Since September, I have put two holes in that metaphorical bread I mentioned in the last blog. Naturally, I am eagerly applying for jobs after severing from a cushy technical writer job back in the United States. I was not prepared for the mental strain that came with going from receiving a weekly chunk of dough in the bank, to seeing all my savings slip down the drain. By choice. I must accept that the choices I have made are all to teach me to live humbly and happy with what is important in life. This can be hard in the moment. To add to this strain, I was given the opportunity to start making money, but just like that, the butter was too hard for the soft bread and the hopes of $$$ slipped before my salivating tongue.
Job 1:
About a month into my new chapter, I received news that a marketing business wanted to check out my skills. Immediately, I visualized myself in the role and all the new, cool friends I would make. A pool table? Music? A nice kitchen with tea and a white board that I can mark up with riddles and puns!? Oh boy! All I had to do was pass my five day trial by making five sales. Everyone said it was easy and not to worry. If I didn't make my five sales, the team would assist. Easy peasey...if what I was selling was chocolate to pregnant women. What I was selling did not attract the average passerby at the grocery store. I never knew before that raising money for a charity was considered 'sales.' This American girl had to convince strangers with carts full of groceries and crying babies to sign up on an iPad and pledge to donate at least 8 euro a month for 'just as long as you can manage' (a.k.a at least a year, otherwise we can't sign you up).
The week trial was a great social experiment, if anything. I learned all the excuses humans make to avoid conversation, as well as the quirky body movements people make to pretend they are invisible. Despite these shy people, I met many talkers as well - close talkers- like, Jerry Seinfeld Close Talker episode close. In fact, my first sale for the homeless was to an old gentleman at a Tesco in Wexford. His cart was full of cat food and cat litter. I hope it's not judgmental to say that any human who loves cats is harmless. His eyes were piercing blue and his once ginger beard was now long, white and golden. Is this man a real leprechaun? I immediately thought. When he gave me his details for the iPad, he told me all his numbers and names backgrounds and twice. That's how he is known, he said. While he was a nice distraction, offered a lot of advice (always carry 2 cellphones - one you carry out, another to keep as back up at home), he kept inching closer and spraying spit until I was pressed to the store window. Good man, Michael Martin. Or Martin Michael? I will never know.
I enjoyed the people I met at this short-lived job, but after a week, I realized I did not enjoy the commute to grocery stores that would take a 2 hour bus ride or 2 hour road-trip. I was saved from a job I would have accepted only out of desperation.
Job 2: Only a week ago, I was offered a full-time, work from home job. Spirits were high at the prospect of making money from the comfort of my home. But there it was - the smoothing of butter on bread was suddenly interrupted by too much pressure. My WiFi connection was not going to cut it for their requirements. This time, I immediately took it as a sign that the best is yet to come and I should not settle for less than I am worth.
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