Looking For Work

Unfortunately I am not very good at looking for a job.

Today I decided I would follow up on some job leads. That's what the Internet says to do. So I called a few places. One of them, with a job I *really* wanted, booking travel to Italy - I called and asked for Mr. So and So. Turns out that the boss is a woman (with a traditionally male name). So there went strike one. Then, when the girl on the phone asked me if I had travel experience, I said that I'd just been booking flights, accommodation, and rail for the last few months. She then assumed I'd *only just* qualified (I qualified for Travel and Tourism in 1999). So then I had to explain that to her. Then she said that they were a small company looking for something *very specific*. I work out of Italy sometimes, and I just don't know how much more specific you can get. I have an interest in wine, and good food - all requirements of the post - experience ticketing travel, etc, and three college degrees. What more do you need? She asked if I'd been working 'in travel since then' - no, mostly tourism - but that's not good enough apparently - even though in the last several months I've been doing travel and accommodation. I am confused as to what people want. I have experience, I am educated, and I am unemployed.

I've noticed this lately - people being *incredibly* anal about how and who they hire. If you don't have *exactly this* experience, or that degree, you will not find work. That means, of course, that if someone advertises for a bellydancing Scottish historian tour guide streetfighter, I'll at least be in the running - but that is the only job that I am apparently qualified for. My master's degree in history/literature isn't good enough to let me work in a museum - no, it has to be 'museum studies' and absolutely nothing else. I am tearing my hair out over here. Of course, I realize now that I should have just asked for the manager's full name, or not asked for the manager at all, and I take that as my own mistake. However - the rest of the reasons weren't good enough reasons for me not to be considered. And - really? There actually ARE employees out there with the *perfect CV*? I once saw an ad for a bellydancing bouncer - now there is a job I would qualify for - but how often do you get someone more qualified than I was for the travel post? I understand not getting jobs, but I can't even get to the interview stage.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this just how the work world is at the moment? I would really love to know what it was like not to be broke.

Lovely Jubbly

So as not to constantly be a huge downer to anyone who happens to read this, or myself, I will comment upon the amazing British use of the English language! This doesn't include Scots, which is pretty separate.

First of all, 'Lovely jubbly' - something you say when things/people/whatever are wonderful. I first heard this on Doctor Who (which I love, along with tea and milk, two British adoptions). A man said, regarding the TARDIS, 'I sold it, didn't I? Got a lot for it too! Lovely jubbly!'
Apparently this phrase relates to some type of popsicle and was used in a show called Only Fools and Horses.

There is also apparently an entire body of slang called 'Cockney Rhyming Slang' which I have not yet personally experienced, but have been told about it - rhyming with normal words so that you would say 'couldn't Adam and Eve it' rather than 'couldn't believe it'.

Secondly, a daddy longlegs in Britain is a crane fly/mosquito hawk, rather than a harvestman spider.

Other odd sayings include 'Easy peasy lemon squeezy' and 'Go on, my son!' as a phrase of encouragement.

I will add more later the more I encounter. The confusion all of this causes is hilarious.

On the Strangeness of Searching for Employment

Today I found out that a job I was competing for with only one other applicant was given to the other applicant because I have 'too much experience'. It would have been perfect for me - two months of fulltime work would have brought me to the date of my visa decision, and provided for me (rent and food). Unfortunately, someone out there who is less qualified than I am now has guaranteed work and pay for that amount of time. And I have no idea how to make myself look less experienced/qualified. Or why I should want to, considering all the training and experience I do have.

At this time, close to the halfway point, I am looking through my posts - and they all seem to be about unhappiness or illness. Perhaps this is just not the place for me. Of course, it is possible that I'm a generally unhappy person - but it seems like I have been more so in the last year than ever before in my life. Frustration isn't the only problem, it seems - and I haven't gotten as much accomplished as I was hoping for. I am currently considering applying for PhDs and jobs elsewhere, in other countries and areas that might be more suitable. At first, I was willing to believe my attitude had a lot to do with my awful experiences here before - because I was really homesick and heartsick - but no, it turns out that this is really what the country is like, or at least this part of it. It makes me even sadder because it's harder to want to specialize in the history of a country that you know is so unkind. I really, really want things to be great here - that's why I've kept trying - but sometimes, the problem *really isn't* you.

Sick

I am sick again, with the flu. I seem to get sick once per month here. I haven't kept records of how often I got sick when I lived other places but it seems rather frequent lately.

Still no job. I wrote a script on my own because the one we were going to use needed too many actors. However- no job, no play, is how it works. Things are strained here, and my getting the flu doesn't help.

I do wonder sometimes if I just have some sort of amazingly bad luck. I think - last year I had an actor who hit me in the face because I caught her and her boyfriend skipping one of the tech rehearsals. Then I had a great play but it opened during the worst weather in Britain in twenty years. I was once in Dublin - once in my life, for five hours - during which a riot broke out, the first in thirty-five years, I am told. When I went to Venice, upon leaving it turned out that the Icelandic volcano had erupted and then had to trek across Europe (not in a fun way, in a horrible, starving, exhausted way where I only got to see the inside of trains). I mean - sure, positive attitude helps somewhat, but I often get the feeling that it's kind of like whistling in a hurricane.

Auditions today

Well, our auditions are today. We only got about 7 people yesterday, so it is possible the play won't go on. However, there may be more interest now.

I also lost my job, suddenly. They gave me one day's notice. So I am looking for employment currently. My visa application was received and maybe I will get it - my friend got hers. If I do, I'll finally be able to dance and teach again.

I am feeling a little defeated at the moment. Things have felt like a struggle for a long time. They say things are always the worst just before they get a lot better. I also have an application in to do a PhD in New Zealand. I'm not sure where life is going to take me at the moment, but I hope things do turn out for the better soon.