I'm really bummed that I didn't get to do tutoring this semester. Especially now that others are doing it for the first time and loving it.
Somehow my application didn't work in the system, which I didn't follow up on until too late because I got a confirmation email that it had worked. Instead it didn't work, and and my application didn't get considered. Especially bummed since I was encouraged and pushed into doing it, and once I had decided to was really really excited. I have always wanted to be a teacher (among other things) and I was super excited that I was going to be able to try it out.
Grump over.
Cooking up a storm
I spent most of today cooking :-) Mostly to help out mum because she's going back to uni tomorrow and is not feeling good about it. But also because I want to practice!
I cooked a Quiche Lorraine (and a spare crust for another time), and a MASSIVE Lamb Casserole. It's the first time I've done either of them by myself, but have always helped and hung around while mum was making them. It's also the first time I've got down and dirty with raw red meat, cutting off the fat and handling it. I'm a little squirmish about raw meat I have to admit. I did OK though.
Here's a pic of the Quiche... It is a little burned at one edge, but it's mostly OK.
The Casserole isn't much to look at, but should taste great. About 3 hours in the oven once I'd done the preliminary cooking. Slow cooking is the bomb. :-D
I cooked a Quiche Lorraine (and a spare crust for another time), and a MASSIVE Lamb Casserole. It's the first time I've done either of them by myself, but have always helped and hung around while mum was making them. It's also the first time I've got down and dirty with raw red meat, cutting off the fat and handling it. I'm a little squirmish about raw meat I have to admit. I did OK though.
Here's a pic of the Quiche... It is a little burned at one edge, but it's mostly OK.
The Casserole isn't much to look at, but should taste great. About 3 hours in the oven once I'd done the preliminary cooking. Slow cooking is the bomb. :-D
Travel Plans
So since Monday when I found out I could do any number of things for the next six months, I've been starting to think about things to do. I think travel is a good plan, and others certainly agree with me. The question is where and how?
My brother is going on a trip to L.A. next month, and so is a good friend of mine (with her brother and another friend I don't really know). I was thinking of tagging along with my brother and meeting up with my friend there. The only trouble is, both have planned these holidays long in advance, and I feel awkward jumping in on their plans. What a fantastic time to go to the USA for the first time though!
It turns out that brother dearest doesn't really feel comfortable with me tagging along, because it would be an extra burden to think about. I tried to convince him that all he needs to do is tell me his itinerary and where he is staying etc, and we could just hang out when he has time. No need to babysit me, just maybe introduce me to some friends and we can all do our thing side by side. I didn't get the best reaction from those suggestions and felt a bit dejected. I haven't approached said friend about the idea either because what if she isn't comfortable with me tagging along and is too nice to say so? I'm not sure yet how to approach it. I'm also not sure whether this is the right path to go down, maybe the states can wait.
The trouble for me with travelling is finding people to go with. Wiesel is busy with uni until November, and is so damned well travelled that he just isn't excited by it any more. He's leaving the UK today after spending two weeks in Sicily. Jealous! Other friends of course would be great to travel with, but not at short notice. I'm pretty free now to leave any time, give me a week or two to plan but then I can be off! I don't really want to wait until our summer, because I want to go somewhere warm and a lot of the world will be cold then.
The other big option I'm considering is doing a volunteering trip somewhere, that way I could travel alone, but be part of an organised group. That also removes the annoyance of holidays where you just walk around looking at stuff, and dont' really get an experience of the place and its culture and people. I can't tell you how nonplussed I am looking at churches and buildings all day long. It's very nice to look at them, but I'd much prefer meeting the locals and admiring the buildings etc in between the experiences.
So, I'm trying to pick the brains of all the people I can think of who would know about these organised volunteering trips. I so far have a little info, from quizzing a friend who did 'nam, and picked up a G.A.P. Adventures brochure from the travel agents, but their volunteering only goes as far as 2-8 days volunteering as part of a holiday. I'm thinking more like 1-2 months, where you can really absorb the culture and get to know the people you are volunteering with, and the locals.
My only requirements are somewhere warm, not too politically scary (no China or extreme muslim areas), and somewhere I haven't seen much of.
If you have any companies you've heard good things about, or have had any experience with please do share! I'm putting feelers out far and wide.
My brother is going on a trip to L.A. next month, and so is a good friend of mine (with her brother and another friend I don't really know). I was thinking of tagging along with my brother and meeting up with my friend there. The only trouble is, both have planned these holidays long in advance, and I feel awkward jumping in on their plans. What a fantastic time to go to the USA for the first time though!
