or a coffee from a different cafe. 

But building a routine and putting down some shallow roots for a while is exciting even by itself. 

When I was in Western Australia and told people that Adelaide was my next destination, I was met with raised eyebrows, low swinging jaws, and the incredibly original question: “why?” My defence was ready: I had a job to go to, I was going for the Fringe – the season Adelaide comes “alive.” It seems that outside of South Australia, Adelaide has a reputation for not being worth a look. But now I’m living here and building my temporary home, I’m enjoying it.

Last week I started working for the Adelaide Fringe Festival (if you’ve read about my goals for the year you’ll understand that this is a huge excitement for me). This opportunity is a great way for me to meet new people, engage with the Australian fringe theatre scene, and earn some dollars. I’m also in a great position to learn about how a Fringe festival works and what it takes on the side of the companies that put them on. 

In the past week, I’ve also gotten a gym membership and started going rock climbing (both places had good deals on that seem worth it), and it’s nice to be investing in a place! And developing some new skills. I feel like both (but particularly the climbing) are excellent preparation for future adventures. After climbing the precarious Frenchman’s Peak in WA, developing climbing skills and the confidence that comes with them will be useful in similar future situations. 

I started climbing because I met several people in my hostel who have been going. After my first few days in the hostel were spent solo, it was really nice to start making friends. Some of us went to Laneway Festival on the 10th February too, which was an epic day of sunshine and live music. The highlights included the beginning lyrics of Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Motion Sickness’ when we skipped over to the stage, running on the thrill of a beloved song. Another was watching Haim’s set from up close, with only one row of people separating us from the sisters’ fantastic performance. 

Through smiles in the communal kitchen and brave hellos, I’ve made connections with so many people. Largely, in a hostel, the people you see in the common areas are also excited to make friends, and you can bond quickly. Already, I feel the warmth of a community around me. People who want to hang out, go on adventures, talk. People who are in a similar position to me, who understand the pros and cons of solo travel, the difficulties and delights of being so far from home. 

It’s these connections and routines that I am building, by myself and with others, that are helping me carve out my temporary home. They make me excited, again, to travel a little differently for a while.