February 15th, 2008
Not finding a job is so depressing.
I know it’s really only been a few days and that I shouldn’t have ever expected this to be easy and all of that lovely stuff, but I cannot help but be depressed at the fact that, holycrap I have no stinking job. I’ve been sort of gradually e-mailing my resume (CV) around but finding an hourly rather than a salaried job is a lot harder than I had hoped. I just want to be working so I can get my stuff in order and move out of the hostel. Bah! While I intend to stay at ISH tonight (and hopefully tomorrow night) I’m going to book Sunday, Monday, and think about booking Tuesday at YHA York, from there I’m going to apply for some jobs obviously, in York. I’d rather not live in London if I can help it — everything costs a fortune! I was thinking of going to Manchester or Liverpool, but the hostels there were amazingly expensive or booked. I’ll visit there at some point, I’m going to have to break into my dollars reserve soon, which is a bit heartbreaking. Alternatively, I may stay in London and hold until I get my first interview. I don’t know — I’m feeling conflicted right now. Is it easier to voyage a bit, or to stay put, afterall, I do have a couple thousand kilos of luggage which I have to keep in mind. I’ll book another night at ISH I think, and then decide over the next few days.
I opened my bank account and activated my phone properly yesterday, so, calling to Canada costs me a tidy 5p a minute, making it 10 cents a minute. The cheapest distance plan I could find, and so I called Andrew, and home last night. It was so great to hear my three boys again! I miss them like crazy. Yesterday was similar to the day before, I went to BUNAC, I applied for a few jobs Kate and I wandered London, I went to the hostel and tried to sleep.
Actually, rather than sleep I watched ‘From Hell’ on Syd until my frenchroom mate came back to sleep. It was nice though, sitting there watching a movie and finishing off some of my plane treats. Finally, a relaxed evening even if I am stressing out about everything I still need to do. I think today I’m going to throw job hunting to the wind a bit and go to the British Museum, it’s open until 8 and has free admission, maybe I’ll get some good old fashioned fish and chips before I head in. I’ve eaten mostly sandwiches since I got here because they are cheap, but maybe splurging a bit on food will lift some of the OVERWHELMINGANGST. It’s not been that bad, I just want the security of knowing I’ll have an income soon.
So! This is what I’m going to do today, first, I’m going to apply for a few more jobs (new jobs on the board every day, it’s worth a try, even if I haven’t got a single reply yet), then, I’m going back to ISH and booking another day or two in case this York trip falls through. I can get my money back from them. From there, I’ll get me some fish and chips and hit the museum (I have to admit I’m really excited about this museum thing!) Then I will head back to the hostel and sleep, rise repeat for the next few days.
As a reply to my comments:
Amber, I am having a good time, see e-mails of love for details, however I hope my resume does not let me down, I would be very sad being the London panhandler! Maybe if I started a pie shop…
Melissa, I’m not sure if Staples misses me, how’s the new kid’s ESP rating? Or have they ESP slapped him yet? I think I had a three week grace period before I got ESP’d! And has Michelle taken down my dramatic closing ’10 Things I learned at Staples 304′ because I always assumed she would… The hostel is nothing fancy, but clean, which according to Kate makes a huge difference. Some of the chaps here are nice looking but they are mostly pretty average.
EMMADAWN!, I miss you lots, I still can’t believe it either if that helps anything… I cannot believe that I am writing this not at home, but in London, England. It’s really hard to fathom– alone, London, five-to-six months, ack! Once I have a flat I pretty much demand that you visit me, even if it costs all the money you’ve ever made I like to think my loving devotion is worth it. And as for the bloke, will do! P.S. I cannot actually comment on your facebook profile, know why? Because the word b-o-m-b is used on it, which is a screened word on the BUNAC internets. XD
So sorry I missed you last night — I drove like a crazy woman home from Tidy’s but Dad said you called 15 minutes early because you remembered Dan’s guitar….sniff.
Don’t despair, honey. As you admit — it’s only been a couple of days. Have some fun – sightsee, eat your fish and chips and enjoy London. You probably won’t end up there so might as well see what you want to see.
I think your idea of trying York is a good one. Spend a few days there — there must be a Manpower centre (or whatever they call an employment office there) to check job boards. If it’s a smaller town with a “high street” or main drag of shops you could always try the old shoe leather. Especially if they have bookshops. I know it’s hard (I would be terrified!) but I think you’re a bit exotic with your accent and you have an incredibly solid resume for a bookstore. Did you remember your Blue Heron Books business cards? Tell them you’re willing to help with ANYTHING. Ask if they’re doing a return, or they want some shelves re-alphabetized or dusted. Tell them if they only have a week’s worth of work, then you’re OK with that…I don’t know — just be as flexible as possible! Remember, there’s always Staples!! …grin…
And don’t forget Ipswich — remember Cecilia said it was a big high tech town…with the asset of being a lovely place on the coast. And Edinburgh, too.
Is there any place ( a locker at the train station, the BUNAC office?) that you could leave your big suitcase, pack the overnight bag and travel around “lighter”? Just a thought…Your could probably do that with Cecilia’s sister but you’d have to get it to Bury St. Edmunds.
All is well here — Dan competes with SMIT tonight so Dad and I are going down to cheer him on. Everyone has been asking about you so I have referred them here!
Call ANYTIME — if lots of moral support is what gets you through this tough time then, by all means…
Love you and miss you –
Mom
If you sent me an email today I didn’t get it, but I am glad you’re loving it there! The atmosphere must be so wonderful. AH, and which is colder, Canada or England?
Your resume can’t let you down, five jobs is a lot. Surely Great Britain has a place for you somewhere!
I really hope that you enjoy your tour to the museum, it sounds great. Fish and chips never sounded very appetizing to me, but do tell how that experiment goes. I wonder if you can have various different chips with your fish and vice versa?
Anyway, I love you muchly.
I had a dream I took a train to England. I took my horse on the train. I went into a store that was like Dominion, but not. It was like it though. I saw The-Wonderful-Mister-Seli and his brother in a car. But I didn’t stop him, because I figured he was meant to be there, it was his natural habitat. When I was on the train, I was like, “I can visit Kae. Wow, why didn’t I think of that before??”