It turns out that brother dearest doesn't really feel comfortable with me tagging along, because it would be an extra burden to think about. I tried to convince him that all he needs to do is tell me his itinerary and where he is staying etc, and we could just hang out when he has time. No need to babysit me, just maybe introduce me to some friends and we can all do our thing side by side. I didn't get the best reaction from those suggestions and felt a bit dejected. I haven't approached said friend about the idea either because what if she isn't comfortable with me tagging along and is too nice to say so? I'm not sure yet how to approach it. I'm also not sure whether this is the right path to go down, maybe the states can wait.
The trouble for me with travelling is finding people to go with. Wiesel is busy with uni until November, and is so damned well travelled that he just isn't excited by it any more. He's leaving the UK today after spending two weeks in Sicily. Jealous! Other friends of course would be great to travel with, but not at short notice. I'm pretty free now to leave any time, give me a week or two to plan but then I can be off! I don't really want to wait until our summer, because I want to go somewhere warm and a lot of the world will be cold then.
The other big option I'm considering is doing a volunteering trip somewhere, that way I could travel alone, but be part of an organised group. That also removes the annoyance of holidays where you just walk around looking at stuff, and dont' really get an experience of the place and its culture and people. I can't tell you how nonplussed I am looking at churches and buildings all day long. It's very nice to look at them, but I'd much prefer meeting the locals and admiring the buildings etc in between the experiences.
So, I'm trying to pick the brains of all the people I can think of who would know about these organised volunteering trips. I so far have a little info, from quizzing a friend who did 'nam, and picked up a G.A.P. Adventures brochure from the travel agents, but their volunteering only goes as far as 2-8 days volunteering as part of a holiday. I'm thinking more like 1-2 months, where you can really absorb the culture and get to know the people you are volunteering with, and the locals.
My only requirements are somewhere warm, not too politically scary (no China or extreme muslim areas), and somewhere I haven't seen much of.
If you have any companies you've heard good things about, or have had any experience with please do share! I'm putting feelers out far and wide.
Happy News
So, you know that big interview I attended on Friday? On the day the Vampires sucked my blood?
I got an offer!!!!
To start in Feb 2010, as a Project Coordinator.
I'm so happy and relieved! No more being depressed, scared or guilty!
Now to figure out what to do until then... I'm thinking a 3-4 month contract and then a trip OS? Any suggestions?
I got an offer!!!!
To start in Feb 2010, as a Project Coordinator.
I'm so happy and relieved! No more being depressed, scared or guilty!
Now to figure out what to do until then... I'm thinking a 3-4 month contract and then a trip OS? Any suggestions?
The Big Day
I had a big interview day yesterday. Then gave blood (bad idea). I'm exhausted!
The interview day was from 8:30am to 3:00pm, we had lots of different tasks during the day. 2 hours of interviews on a circuit kind of set up, where we rotated to each new room to meet with a new interviewer - 4 in total. Some written tests, aptitude tests, group case studies with a presentation to the room, and a couple of talks from current graduates and people from the company. It wasn't at all as scary as I had dreaded, but it was very taxing.
I think I did alright, and they say there are enough roles for all eight of us who were there. My only concern is the mix between technical roles and project roles, and how many of us were interested and suited to which. One of the interviewers thought from my resume that I would be a technical candidate, so I hope I didn't put her off by saying I was more interested in people based work. I can't even remember what I said to each of them, there were so many repeated questions and so much to take in!
We should find out early next week, and I just wish I could switch off my mind until then. I'm so mentally exhausted and the more I think about it the less confident I am. I'm just so glad I've done all the bits where I have to appear confident!
Going to the Vampires (Red Cross) was a bad idea to do at the end of this day. Even my blood pressure was higher than normal, as well as my pulse. They nurse broke my vein the first time and I asked them to do the other arm instead of making another appointment, because it hurt and I was sure I wouldn't come back if I didn't do it straight away. I'm glad I did, because the second arm didn't hurt much at all, and is fine now. The first arm is still sore, so if I had been left with that I wouldn't be giving blood for a while now.
I also didn't handle it as well as I usually do. All the stress and anxiety was definitely the cause. The canteen lady told me I was looking pale and asked me to lie down, they were all asking if I was ok. I was ok, but I didn't feel myself. I wasn't going to feint I don't think. I still never have. I just wanted to be at home. I called my dad and nobody was in the city with a car, so I caught a tram home and got a seat. I was OK. I will know not to schedule a blood donation when I'm in a stressful time.
I am learning a lot of lessons this year!
