The Family on the Train (A Quick Observation)

It was the family's first trip out of town. The three of them sat eagerly on the train, anxiously wondering if their fortunes would change in Melbourne.

To show his independence the son sat on a different set of four seats to his parents. But as soon as he heard the conductor announce that the train would be stopping at more stations and picking up more passengers he quickly rejoined his parents and sat next to his father. Despite their rough appearance, or maybe because of this, the family had interacted with few people outside of their little unit. The thought of sitting next to a stranger was just too much for the son.

As the train departed the station, the whole family played around with their own iPhone, the father and son showing each other the games they were playing and trying to beat the other's high score. The mother stared sullenly out the window listening to music through bright green earphones that matched the Monster can she was drinking from. Of the three of them, she was the least excited about their move to Melbourne. Probably because they were moving with only the clothes on their backs, their iPhones and whatever money they had in the pockets.

Not the best new beginning.

Especially when moving to a big city like Melbourne.

But she knew that it was their only choice. That they had to hope for the best once they arrived. Hope that at least one of the three could find find work go support the rest.

They all knew that their chances of finding working were bleak. But no one voiced this fear. Choosing to ignore that they could be stuck in a big, strange city with the friends or family and without any food and shelter. Without a way back home.

This was their last chance to survive.

None of them were willing to acknowledge that this venture could , and most probably would, fail. The consequences were too dire for them if it did.

Job Hunting

I don't know which is better for the hopeful job hunter; actually handing resumes to a potential boss in person, or applying online.

Both have their benefits.

I mean, actually going into a business and handing in your resume looks really good. It shows your keen and willing to do what it takes on the job. Real character building stuff.

But on the downside, applying in person means you have to look decent not only at the interview, but also when applying for the job. This isn't always so easy.

Where as, applying online you can just be doing so in your three day old undies, and your would be boss neither knows nor cares about your appearance.

You can also apply for a lot more jobs online than you can in person. But there's none of that face to face contact that proves just how much you want the job.



Oh, and also, you shouldn't be wearing three day old undies. You should wear a clean pair each day. It's basic hygene.

2011

Well, as you're probably aware, it's now 2011.

Big surprise, huh.

Maybe time for reflections about the past year, and what I want from this new year?

So, what did I learn last year?

Well, apart from the obvious; finding a job that I really want to do is damn near impossible. So naturally, discovering that I don't like being a door to door sales person all that much didn't come as a surprise ... but at least it's giving me skills that I may need when I finally get into journalism ... not to mention some of the (fictional) stories I might be able to get from some of the nutters I deal with.

I also remembered that going to Ocean Grove for Christams is a really stupid idea. I don't know why I keep forgetting this little fact. Maybe because no one can possibly believe just how bad tourists can get.

And I wasn't even driving a car, which is when you see some classic tourist stupidity.

Not that there was a shortage of that; shopping in Geelong Nat Geo had someone walking around Baycity with someone dressed up as a platypus (still don't know why though). But some lady walking past the table I was sitting at said to her child "Look at the duck."

I mean the Nat Geo platypus did look self concious, but he was still clearly a playtpus! Stupid woman. Stupid touros.

And now I'm ranting ...

So going to change the subject back to my 2011 refelctions;

Well I guess what I want from this year is obvious; a much, much better job than the one I currently have. Preferably one in journalism ... but anything with writing is pretty good for me.

I'd also like to say that I will avoid Ocean Grove during the height of tourist season. But since mum lives down there, I know that this won't be the case.

Door to Door Sales Person

So I rencently got a job. And about time!

It's nothing spectacular. In fact, it's probably the very opposite of spectacular ... unspectacular some might even say.

But the point is that I have finally got myself a job (so, hooray and all that for me!).

I'm now a door to door sales person for Austar ... ok, so the bossman calls it something else (can't remember what though), because the name door to door sales person really drags what we do through the mud ... but let's not get too concerned about nicties. Let's just call it what it is. I'm a damned door to door sales person.

I now get to annoy people in their homes, trying to get them to sign up to Austar.

At least I will once I get this stupid training out of the way.

The only thing worse than being a door to door sales person is training to be a door to door sales person. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOO fucking boring! I seriously hope that once I get out into the field things will start looking better ... or at least more interesting.

Yeah So ...

As you might, or possibly, not have guessed, I've decided to start writing about my day.

Ok, so it may not be all that new of an idea! In fact one of the most unoriginalists ideas ever! But I totally have my reasons.

Not that I'm going to share ... at least not at this point in time.

But if you've been paying attention to my FB, Twitter and EP posts then you'l be well aware that I had a job interview today ... if you can call it an interview ... since the door to door salesman, Chris, totally pulled some strings for me well after the first interview or two, I'm not sure it can be called that.

But Whatever.

I was at the "Open Day" thing for the job today, which detailed what it was about (surprise surprise, 100% commission based work). It doesn't sound too bad. In fact it sounds quite cushy; I only have to make a sale a day at the very least, and I'll be earning around about $400 a week (more than I'm getting from Centre Link).

And if I make 30 sale, I'll get free Austar.

So guess what my sales aim is for the next 4 weeks?

I'm hoping (and assuming!) that I don't really have to tell you.

My fingers are totally crossed for landing this job. I know it requires a lot more effort than I really want to exert. But I should be used to this kind of shit; I mean, I'm a writer, right?

But this job will also hopefully give me some more insight into how people work, think and talk ...

Who I Am

I was chatting to someone on Experience Project. She had some English essay due about who she was. That got me thinking about who I was:
Soooooo,
Who am I?
I guess I’m an alcoholic (although I can survive not drinking), penniless student. I never have enough money to pay for my life (even if I go without alcohol and smokes). I certainly don’t live in any kind of reality than my own … which is probably why I never have any money.
I also seem to live the lifestyle of some washed up B-grade writer, which makes me even more bitter than I really should be.
But at the same time, I’m fiercely proud and independent, and can’t stand the fact that I have to rely on Centre Link for my income. That just makes me even angrier about the fact that I’m unable to find a job.
I’D LOVE A JOB!
That would mean that I wouldn’t have to rely on Centre Link for my money.