when I see stuff like this, I find it "hilarious" that in Denmark refugees get paid so much just for being here, lol
what I don't understand on your post is, you never tried getting a job in the private sector at all? as in only applying for state jobs?
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If you go to work in the private sector you lose your chance of an internship and, if oyu have no connections like I don't, you can never get a teaching position in a school.
Once I'm done with this I can work anywhere and send applications to schools. At least that way I can hope to get a job as a teacher. I really, really think I'd be awesome at it.
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Then just try to get through it. Things might seem hard at some point, but just think of what you'll accomplish. Don't see it as if you're working for money, but see it as if you're working to get a good future.
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A good future with no one appreciating how hard I work to get kids who don't care about English to llearn English? Yeah, I can see that going well xD
Just kidding. You see, you go tme to smile. Thank you :D
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Just getting all these kind words and understanding from all of you guys helps a lot. As long as I can come here to get the support I need I know it'll all end well :)
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When I get down I either toss a frisbee with my friends/myself or I go swimming. The best choice is to go scuba diving but it isn't always available
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Wow, that's amazing! Such a healthy way of dealing with it. Unfortunately, I'm more of a "cover my head with a blanket and wait for it all to go away" type xD
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It could be considered hiding. When I'm diving its just me underwater chilling and all I can hear is my breathing. It can be very meditative to go down and just think for a bit
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I do tthe same thing in my bathtub, only without the view of the ocean bottom. Just my own xD xD xD
It's so relaxing to keep your head under water and simply exist <3
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Oooh I could do that with the image of my principal's head taped to the bag.. I'm loving your idea :D
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I used to enjoy watching people too, now that I know a lot of people I just imagine what horrible people most of the ones walking by are xD
Thank you, I really appreciate the support <3
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The economy now is poor, there are plenty graduates who haven't found a decent job (including me). It has brought me down many times, but that is just how it is now, either you try to get to the top or you don't. However if you have the determination to become a teacher, then you will have to put up with this crappy wage and hours until then. Unfortunately employers likes to take advantage of people (like here we have unpaid 3month full time internships that people fight for).
As for what to do when you are feeling down. I would recommend talking with friends or family, getting out of the house, writing down on a journal, or draw etc. Hope you feel better soon :)
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What I don't get is- WHY?! I mean, he's a highschool principal. It's not like HE's paying me. It's the state that's paying for my work. None of it comes from his, or even the school's pocket and yet he feels the need to squeeze me as much as he can.
Thank yu for being so sweet and sharing your experience. It makes me feel better just knowing that there are other educated people out there going through what I'm going through. Might be selfish but it helps xD
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Either the principal is a greedy little bastard OR he's required to work you to the bone by the states (without your full knowledge) lol. I'm not sure what you mean by 30+10, but if you're teaching a lot during those hours, the principal would save money using you instead of hiring another teacher. And no problem, I'm sure it will work out for you!
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But what's greed got to do with it? It isn't like he spends or gains anything by me working or not.
He has the full right to hire someone to work as a substitute teacher or a full teacher and still its no money coming from his pocket.
I just don't get this...
The 30+10 means I should spend (and that's during the entire year, not just one month) 30 hours watching my tutor have her lessons and 10 hours having my own lessons.
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Hmm yeah I don't really understand either... I mean you won't gain much experience by watching lessons 30 hours per week (my god that must be so boring for you)... I can only think it's what the states required him to do really.
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No,no, not per week. Those 30 hours are for the whole year so it's like 1-2 hours a week.
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suffering the unnecessary unpleasantries of human interactions
Trust me, I feel the same way. That's why I'm considering going at it on my own and opening a school for private teaching or something like that...
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I'm confused 300€ is a lot of money especially when out of employment for so long, and more so it's in a field you like
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300€ is the minimum wage in Croatia.Which is, in my opinion insane!
Let me put it like this- I spend 120€ (that's the bare minimum during the winter months) on my monthly heating bill alone, and I only heat one room.
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I don't know enough about your country & we don't have separate heating bills here, Is that a weekly amount or annually?