I'm not sure what to do with my weekend. I want to relax, but I also want to take my mind off yesterday's interviews. I can't decide whether to get a pile of DVDs or go and hang out with some people.
Thanks to the shout-out from Cheryl, if I was the Alex she was talking about! There are so many that it's very likely that there is another Alex who needs to keep their head up...
Thanks to the encouragement from everyone too. It really means a lot. :)
The interview day was from 8:30am to 3:00pm, we had lots of different tasks during the day. 2 hours of interviews on a circuit kind of set up, where we rotated to each new room to meet with a new interviewer - 4 in total. Some written tests, aptitude tests, group case studies with a presentation to the room, and a couple of talks from current graduates and people from the company. It wasn't at all as scary as I had dreaded, but it was very taxing.
I think I did alright, and they say there are enough roles for all eight of us who were there. My only concern is the mix between technical roles and project roles, and how many of us were interested and suited to which. One of the interviewers thought from my resume that I would be a technical candidate, so I hope I didn't put her off by saying I was more interested in people based work. I can't even remember what I said to each of them, there were so many repeated questions and so much to take in!
We should find out early next week, and I just wish I could switch off my mind until then. I'm so mentally exhausted and the more I think about it the less confident I am. I'm just so glad I've done all the bits where I have to appear confident!
Going to the Vampires (Red Cross) was a bad idea to do at the end of this day. Even my blood pressure was higher than normal, as well as my pulse. They nurse broke my vein the first time and I asked them to do the other arm instead of making another appointment, because it hurt and I was sure I wouldn't come back if I didn't do it straight away. I'm glad I did, because the second arm didn't hurt much at all, and is fine now. The first arm is still sore, so if I had been left with that I wouldn't be giving blood for a while now.
I also didn't handle it as well as I usually do. All the stress and anxiety was definitely the cause. The canteen lady told me I was looking pale and asked me to lie down, they were all asking if I was ok. I was ok, but I didn't feel myself. I wasn't going to feint I don't think. I still never have. I just wanted to be at home. I called my dad and nobody was in the city with a car, so I caught a tram home and got a seat. I was OK. I will know not to schedule a blood donation when I'm in a stressful time.
I am learning a lot of lessons this year!
I'm not sure what to do with my weekend. I want to relax, but I also want to take my mind off yesterday's interviews. I can't decide whether to get a pile of DVDs or go and hang out with some people.
Thanks to the shout-out from Cheryl, if I was the Alex she was talking about! There are so many that it's very likely that there is another Alex who needs to keep their head up...
Thanks to the encouragement from everyone too. It really means a lot. :)
Not so good
Yeah, so I said I was handling this new unemployment a lot better than the last couple of times... But as it turns out I'm not handling it so well.
I have been going through all these stupid ideas in my head like: maybe I'll go overseas next week; maybe I'll just do some freelance web design; maybe I'll just be a tutor for a semester; maybe I should give that old dancing/modelling/acting thing another go; I should get a tattoo and a nose piercing; a new scooter will make everything better; what about a new laptop? Aaargh!
What I should be doing is just applying for more jobs. Let's be honest though, I'm scared of it all happening again. I'm scared of picking myself up and getting on track again, thinking everything is hunky-dory, and then having the carpet pulled from under my feet again. I feel a little paralysed at times thinking about it.
Still I have the logic in my mind that says this is no big deal and I will pick myself up again. But the emotional response, mixed in with some classical conditioning (every time you have a great job, it will disappear and you won't have it any more), is what's taking the lead right now.
I have been going through all these stupid ideas in my head like: maybe I'll go overseas next week; maybe I'll just do some freelance web design; maybe I'll just be a tutor for a semester; maybe I should give that old dancing/modelling/acting thing another go; I should get a tattoo and a nose piercing; a new scooter will make everything better; what about a new laptop? Aaargh!
What I should be doing is just applying for more jobs. Let's be honest though, I'm scared of it all happening again. I'm scared of picking myself up and getting on track again, thinking everything is hunky-dory, and then having the carpet pulled from under my feet again. I feel a little paralysed at times thinking about it.
Still I have the logic in my mind that says this is no big deal and I will pick myself up again. But the emotional response, mixed in with some classical conditioning (every time you have a great job, it will disappear and you won't have it any more), is what's taking the lead right now.
Stuff
Hey people who read my blog!
I haven't posted in a while because I don't want to complain, and have been pretty busy with those things I want to complain about! Let me fill you in a little...
1. My beloved employer closed down last month. :( I was fearing the worst for a number of weeks before we were told, but wasn't ready to bail. We were all given a month's notice and plenty of encouragement so it wasn't the end of the world. I spent a week feeling a bit lost but then got on the job applications and did OK. I just hope one day I will find as cool a bunch of people to work with.
