i almost believed that the fortune fairy read my blog. last wednesday, as i was waiting for 6pm interview in a french resto, my phone rang and it was the casino. they are offering me the job in the deli bar as a wait staff! i have 3 night shifts in a week, which is really not bad as compared to having no job at all. so yesterday, i went to skycity and signed the contract. first night will be later at 7pm until the early hours when the sun is still hidden at 4 in the morning. this would be my first graveyard shift ever, and i am the person who is just so inefficient when it comes to sleeping. good luck to me.
the french resto, on the other hand, was both a nightmare and fulfilling. the manager scanned my CV for like 10 minutes, nodding at constant intervals at my falsified résumé, which gives me a strange feeling. but since i am already there, i have to stand up on my abilities, which mainly comprise of excellent customer service. another wait staff came exactly at 6 o’clock, and the next thing i knew is that i’m wearing the serving apron and being led how everything is done. i am not expecting to do a trial run that night, and didn’t have anything for dinner yet. the french chef came, and the place started to get busy. with the appealing smell of freshly cooked gourmet food, my ravenous stomach began to sound but silenced enough by my nervousness taking orders, getting water, serving food, clearing the table, and offering dessert list. there’s a lot to do as a waiter, and the job is not simple as it looks like. the kitchen rules are so precise. different plates are used for different reasons. the teaspoon stack is in the bar, whereas all the other cutleries are in the rack behind the kitchen bar. table napkins point to the right, on top is a set of fork and knife. fork on the left, knife on the right. water glass and wine glass are in order too. and this set-up is not even the most comprehensive of a proper dining!
and then with the wine. i am very convinced at myself that i haven’t opened a bottle of wine or champagne..or probably once during my 19th or 20th birthday when some friends brought a bottle of red. but then, we opened it with the traditional opener, which is nothing more but a thin metal spiral. in this restaurant, they have a fancy gadget opening the bottle, which looks like this. i tried to open a bottle of red, and by imitating terian, an aussie waitress, it was successful!! then pour a tiny bit in the glass for the customer to taste, and if his face seems to agree (which most likely he will, or else his taste of wine is stupid), you will then pour more of it. ask them if they want to keep the cork, which is locked inside the contraption, and of course you give them if they want.
they have a wide list of wine selections too, most of them i can’t even pronounce. however, my knowledge is limited only to chardonnay, pinot noir, and merlot..and that is even because of staying and working in hawkes bay, an area of wineries in nz.
it was intense for a few moments, busy and packed, but as it gets late, people started to go.
that was a no pay labor, but i felt a bit reassured that i’ll get it because they had me demoed! at the end of 3 or 4-hour charity work, i’m ready to leave. the manager just told me he’ll let me know thursday, which is today. as tip is not mandatory here, the tip bowl is almost empty. distributing it to everyone, i had some coins richer.
wendy’s is calling my attention on my walk back home, and it will be too late to prepare my own food back at the hostel. the fast food, apparently, is close already, but the drive thru is open ’til midnight so after the last car, i stand there incognito as a porsche and waited for my turn. i told myself i’ll get something special as it was an exciting night, and i had the casino job. so, it was bacon murshroom melt and a medium fries. i have a bottle of apple juice in the fridge. total for takeaway was $11.60. the tip share i got is $3.50. haha, i was then a few dollars poorer.
there are times when i get what i want. there are also times when i get what i need. but right now, it just brings a smile upon my face that i get what i get.
this is just my 5th post for april, yet the month is ending. being stuck in this city and nothing happening much in my life, i had very little things to say apart from “how are you?”, and “i’m still alive”. mentioning just about the tiniest bit of detail of how i live each day like “today i had a good sleep, brushed my teeth, and cooked early in the morning..” would seem to make me too depressed for words.
i am not exactly irritated, but i feel somehow uncomfortable when people around ask if i have a job already. to tell you straight, NO, i don’t have a job yet, but still in full swing search ops. i know that some people are just concern and wanted to know what’s going on with me here, and perhaps my recent posts sounded to be deem call for help for some..so, i guess i understand it, and appreciate your interests. maybe i’d just let you know that my resolve is still high.
well, i would be lying if i say everything is perfectly at peace now. this gruesome job hunt is making my self-confidence reset to zero. a few months after coming to this country was all good. it didn’t matter that i don’t have a job, career, or stable income. i was traveling. i was happy.
as i’ve known myself, possibly the reason why i don’t feel good to be asked if i’ve got a job already is because i know that my answer is “no, i don’t have yet.”, and saying this would undoubtedly sounds like me as a failure. so, don’t worry because as soon as i get a job, i’ll let you know. i will shout, and let everyone know. that’s a promise. 
however, a couple of friends have been more than helpful like miss ces from across the pacific, sharing her sympathies and understanding my struggles, and giving me a contact number of her friend here in auckland, who just a couple of days ago started to be in the same position as i am as she recently lost her job. i contacted her, and got a couple of tips from her, and more places to go job hunt. kuya rexie from neighboring australia messaged me just a while ago, and gave an email ad of a filipino working here in auckland. they have an opening for a support position in IT, and i did not hesitate trying as it took me just 3 seconds to send my ever-ready-pre-formatted CoverLetter-CV email.
