Chapter 2: Making my way down town
As I was happily enjoying what is to him a weird combination of peanut butter and jelly, he asked,
“Are you still hungry? We have some meat on the fridge and potatoes. I can whip up a proper meal for you.
“This is a pretty filling sandwich” I replied saying my thanks,
“I’ll take a quick nap and will have proper dinner later. Any recommendations?”
“Irish Joe’s is a town favorite and look for Joe, as per the name. If you come home late, you have all the keys for the gate and the door. Please lock it also when you leave, I’m off to surf,”
“Sure.” I nodded. Maybe I’m just the only guest here so he’s off to surf. I thought.
I finished my sandwich and went up to my room to take a nap. I woke up a bit scared because it was already dark. I search for my phone on my bedside and checked, it’s already 6PM!
I googled Irish Joe’s on the map and find out that it was a 5-minute drive so I decided to leave my motorbike and go for a walk.
Ostberg is a small town home to bungalows, beach camping, nature trails trails, surfing, fresh food, and more.
Around 1500 people call this place home. Far from downtown Lismore this place is what I needed for a week’s worth of recuperating all the life and energy I’ve lost from grad school.
Graduating at 22, working in as a consumer behavior market researcher made me feel tired me out. I’ve been all concerned about how would people react if advertisements are like this, would they buy the product. 405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDMmslqkAD
Studying different personalities and responses. It was too much of technical stuff going on with my work life. I got burned out at 25 and quit. My mom encouraged me to take up a masters degree but I know I needed a new environment so I chose Australia. 405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXHrTDGyke
Luckily my best friend Ken also finished post graduate internship in medicine and was thinking of doing his residency abroad so I dragged him here. 3 and a half semesters in graduate school later and I felt the same burn out feeling as I had when I was still in the corporate. I don’t feel like I’m passionate about school and studies now so I needed some alone time. Some peace and quiet. 405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGioLn8NcYD
I consider my life dull and boring, meaningless as some would say. Where is my passion, is there even passion in what I am taking up right now? Imagine, 10 years on psychology theory and practice and I feel like I’m lifeless. Oh these random thoughts as I wander on these streets. I failed to see the beauty around me just thinking of how nonsensical my life feels at the moment. 405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZhv4tvcxq
The town is really nice, there’s fresh air, sea breeze, I passed by a flower shop, a convenience store and some houses with their lights on, then by the street corner I saw a guy who looks like he just came from a run in his trainer suit. He was in a call speaking in Japanese. I can understand a little bit of Japanese when…
“Ā, watashi wa atarashī on'nanoko o mimasu. (Trans: oh, i see a new girl)”
I stopped and turned to his direction…
“Chottomatte. Kanojo wa kidzuita. Atode denwa suru yo. Ja! (Trans: wait a minute. she noticed. call you later. ja!)” he dropped the call as his eyes widened at my response.
“Do you understand Japanese?” He asked.
“Nihongo ga wakarimasu (I understand Japanese)” I responded.
He uttered a long apologetic Japanese speech saying how sorry he was for the comment.
“It’s alright, I couldn’t catch up with your apologetic speech anyway since I only know a few words. I just picked up new girl from your sentence.”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOk1FDnveS
405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugSskmG3uu
“I am sorry, it’s my bad I didn’t think you would hear that. I am so embarrassed”
“You’re too polite. Don’t be. I don’t mind I’m really new here. Just a tourist out on a holiday.”
“I know, it’s so rare to see someone here. I thought I’m the only tourist in town.”
“Wow!” I uninterestingly replied.
“Where are you heading?”
“To Irish Joe’s”
“Oh goodie, if off there too! Can I join your walk?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDPYXVjdqt
“Uhm, sure?” I reluctantly answered.
“Don’t worry, I go there for dinner every day, Joe’s have something prepared for me.”
Then we started to walk. He asked me some basic questions as to why I’m here and I answered the same way as I did with Tyler.
I’ve never seen a town with people so chatty.
Lights were a bit dim, outside but Irish Joe’s Pub and Grill was a bright and nice. We entered.
“Joe!” he greeted the tall lean old man busy assembling a salad.
“Hiro! You came in early mate?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB59FaVeyky
“Didn’t run too far, my mom called.”
“And who’s that pretty young lady with you?”405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7EgGqO44x
“This is…”
“Macy” I said.
“Macy, well as you heard from the man of the house, I’m Hiro.” He introduced himself to me smiling. He was looking charming with more light on his face, his cheekbones were so defined as well as his jawline. He would pass as a model if he’d be in a big city.
“I just met her outside Joe” he further noted.
“Hello, young lady, what would you like to have for dinner?”
“A pint of cider and your menu please? And maybe a house appetizer.”
“Any food allergies?” he asked concerned.
“Aww that’s sweet but no, I’m good to eat anything.”
“Onion rings for appetizer and maybe Joe’s steak special for the main dish?”
“Sound’s yum!” I replied.
“For you Hiro, I’m just finishing up your dinner it’ll be ready in 5” he turned to Hiro with his smiling face.
“Oh Joe, no need to hurry, serve mine alongside hers so I can accompany her for dinner. If that’s okay with our miss?”
Joe served the cider and appetizer.
Wow swift move. I thought.
“I’m really sorry for earlier,” he apologized again.
“Wow, how many times do you have to do that. It’s no big deal.” I explained sounding so annoyed. Uh-oh what if he apologizes again for me being pissed how he kept on apologizing.
“Okay, so let me treat you dinner”
“No.” I replied in a bat.
“Whoah! You got turned down, Hiro” Joe laughingly commented.
“Oh no, I didn’t mean it that way,” to my defense. “I just don’t like owing people favors or them treating me, I’m fine, really.”
He looked so ashamed with the incident but I just gave him a wide smile.
“You look lovely by the way,” he suddenly remarked.
Whoah! He’s smooth!
I chuckled.
“So you’re a regular here at Joe’s? I asked, in efforts divert the conversation in a less flirty manner. He did look quite reserved and worried after my previous comment.
“Yes. He cooks my dinner after my late afternoon exercise.”
“He’s gluten free,” Joe commented on the sides
“Oh that’s interesting. Is it hard for you to have gluten-free food here in Australia?”
“No, they’re everywhere.” He replied smiling.
Conversation saved. I think he looks cute too, when he smiles.
“So you said earlier you're also not from town?”
“No, I’m here for work, I’m a marine biologist so I’m doing research here for 3 weeks in a month and report back to Lismore for a week for Labs and Uni teaching.”
“Oh wow you’re a scientist? That’s pretty awesome!”
He has just elevated into a whole level of cool for me.
“Thanks, what about you?”
“I was a researcher too for consumers in a marketing agency. Then I got bored and wanted to go back to school again. So I'm taking up my masters in psychology”
“I see we both like school and research. Where is your Uni?”
“South Crest.”
“No joke. Seriously?” He grinned so big he looked excited. I nodded.
“That’s where I teach and where my lab is.” he further commented.
OMG! We’re in the same uni! This is so awesome! Finally someone I know in uni. I have been struggling to really make friends in grad school. Everybody just seemed busy.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyAw5Q4UYd
My eyes widened in shock and I also can’t help but flash a huge grin.405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCdj1loJpz
"Small word." I replied. Joe was approaching with our food.
“Here’s both your dinners, enjoy! Would you like another cider Macy?” Joe asked
“Yes please!”
Hiro and I and a nice chat about school and my life here in Australia. I feel like we’re in a date but we’re not. It’s good to have dinner with another human.
"Itadakimasu!" (let's eat in Japanese)405Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLWkNXeuVx
