Monday, December 21, 2009

Nylon

You know that sound that nylon fabric makes when you rub two pieces of it together? It's an unmistakable sound. We heard that sound last night coming from the sheets. Odd thought we. We shut off the computers and any other electronic laying around. Still the noise persisted. We peeled back the covers one by one. Nothing there. We shook the covers. Nothing flew out. We listened to our stomachs. No audible noises. And then suddenly a long fat beetle with inch long antennas appeared. He made a noise that sounds like rubbing two pieces of nylon fabric together. So now we know and so do you.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Name Change & Bias

Apparently my last name isn't good enough. Apparently certain people in certain organisations believe Anglo is best. Apparently this ISN'T a country of immigrants (and convicts). I've been told in hush hush gossipy tones that perhaps I should use Sam's names instead of my own.

'Employers have negative opinions of foreign sounding names.' 'Asian sounding names are often automatically disqualified.' 'Sad but it's how things are.' 'People just assume that you don't have the right to work here.' '[Sam's last name] would probably be better received than Zarraouti.' Gah! Are we not in a supposedly modern world?

I know I know, life is not all buttercups and pansies. We are all, a la Avenue Q, a little bit racist. We are all ignorant bits of carbon. We as a society are stupid (more often than not). It's just that I didn't think I'd be given this kind of advice. I mean it's one thing to be judged for being American but it's a totally different ballgame if well meaning people are telling me to change my last name for fear that I might be considered.... Considered what exactly? Considered non-white when I'm white? Considered unfit for a position because I may be Asian or African or Martian? Considered not well-spoken or well-dressed or well-groomed?

All that being said, I am not changing my name. I am not changing who I am nor my family history so that some HR person can then decide that I'm all right because I am something that I may or may not be. Amen.

The job hunt otherwise goes well.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Moving House and Thanksgiving

Happy almost Thanksgiving! I'm uber excited about Thanksgiving this year. There's going to be a 6kg Turkey, two quail and a chicken on this year's menu. I've also invited over 40 people to celebrate with us. The house and yard are big enough to accommodate everyone, so I'm not worried at all about overcrowding the house. It should be a good time.

On other topics, we're moving houses. The landlord is selling our current house, so we've had to find Canberra home #3. Third house has velvet wallpaper! It's a huge sharehouse and we have part of the house to ourselves. There's some risk, but the pros seem to outweigh the cons and the truth is that one can never be absolutely certain about anything, so in we move! I'll miss house #2. It was nice while it lasted.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Magpies

I'd been warned about the magpies. Sunday night the boy and I were swooped a few times. We picked up some tree branches and swatted the birds away. My tree branch had ants on it. Some of the ants ended up in my jeans. I thought the ants were a worse annoyance than the birds.

Monday was a holiday in Oz. We decided to do a 15 kilometer bike ride to a friends' house. On the way there a magpie swooped. I batted it away. It swooped from the other side. I batted it away again but in doing so, I lost control of my bike and hit the curb. Apparently I looked like superman flying through the air. A car stopped. A concerned guy, who saw my amazing flying skills, got out. Sam realized I wasn't there and came back for me. The two of them made sure I was all right. I was a bit dazed. There were tears. My shoulder hurt but I decided to be a trooper and to prove to Sam that I'm tough cookie. We biked the rest of the way and ended up having a lovely afternoon playing board games. I kept ice on my arm though, because it hurt. Yeah, it hurt.

That hurt didn't go away though. Turns out that I ripped some muscles off my shoulder. Oppsy. I'm writing this post with my right hand alone. I'm awkwardly sitting on one butt cheek because my other cheek is sore. I have impressive bruises. I hate magpies.

Monday, September 28, 2009

It's a beautiful day

Ah Canberra, you're sunny today. There's an oil spill off the Northwest Australian coast. Obama's reshaping his foreign policy. The New York Times is recommending another set of posh Paris hotels in its weekend magazine. The Sydney Morning Herald highlights the no-fly zone over Munich's Oktoberfest. Le Monde has a new 'Planete' section that I don't remember seeing before. Oh, and U.S. job seekers outnumber available jobs 6 to 1 (thanks NY Times for that encouraging report!).

Today is going to be a good day. Carpe Diem.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Job search or I'm having a not so fabulous day.

My visa states that I can only work for any employer for 6 months. No exceptions (unless you're a lawyer or doctor. I'm neither.).

When I first arrived, I had trouble getting people to believe I had the right to work in Australia. I understand their doubts. I'm sure there are lots of foreign applicants without the right to work in Oz. Not many places want to sponsor immigrants. I'm sure that many places even take applications from foreigners and throw them away. I remember being told that French companies often go one step further - they throw away applications from people with non-France last names. Oz isn't France, but I'm sure that many things are the same. Unfair, but fine.

