A glimmer of hope
These last few weeks, I realised that I just needed a glimmer of hope to get through this rough patch in my life, and that’s what I got.
An adjustment
Moving to Australia has been quite an adjustment. I read that it will take one year for every decade of your age (so three years for my thirty years on this planet) to adjust to living in a new country. I think it’s quite true.
It hasn’t been easy. We knew very few people here, although I am very thankful for the few people we do know here, like my sister-in-law and her family.
I was quite depressed for a couple of months because I could not find work. I applied for between 50 and 100 jobs (I lost count) and I couldn’t land one.
It was such a weird and unsettling feeling to be doing nothing. In South Africa, I was always busy with something—either with actual paying work, preparing for my work (sessions with students), doing karate, or working on my writing projects, which includes this blog.
Also, last year, right before we moved, I was super busy with wedding planning, immigration planning, working, and studying towards my education certificate.
So, when we came here, I was still in busy mode—studying and doing stuff around the house. But then things died down because I had finished with my academics.
The first job I applied for immediately invited me for an interview. I was pretty confident about it, but I didn’t get it.
There are so many stories about South Africans coming here and getting the first job that they apply for. I struggled just to get interviews.
It’s just hard because I wonder why is it so easy for everyone else but not for me. I sank into a deep depression. It was hard waking up and not being able to contribute financially to the household.
Hope
One day in church, I asked the pastor to pray with me so I can get a job. That same week, a guy that goes to the same church offered me a casual job. I think he was looking for someone to fill in for a lady on maternity leave at his company, and then he heard the pastor pray for me. How it happened does not really matter to me. I’m just glad it happened.
That week I was also invited to an interview at a school. I still have not heard from them again, so I’m doubtful that I got the job. Getting an interview is already a step in the right direction.
However, the biggest progress is that my education certificate is on its way. My parents could finally collect it at the university in South Africa and the courier has it now. Just having that piece of paper will make my life so much easier because it will make me much more employable.
Hopeful
These days I’m feeling a lot more positive. It’s not just the little money I’m earning, but it’s just the feeling that things are looking up and I’m making progress.
Sometimes that’s what you need—a glimmer of hope that the future will be better than your current situation.
Lastly
Can you relate to this post? Tell me your story in the comments.
Michelle
P.S. If you’d like to contact me, feel free to comment below, send an email to thatmichelleperson@gmail.com, or follow me on Twitter @M_ClutterBox.
