I got a job!
I am a Lead Director for that Environmental Advocacy group I interviewed with twice. While positions are available all across the country, I asked to stay in Sacramento for the first year (free rent with mom!). After that, I can pick what office I want to go to: Manhattan, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Charleston, Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, LA or San Francisco.
I will be hiring, training and running a staff of 20-40 people who will be contracted out by various environmental groups like Sierra Club, CALPRIG, and the World Wildlife Foundation. But you may be asking (like Neal did), "Nekayah, are you qualified for this?". Actually, Neal phrased it more like "Holy S&*tballs, they put you in charge of people?". Regardless! I will be attending a 6 week training program in Boston to prepare me for the job. So suck it Neal.
The best part? I told them I couldn't start until I got back from Europe and they said okey-dokey. So, this means I get to see Europe AND be gainfully employed when I get back!
I will stop gloating as I don't want to tempt the fates, but I will say this: I feel so very, very blessed (and relived) that this all just might work out.
Keep checking back for updates on Europe and the cute clothes I will now get to buy because I have a real-person-grownup job!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Job Interviews or The Easiest Way To Get A Free Meal Ever
Job Interview #1
First-round interview for a position as projects manager on an organic farm in Hawaii.
The place: A restaurant where I met with the owner of the farm.
Food eaten: Gigantic fruit bowl with granola and yogurt, coffee, English muffin and fresh-squeezed OJ.
Job Interview #2
First-round interview for a position with an Environmental Advocacy Group.
The Place: A coffee-shop in Downtown Sacramento
Food Eaten: Largest extra-hot triple-foam White Chocolate Mocha with an extra Shot, Blueberry muffin.
Job Interview #3
Second-round interview for organic farm
The Place: T-Rex BBQ, the best organic BBQ in the Berkeley
Food Eaten: Slow-roasted pulled pork BBQ sandwich, red-cabbage and apple coleslaw, potato salad, two Sam Addams.
Job Interview #4
Adjunct Capitol Aid
The Place: La Bou Bakery in Downtown Sacramento
Food Eaten: Toasted bagel with cream-cheese, salmon, onions, capers, largest Sumatran coffee with extra room for milk.
Job Interview #5
Second-Round interview for Environmental Advocacy Group
The Place: Their office in San Francisco
The Food: A veritable cornucopia of fresh fruit, muffins, fresh-brewed coffee, OJ, bagels and donuts. Later in the day, deli sandwiches ranging from salami/cheese to avocado/bean sprout, Jones sodas, chips, chips, chips, crudites, and sparkling water.
So I'm living with my mom, shopping at Goodwill, and getting free meals from various potential employers. This is all either horrifying or hilarious. I choose to see the funny side. Pass me another soda, please.
First-round interview for a position as projects manager on an organic farm in Hawaii.
The place: A restaurant where I met with the owner of the farm.
Food eaten: Gigantic fruit bowl with granola and yogurt, coffee, English muffin and fresh-squeezed OJ.
Job Interview #2
First-round interview for a position with an Environmental Advocacy Group.
The Place: A coffee-shop in Downtown Sacramento
Food Eaten: Largest extra-hot triple-foam White Chocolate Mocha with an extra Shot, Blueberry muffin.
Job Interview #3
Second-round interview for organic farm
The Place: T-Rex BBQ, the best organic BBQ in the Berkeley
Food Eaten: Slow-roasted pulled pork BBQ sandwich, red-cabbage and apple coleslaw, potato salad, two Sam Addams.
Job Interview #4
Adjunct Capitol Aid
The Place: La Bou Bakery in Downtown Sacramento
Food Eaten: Toasted bagel with cream-cheese, salmon, onions, capers, largest Sumatran coffee with extra room for milk.
Job Interview #5
Second-Round interview for Environmental Advocacy Group
The Place: Their office in San Francisco
The Food: A veritable cornucopia of fresh fruit, muffins, fresh-brewed coffee, OJ, bagels and donuts. Later in the day, deli sandwiches ranging from salami/cheese to avocado/bean sprout, Jones sodas, chips, chips, chips, crudites, and sparkling water.
So I'm living with my mom, shopping at Goodwill, and getting free meals from various potential employers. This is all either horrifying or hilarious. I choose to see the funny side. Pass me another soda, please.
The Ups of a Down economy
I always thought I was too poor to do the prerequisite young-person right of passage: traveling to and around Europe. While the former is still true, thanks to the economic crisis enveloping our global society, it seems as though the latter part of that statement has been negated.
In other words: now everybody is as poor as me! I'm going to Europe, bitches!
My best friend and I just bough round-trip tickets from San Fransisco to Frankfort, Germany. You need to not freak when I tell you the price. Ready?
$417.
Combine that with the fact that we are using family friends as a base-camp and form of free lodging and I feel we have a very cost-effective trip in the makes.
Another great thing about our shitty economy? The Sales! Now that I have somewhere to go, I need cute things to wear, yes? Normally, I would steer clear of stores like Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters, The Limited, ect. But the sales y'all, the sales! Everything is at least 50% off, usually more and it must go, go, go!