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might be worth it to just use a jacket inside... I occasionally do that if it's really cold, since people over here have a hard time understanding what not to do to keep the house warm
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Oh I just can't. I hate wearing "real" clothes (anything other than panties and a top) when I'm inside so wearing sweatpants, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt is like a normal person agreeing to cover themselves with poop xD
I do put on a jacket when I go to other rooms of the apartment but my room just must be warn enough to support being in it without the jacket.
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I wear like 5 + layers during winter to save money on the powerbill it's worth doing to save money
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300€ a month is a pretty terrible wage, especially considering that everything in Croatia is pretty expensive, even food and other living expenses and bills.
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300€, that would not even cover rent for my mini-apartment :( Currently I pay 350 €/month just to have a roof over my head, and it's too small to invite anyone over.
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When I am feeling down, I just continue doing the same, untill I can't do it anymore. Then I just go to sleep no matter what time of the day it is.
5/10, it works sometimes.
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Ah yes, the eternal dilemma: do what you love or do what pays well? If you're passionate about being a teacher, there are always private schools you could try applying to (hey who knows, you might get in) which I assume pay better. As for the poorly paid internship thing, you could try to find some freelance work on the side, like translation, writing, editing etc. But most importantly, don't lose hope. A year isn't much in the grand scheme of things, and you'll get through your slaveryinternship just fine. :)
Oh, and to answer your question: when I'm feeling sad, I have a drink. Just one's enough.
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I'm growing less and less passionate about it as I keep seeing that no one gives a f*ck about those who really want to be great teachers, but instead they hire the one "suitable" (you know, "podoban". For those not from Croatia, "suitable" means well-connected.
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Yes, that does suck. But I wouldn't say no one gives a fuck--surely there are some who care, and you're bound to find them sooner or later if you keep trying. I don't want this to sound preachy, but I think it's important to be optimistic. Having a habit of thinking positively and adopting the axiom that things will be better has certainly helped me through some rough times.
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Yeah, that's what's keeping me out of the dumps right now. :)
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If I'm feeling a bit down (and that's not often), I just do what I love to do, playing guitar and gaming (so stuff I would usually do as well). It's kind of obvious, but you just need to get your mind of it and just do stuff.
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You're totally right. Just not think about that crap and go through the motions until it's done.
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exercising is always good to free your mind, also watching funny movies and/or read good funny stories.
going on a date and flirting is also helpful. butterflies won't let your brain think so much :p
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I can't exercise right now, but that's great advice. Getting those endorphins going :D
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Just start doing drugs. Make friends who do drugs. Buy in bulk on behalf of your friends because it's cheaper that way.
Soon you'll be guaranteed meals and a roof over your head for the rest of your life
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I thought about getting myself incarcerated for a while to get the free meals and a roof over my head, but I just can't think of a thing to do that wouldn't actually hurt anyone but still get me in a prision xD
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Crap shift at work, covering in human bodily waste and god knows what else, dumped by serious girlfriend, generally feeling sad. I turn to Build me up buttercup by the Foundations. Play it loud and sing along and maybe dance abit (the singing and dancing does actually help)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNRuWJLIc8c
maybe find your "will make you happy no matter what" song?
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Use drugs, watch some movies or play some games and think about how everything's gonna be okay.
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I have a few hobbies, so I try to do any of them when I'm down. I'm learning guitar, building a 150 cm Bismarck, playing board games/video games, reading books. Sometimes going out with my cousin, beacuse I don't have many friends.
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Oh that sounds awesome! Such diverse hobbies, it must be great! I feel like a lazy ass just by reading all the stuff you do :D
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Believe me, it could be worse: you could be living in Brazil. Our teachers are even more undervalued and now our civil engineers are out of jobs. Having spent 3 years into engineering college, another 2 to go, now I see no light in the end of the tunnel. Theres a huge chance I'll complete my college just to be unemployed as well.
But one thing life has taught me... theres always something that can happen in ONE second that can turn your whole life around.
Believe.
And play to have some fun.
