Moving to Australia had been a huge stress in my life. My mental capacity to deal with more than one thing at a time has been non-existent, so I've done things in baby steps. First, move here. Then find a place to live. Then find a flatmate, and get basic furniture like a bed and a table. Then do some in-depth research on local casting directors, talent agents, and theatre companies. Write tailored cover letters to them all, and put together application packages to send off in fancy envelopes and printed on beautiful paper. THEN, the final "step" in the move - and the one that EVERYBODY's been on my back about - is to find a "real" job to pay the bills. This is the step I'm on now. I've finally reached it.
Back home (Canada), I'm a part time elementary school teacher, and a struggling actor. I've been teaching for 5 years, and acting for 20ish years. It's a good, though financially unreliable, balance.
Now I'm in Australia, and I can't teach. At least not yet. I hate tutoring and teaching ESL. And the process to have my credentials recognized to be a "real" teacher is long, bureaucratic, confusing, and expensive. It's really only worth it if I decide to stay here for a minimum of two more years after this one, and who knows if I will? And although I'm making a concentrated effort at getting an agent, and continuing to struggle-act....I have the wrong accent in an already highly impossible job field.
It is 1am, and I have just spent the last three hours job-searching. And you know what I've realized? I am qualified to do absolutely nothing outside of teaching and acting! Nothing. I'm not even qualified to apply for the bottom-of-the-rung office administrator jobs! My mother asks "what kind of job do you want?", and all I'm able to respond, aside from "acting", is "NOT a job in the sales/hospitality sector". I'm not ashamed to admit it; I've shed some tears of fear and frustration tonight. And I can't even apply for unpaid internships, as I'm a 30 year old single woman with no partner to help out financially.
There is light, though. Not at the end of the tunnel - not at the moment at least - but there is light. I laughed tonight, and that's something. I read this blog post about an ad on Craigslist to sell a yoga mat for $1. It is seriously the most enjoyable read I've had in a long time. I laughed out loud almost the entire way through. If you need a laugh - even if you don't - I highly recommend it!!
Back home (Canada), I'm a part time elementary school teacher, and a struggling actor. I've been teaching for 5 years, and acting for 20ish years. It's a good, though financially unreliable, balance.
Now I'm in Australia, and I can't teach. At least not yet. I hate tutoring and teaching ESL. And the process to have my credentials recognized to be a "real" teacher is long, bureaucratic, confusing, and expensive. It's really only worth it if I decide to stay here for a minimum of two more years after this one, and who knows if I will? And although I'm making a concentrated effort at getting an agent, and continuing to struggle-act....I have the wrong accent in an already highly impossible job field.
It is 1am, and I have just spent the last three hours job-searching. And you know what I've realized? I am qualified to do absolutely nothing outside of teaching and acting! Nothing. I'm not even qualified to apply for the bottom-of-the-rung office administrator jobs! My mother asks "what kind of job do you want?", and all I'm able to respond, aside from "acting", is "NOT a job in the sales/hospitality sector". I'm not ashamed to admit it; I've shed some tears of fear and frustration tonight. And I can't even apply for unpaid internships, as I'm a 30 year old single woman with no partner to help out financially.
There is light, though. Not at the end of the tunnel - not at the moment at least - but there is light. I laughed tonight, and that's something. I read this blog post about an ad on Craigslist to sell a yoga mat for $1. It is seriously the most enjoyable read I've had in a long time. I laughed out loud almost the entire way through. If you need a laugh - even if you don't - I highly recommend it!!
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Ohh I am so sorry, sweetie. I hope you will find something you like to do soon:) I know how hard it can be to find yourself in a new country but I know you will do fine:) Big hugs and kisses. Love! xo
ReplyDeleteIt's so ridiculously hard moving countries, settling in, finding a job and as well as searching out all the little things like your favourite grocery store, hairdresser, beautician etc. Please don't be too hard on yourself... It will all come together eventually (though unfortunately you're likely to shed a few more tears along the way amid the smiles and celebrations). Good luck! ps. Also, the Australian job market is VERY slow in January - people are still on holidays, it should pick up in a couple of weeks and hopefully there will be more out there that looks interesting
ReplyDeleteYou're so right, it is SO ridiculously hard! And I find that very few people understand or appreciate that! Thanks for the encouragement. xx
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