Hello! Yep, our clocks went back as well, but the US doesn't go back for another week or so - I just know it switches sometime while we're in Hawaii.
The problem with a barista job is that I don't speak Dutch! While "everyone" speaks dutch, it's not actually 100% of the clientele that speak Dutch. :( The older generations are particularly hit or miss, and they're the ones who heavily frequent the cafes during the day! Also, then everyone else I would be working with would have to speak English as well, or communication between staff would be pretty poor. I've even heard from companies who operate in English that they won't accept my application because their clientele are Dutch speakers (who obviously also probably speak English too...), but it's just not as professional or efficient to hire someone who doesn't even have basic Dutch - I can't even get by in a coffee shop!
The other thing is that employers are only supposed to hire me if there's a reason a Dutch person wouldn't fill the job requirements - for example if they need a native English speaker. So hiring someone for a position where I should speak Dutch doesn't really fall under that category! :( This is why the last person who came to work at Epic who brought their significant other had to wait 6 months before her boyfriend could find a job, and he was even looking at things like being a dishwasher! :(
Also, there aren't any jobs at Epic. I applied back when I was first looking in Madison for a non-existent travel coordinator position (they didn't have that job opening), but they therefore already have my phone interview and results to my personality test on file and would notify me if their needs "changed" so I feel like if there were an opportunity for me to work with them they would let me know. Also, they would especially not need me for their office here! There are only like 20 people out of 5100 here, and those people are here because they can't do the tech stuff remotely because they have to be on site at the hospital. Nothing I would do for Epic would require that, so the chances of getting a job with them here really are zero. :(
But you're right right that I'm not 8000 miles away from Terry, and I would be even MORE unhappy if I had a perfect job but didn't have him! :) Things will definitely get better - I had a great day meeting the head of the Kalinga Foundation, and it's such a perfect day out that I even enjoyed walking around doing my errands! Anything besides sitting in front of a computer looking for jobs that ask me to please have "hair on my teeth" is just fine by me!
I'm already looking for jobs outside of Den Bosch, but I'm now expanding my search so that I'm applying to NGOs I know are hiring even if I'm not qualified for the position they have available. We'll see where that gets me. The other thing to keep in mind is that we didn't come here to work, we came here to live in Europe and T's job is just the facilitator. So the important part really isn't that I find the perfect job, it's that we're able to enjoy our time here and explore a whole bunch during the year (or more) that we're here! For example, after T's parents go home on Dec 27th, we're taking the train to Brussels and spending a day and 2 nights there before flying to Barcelona for NYE, just because we can! This is really the point of our stay here, and no matter what it'll be a fabulous experience! Plus, with 25 (or more) days of vacation each year, that means that pretty much every other weekend I could take a 3 day holiday! MWAHAHAH! Though obviously we wouldn't do that as it makes more sense to take a week's holiday when Mom and Dad come, for example, but still. :) At best my job will be something upon which I can begin to build a career. Next best would be that I don't hate it, and then if worse comes to worst, at least it will be the enabler for me to enjoy my time in Europe. And in that case you can bet I won't be in the office a minute past 5pm! Hah! :)
So I really have nothing to complain about, I was just feeling a bit down yesterday as it was a pivitol point in my job search when I started applying to jobs I knew I would hate, but also applying to NGOs with open positions that I new I wasn't qualified for, so we'll see which one works out for me!
Thanks again for checking in! It's great to be on your continent! :) See you soon, and I'll see Amy even sooner!!
xx
The problem with a barista job is that I don't speak Dutch! While "everyone" speaks dutch, it's not actually 100% of the clientele that speak Dutch. :( The older generations are particularly hit or miss, and they're the ones who heavily frequent the cafes during the day! Also, then everyone else I would be working with would have to speak English as well, or communication between staff would be pretty poor. I've even heard from companies who operate in English that they won't accept my application because their clientele are Dutch speakers (who obviously also probably speak English too...), but it's just not as professional or efficient to hire someone who doesn't even have basic Dutch - I can't even get by in a coffee shop!
The other thing is that employers are only supposed to hire me if there's a reason a Dutch person wouldn't fill the job requirements - for example if they need a native English speaker. So hiring someone for a position where I should speak Dutch doesn't really fall under that category! :( This is why the last person who came to work at Epic who brought their significant other had to wait 6 months before her boyfriend could find a job, and he was even looking at things like being a dishwasher! :(
Also, there aren't any jobs at Epic. I applied back when I was first looking in Madison for a non-existent travel coordinator position (they didn't have that job opening), but they therefore already have my phone interview and results to my personality test on file and would notify me if their needs "changed" so I feel like if there were an opportunity for me to work with them they would let me know. Also, they would especially not need me for their office here! There are only like 20 people out of 5100 here, and those people are here because they can't do the tech stuff remotely because they have to be on site at the hospital. Nothing I would do for Epic would require that, so the chances of getting a job with them here really are zero. :(
But you're right right that I'm not 8000 miles away from Terry, and I would be even MORE unhappy if I had a perfect job but didn't have him! :) Things will definitely get better - I had a great day meeting the head of the Kalinga Foundation, and it's such a perfect day out that I even enjoyed walking around doing my errands! Anything besides sitting in front of a computer looking for jobs that ask me to please have "hair on my teeth" is just fine by me!
I'm already looking for jobs outside of Den Bosch, but I'm now expanding my search so that I'm applying to NGOs I know are hiring even if I'm not qualified for the position they have available. We'll see where that gets me. The other thing to keep in mind is that we didn't come here to work, we came here to live in Europe and T's job is just the facilitator. So the important part really isn't that I find the perfect job, it's that we're able to enjoy our time here and explore a whole bunch during the year (or more) that we're here! For example, after T's parents go home on Dec 27th, we're taking the train to Brussels and spending a day and 2 nights there before flying to Barcelona for NYE, just because we can! This is really the point of our stay here, and no matter what it'll be a fabulous experience! Plus, with 25 (or more) days of vacation each year, that means that pretty much every other weekend I could take a 3 day holiday! MWAHAHAH! Though obviously we wouldn't do that as it makes more sense to take a week's holiday when Mom and Dad come, for example, but still. :) At best my job will be something upon which I can begin to build a career. Next best would be that I don't hate it, and then if worse comes to worst, at least it will be the enabler for me to enjoy my time in Europe. And in that case you can bet I won't be in the office a minute past 5pm! Hah! :)
So I really have nothing to complain about, I was just feeling a bit down yesterday as it was a pivitol point in my job search when I started applying to jobs I knew I would hate, but also applying to NGOs with open positions that I new I wasn't qualified for, so we'll see which one works out for me!
Thanks again for checking in! It's great to be on your continent! :) See you soon, and I'll see Amy even sooner!!
xx
No comments:
Post a Comment