Tired, Stressed, Overwhelmed….etc.

Whew! I’m tired and contrary to popular belief I am not a work, work, work kinda person. Actually, I am pretty lazy if I don’t keep myself motivated. I am all about self motivation and I don’t believe in fate or luck. If you want something you have to work hard for it. I want to succeed so therefore I practice my craft with a passion. I love all of my internships(all four of them!!) to death, but it’s the “real” work I can’t stand.
I tried to call my boss and conpromise by just taking the 8th of April off, but still it was a no. I have always been on time, come in on my off days sometimes, but no appreciation. I have worked for 5 major corporations and it seems as if it is always about the bottom line. It isn’t my fault that we hired 4 people within the past 2 months and only 2 are left. All of them had the same complaint, management. We are understaffed and overworked because our shift can’t keep people. We had 2 senior people move to different shifts because they couldn’t stand how things were run on our shift. Then I learn today that my supervisor cannot fire me without writing me up first for my absences, so why does she feel the need to issue baseless threats?? Beats me, I do know that her supervisor constantly chews her out because she is always late, she doesn’t keep us informed, and we ask her repeatedly for our stats and she says she will get back to us. I have never worked in all my years at such a hostile place where all of my co-workers seems so very unhappy, but what can we do? I know one thing, I am outta there. I told my boss that this will be my last week.
It’s a part-time job, but i have to admitt I am a worrier. I worry about everything and I am a pessimist. I wish I could stop, but I don’t know how. I think I was born ms. doom and gloom. I wish I had someone to talk to or to give me the encouragement that I need. My husband has no interest in writing, politics, or what I do at school. I know he is glad i’m at school and everything, but sometimes I think he wishes everything was nice and easy like it was with my previous cushy job working in the cell phone industry. I can’t shake that feeling like maybe school is such a waste of time and money or is that the pessimissim in me??
Since I was 15 I have worked and when I became an adult no one ever gave me anything. Not my family, friends, no handouts from strangers. Everything that I have has been due to hard work and my husband, who by the way makes really good money. We have a nice house, car, lots of stuff and I don’t want to lose it, but i’m afraid sometimes to take risks because of that fear. Many tell me I have a God given talent and not to waste it. I recognize that I do have talent and it’s getting better all the time so I have to hold out. I have faith in very little except my mind. Whoever or however or why I was blessed with a keen sense of intellect, vision, and creativity is beyond me, but i’ll take it. I want to use it to help people and not waste it. Only recently has I come to feel that I could do so much more that just a plain old 9 to 5 job. My editor told me I have serious potential and I should go far if I just keep working hard.
So tomorrow is the big day, 3 interviews! Hopefully I will have some good news. I only want to work 2 part-time jobs, so we will see how it goes.

Don’t Know What To Do!!

Well, This has been a fun filled month to say the least. I am now about to say goodbye to the financial institution that I work at. Two weeks ago my husband had a mild heart attack and I had to miss work. I go back to work and now I am faced with the threat of being fired!!! Because I haven’t been at my job for one year I cannot claim FMLA and my supervisor said that if I miss another day I will be terminated because she needs me there. I put in a vacation request to have 3 days off because my husband has to be admitted into inpatient care. The days I want off are in the middle of April. My boss said no I couldn’t have to days off but if I call in I’m fired! So I told her to do what she had to do because I feel that I shouldn’t have to choose between my job and my family. I am under enough stress as it is and I don’t need this.
On a better note, I got another job at a department store working for 2 bucks less than what I make now so I have to find another job to supplement my income. I found another part time job, but it’s not stable and I have 3 interviews this week, one of which is for a local newspaper. Sometimes I feel as if i’m sacrificing for nothing and maybe school was a bad i dea, I don’t know. Well wish me luck!

Make them remember you!

Not a lot has happened since the last time I wrote. Only, that I’m back in Belgium. I arrived six days ago: January 1, 2006.
Honestly, I needed a break! I was getting a little bit down of a mixture of things: not being with my family and friends, not finding a job that easy as I thought it would be. It finally got to me and I decided that being home for a while wouldn’t be a bad thing. So, here I am: eating my Belgian chocolates which are THE best!
But, there’s always a but. I’ve been home now for almost a week, and I’m starting to miss my life in NY. Isn’t that weird!!?? A human being is so used to its habits and people!!!! Wherever I am, I’ll always miss something… and then it hit me! Everybody has his own life and we need to make something of it ourselves!!! Our life is not only the people or friends we are with! Our life is going ‘somewhere’ because we want to get somewhere, and if we don’t it just doesn’t.
I’m feeling more positive though… with support of friends and family it’s all a lot easier and it makes me stronger, and more willing to succeed!
It’s January 7 today which means I can expect an answer from the United Nations in a week or so.
Yesterday, I wrote an e-mail to inform if there were any new developments, if the decision is still going to be made in a week, etc. But most importantly, I wrote the e-mail to let them know that I am really motivated and enthusiastic about the job! They need to know! Because I was thinking: they’re seeing new candidates right now, they know I’m in Belgium… they need to remember me! They need to recall the name KAATJE VERLINDEN! I don’t want them to forget me, and as a result my resume would get buried underneath others. Yes, I know some employers wouldn’t like that (could be seen as annoying and impatient), but I already left my first impression which I think was nothing in that direction. We need to stick out!! Why else would they hire us???
And of course, while I was here I got an e-mail for another job interview!! That HAS to happen while I’m in Belgium. I told them the story, that I couldn’t come on the date suggested because I’m here. But I’ll e-mail them as soon as I arrive in NY. Don’t know if I can take the job, as a non-American, the paper work needs to be OK. However, it’s always something I can use if I need and can.

