An Unemployed Life
I find it amazing how life can happen. One minute you think you have everything figured out, and the next, you feel like you’ve lost all control and can’t see past a month, or worse, you can see two paths but don’t know which to take. Such is the case with me.
Back to the road not taken.
I’d say at least since I finished my undergrad, every summer has been a turning point. Summer 2004: what route to take after convocation; Summer 2005: try my career luck in New England or my romantic luck in Edmonton; Summer 2006: work choosing between four jobs. And now, Summer 2007: grad school in Milan or straight entrepreneurship in Shanghai (although I think I may have figured it out now (thanks to the manager of the Alberta Scholarship Office)- combine the two! Do research for companies in Shanghai wanting to achieve the same goals as me (there are many), build the connections and learn from their experience, and then use it to my benefit when I return to Shanghai once I finish. But the idea is still just an idea.).
The heart of my confusion, lies partly in defining what exactly it is I want to do for work (see my lasting posting on my last blog "The Road Not Taken" for more on that). More recently, I’ve been told that at least the goal I want to achieve (cars that don’t pollute) is “a tall order” and that I’m vying for leadership positions, like CEOs and the like. Of course, my natural position at this point in my life hinders me in two ways: I’m young and I’m inexperienced. And to top it all off, I am still easily influenced by girls that distract me from my goal or I guard myself against those that actually would help me achieve it. Sometimes I wonder whether or not I really am growing up.
Anyway, here’s the update on the happenings of an unemployed life.
First off, it’s actually not too bad, considering I’m keeping busy trying to get organized for a trip back to China I have delayed for too long.
August opened with a trip to World Financial Group, to see if I could learn something about investing from them on the 1st (don’t ask); a patio party on the 2nd; a b-boy fundraiser on the 3rd; a going-away party for one of the danceteam’s members on the 4th; dancing at Heritage Days (my favorite festival in Edmonton) on the 5th.
Monday the 6th was the beginning of a busy “work week”. I researched all the scholarships I could find that I might be eligible for (that was hard), traveled to the university to get the related papers in order. I filled out forms for visas, got my passport photos taken, and got a computer technician to look at our computers. I met up with an old friend that Wednesday, and two more on the 11th, and my brother in Calgary made a surprise appearance that weekend, which was nice. That Saturday was a salsa night social. I didn’t dance much, but still had fun. The building wasn’t opened on time, so the dance lesson started in the parking lot. That was definitely a first.
The next Monday started out with a trip down to Calgary to get my Chinese visa (apparently I didn’t provide a return address). The following few days consisted of more dealings with the university, the Italian consulate, the employment insurance and health care offices, signing a contract to be a business liasion for an Argentinian design firm, and World Financial Group (it was around this time that I realized the major benefit I would get out of them would be eligibility for my visa (I need to show I’m “working”)). I ended the week completing an art project with a friend, watching dragon boat racing in misty air (that reminded me so much of Shanghai), going to see a live band, and having my final dance practice with the danceteam.
This “work week” began with catching up on reading material I had collected on China, design, and everything in-between since I got back from California last year. Monday night was a going-away dinner for another dance teammate who’s going back to Peru early because of the earthquake that recently hit. On Tuesday, a group of people I used volunteer with on campus with had a going-away dinner for me. It was then that I realized I’ll be on my way sooner than I thought.
Although I was told just yesterday that my application for unemployment insurance was rejected on the grounds that I’m leaving the country and am not “willing, able and looking for full-time work”, I have to confess that choosing the next road to take is a pretty hard full-time job.
Back to the road not taken.
I’d say at least since I finished my undergrad, every summer has been a turning point. Summer 2004: what route to take after convocation; Summer 2005: try my career luck in New England or my romantic luck in Edmonton; Summer 2006: work choosing between four jobs. And now, Summer 2007: grad school in Milan or straight entrepreneurship in Shanghai (although I think I may have figured it out now (thanks to the manager of the Alberta Scholarship Office)- combine the two! Do research for companies in Shanghai wanting to achieve the same goals as me (there are many), build the connections and learn from their experience, and then use it to my benefit when I return to Shanghai once I finish. But the idea is still just an idea.).
The heart of my confusion, lies partly in defining what exactly it is I want to do for work (see my lasting posting on my last blog "The Road Not Taken" for more on that). More recently, I’ve been told that at least the goal I want to achieve (cars that don’t pollute) is “a tall order” and that I’m vying for leadership positions, like CEOs and the like. Of course, my natural position at this point in my life hinders me in two ways: I’m young and I’m inexperienced. And to top it all off, I am still easily influenced by girls that distract me from my goal or I guard myself against those that actually would help me achieve it. Sometimes I wonder whether or not I really am growing up.
Anyway, here’s the update on the happenings of an unemployed life.
First off, it’s actually not too bad, considering I’m keeping busy trying to get organized for a trip back to China I have delayed for too long.
August opened with a trip to World Financial Group, to see if I could learn something about investing from them on the 1st (don’t ask); a patio party on the 2nd; a b-boy fundraiser on the 3rd; a going-away party for one of the danceteam’s members on the 4th; dancing at Heritage Days (my favorite festival in Edmonton) on the 5th.
Monday the 6th was the beginning of a busy “work week”. I researched all the scholarships I could find that I might be eligible for (that was hard), traveled to the university to get the related papers in order. I filled out forms for visas, got my passport photos taken, and got a computer technician to look at our computers. I met up with an old friend that Wednesday, and two more on the 11th, and my brother in Calgary made a surprise appearance that weekend, which was nice. That Saturday was a salsa night social. I didn’t dance much, but still had fun. The building wasn’t opened on time, so the dance lesson started in the parking lot. That was definitely a first.
The next Monday started out with a trip down to Calgary to get my Chinese visa (apparently I didn’t provide a return address). The following few days consisted of more dealings with the university, the Italian consulate, the employment insurance and health care offices, signing a contract to be a business liasion for an Argentinian design firm, and World Financial Group (it was around this time that I realized the major benefit I would get out of them would be eligibility for my visa (I need to show I’m “working”)). I ended the week completing an art project with a friend, watching dragon boat racing in misty air (that reminded me so much of Shanghai), going to see a live band, and having my final dance practice with the danceteam.
This “work week” began with catching up on reading material I had collected on China, design, and everything in-between since I got back from California last year. Monday night was a going-away dinner for another dance teammate who’s going back to Peru early because of the earthquake that recently hit. On Tuesday, a group of people I used volunteer with on campus with had a going-away dinner for me. It was then that I realized I’ll be on my way sooner than I thought.
Although I was told just yesterday that my application for unemployment insurance was rejected on the grounds that I’m leaving the country and am not “willing, able and looking for full-time work”, I have to confess that choosing the next road to take is a pretty hard full-time job.
posted by Tim at 8:33 AM
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