Luck

In a mere stroke of luck today I found a posting on craigslist for a study abroad internship.  I applied and received an email scheduling a phone interview within the hour.  I have a phone interview for 11 am tomorrow.  If I were to get the internship, I would have to find 15 hours a week between 9-5:30.  That means I'll probably want 25 or so hours somewhere else.  I think it would be easiest just to have a job downtown-barista, sales, food service, whatever.  I did find a posting for pt office person for afternoons.  That is also feasible.  However, for the long term (this year) I will need to keep finding internships that do not require the same type of hours.  I more flexible job might be better.  This is good.  If I get the internship, I will pound the pavement next week or whenever.  I need money.

Job Searching

Today I actually made progress.  After a disappointing start with an immediate rejection from a temp agency (the woes of technology), I decided to use resources tailored to recent grads.  Because I am an excellent candidate for any sort of job- lack of full time job experience be damned.  Anywho, I submitted stuff to two firms, with one letting me schedule an appointment with potential cancellation possibility.  Truthfully, the projects are likely to be temp which is exactly the timeline I'm looking for.  If nothing else it will make me feel like I'm actually making headway.  Additionally, I am also going to apply for 2 small/ non-paying internships in my field.  There's always a supplemental job as a barista or something.

I've made a decision concerning grad schools.  I am still sticking to my fall 2011 start, but want to remain in the international sector.  Specifically, I want to pursue the field of international education.  I want to work in the study abroad industry.  I think I would be an excellent administrator and I can see a series of career goals with that field.  I'm still interested in the sociolinguistics, but have scrapped the idea of the French linguistics.  I want to French to be a smaller component of my future career.  I want it to be the extra, not the center.  This also gives me opportunity to pick up another language(s) if I want.  Decisions being made, I plan to use the next two years building up my resume.  Once I've made my complete decision about grad school, I can seek out opportunities that best fit my prospected program.

Now I just need a job.

Productivity v Laziness

One week of unemployment has proved that I'm very good at laying about the house.  My list of accomplishments are as follows: cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen, loads of laundry, vacation to Iowa/ rental car experience, night out with L, voice lesson, choir....and lots of tv.  Clearly I need to change my habits.  I've been making lists of general things to do, but I think I truly need to plan out my days and schedule specific tasks.

General lists:
Electric co
Paper organization
Temp agency app
Bank
Grocery Shopping
Laundry
General Job Searching

Daily Schedule:
Wake up no later than 9.
Hour allotment for breakfast/ waking up.
Shower.
Temp Agency app/ Job Search until lunch
Lunch (12-1 ish begin with 2 hour break [French style])
Cleaning/ Errands/ Personal Projects
Dinner
Evening Leisure

Beginnings

My last post was during finals week of my last undergraduate semester. Summer is over and I am hanging between....jobs, paths, decisions. In other words, I am currently living in limbo and waiting for something to happen. I'm awaiting an internship in France that seems to be pushed later and later into my year. I'm applying for jobs (somewhat) locally while trying to weight what I want to do versus what will just be a paycheck. I'm living cheaply and would like to take something meaningful instead of something with financial security. On top of which is this amazing guy that I've mananged to meet this summer and fall in love. Wanderlust-filled me has reason to keep her in the midwest, whether I like it or not.

Here's to what I want: I want to choose a path that will lead me to grad school and eventually a career in an industry that will challenge me and provide me enjoyment. Everything comes to two industries- arts administration and international-related something (linguistics, education, etc). As much as I love Minneapolis, I feel this pull to leave. Now is the time and I'm equally tethered here. Then there is the guy; I have this amazing boyfriend who is stuck in college in Iowa for the next two years. For someone who has had a bad track record with long distance relationships, this is going rather well. I will not be any closer to Iowa than I am now. I want to keep him in my life (this does have marriage potential, if I may be so bold and naive) but question whether or not I can accomplish what I have set for myself.

Meanwhile, I'm living in slightly sketch North Minneapolis in a twenty-something boarding house. Four bedrooms, five roommates, and a cat; each is equally transient. Never before have I been in this sort of living situation before. The house feels like something out of L'Auberge Espangole. Ironically, everyone seems to be getting along rather well. I'm quite pleased with my little space and the easy-going relationship with my roommates.

Here's to the unknown.