My life down under has been just a little stressful as of late. I'm in the middle of three important processes which are taking a bit longer than anticipated and my patience and optimism are on the decline. Process number one: apartment hunting. Process number two: job hunting. Process number three: the masters plan.
Marcus and I started apartment hunting before I was even granted my temporary residency--about five weeks now. In that time we've seen some decent places, but nothing that really strikes home. The main things we're looking for are a good location (a place I feel safe walking home to at night), close proximity to public transportation (preferably a train line, but regular buses will do), a balcony or courtyard, and a good number of windows for light. You know, to be perfectly honest, we're not asking for much and we haven't been super picky about neighborhood. (Although I am shying away from the inner-inner-city apartments...too many people, too much crime, and not enough trees!) I've looked at apartments almost every single weekend since we began, and I've even done a few weeknight viewings. Let it be said that real estate in Sydney is a pain in the arse! First of all prices are insane. Marcus and I have capped our potential rent at $400 per week...that's $1600 a month. For rent! I don't even want to think about buying, since you can barely get a one bedroom apartment for under $400,000. Besides, that would go against our non-committal way of life that we so enjoy right now. :) I try to justify this by telling myself that if I lived alone in Seattle, I'd probably be paying $800 per month anyway, so I might as well be paying $800 a month (for my share, anyway) to live with my lovely man in Australia.
Okay. No more bitching about rent prices. Instead I'll move on to whining about the apartment application process. First of all, most renting is done via real estate agencies. People don't just charge tenants to live in their properties, they go through a third-party so they don't have to deal with the hassle. Instead of calling up and scheduling an appointment to see an apartment as soon as you can, you have to wait for "inspection times". And you have to attend the inspection time, otherwise you won't be able to see the apartment. And if you don't see the apartment, then you can't apply for it, so renters have to dance around the schedules put out by the real estate agents. Some show at 9 and 10 in the morning, some in the middle of the afternoon...so basically only people that are unemployed can go to these times...but there's not a chance that these people would get the apartment because they ask for a shitload of documentation. They ask for references from previous landlords, work references, personal references, copies of bills, passport copies, drivers license copies, credit card copies, and one place even had the audacity to require our bank account details. Just to apply for the apartment! As you can imagine, I threw a shit fit about that--I mean, could they invade my privacy a little more? Do you want to know what color of underwear I have on??? Ugh but I complied because that was the best place we've looked at...(Unfortunately we still didn't get accepted, but not because our application was bad, we just didn't have enough documentation. Oy!) I really miss the "first come, first served" market where if you're the first person to go see a place and your application is approved, you get it. Looking for an apartment here is like going to a job interview. We looked at an apartment last week where the property owner actually showed up to the inspection (the real estate showed up 10 minutes later) and upon arrival at the property, she looked at the wannabe-richie couple, gave Marcus and me the once over, then ignored us and took the other couple into the property. Wow, talk about a witch! We made our way into the apartment, and the owner quickly stated that she was trying to get tenants in ASAP and the "first in, best-dressed" would get the place. I was unaware that I needed to wear a suit to go look at an apartment I'm thinking about renting.
But maybe I do need to wear a suit, because there are a lot of people on the hunt for an apartment right now. I've even started recognizing people I've seen at past viewings!
Well, we have another five weeks to look and another five apartments to view on Saturday. Last night we put our heads together and sent a request to the universe to provide a great place for us in a great location. A place for us to call our own--a home. My dear, dear universe, please help us find (and get accepted for) a place just right for us.
That's the apartment hunt. Then there's the job hunt. I am working 9-3 at the Heart Foundation right now, and though the hours are pretty cruisy, I spend my out-of-office hours trying to figure out what to do with my free time and trying not to spend money (which can be especially difficult if I have a date in the city around 6:00 or 7:00 and thus have three or four hours to wile away in the city). Anyway, for the past year I've done temp work in the administration arena, and unfortunately my resume now reflects almost entirely administration. But admin is literally boring me to tears! When people ask me to order lunches to them, I have to fight the urge to give an emphatic negation. I detest taking meeting minutes for meetings I have no say in. I'm tired of setting up food for other people. I'm tired of printing off my boss's emails and being the guardian of her "signature box". I hate this job. I am not challenged in the least and some people in my department are so condescending as to say that administration takes a certain skill set and to suggest that this is where I should be working. To that I say a big effffffff you! I am in this predicament because of visa restrictions and an indecision at which career path specifically I should be following. I no longer work in a place where my bosses push and develop me. I am now surrounded by people who want to keep me in a stupidly easy job because I do it better than anyone else they've ever had. I've been applying for jobs that are a bit of a stretch for me, but that I know I'd be able to do. Unfortunately in this economy there are a lot of experienced and qualified people looking for jobs, so I'm getting squeezed out of the running. I've applied for at least six jobs and so far I've gotten denied four of them. I am getting disheartened, and the only strong business connection I have here is to Costco, but the only positions available are an entry-level buying position or...dun dun duuuuuun...an administrative assistant position. I know that I'm an ideal employee and anyone that hires me will love me. But it's often difficult to convey this on paper. Not to mention that in general, Australians embellish their applications heavily. I loathe dishonesty, but I'm almost starting to believe that the difficulty of this job application environment is driving people to these little white lies. Well, I will persevere, and if all else fails I'll start applying for the highest paying executive assistant positions I can find and I will recite a mantra each and every day reminding me that this is temporary.