yesterday, i was walking towards balmoral along dominion road. i learned from owie there is a catholic church around the area, and i’m confused at myself whether i want to go there because it’s a catholic church or for the reason that chances are there would be many filipinos that i might get contacts and job opportunities. or maybe both? to be honest, i haven’t attended a single mass since coming here, but that is not to say i attend regular sunday mass back home. i guess i am at best, spiritually, when i was in hong kong, when my auntie can’t simply allow a sunday to pass without knowing where i am (which is not too bad all the time). back home, i couldn’t count how many friends and relatives have been saying they’re all praying for me. that’s a very norm of a catholic. pray for somebody else in trouble. people pray for you just as you pray for them (that is if you’re not selfish enough). this i don’t understand. is the power of prayers magnified if more people ask for help? is my own prayer alone not enough? can’t be heard? i even have an aunt who sternly instructed me never to forget praying to st joseph, for he is the patron saint of job seekers, but a quick googling revealed that she was even wrong. it was st cajetan.
you might sense by now that i don’t really accept everything in catholicism. well, i’ve decided not to.
going back to my walk, it was not near or far where i’m staying. after more or less an hour walking, i reached balmoral road intersecting dominion road. a short line of commercial stores, laundry shops, and takeaways greeted me, but any building with a cross on top is nowhere to be found. i guess i was too confident that i always found places. just aided with a map, i figured the church would be imposing enough not to get the exact address. i did not find it. meanwhile, since i was already there, i just walked around the shops, most of them closed for it was sunday. i looked for any vacancy ads, but there was none.
i sighed a sigh.
i’m not certain if i’m battling just recession and high competition, and not discrimination. there was no direct racism or whatsoever, but why oh why can’t i get any jobs? i haven’t even had one single, yes, one single interview with an actual employer. all i’m asking is at least to get a chance to demonstrate, and explain what i can do as a technical IT professional. is that too much to ask? it has been more than a month, and i’m still scavenging jobs here in auckland.
people, give me a rational explanation what is going on? just how can i tell them that i am the one? sadly, it is not just as easy as blurting, “hey, i am your man, the man!”, in the middle of a job interview. this might even leave a whos-this-psycho-chinese-weirdo impression!
i hate to say without sounding arrogant, that probably carrying a bachelor’s diploma from the philippines premier university made it easy for me back home. i haven’t even graduated yet i have a direction where i’m going to work. i started my first job barely a month after wearing the toga. i never had a break longer than a week in my professional career, had the chance to work abroad, then found a second job that was just to good to miss giving me the salary that i wanted right on the table on the very first interview. travelled around, crossed the pacific, and things were just smooth, like they fall perfectly into places.
fast-forward to now, perhaps i’m becoming a bit impatient. before coming to this country, i had a slight idea that it’s not going to be easy, but i never thought it’s going to be this hard (wow that’s a coldplay line there)! i moved in this land all by myself (and that’s one for celine dion’s fans, i know you exist, don’t be shy!)…and maybe i should stop making my lines out of songs! and say something better.
the biggest problem i have, second to unstable cashflow, is time. i don’t have an unlimited time hunting jobs. my clock is ticking, just like everyone elses, but mine is ticking louder and louder, and i’m coming to the point of realizing it’ll soon be over. sooner or later, my time will be up. i have to have a job right NOW! which needless to say, i’m looking in full fury but still can’t get any. i’ve lost count of how many thank-you-&-good-luck emails i’ve got, and in comparison to emails asking to see me in person, i know the exact number, which is a pity 2.
i’m moving, and taking actions. but despite the effort, there’s nothing more i can do but wait. at the very least, opening my gmail every single day is an exciting moment.
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P.S.
my page reached 6000+ hits.
thanks for the visits. oh well?!
it has been four months and counting since leaving home, and this is the longest continuous time i’ve been away. i always had the chance to go back manila during my 2-year stint in hong kong every four months, and the trip to st paul was just only for 3 months. four months, plus more as i don’t have an exact idea when i’ll go back the philippines. i have a visa good until september this year but a lot of things can happen. i may or may not go back sooner than that..maybe for christmas as i’ve missed it last year. i don’t really know, and i can’t believe i’m talking about going home yet i haven’t even started the ultimate original purpose why i am here at the very place i am right now.