Patience is a nice virtue…

Friday, December 23! ‘THE DAY’ the mission of Belgium was going to make their decision: hire me or not? While I was unctuously waiting for the call all morning, my cell phone rings at precisely 11:30 am. I ran to the phone: ‘Hello?? Hm… OK… I understand! OK, Bye’. (4 minutes)
The woman told me that they received some more applications during the week and they need to give those people a change too! So, the interviewing process will take a bit longer! She said I’m a good and strong candidate, but for everybody’s sake they need to see all candidates! She told me in an informal way not to worry! However, I wouldn’t exclude the possibility that there are more strong candidates! I prefer to stay realistic than getting my hopes up and getting disappointed at the end!
Because of the fact that the ambassador and some other people are going back to Belgium for the holidays, the process will be over by mid January. So, waiting again!!
Nothing bad happened, at all! But, being hired by the UN the day before Christmas eve??? That would have been the best present ever!!
Anyway… I’m staying positive!! I might even go back to Belgium for new years! Waiting for an answer –> I can do that everywhere! And, if they hire me I have to go back anyway to pick up my new visa! Plus, making some money in Belgium before I move to Manhattan can’t be bad at all .
Let’s keep our fingers crossed!!! I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year!! May all your wishes come true, and so much more!! May you all find a job you like, and pays more than what is fair

Taxes are going to kill me

I was told that, because I would work for the Belgian government, I’d get hired local (NYC) but I would pay taxes in my home country! And I can tell you that’s A LOT
People around here told me I wouldn’t make it, they’ve lived in the city for a while and know the costs much better than I do.
I looked at some apt’s though, I’ve found a couple of good ones for a ‘reasonable’ price (in comparison to what is out there), and I did some numbers… I think I might make it, but there are always additional costs that you don’t know of in advance!
Anyway, let’s see if I get the job first! It’s already Wednesday, and they told me they would decide by the end of the week: SO, let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Belgium Mission

Monday –> yesterday, I had my interview at the UN (Belgium Mission). The whole interview took like 2 hours, and I needed to express myself in Dutch, French and English. Everything went well. However, I was a bit scared for my French because it’s been a while… but I was pleasantly surprised. It went well!!
Today, Tuesday 20th, I had to go back to take some tests… I needed to translate texts from Dutch to English and from French to Dutch. I also had some exercises in Excel, to see if I fully knew the program. Again, everything went well and they might call me back for one last interview this week. Plus, they will have their final answer by the end of the week too.
There are some negative things though… The pay is actually really good, but considering I need to live in Manhattan or surrounding areas it will be tight. Both times I went there they talked about the money issue, and told me to be aware of how difficult it might be. Plus, if I get the job I need to go back to Belgium to pick up my visa, which is an extra cost. But, it’s worth to see my family again! If I get hired by the mission, I’ll get a working visa for five years –> Which is really good!!
I thought (if I get the job) about taking on an extra job… something light, not commanding at all, for the extra money. But, they told me today that my workig visa only applies to the UN. So, that idea is out of the question.
I’m really excited about the job! It would be a very good experience!! There are some negative things though, but we can’t have everything in life so…
If somebody knows some good apartments for rent in Manhattan, or cheaper neighbourhoods… you can always send me an e-mail at kaat.verlinden@gmail.com. I don’t have the job yet, but I might as well be prepared for it, right?
PS: The city was a mess today!! The subway didn’t work.. aj aj aj!

New York City

Thanks for the pointers!! I looked into the CIA website like you said, and there are some jobs requiring knowledge of several languages. The thing is you need to be a US Citizen to apply! Which I’m not, so…
I do have some good news though! Amazing news actually, I can’t stop smiling only thinking about it! Yesterday, I started thinking about other Belgians in NY. There are several Belgian companies in the city, and they might be more willing to hire me because of our shared nationality! It’s not the first time I thought about that idea, only I wanted to look for a job here in Rochester! And because there are no Belgian companies or associations here in Rochester, I gave up on the idea. Now, finding a job here is not that easy for me… so I reconsidered.
SO!! Yesterday, I visited the site of the Belgian Embassy in Washington! On the site I found several representatives (consular, diplomatic, economic, regions and communities all from Belgium situated in the US). I send my resume to the ones of my interest and after a couple of hours I received a phone call from the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the UN in New York. I have an interview on Monday!! I hope everything works out because this would be the best ever!!
I’m planning to contact some Belgium companies, now that I’m going to be in the City I might as well take advantage of the opportunity.
Wish me luck!

Domino

Hi, I’m Kaat! I’m 23 years old and originally from Belgium. I like to compare my life with a domino game… every experience brings me to the next one, and I nod and smile (at least until now). I came to the US after I graduated in Communication Management (Bachelor, option PR). Initially, I was only going to stay here for one semester (Lil’ girl from Belgium takes a dive into the deep), but three months became a year and I graduated in International Business. A little ‘birdy’ told me that when you graduate as an international student you can apply for a working permit, which is valid for a year (however finding a steady job, can lead to an extension). I was granted the working permit and here I am: in Rochester, looking for a job. HI!

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