Now I'm running into the I-don't-want-to-hire-you-for-only-three-months opinion. Boo. My working holiday visa runs out in January. Our de facto visa hasn't been lodged yet. I'm waiting on police checks. Once I get that nice little de facto visa in my hot little hands, I'll be able to start applying for permanent positions. But until then, I'm caught up in a "I can't work for the government and not many people are hiring temps for non-government jobs" world.

I've learned a lot from the temp work I've done. I don't anticipate problems when explaining when all my work has been short term (internships, teaching in France, temping in Oz). I graduated in 2007 from a (insert buzzword here) 'world class' university. I've spent the past two years gaining invaluable world experience. My future world president soul will be empathetic toward those in my current 20-something situation.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The repeat of the long time, no blog thing

I've been busy. Doing nothing in particular, just busy. I'm jobless (again). I had an informal interview yesterday. I believe it was a success. Hmm. I think.

I left Oz to visit home for a bit. I'm so glad I did. I helped my parents with their harvest. I visited with the grandparents (they're in their 90s, bless them). I ate buckets of good food. My dad's blackberry apple pies are HEAVENLY. Despite the goodness of home, I'm glad to be back in Oz. Good ol' Oz.

Life here reminds me of the States. It doesn't challenge me in the same way that France did. I don't find myself yelling at the sky or shedding tears by the seine. I don't find that I'm growing in the same way (although I'm absolutely still growing in every way possible EXCEPT size). I still miss France. I miss Paris. I'll live there again someday, but now I've got this Oz adventure going on. I'm happy here. Sam and I are having a great time. There ARE kangaroos all over the place. Gosh!

On other topics, I'm in debt. I've joined the huge debt club. The thing is, I don't regret gaining the debt. The majority of my debt is university-related. I don't regret it one bit. The other part of my debt is travel related. I don't regret that debt either. Being obliged to immediately pay back my school debt is something I do regret, or perhaps the better word is 'upset.' I hate that American culture is so entrenched in going to school, getting a great job and then retiring. The culture makes it nearly impossible for the average person to do something other than get a conventional job after university. Yet money is money and it has to be paid back sometime (and I'm paying! Don't think that I've defaulted on loans). I digress.

So yes, I'm back in the blogosphere. Again.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The Hunt Continues

This just occurred to me: Despite all my time doing cool things around the globe, I've never had a proper interview. By proper, I mean formal. There was some interviewing with temp agencies in Washington, but that was more of a typing test thing. I dressed in pants suits for my typing tests. Overkill? Probably. I like to make a good impression.

Anyway, Australia might be more xenophobic than I anticipated. My problems: 1. I have a foreign (non-white) sounding last name. 2. My professional experience and education was abroad. 3. I can only work 6 months for any one organization.

While I'm sure I could find work as a skimpy (bar maid) or farm hand in the outback, I have no desire to do either. I grew up on a farm in the country. I already know what hard labor is like; that's why I went to University. I worked as a server during high school and university. I've paid my dues. Grr! Despite my great CV, lovely cover letters and wonderful phone presence, I've only scored two interviews. The first was to be an equestrian coach at a local horse farm (I was under-qualified but the guy was informative). The second is tomorrow. Tomorrow I trot off to a fancy restaurant for a trial shift as a fine dining server.

Honest money is better than nothing, but please God, let it be something that won't make me want to wish I'd been an accounting major!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Interview

I had an interview today. It went well enough. Then I came home and promptly threw up. Boo.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Hello World

Tell all of your friends! There is an intelligent, hard-working soul in Canberra with two liberal arts degrees from a prestigious American university who is looking for a job! The restaurants won't even take me! Maybe this is the part of my life story where I learn that job hunting in any foreign country isn't a walk in the park....

Anyway, hello world! I'm back in the blogosphere. I thought about back-blogging, but truth be told, I don't have the energy. What has happened since December? I've settled in with Sam and it has been GREAT! There's no doubt that my unsuccessful job hunt has been hard on both of us but he has been better about it than I could ever imagine. The man hugs me on a daily basis and says things like "maybe tomorrow will be a better day." WOW! I still have every intention of moving out BUT I need to find a job first. Amen.

Australia reminds me of the States. A lot. Sorry Aussis, but it's true. The way you dress. The way you act. The way you eat. Yep, reminds me of the States. Of course there are notable differences, like driving on the left or calling a cooler an "eskie" (in NZ, it's called a "chilly bin!"). I tried to order take out from a restaurant one day and wasn't understood until I said "take away." Sigh. Regardless, Australia's grand but I often feel a tinge of longing for Paris; I don't think that feeling will ever go away.

Until I write to you again, take care internet! Much love, Mlle Zarrouati.

Disclaimer

All opinions contained herein are the exclusive property of Elizabeth Zarrouati, and in no way reflect the beliefs or attitudes of, but not limited to, the United States Government, the French Government, the Australian government, nor any government entity in the U.S., France, Australia or anywhere else in the world where I happen to be. All writing and original images on I Endorse Bread and Typos ©2008 of I Endorse Bread and Typos unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.