Spending Time With Myself In Sydney

I grew up in a big family, surrounded by love and countless noisy cousins. Thanks to this pampered upbringing, I was rarely left to my own devices. Growing up, all I wanted was to run away – to have a quiet corner of my own, somewhere I didn't have to live in fear of my favourite pants being stolen or share my bed with a little cousin. So, I worked hard and soon found myself packing my bags to move to Australia!

Well, it was nothing like I hoped it would be! Loneliness twists around you like a parasitic vine. I could feel it slowly draining out my light. So, I decided to battle it with some fun and conscious activities.

Exploring The City
Every day, I did something to explore the city. I treated myself to a quintessential lunch cruise on Sydney Harbour, went on an Opera House tour, picnicked in the Royal Botanic Gardens. I wandered through weekend markets and got lost in narrow laneways lined with street art and hidden bookstores. Little by little, the unfamiliar city started to feel like a warm, if slightly chaotic, hug.

Pottery Classes
I thought joining a fun course would be an excellent way to spend my free time productively. I have always wanted to try my hand at pottery. So, try I did! I signed up for a pottery class just a skip and a hop away from where I stay. I absolutely love handbuilding and have made many interesting things. I gladly let these classes take up my Saturday afternoons. Now I have several wobbly sculptures in every nook and corner and some fantastic people I look forward to meeting.

Cooking Something Special
Cooking is therapeutic for me. It always has been. So, I decided to plan all my meals mindfully. Honestly, this also helped me save some money. I started making food that my mom and aunts make. It made me feel closer to home. Whenever I whipped up something nice and it was a success, I shared some of it with my new friends. This helped me build strong relationships. After all, food is the best love language, right?

Birdwatching Adventures
I’ve always been fascinated by birds, and living in Sydney quietly rekindled that old hobby. While sipping tea by my window one peaceful morning, I spotted a tiny, rainbow-feathered bird flitting through the trees. That brief, beautiful moment sparked something in me. Before I knew it, I was down a rabbit hole googling, “easy birds to spot in Sydney.” From then on, I began looking out for these feathery visitors during my walks and quiet moments. I even started noting down each encounter on my phone and snapping photos whenever I could. Oddly enough, birdwatching made me feel more grounded, more connected to the world around me.

So, these were the things I did to stop myself from being the sad girl in the new city. What started as a desperate attempt to outrun loneliness slowly became a gentle unfolding of self. Don’t get me wrong, I still miss my whacky family, but I love the life I have built here. I like that I am building it on my own terms and conditions.
For more details: https://www.australiancruisegr....oup.com.au/sydney/lu