Copied from the Wordpress blog that I tried in vain to set up… I just couldn’t do it, layout-wise I wasn’t inspired to write there. A blog is an extension of yourself, so if your blog does not reflect who you are in appearance then I feel that you will be less inclined to write there. I will be copying all of the posts from there to here, but if you are incredibly curious to read the originals feel free to go here.
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Part of moving away, obviously, is getting rid of your old job.
Those who know me personally know that the reason why I am moving away is to pursue a job opportunity that quite frankly is probably one of the best opportunities that a recent university graduate can ask for. I count my blessings everyday because I know many friends who struggle with shattered expectations that they had, reduced to working in retail or fast food, or even not at all.
I will get into another post about the benefits of working in retail or fast food, but for the time being this post is to reminisce about my past work experiences in industries that I hopefully will not be employed in again. Sounds sort of cliche doesn’t it?
I’ve worked in retail and fast food consistently since I was 15. It’s pretty typical for a teenager to work in these industries. What I don’t understand is why everybody seems to look so negatively on them. I know so many people who would complain about their jobs. Not because of the jobs themselves, but rather the title of the industry. In my opinion, be thankful you have a job and look for the opportunities it can bring you!
I would be a liar if I said that it was always smooth and easy going. There were times when I found things to be unfair or downright brutal, but I think you can find things like that no matter what job you are working. It’s not always going to be peaches and cream, but it’s how we get over that, that will define who we are as career people. I struggled with low wages, the brutal fight for promotions, late nights, things I never want to touch again. It’s all part of the job.
Despite all of that, the one thing that I know I will miss is how cohesive the teams that I worked with were at times. It’s not very often when you can walk away from a job and tell yourself that any conflicts that you had with people were relatively minor and you really do appreciate everybody you worked with and enjoyed going to work because of them. I originally thought that this really wasn’t possible at all.
Then I had my most recent job. I was reentering into a company that I had worked for before albeit at a different location. I figured I was just walking back into my first job again with a different title. I assumed that I was going to have to deal with the frustration of demanding students (high school and university) who want the same holidays as the schools during the school year (read 2 weeks off at Christmas, etc) without any respect for the people who aren’t in their demographic. I assumed that I would have decent hours during the cold months, but come the hot weather I would be dealing with constantly having to cover vacations, the impossibility of a weekend off, and a serious reduction in hours as all the students started demanding more.
But you know what, it wasn’t that bad. Everything was done very fairly. Hours were spread around and when cuts needed to be made it was to everybody rather than specific individuals. And the comradeship was great. I knew that going into work, there would always be someone to cheer you up. There was always a clown but we always got our work done. Weaknesses were easily absorbed by strengths and when there was a problem there was open dialogue.
Someone actually sat there and clicked it to that number - clown
I’m not sugarcoating things, that’s how I truly feel.
I was completely surprised and taken aback by the things that happened on my final day. I went into work not expecting anything really. I figured that I would say my goodbyes to the people that were there and maybe get a card. I was blown away when my coworkers surrounded me in the staff room and presented me with this!
The cake was delicious and we all enjoyed a little bit. There were also cupcakes as if the cake wasn’t enough! I received two cards from two different parties, all with beautiful messages of encouragement and support. Not only that but I received a house warming gift in the form of a gift card (which I will be spending on things I need for the apartment), a metal wall plaque with butterfly motif (I’ve already planned a perfect spot in the kitchen or bathroom) and an interesting little plant.
Needless to say I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful people. It’s very nice to know that you are appreciated and considered a valuable team mate and friend. This makes my transition into a new job so much harder because I am so afraid that I won’t experience that type of a team again.
If any of you are out there reading this right now, I hope you know that I really enjoyed working with you! Please stay as awesome as you are now for your future coworkers. :)
It’s hard to lie in a room that is slowly having the life sucked out of it. I’m sitting here almost in a bubble. If I look towards the other side of my room, I see so many things that make me feel sad.
There are the boxes that are scattered about. And it’s not even contained to my room. If I step out into the hall there is a neat stack, and in the living room there is another, and in the basement another. I’m bombarded by these boxes, both full and empty. Many of my things have been packed away already, and there are many more empty boxes waiting. Eventually they will all be filled and this room that I am living in now will be empty, devoid of everything that made it mine for the past 12 years of my life. It’s so hard to think of!
And then there is my closet, so many things that were in it have been packed away. My shelf that once held all of my body lotions and jewelry boxes and the like is nearly empty. All that’s left are a few miscellaneous things, one being my childhood piggy bank. I’m still on the shelf on whether or not I should get rid of it. Part of the excitement of leaving is the excitement of maturity, and this little dinosaur definitely is not the epitome of maturity. But at the same time, it was given to me by my dear Aunt, and even though I haven’t even really looked at it in years I still have a pang of guilt and sentiment when I see it. It’s so saddening to think of it smashed to bits in a landfill for all of eternity, the little carved message and date at the bottom would be scattered around never to be read again. I guess I have my decision made!
And my clothing… I spent most of the afternoon (and by that I mean a couple of hours) neatly folding them and putting them into a suitcase which I then hauled downstairs. It’s really weird to see it without any hangers, the closet I mean. It’s just… an empty space!
I gave up packing a few hours ago, but I know I have to press on. It’s not so much physically tiring as emotionally tiring. I’ve thrown away so much (which in turn has taught me about how many useless things I have bought over these past several years). Next up is my boxes of makeup that I offered up to friends, and my old jewelry. I’ll be doing all of my decorative items soon too… the wind chime my friend brought me from Spain, my soapstone oil burners, my candle holders, my decorative dagger, my Tibetan singing bowl… my photo albums and frames! All must be packed away tonight, but I always find myself pausing to look at things. I spent several hours last week looking through my photo box and photo albums.
It’s so crazy. People have been asking me if I am excited, they tell me that I must be excited. I don’t know if I would call myself excited, I know I’ve had my moments of excitement though. But all of this packing and organizing has been stressful and made me sad as well. I think that in the end I come off looking like I am completely neutral. Can’t say I’m happy and can’t say I’m sad because I am both at the same time. Opposite + opposite = cancellation, right?
I made this list of things I was supposed to accomplish today… note how not many things are crossed off yet.
And so I am going to force myself to start packing again… maybe if I spend less time reminiscing I will accomplish more and then it will be easier.