My Summer plans (My first original post on my new blog!)

So earlier today (or yesterday if you will) I moved over, and added to my entry about my "future" and it occured to me...

Before trying to figure out my postgraduation future, maybe I should figure out this summer... since it's already June 6! This is just my personal rant- if it doesn't interest you, then read no more.

I was really hoping this summer would be smooth and simple- I wanted to avoid the easter egg hunt type job search I did back in 2006. On paper it seemed like it would be better.... with more experience than in 2006, I have a much better (and better-formatted) CV, and I already had job prospects lined up by April.

Unfortunately, things fell through. I was assured I would have success with work-study, and with the temp agency- but neither one worked out. As of today, I don't have a job, and I don't have any amazing prospects either. With already less then 3 months of summer left, the prospect of actually not finding a job is slowly becomming more and more possible. So, what, then, is my backup plan?

Well of course I will continue to apply for as many jobs as I see fit. Mind you, I am not willing to degrade myself to do the Tim Horton's thing- I feel like that would be even more depressing than not working at all. The laws of probability would say that if I apply to enough jobs- be it 30, 50, 100, or more, one of them will bite. In fact, I've already had interviews- I had one today. Unfortunately, the laws of probability don't always hold out in real life.

So, I've decided that I will give myself until the end of June to find a job. I have a few reasons to stay in Montreal at least until then. Firstly, I still have friends around... just the past week- I've never been bored, and I've actually had quite a lot of fun. Secondly, late june/early July is when all the festivals and Montreal awesomeness is in full swing- and I don't really want to miss it, since I don't know when the next time I'll be able to summer in Montreal is. Thirdly, my parents (actually my mom and stepfather) have already booked a week here for mid-July, so I have to stay until then.

So what happens if I have no job by the end of June? There is a decent-looking anthropology class being offered for the month of July. Taking it will satisfy the one 200 or 300 level course I still need to take (its a 200 level), which means that I will be able to (and actually will have to) take a lighter course load during the Fall or Winter semester- which actually seems quite appealing to me. Also, taking a course in July will keep me in the "school mode" for September, and I won't have all the post-summer rust I usually have.

So then what to do with August? Well- I could just as well go back to NJ for a bit- it might be nice to spend time with the family and catch up with old friends from high school. The class wouldn't actually end until a week into August, so it's not like I would have thattt much time to kill. If I'm ambitious enough, maybe i could find somewhere to volunteer in the US- or I could even work a few weeks at the old restaurant.

The only problem with this possibility is the inevitable lack of finances. I'm not going to starve during the school year- I have parents and grandparents who won't let that happen. Unfortunately, not having income kinda hinders some of my grandiose plans- such as going back to Mae Sot after I graduate. But there are ways around this.

First of all, I have a part-time job opportunity during the school year that has pretty much been offered to me if I want it. Taking a reduced course load will definitely make the job more smooth. Admittedly, the money I would make from this job (only 5 hrs a week- which is fine) doesn't compare to what I would make from a proper summer job- but its better than nothing. There's also other potential sources of money for going to BHSOH- I could ask various friends and family for good-will contrabutiions or personal loans, I could try to raise money at my church (other people have done it...), I could even *gasp* sell some or all of my coin collection... I don't particularly want to, but if its spent doing something amazing, then it would be worth it. This is all assuming that I will go back to Mae Sot, which is definitely not certain, given my last entry.

Of course, I could wind up with a job offer tomorrow- which would make this whole entry seem kinda silly. But for now, I have to prepare myself for the possibility of not actually finding a job.