IT job seems to be excruciatingly scarce, and realizing i won’t find it until my money runs dry, i’m taking other options. it’s really pity and funny at the same time how my bank account in the philippines looks like. a few months ago, it was all gliterring and nice with 6-digits boastfully staring at me every single time i check online. now, it was almost down to 4-digits! that it was only salvaged by the last pay cheque (from previous work) finally deposited into my account, getting it up a bit back at 5-figure digits. and of course, it will only take a few months from now, even to have it all gone, as i’m paying for item’s (car back home) last few months mortagage, last 4 months to be exact!
and this is merely how i became a data encoder, a grocery store bagger and cashier, and a crew at mc donalds. i’ve done all of these things back in the philippines according to my “revised” casual résumé. i know it’s horrible to be making up and pretending to work something i did not do, but this is the only way to get into casual work. hell yes, even casual works are hard to come by, and it is even harder for someone who doesn’t have any experience. hence, i am making my experiences. polishing my 1-page casual CV, and sending it to owie (ex-officemate in ph) for publishing about 30 copies, i was off the road the last few days distributing my CV to random shops, restaurants, bars, and café.
i started along roads near where i am staying, not really in the city centre, but some local cafes and bars. i even attempted to submit my CV in foodtown, the grocery supermarket i frequent (well, i have supermarket work experience remember!) but the lady was so snobbish she rejected it right away. i went again the second time and tried to ask other people, and it was more welcoming that i filled in a special job enquiry form just in case anything comes up. some of the cafés and shops were really nice they take time to talk a bit and get my CV, but some are really just not interested. they might not have a vacancy at the moment, but i just thought if they’ll have my contacts, they’ll call me in case something is available. anyway, this is the same technique done by most backpackers around. once, i tried to give a copy of CV in this italian restaurant with a waiting job posted at its glass window, and the man asked me if i have a experience as a waiting staff, stunned as i missed that in my “revised” CV, i told him i’ve worked in mc donalds! but he still got my resumé, and told me he’ll pass it to his boss.
one day, i found myself in sky city (beside the sky tower) at the casino gaming area looking around for kuya bong to give my CV and some forms i filled up. if my newly improved CV can’t seem to impress, a good backer is the chance. i gave him four copies of my CV, and as he worked as a trolleyman roaming around, pushing a cart carrying liquors and coffee, i enjoyed a free mug of café and walked around from machine to machines. the idea of winning it big that night came into my mind, and it would be really cool if i win a million dollars. what a version of slumdog millionaire that is! what will i do with the money? will i tell anyone? go home? stick here in kiwiland? so many questions, but it’ll answer one thing for sure. it will solve the financial anxiety i couldn’t avoid to get in. going back to reality, i checked my wallet, and carefully flattened a crisp plastic 5-dollar note. i’ve played these machines before in macau and at home in tagaytay and neighboring san pedro. you just randomly select the bet, and how many lines you want to play, and so i played. a few rounds winning, more rounds losing, i finished my $5 as swift as a running cheetah. then, i played another $5, still losing, and another $5 just thinking my luck would finally come. but then, nothing. i walked back my way out and aim for home, spending a grand total of $15 for a cup of instant coffee, the most expensive cup i’ve had.
hello mga kids, paumanhin at medyo napatagal bago ako muling nakapagsulat dito. actually, wala namang bago, walang bagong kwento. nasa auckland city pa din ako, kay bilis ng oras at ikatlong-linggo ko na sa siyudad! ibig sabihin din nito ay tatlong linggo na akong naghahanap ng trabaho at bigo pa din. 
mahirap ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya sa kasalukuyan. madami ding ibang walang mahanap na trabaho ngayon, malaking bilang sa kanila mga migrante buhat pa sa europa. ‘yung iba mas matagal pang naghahanap ng trabaho sa akin, at hanggang ngayon wala pa din. hay, kahit saan ata sa mundo ngayon ay tag-hirap na.
so, ano ang aking pinagkakaabalahan, kung sakaling napapaisip ka. well, bukod sa paulit ulit na pagtingin sa mga websites ng trabaho, seek.co.nz, at trademe, nagbabakasakali na merong lumitaw ng job ad na fit na fit sa akin, ay wala ng ibang matino pa. buti na lang ay may mini-library dito sa hostel. astig din ang selection nila, ang bilis magrenew sapagkat iniiwan or ipinagpapalit ng mga iba pang backpackers dito. nabasa ko ang slumdog millionaire dito. ganun din ang the reader, the case of the missing books, pati robinson crusoe pinatulan ko na, at the poor bastard graphic novel aka komiks. merong kopya ng das parfum (the perfume) ni patrick suskind, kaso sa wikang aleman, sayang. bukod sa pagbabasa ay libre din ang dvd rental dito, nahiram ko na ang blood diamond, 10 things i hate about you. napanood ko na din ang movie version ng slumdog millionaire, the perfume, being john malkovich, at samu’t saring iba pang mga pelikula.
hay, ang boring di ba?
buti na lang nung nakaraang byernes ay naimbitahan akong dumalaw kina owie, dati kong kaopisina sa sunlife. sa city center mismo sila nakatira, kasama ang kanilang napaka-friendly at cute na baby josh. ayus din at may nakakwentuhan ako, at muling nakapagtagalog! sa kanila na ako natulog ng byernes pagkatapos namin pumunta sa park, at nung sabado, sa shopping mall naman. may libreng grocery pa ako mula kay kuya bong. salamat.
ngayong araw na ito, hanap pa din ng trabaho online. bukas malamang ay ganun din, sasamahan ko na ng follow-up call para mas may diskarte.
holiday pa actually ngayong araw na ito. bukas, simula na ulit ng trabaho…sa opisina, sa mga banko, at sa kung saan-saan pa, pero buti na lang wala akong trabaho. hay!!
