What to Do After WHV?
Stop! Don’t ask me that, because I’ll definitely respond with “confused,” “there are too many possibilities of what I might do,” or “I don’t know.”
In my opinion, many Indonesians whose Working Holiday Visas (WHV) have expired often experience what I call “Post-WHV Syndrome,” where they’re unsure about their next steps after WHV.
Of course, not everyone is confused. Some immediately continue their studies in Australia with a Student Visa, or those who are lucky get a sponsorship visa, like the 457.
Actually, my previous job had the possibility of sponsoring me for a 457 visa, but I would have had to go back to school for something related to bakery.
However, since my background is in engineering and it took me 5.5 years to graduate, I wasn’t too eager to pursue the 457 visa.
If I do go back to school, it’ll be in a field related to my previous studies.
So, one possibility is that I’ll try applying for an LPDP scholarship first. Wish me luck for next year!
Aside from “Post-WHV Syndrome,” I might also suffer from another post-WHV condition.
This one might be because I spent too much time in Sydney or because I truly feel that Sydney is a home that gives me comfort, even while living on another continent.
I call it “Severe Missing Sydney Syndrome (SMSS).” I made up the name—it’s not in any dictionary.
But really, I think there are going to be several things I’ll miss about Sydney.
I hope that when I return to Indonesia, I’ll be able to adapt quickly. And here’s what I’ll likely miss most about Sydney:
1. Drinking Tap Water
Back when I lived in Jakarta, I would stock up on gallon-sized bottles of mineral water every week.
I just didn’t trust the quality of groundwater in Jakarta for drinking.
I also didn’t believe the tap water in Jakarta was safe to drink straight from the tap.
Understandable, considering I only lived in a simple boarding house in Jakarta.
At best, the tap water was only good for bathing.
In Blitar too, we’d boil well water before drinking it.
But in Sydney, it’s the opposite! I never bought bottled water or boiled water, except to make hot coffee.
Besides, I never even saw any convenience stores selling gallon-sized mineral water. Sydney’s tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap.
So, while in Sydney, I never bought bottled water.
If I bought soft drinks or cola at the supermarket, it was often.
Especially when they were half price. I hope that when I’m back in Jakarta or elsewhere in Indonesia, I don’t forget and just open the tap and drink straight from it when I’m thirsty!
It’d be fine if I’m healthy, but if I’m not, my poor stomach!
2. Shopping for Discounts at the Supermarket
Eating out at restaurants or cafes in Sydney is expensive, so I made it a habit to shop for groceries every week.
I always did my weekly shopping to cook daily meals. Yes, I really do cook!
Believe it or not, cooking has been one of my hobbies since way back. Though maybe I’m the only one who thinks my cooking is delicious. Hehe!
Because I cooked for myself in Sydney, I also learned a new skill—bargain hunting for discounted groceries.
My favorite places to shop in Sydney were Haymarket and Coles.
At Haymarket, I usually bought vegetables, especially chilies.
At Paddy’s Market in Haymarket, the prices are incredibly cheap by Sydney standards.
Three packs of vegetables, chilies, or onions for AUD 5, enough for one to two weeks.
It’s so affordable that visiting on Saturdays or Sundays became mandatory. Since it’s closed on Mondays and I had to work anyway.
Coles is my favorite spot for hunting half-price deals.
Sometimes I’d also buy meat or fish there.
I also bought rice, noodles, and daily essentials there. In Indonesia, it’s like Hypermart or Giant.
It’s the best when my favorite items or snacks are half-price.
When that happens, I usually stock up. After all, you don’t get half-price deals every day.
3. Walking on Sidewalks Without Obstacles
This might be what saddens me the most about leaving Sydney.
In Indonesia, I haven’t found a city with comfortable sidewalks free of obstructions.
Whether it’s from street vendors setting up shop on the sidewalk, or motorbikes zooming past from behind without warning.
That’s why, while in Sydney, I made sure to take advantage of walking everywhere.
So much so that my boss in Sydney was surprised and always asked, “Why do you like walking so much here?”
I always replied, “You know, boss, walking comfortably is the most expensive thing in Jakarta or even in Indonesia!”
Yes, I’ve always felt that the most expensive thing in Indonesia is the ability to walk comfortably on sidewalks without any disturbances.
The best you can get is walking comfortably during Car Free Day.
Even in Bali, where the sidewalks were still comfortable for walking 3-4 years ago, they’ve now started to get infected with the nuisance of motorbikes riding up on the sidewalks.
So, when I’m back in Indonesia, I’m definitely going to miss this.
4. Taking the Train Everywhere
I could take the train in Jakarta too.
But it’s not really everywhere, and there aren’t many lines.
In Sydney, even without a personal vehicle, I could still go everywhere, exploring here and there.
The Sydney transport system is well-organized.
Besides, the trains are double-decker, so no worrying about overcrowding.
5. Trekking in the National Parks Around Sydney
This is another thing I love and will miss about Sydney.
This Australian metropolis is lucky to be surrounded by many national parks just waiting to be explored.
For someone like me, who loves big cities and trekking, Sydney is like the best place to live.
You get both the natural environment and the big city atmosphere!
No matter how hard I work, if I want to refresh, I just go trekking in one of the national parks.
And voila! Stress level drops drastically, only to be raised again by working hard without limits!
6. Visiting Sydney’s Beaches
As a coastal city, of course, Sydney has plenty of beaches.
Beaches are one of Sydney’s tourist attractions!
Yeah, even though you can only really swim in the ocean during the summer. Because in other seasons, the water is freezing!
But for someone like me who loves the beach, just breathing in the sea air makes me happy!
Especially visiting Bondi Beach. The fresh air and the view are refreshing!
7. People-Watching in Busy Sydney CBD
Besides the beaches, if you want to refresh by people-watching, just take a stroll in Sydney CBD. Since Sydney is a multi-ethnic city.
For those who enjoy watching Korean dramas, you might randomly bump into someone who looks like a K-POP singer, Japan Idol, or a handsome foreigner resembling a celebrity.
For the ladies, if you want to refresh by seeing someone like Chris Hemsworth or even better, there are plenty.
Just head over to Sydney CBD!
Don’t go to the outback; you’ll only meet kangaroos there.
So that’s Sydney. It’s become a home for me since I first arrived in Australia a year ago.
But, because my WHV is expiring, with a heavy heart, I have to say “Sayonara Sydney.” This isn’t goodbye.