2. I got a contract job, and after a really great first week (feeling a great sense of achievement getting stuck into some real work again) I was let go. I don't really want to go into the details (have told the story too many times over the weekend!), but lets just say if it were a full time position I would be fighting unfair dismissal. I am chalking it up to another life experience, something to learn and become tougher from. Something I'm really pleased about is that I have handled this third dismissal/rejection in a year a lot better than the last two. And I haven't taken it personally. Thank god that there are people I respect who have given me such good reviews about my work, otherwise I'd be hiding in a hole feeling awful.
That's the main events that have kept me from posting lately. I am now on the job hunt again, and the radio keeps telling me that the job ads are still decreasing. I have an interview on Friday though, so fingers crossed. I just want to get going so that I can be taken seriously with '2 years experience' or whatever number of years they care about.
In happy news, it was my birthday the other week and it was really great. We went to see a fabulous illusion show on Saturday night, along with dinner and drinks with various friends. I really love my friends. Aren't birthdays fabulous for appreciating your friends? They all come and make the effort to be there with you for your happy day, and you see people you don't regularly see.
Other happy things are:
1. I have been frequenting our new local cafe that's all by itself near the station. It is now the closest cafe to our house and the only one you can reach while waiting for a train. So cute and fabulous, and I'm glad to be supporting local businesses, especially in these hard times.
2. I got a piano! Well, an electric one, but it feels and sounds like a real one - I have it on good authority from a pianist! I am learning one song at the moment, and am looking into lessons. I have never played but always wanted to my whole life. Exciting times!
3. I finally made it clothes shopping today, got a great cardigan marked $70 for $14! And a cute jacket by a Melbourne designer. Started looking at leather bike jackets (Sorry Cheryl!) but the guy in the shop said that everyone is looking for small girls leather jackets and they go as soon as the come in. Maybe I should wait until they're out of fashion again. I won't give up yet though.
I hope to have some more to blog about soon. peace :)
PS I'm happy to go into more detail if anyone is curious, just email/message me if you are.
I haven't posted in a while because I don't want to complain, and have been pretty busy with those things I want to complain about! Let me fill you in a little...
1. My beloved employer closed down last month. :( I was fearing the worst for a number of weeks before we were told, but wasn't ready to bail. We were all given a month's notice and plenty of encouragement so it wasn't the end of the world. I spent a week feeling a bit lost but then got on the job applications and did OK. I just hope one day I will find as cool a bunch of people to work with.
2. I got a contract job, and after a really great first week (feeling a great sense of achievement getting stuck into some real work again) I was let go. I don't really want to go into the details (have told the story too many times over the weekend!), but lets just say if it were a full time position I would be fighting unfair dismissal. I am chalking it up to another life experience, something to learn and become tougher from. Something I'm really pleased about is that I have handled this third dismissal/rejection in a year a lot better than the last two. And I haven't taken it personally. Thank god that there are people I respect who have given me such good reviews about my work, otherwise I'd be hiding in a hole feeling awful.
That's the main events that have kept me from posting lately. I am now on the job hunt again, and the radio keeps telling me that the job ads are still decreasing. I have an interview on Friday though, so fingers crossed. I just want to get going so that I can be taken seriously with '2 years experience' or whatever number of years they care about.
In happy news, it was my birthday the other week and it was really great. We went to see a fabulous illusion show on Saturday night, along with dinner and drinks with various friends. I really love my friends. Aren't birthdays fabulous for appreciating your friends? They all come and make the effort to be there with you for your happy day, and you see people you don't regularly see.
Other happy things are:
1. I have been frequenting our new local cafe that's all by itself near the station. It is now the closest cafe to our house and the only one you can reach while waiting for a train. So cute and fabulous, and I'm glad to be supporting local businesses, especially in these hard times.
2. I got a piano! Well, an electric one, but it feels and sounds like a real one - I have it on good authority from a pianist! I am learning one song at the moment, and am looking into lessons. I have never played but always wanted to my whole life. Exciting times!
3. I finally made it clothes shopping today, got a great cardigan marked $70 for $14! And a cute jacket by a Melbourne designer. Started looking at leather bike jackets (Sorry Cheryl!) but the guy in the shop said that everyone is looking for small girls leather jackets and they go as soon as the come in. Maybe I should wait until they're out of fashion again. I won't give up yet though.
I hope to have some more to blog about soon. peace :)
PS I'm happy to go into more detail if anyone is curious, just email/message me if you are.