人生下一步能有新挑戰嗎？整天就是打卡上下班？想知道自己在異國生活的能耐？由於響應許多社會新鮮人想體驗國外生活卻擔心預算有限或是在職場奮鬥已久想重拾生活熱情和不同的生活態度。由熱愛背包行的Brian Yu為大家專訪在澳洲布里斯本的Linda Huang的小資女孩，記錄她怎麼跨出這步，離開自我的舒適圈而投身到澳洲這個充滿陽光海岸和打工勝地的精彩過程。
本專欄分為三大部分：(A)申請過程叮嚀細節(B)實務工作經驗狀況(C)景點介紹或特殊活動分享。介紹的申請過程到街頭藝人證的領取及殘酷街頭生存戰。工作不忘用娛樂調劑，也搭上了私人飛機進行高空彈跳的刺激體驗，也結識各國好友和神秘的水晶球男孩Berlin。本期澳洲打工度假計畫要繼續鎖定勇氣美女Linda Huang的飯店房務打工究竟遇到怎樣讓她翻白眼翻到腦垂體的挫折呢？而她又該怎樣處理這些在打工度假遇到的危機呢？讓我們屏息著繼續讀下去吧！
(A)How do we apply for it?(The Preparation of CELL PHONE)
My dear backpacker, are you still sorting out piles of luggage and daily necessities for your amazing trip? Wait for a minute, Brian has got your some updated new directly from Australia. Now you have got to switch the focus on the cell phone policy and the latest package you could notice. Today our column will introduce the telecommunication companies you may have a hard time choosing from for you cell policy and the strengths as well as drawbacks of each firm. Without the device of communication, your employer may lose track of you and won't be able to inform you of any prompt events or emergencies. And mingling with pals there should be a great pleasure and don't let them find it difficult to locate where you are. Working alone abroad is way too tough to imagine. Let's figure out the best way of reaching your friends and job opportunities.
1.Telstra：The Dominant Telecom. Company
●Reception: 99% coverage in Australian areas and the indicator of telecommunication development
●Charge：Higher than other firms (AU 20, the lowest rate per month)
●Advice：If you are the applicant who works in the remote area, some farmland as well as ranches away from the city, or the meat processing factory, this is a must-select company for your smooth talk.
2. Optus: The Top 2 choice
●Reception: 97% coverage in your " neighborhood"(residential area) or the designated zones.
●Charge：AU 2 per minute for making a call to Taiwan, and the international telephone card also available.(shops, regular gas stations, or the campus bookstores)
●Advice：What distinguished Optus from others is the professional clerk will help you locate the specific spot you pick up and make the calls more often and offer you the most reasonable policy. Your charges can be varied from one city to another, but Optus' policy is more economical than others'.
3. Virgin：Share the telecommunication base of Optus
●Reception：97% coverage in residential area, the quality of reception will be as good as Optus.
●Charge：lower, including making international calls, and the users are allowed to save the hours/balances left this month, still valid for the next.
(B) How do we land jobs there? The Housekeeping(Part 1)
"A penny saved is a penny earned." You may wonder how your employer in the hotel evaluates your work performance and pay you reasonably in terms of time/sweat input and the high demand of tidying up the messy used room into a sweet, cozy one you would pay with one-month salary. And you will be questioned with some simple questions to test your command of English communication adequate enough to express your ideas and solve our guests' problems efficiently. And be aware of the length of your valid visa could possibly be in conflict with that of the work contract.
●Pay for your nice job!
There are two common systems of earning your money through this position: By Hours, or By Contract before you officially work for the hotel. There's no guarantee that one of the policy will suit you better but how FAST you can accomplish the task is the key to the ideal pay.
●Identify your nature of duty and the background of the company
The hotel, OAKS situated in the hub of commercial areas with flood of vehicles and visitors from all around the world, will require all new employees to apply for ABN(Australian Business Number) in order to file your tax statement; at the very moment, you are no longer an EMPLOYEE to the company but a CONTRACTOR to it. Given that you are signing the contract with the hotel/hostel, you are paid with the number of room cleaned up in a one day. The FASTER, THE BETTER.
Here comes the table of pay for each housekeeper：











Now let me explain some terms to you all for better understanding of this paying system:
1. Departure：
Apparently, you will get more bucks if assigned to clean the room which the guest just checked out with all the chaos and trashes left behind on every corner of the room. Guests usually check out before 10 am and the reminder call will notify the additional charge for them. You will be given a cleaning cart equipped with detergent, plastic gloves, bed sheets, and the wrap-it-all-stained-laundry bag to gather all for easier cleaning. Basically, your muscles will feel terribly sore after getting ONE ROOM cleaned and I won't say" You will get used to it" in an encouraging tone but hope you can make out the meaning of your visit to Australia and bear in mind that you are the only person to count on. NEVER COMPLAIN about your job and view it as a money-making tool of proceeding your journey. Part of me enjoyed all challenges of the task from which I developed great perseverance and illustrated my points in a diplomatic manner.
2.Public Holiday：
In English-speaking, some major holidays won't open too many opportunities for you to work then, for your employer shall double your payroll that day, which is not so economical for the supervisor. Half of our staff will take days off and of course you can fight for the right of working as a skeleton staff for covering all necessary labors during the public holidays. Compared to the locals, Asians tend to be more diligent and eager to earn more money for their family in the hometown. To me, I can save some for the rainy day as well as any luxurious enjoyment, such as trekking to other cities before returning to Taiwan.
(C) What can we do in Australia? (Entertainment)
1. How to get to Byron Bay Skydiving Center?
It's near dawn and seems like no one walking on the pavement or there's no noise from vehicles but freezing gust of wind blowing your face, leaving five of us shaking like jello by the curb. Why? We were waiting for the bus at Roma Street Bus Stop 125. (on the right side of Roma Street Train Station)
Byron Bay is two-hour ride from Brisbane Then here arrived our Skydive Bus in which the bus driver was dressed in the uniform printed with Skydiving logo and his smiled brought us warmth and hospitality, which lessened quite a lot of burden on my mind: FEAR TO FALL. When hopping on the bus, there's so much doubt and confusion left in my heart. Make it or break it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. why not "Give it a shot"!?
2.Sign the official documents before this insane activity
Before heading for the journey, you should complete the on-line application form and also received mail written with:
"Hi here, it is a MANDATOR REQUIREMENT of the Australian Parachute Federation that you MUST complete your APF registration before the day of your skydive."
"Parachuting Contract-PARACHUTING DANGEROUS" as the headline of the paper in my hands." GOD, are you trying to warn me for this nearly-take-my-life act?" Most people have cold feet when this "unusual" moment falls on them. APF(Australian Parachute Federation) will demand medical check and full-awareness the applicant understands what they may experience and should take their physical condition into consideration; most importantly, if there's any accident happening during the ride when all equipment and actions in operation comply with the official guidelines, the participants should take his/her own liability with no compensation for the loss.