Last, but certainly not least, I'm trying to put my finger down on a masters program. I think the University of Sydney is my best bet as it's one of the most renowned schools in the area, dare I say the country, it has a wide variety of classes, and it's geographically very close to where we live. All good things. Originally I wanted to apply for the Peace and Conflict Resolution studies course, but I'm starting to think that might be a bit too touchy feely and could be looked at in scorn by the business world. I thought about doing an MBA, because the organisations I've worked in here lack management skills on so many levels and this would certainly set me apart in the non-profit world. But I've only taken one business class ever, and I hated it. It was mumbo jumbo and nonsense to me and I couldn't concentrate on what was being taught. So I've tabled that option, but then thought what about a masters in Public Administration? I hopped online only to find that the MPA at Sydney Uni is only for government officials, and I would have to relegate myself to getting a certificate or diploma in governmental studies. But quite frankly, I don't want to study the government. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm naturally efficient, and if only I could find another smart boss to work for, I could stand to learn so much! Where are these smart bosses who want to mentor their employees? Oh yeah, they're in Seattle...I have got to find a way to get plugged in here...
Anyhew, I've circled back around and am starting to think that human rights sounds pretty good. It's something I'm passionate about and would be happy to study in-depth. Plus, there's an internship program at the end of the course that would plug me right into the world that works with human rights which would be fantastic. And I could try to focus on human rights and international law, which would segue nicely into law school. Hmm hmm, this may be my best plan yet. Other than taking a few small business courses and figuring out how to open up my cookie cafe. :) Oh yeah, and paying $35,000 for a one-year patisserie course at Le Cordon Bleu. Yikers! I may still call them to see if they do any scholarships, though. I'd love to be surrounded by sugar all day...
All in all I'm trying to become a big kid and get some better and relevant career experience. At the moment I feel like I'm in a rut, but I will persevere and I know that at some point these obstacles will be overcome and I'll come out on the other side. Keep breathing...and stop spraying cranky at Marcus. :)
Marcus and I started apartment hunting before I was even granted my temporary residency--about five weeks now. In that time we've seen some decent places, but nothing that really strikes home. The main things we're looking for are a good location (a place I feel safe walking home to at night), close proximity to public transportation (preferably a train line, but regular buses will do), a balcony or courtyard, and a good number of windows for light. You know, to be perfectly honest, we're not asking for much and we haven't been super picky about neighborhood. (Although I am shying away from the inner-inner-city apartments...too many people, too much crime, and not enough trees!) I've looked at apartments almost every single weekend since we began, and I've even done a few weeknight viewings. Let it be said that real estate in Sydney is a pain in the arse! First of all prices are insane. Marcus and I have capped our potential rent at $400 per week...that's $1600 a month. For rent! I don't even want to think about buying, since you can barely get a one bedroom apartment for under $400,000. Besides, that would go against our non-committal way of life that we so enjoy right now. :) I try to justify this by telling myself that if I lived alone in Seattle, I'd probably be paying $800 per month anyway, so I might as well be paying $800 a month (for my share, anyway) to live with my lovely man in Australia.
Okay. No more bitching about rent prices. Instead I'll move on to whining about the apartment application process. First of all, most renting is done via real estate agencies. People don't just charge tenants to live in their properties, they go through a third-party so they don't have to deal with the hassle. Instead of calling up and scheduling an appointment to see an apartment as soon as you can, you have to wait for "inspection times". And you have to attend the inspection time, otherwise you won't be able to see the apartment. And if you don't see the apartment, then you can't apply for it, so renters have to dance around the schedules put out by the real estate agents. Some show at 9 and 10 in the morning, some in the middle of the afternoon...so basically only people that are unemployed can go to these times...but there's not a chance that these people would get the apartment because they ask for a shitload of documentation. They ask for references from previous landlords, work references, personal references, copies of bills, passport copies, drivers license copies, credit card copies, and one place even had the audacity to require our bank account details. Just to apply for the apartment! As you can imagine, I threw a shit fit about that--I mean, could they invade my privacy a little more? Do you want to know what color of underwear I have on??? Ugh but I complied because that was the best place we've looked at...(Unfortunately we still didn't get accepted, but not because our application was bad, we just didn't have enough documentation. Oy!) I really miss the "first come, first served" market where if you're the first person to go see a place and your application is approved, you get it. Looking for an apartment here is like going to a job interview. We looked at an apartment last week where the property owner actually showed up to the inspection (the real estate showed up 10 minutes later) and upon arrival at the property, she looked at the wannabe-richie couple, gave Marcus and me the once over, then ignored us and took the other couple into the property. Wow, talk about a witch! We made our way into the apartment, and the owner quickly stated that she was trying to get tenants in ASAP and the "first in, best-dressed" would get the place. I was unaware that I needed to wear a suit to go look at an apartment I'm thinking about renting.
