beboots

My mother has always told me that HER mother used to always tell her "don't quit your current job until you're hired for your next one." Good advice. I should have followed it.

I'm not sure how much I've mentioned here in this journal, but I was crying a few hours ago and I might still cry again today, so I thought that I'd write this down somewhere. I've talked about this with my father and my sister, but I really think I need to get my thoughts pinned down in solid writing so I can see if I can come up with a good solution.

Okay, here's the deal: I'm going away for a three week (and a bit) trip this summer to Ireland and Scotland. Which in itself is AWESOME. I'm going with several friends of mine from my history classes. I'm actually meeting them in Dublin, halfway through THEIR trip, after they've spent nearly a month in England and Wales. I can't really afford nearly two months in the British Isles, no matter how much I want to, and I booked my trip under the assumption that I'd have Fort Edmonton training to deal with, and... yeah...

So I don't have the Fort Edmonton job. The interview went really well, but because of the recession, they're only hiring a limited number of people, and they all have to be able to be almost completely free, all summer. Like, they can't hire you if you're going away for more than five days straight. It's okay, I understand, and the supervisor who called me up afterwards was very nice about it (it's not personal, they actually rather like me, please don't be a stranger), and I think the worst thing is that I definitely understand their position, and I can't do anything about it.

They even put my resumé on the list for hiring for the Midway, even though I didn't apply for that position, but again, I was cut because of my limited availability. The park is only open for four months a year, so I'd be missing nearly a quarter of my shifts.

Two days ago, I interviewed for a job that was, quite frankly, completely ideal: historical interpreter position at the Father Lacombe Chapel in St. Albert. It's within biking distance, I'd get to wear a nice outfit, talk to people about history all day, do crafts with kids, do research on slow periods... also, it paid better than Fort Edmonton. The interview went super well, and I walked away going "YEAH I NAILED it" and the ladies said they'd call back soon... and I got an e-mail this morning saying that sorry, yeah, we can't hire you because June is our busiest season, and we need all of our interpreters to work it. Sorry, but enjoy your trip!

I didn't realize how much I had my heart set on that job until I started crying about fifteen minutes later. God, I'm tearing up right now.

I've applied for a few other places, but none of them will be anywhere near as awesome as the historical interpreter positions I just talked about. I've looked at a typist for inputting historical documents into a database, a janitor-type role at a hospital within biking distance of my house... where else? I know I've applied elsewhere... Well, I'm going to apply at Chapters, the book store, but I think that they've already hired everyone for the summer... That's the problem - most of the deadlines were in like, January, February and March. All that's left is retail, restaurants and Starbucks, it seems.

Oh, and I have an interview in the week after exams for the Antique Photo Parlour, which wouldn't be BAD, but I have no idea how many hours I'd get, how much the pay would be, or even if they'd hire me - again, this trip. And I wouldn't find out if I got the job until a week or so after exams are over.

Essentially, I could be looking at not working for a month, between the last of my exams and when I leave for Ireland. Which would be horrible. I'm not about to get thrown into the street for lack of money - I'll manage until I have to pay for my second semester's tuition in January - but I'll go stir-crazy.

I mean, I know that I could probably walk into any clothing store, supermarket or Starbucks and get a job. But would I enjoy working there? No.

Anyway, I'm thinking of maybe applying at a few golf courses? Or something? I'm just kicking myself, too, for not applying for that $5000 research scholarship, because I figured that I wouldn't have time to do any research this summer, what with the trip and my job at Fort Edmonton... no luck. No luck at all.

So if any of you guys have heard of any good temporary jobs in the Edmonton area, let me know, please...? Right now, I'm pinning my hopes on the Antique Photo Parlour, but then again, I pinned my hopes on the Father Lacombe Chapel people, and I've been in tears twice today. So we'll see how this works out.

But hey, at least I'll probably have time to write something this summer? Maybe this will be the year that I write a complete novel...? And maybe I'll get some camping in, or something.

Right now, I'm just worried and stressed, right at the most stressful time of year - the week before exams. Let's see if I survive until I finish my last exam on April 23rd. I'll live, I think. My chest just feels tight, my face is blotchy, and my eyes are red.