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Yeah, it's incredible how fast things can change. One just has to work and hope that change comes about doon :)
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It's more like what do I do when I'm not down...Which is living I guess...
I saw some comments about teaching elsewhere, a possibly great option (if you're into that kind of thing) is going to China. They are always looking for English speakers (especially to teach) and the pay is really good. I considered going there, but decided to finish high school first...
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I would prefer going to Japan if that were an option, but for now I can't leave since I have a dog and leaving her behind is not in the realm of possibility
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I have a hunch that public schools system is similiar to the one here. If that's the case you don't want to work there - enviroment is pretty toxic. At least it's what teachers in my family told me.
If you really want to teach look for private schools/kindergartens or language school or, if you are good at it, start giving private english lessons. Overall expirience should be way better, but forget 20h/week and employment "till death parts us".
Here (and probably in Croatia too) good teachers are in demand. Simply because there is not many of them that are truly qualified not only on paper.
Good book is always welcome to pass bad time. Or lurking on certain chat full of carrots p
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Yeah, all of my old teachers and friends who've gotten jobs in schools (connected, naturally) have told me it's best to just act stupid and avoid talking to your colleagues...
In Croatia, at least in my town, no one is hiring in private language schools. They just take advantage of students. xD
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Well, smaller town is harder. Here too you don't turn your back to other teachers in public schools..
That makes a good ground for private lessons (maybe in tiny groups to lower price per head). Word of mouth can get you many students. Imo worth considering even as unofficial side-job while slaving as accountant )
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Just rickroll couple of times and all will be good :) He never let you down.
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I usually eat everything sweet in sight, especially chocolate :3
Don't worry about it, I'm sure you'll find a proper well paid job, this just a start :)
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I'm almost 30, "this is just a start" won't cut it for much longer :/
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So, I'm currently feeling a bit down.
After a year of being unemployed (graduated from university with degrees in English lang. and lit. and pedagogy) I'm about to start a new "job" that'll be very badly paid. It's not really a job. In Croatia we call it "professional training without employment". In theory it's great- you get to go to a school and watch your mentor do his classes for 30 hours and then do 10 hours of your own. And I'm talking 30+10 for the ENTIRE year. Basically, you get paid for 12 months no matter how much you're actually there, as long you make the 30+10 yearly minimum.
Now the problem is... That's only in theory, in practice no one gives a F*** about those 30+10 hours. You get to go there every day, all day and still get paid the miserly 300€.
I know, people are unemployed and would give anything to work for even that much, but wihtout even having finished highschool I used to get 700€+ comission on anything sold. And that was my summer job...
Pease, please don't think of me as being stuck up or that I believe the world or anyone in it owes me anything. I promise I don't. It's just that the 5 years I spent studying to get this seem like a waste. Waitressing pays more. I know because I got more while waitressing (no education needed). Teachers are underappreciated and under-paid. That's life. I didn't go into teaching to get rich, but teachers get cca 600€ for 20hrs a week here, and here I will be slaving as an assistent accountant (they said that to me outright) most of the time and trying to get my 30+10 hours of watching/teaching IF I manage to get permission to leave my accountant spot. My working hours will be from 8-2 and 2-8, as the school works in two shifts.
And I spent a year trying to even get this! What are my chances of ever getting a real teaching job without any connections? Basically 2%, if I'm being optimistic...
I'm seriously considering just saying "f*ck it all" and going into the private sector, where I'll have no job security but at least get to work hours I say I wanna work and actually getting paid for it.
But, no more of me complaining.
When I get like this I usually head to eBay to buy some stuff. It has to be pretty, fuzzy or shiny and serve no real function.
So, when I went there today I found this listing. Isn't it just amazing how it and the Skyrim logo are similar? xD
So telll me, what do you do when you're feeling down?
EDIT: I'm about to go to bed and I just need to say this:
Thank you so much, everyone, for your amazingly kind and supportive words. Even if my problems were much greater than this (taking into account the greater picture) silly thing actually is, seeing that amazing people like you exist out there would have made it all better.
All of you are the reason why I love this community so much.
Thank you, all <3
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