But maybe I do need to wear a suit, because there are a lot of people on the hunt for an apartment right now. I've even started recognizing people I've seen at past viewings!
Well, we have another five weeks to look and another five apartments to view on Saturday. Last night we put our heads together and sent a request to the universe to provide a great place for us in a great location. A place for us to call our own--a home. My dear, dear universe, please help us find (and get accepted for) a place just right for us.
That's the apartment hunt. Then there's the job hunt. I am working 9-3 at the Heart Foundation right now, and though the hours are pretty cruisy, I spend my out-of-office hours trying to figure out what to do with my free time and trying not to spend money (which can be especially difficult if I have a date in the city around 6:00 or 7:00 and thus have three or four hours to wile away in the city). Anyway, for the past year I've done temp work in the administration arena, and unfortunately my resume now reflects almost entirely administration. But admin is literally boring me to tears! When people ask me to order lunches to them, I have to fight the urge to give an emphatic negation. I detest taking meeting minutes for meetings I have no say in. I'm tired of setting up food for other people. I'm tired of printing off my boss's emails and being the guardian of her "signature box". I hate this job. I am not challenged in the least and some people in my department are so condescending as to say that administration takes a certain skill set and to suggest that this is where I should be working. To that I say a big effffffff you! I am in this predicament because of visa restrictions and an indecision at which career path specifically I should be following. I no longer work in a place where my bosses push and develop me. I am now surrounded by people who want to keep me in a stupidly easy job because I do it better than anyone else they've ever had. I've been applying for jobs that are a bit of a stretch for me, but that I know I'd be able to do. Unfortunately in this economy there are a lot of experienced and qualified people looking for jobs, so I'm getting squeezed out of the running. I've applied for at least six jobs and so far I've gotten denied four of them. I am getting disheartened, and the only strong business connection I have here is to Costco, but the only positions available are an entry-level buying position or...dun dun duuuuuun...an administrative assistant position. I know that I'm an ideal employee and anyone that hires me will love me. But it's often difficult to convey this on paper. Not to mention that in general, Australians embellish their applications heavily. I loathe dishonesty, but I'm almost starting to believe that the difficulty of this job application environment is driving people to these little white lies. Well, I will persevere, and if all else fails I'll start applying for the highest paying executive assistant positions I can find and I will recite a mantra each and every day reminding me that this is temporary.
Last, but certainly not least, I'm trying to put my finger down on a masters program. I think the University of Sydney is my best bet as it's one of the most renowned schools in the area, dare I say the country, it has a wide variety of classes, and it's geographically very close to where we live. All good things. Originally I wanted to apply for the Peace and Conflict Resolution studies course, but I'm starting to think that might be a bit too touchy feely and could be looked at in scorn by the business world. I thought about doing an MBA, because the organisations I've worked in here lack management skills on so many levels and this would certainly set me apart in the non-profit world. But I've only taken one business class ever, and I hated it. It was mumbo jumbo and nonsense to me and I couldn't concentrate on what was being taught. So I've tabled that option, but then thought what about a masters in Public Administration? I hopped online only to find that the MPA at Sydney Uni is only for government officials, and I would have to relegate myself to getting a certificate or diploma in governmental studies. But quite frankly, I don't want to study the government. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm naturally efficient, and if only I could find another smart boss to work for, I could stand to learn so much! Where are these smart bosses who want to mentor their employees? Oh yeah, they're in Seattle...I have got to find a way to get plugged in here...
Anyhew, I've circled back around and am starting to think that human rights sounds pretty good. It's something I'm passionate about and would be happy to study in-depth. Plus, there's an internship program at the end of the course that would plug me right into the world that works with human rights which would be fantastic. And I could try to focus on human rights and international law, which would segue nicely into law school. Hmm hmm, this may be my best plan yet. Other than taking a few small business courses and figuring out how to open up my cookie cafe. :) Oh yeah, and paying $35,000 for a one-year patisserie course at Le Cordon Bleu. Yikers! I may still call them to see if they do any scholarships, though. I'd love to be surrounded by sugar all day...
All in all I'm trying to become a big kid and get some better and relevant career experience. At the moment I feel like I'm in a rut, but I will persevere and I know that at some point these obstacles will be overcome and I'll come out on the other side. Keep breathing...and stop spraying cranky at Marcus. :)
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