Also, on the clothing front I must mention that due to the poor economy and tax season rolling around, many are donating to Goodwill in the hopes to have a hefty write-off. Fortunately for us poor people, that means a wealth of options (if you are willing to dig!). By crazyrandomhappenstance, my mom lives in a very old and upscale part of Sacramento. We're talking mansions and well manicured yards with attached stables, pools and tennis courts. This means that the local area Goodwill store is brimming with high-class crap at welfare crap prices.
Case in point: I needed a light dress that covers my shoulders and knees for when we are running around Italy and visiting churches. I trotted over to Goodwill and got a lovely Banana Republic 100% Silk, Never Worn (the original price tag was still on it), $145 (like I said, the original price tag was still on it) dress. I paid $5. Take that, global economic crisis! I need to take a picture of it and post it, otherwise I fear no one will believe me.
On a related note, has anyone reading this gone in to a Goodwill store? They're AMAZING. Don't let the formerly incarcerated employees discourage you, nor the piles of Wal-Mart cast-offs dissuade you: there are finds to be found at Goodwill!
If you can't handle the skeez factor of someone else having worn you clothes; may I recommend the Dollar Store as an appropriate substitute. Sure, there are no clothes but if you need a travel coffee mug, scented candles, picture frames or candy (maybe the last one is just me), you can't beat the Dollar Store. And once again, don't let the Meth-head behind the cash register freak you out. Just don't stare at her meth mouth at checkout and you'll get out unscathed. Really, the only problem I ever have at the Dollar Store is that it f&#ks with my sense of Capitalism. Example:
"Oh, this is nice. How much is this?" (Nekayah remembers where she is. It's a dollar.)
"I need five of these though. How much would that be? (Nekayah remembers where she is and does simple math in her head)
"Sweet! They have my favorite candy here! How mu-" (This time, Nekayah remembers where she is before she completes her thought. Slight progress is made)
And so on and so forth.
So for anyone out there trippin' balls about how bad things are economically, look on the bright side: it's only really tragic if you're upper-middle class or rich! So take public transportation and treat yourself to a day of shopping at Goodwill and the Dollar Store. Perhaps finish up your day by hanging out at the public library and taking advantage of their delicious free internet? God I love America.
In other words: now everybody is as poor as me! I'm going to Europe, bitches!
My best friend and I just bough round-trip tickets from San Fransisco to Frankfort, Germany. You need to not freak when I tell you the price. Ready?
$417.
Combine that with the fact that we are using family friends as a base-camp and form of free lodging and I feel we have a very cost-effective trip in the makes.
Another great thing about our shitty economy? The Sales! Now that I have somewhere to go, I need cute things to wear, yes? Normally, I would steer clear of stores like Banana Republic, Urban Outfitters, The Limited, ect. But the sales y'all, the sales! Everything is at least 50% off, usually more and it must go, go, go!
Also, on the clothing front I must mention that due to the poor economy and tax season rolling around, many are donating to Goodwill in the hopes to have a hefty write-off. Fortunately for us poor people, that means a wealth of options (if you are willing to dig!). By crazyrandomhappenstance, my mom lives in a very old and upscale part of Sacramento. We're talking mansions and well manicured yards with attached stables, pools and tennis courts. This means that the local area Goodwill store is brimming with high-class crap at welfare crap prices.
Case in point: I needed a light dress that covers my shoulders and knees for when we are running around Italy and visiting churches. I trotted over to Goodwill and got a lovely Banana Republic 100% Silk, Never Worn (the original price tag was still on it), $145 (like I said, the original price tag was still on it) dress. I paid $5. Take that, global economic crisis! I need to take a picture of it and post it, otherwise I fear no one will believe me.
On a related note, has anyone reading this gone in to a Goodwill store? They're AMAZING. Don't let the formerly incarcerated employees discourage you, nor the piles of Wal-Mart cast-offs dissuade you: there are finds to be found at Goodwill!
If you can't handle the skeez factor of someone else having worn you clothes; may I recommend the Dollar Store as an appropriate substitute. Sure, there are no clothes but if you need a travel coffee mug, scented candles, picture frames or candy (maybe the last one is just me), you can't beat the Dollar Store. And once again, don't let the Meth-head behind the cash register freak you out. Just don't stare at her meth mouth at checkout and you'll get out unscathed. Really, the only problem I ever have at the Dollar Store is that it f&#ks with my sense of Capitalism. Example:
"Oh, this is nice. How much is this?" (Nekayah remembers where she is. It's a dollar.)
"I need five of these though. How much would that be? (Nekayah remembers where she is and does simple math in her head)
"Sweet! They have my favorite candy here! How mu-" (This time, Nekayah remembers where she is before she completes her thought. Slight progress is made)
And so on and so forth.
So for anyone out there trippin' balls about how bad things are economically, look on the bright side: it's only really tragic if you're upper-middle class or rich! So take public transportation and treat yourself to a day of shopping at Goodwill and the Dollar Store. Perhaps finish up your day by hanging out at the public library and taking advantage of their delicious free internet? God I love America.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)