The same day of arrival in Ireland, I jumped on a tour with Tir na nog tours and my friend Moo.I slept most of the tour, it was an expensive sleep at 229euros. I do recall opening my eyes a few times and seeing some interesting things. Some cool old castles – **** and ****. And Derry & Belfast in Northern Ireland, particularly the walking tour we did in Derry and the Black Taxi tour in Belfast, were very interesting. Lots of murals and sad history. I’ve come to realise how much of a huge effect on the world the British have had – from New Zealand to Myanmar, to Sri Lanka, to Ireland – and hang on, don’t we all speak English now anyway? I wish I spoke more languages because you hear a lot of different languages in Europe.
I’ve only been here a week, and prehaps expecting too much, but it is proving hard to find a job – any job. Having only a 1 year visa means people don’t really want to give me a “real” job – even though I can get a 2 year visa for jobs in IT, if I get a job in the first place. The worst fact is only have $NZ when everything is in euros and so twice as much, so I’m leaking money as fast as a seive leaks water. This jobless money burning job seeking state is spirit zapping. The only open door so far is the dreaded call centre and disturbing people who would much rather watch TV during their leisure hours than answer another market research study. It’s a one way transaction, the market research company gets information and the respondent loses quality time. It’s lower than a parking attendent – and not as fun since you get to clamp car wheels here. Pizza hut, McDonalds, a convience store, and a shoe shop all have my CV, but who wants someone with a degree anyway? Cos we’re only gonna pay you 6.33euro/hour (the minimum wage).
The recruitment agencies seem dodegy, had one tell me the other day he wasn’t interested because employers only want locals, even though I have a visa. Approaching employeers directly seems to be a better way. Came across this website when I met the owner in Italy http://www.opencareers.com
But I’m not the only one. There are others out there, combing the streets with a wad of CVs in hand. I’m not the only immigrant, my jobless brothers include Europeans, Africans, Asians, as well as fellow Antipodeans. I have found myself hanging out in an area where there are a lot of other immigrants, and shops run by them. Probably because it’s the cheapest place in town. It’s also a place where you see the odd horse and cart rumble by in the morning with goods for the market. Mind you, the produce does seem a little cheap, what does the market know that I don’t? It didn’t take long to find out, my fruit bag of apples only lastest a day before rotting.
Wait for my next entry titled “I have no job, I’m going home”
