"See you in the Under Down" - our journey of arrival after drifting

[OubaasDik]

Bad news, Toitjie.

Can't blame him for taking who he did, but it must hurt.

Vasbyt.

[RYLC]

Just wondering how you are going Toitjie?

[Toitjie]

hi Crisplet

Thanx for asking. Things are pretty good with us. I have had some ups and downs, which are to be exptected. Some days I just feel like driving....keep on going and see where the roads takes me but its more to do with frustration than anything else.

I still dont have a job and although I have been told it will be 6 months, I didnt believe it. I am still volunteering though and that keeps me sane. The people are still nice, but there are some things happening at the office in terms of restructuring so we will see how that works out.

I have also stopped to apply for anything so where my days were usually filled with sitting in front of the computer customising cover letters etc, Im now reading more novels than ever! Reason being I requested my CV to be redone and will get the draft product tomorrow. I decided to hold off on posts until I have the new format and then apply with the ozzie version and see if there is any difference.

I am very excited about this, but it did cost a fortune so Im really hoping it will work.

I have made the mistake of thinking, Im in HR, Im a recruiter so my CV must be ok mustn't it? Maybe, maybe not. I got mixed messages from places where I was unsuccessful. Not a singly ozzie told me my CV was in the incorrect format. The only people who told me that were south africans. That is strange. The messages the ozzies gave me were: "CV great but we received just too many applications".

Other than that...Kayla had her 10th birthday last week. I tried to make it as special for her as I could. I baked a cake, which for me was a roaring success since I have not baked a cake in 20 years! And it wasnt sommer just a cake. It was a red velvet cake with cream cheese filling, choc ganache on top with kit kats around and little pigs I made of pink modelling chocolate. I also took pictures of her from birth up until now and converted them into a video with the soundtrack from "Slipping through my fingers" (ABBA) - (yes ABBA, judge away ) and showed it to her the morning of her birthday. The video of course was more for me than for her. I enjoyed it immensely making it for her and reminiscing about her cute little face when she was only 3 years old.

I cannot believe how time flies, it is sad.

I have to decide what to do with my birthday this month since it will be my first ozzie b'day and I will be 40! do something big or just something with the family? Dont know yet.

All around me I can see autumn is here. It is beautiful...most trees have red canopies while the leaves lower down are still green. I think when it is full on autumn Canberra is going to be breathtaking. I cannot wait to take some pics. I loved days like today. Its not cold, not hot, the clouds are gone for now, sun is shining. Life is good.

Its strange....when I read about things happening back in South Africa I feel disjointed...or disassociated. Not sure what the correct word is but it feels like its happening on another planet. A friend of mine let me know that they broke into their home a month ago and cleaned it out completely. took everything that they could easily carry and the same night there was a break-in in the offices (this happened once a month when I was still working there) and took her computer so she had nothing left. I feel so sad reading stuff like that but I cannot relate to it. Its difficult to describe but I cannot imagine that life anymore. Our bedroom door is literally less than 1 metre from our front door and when hubby takes the kids to school, everything is standing open while I take a shower. No fence, no locked gate and no front door locked.

Today my son is going to a birthday party and we decided to go to the Hall markets and then pick him up afterward. The markets I hear are like the Boeremark we used to go to in Pretoria, with lots of different stalls, and things to buy, lots of food etc. This is our first time, never been there and what is great is I hear everyone takes their dogs so they can socialise too so Lucy will be going to. She really misses other dogs.

Its very funny when we take her for a walk. Its very obvious that all other dogs around us had puppy training as they are very well behaved and then we come along with this little black scotty that is pulling me along so that she can get to the other dogs. She wants to say hello and play and gets very excited and yelps and barks and the other dogs dont.

I will report back when I get my new resume.... I cannot wait to see what it looks like!

[RYLC]

Thanks for the update. You might not feel like it but you sound more settled which is great. Of course the job thing is still there but it just a matter of time. Your new cv will give you confidence for sure.

Well done on the birthday cake - I've become Aussie and buy or have it made

The disassociated feeling is perfectly normal. When we moved I felt like I had put a blank video tape in my brain for the new life and as a result I couldn't remember all sorts of things about our old life. It was like my old tape had been packed away.

You brought back memories by saying that your bedroom door is 1 metre from the front door with no security or front fence. When we first moved into our house in Brisbane with a similar layout I couldn't bear to be so close to the front door and we slept in a back bedroom for a time before I felt comfortable again.

All these years later we still sometimes joke about our "lock the house routine" for the night.

In Australia: shut and lock doors then go to bed. Get up next morning and discover that you've left the laundry door wide open AGAIN.

In RSA: shut, lock, check and recheck doors. Lock passage door, lock bedroom door, check sliding burglar guards and key location in case of fire, alarm house, crawl into bed, lie awake worrying about every little sound and dog bark.

The disassociation you feel is your brain adjusting from battery hen to free range.

All the best on the job front. Remember that lack of job success is not necessarily because you are wrong for the job but because the job or situation is wrong for you. Trust that the right job is being prepared for you. "In His time"

Looking forward to your update in the future.

Leanne

Edited April 6, 2014 by Crisplet

[Toitjie]

8 April

I got my reworked resume back and it looks great. I'm a real stickler for grammar and spelling (the editor in me is a monster) so I was a little "vies" when there were a couple of spelling mistakes, but I picked those out easily enough. Thing is, if you pay a fortune you expect nothing but perfection.

At least now I can apply with my new arsenal. I am dying of curiosity to see if there is any change in the replies I get. And one of the agents I have seen informed me yesterday that she would be putting my name forward for a position at one of her clients. I'm 1 of 4 resume's she is submitting so I'm holding thumbs!

The darkness at 6pm is a little depressing...I love winter but I don't like the sun setting so early...and I'm still trying to come to grips with daylight savings. The whole concept to me is just wrong.

Remember 3 weeks after we moved in I got that huge electricity account of $ 280 for 3 weeks? I had to pay it and I will probably never know what happened there but at least it has evened out now.

I just paid our 2nd elec bill for 3 months which was $ 222 and our gas bill for just over 3 months for $ 223. It seems a lot better and I have a tumble dryer running fairly regularly. I think gas is cheaper than electricity and fortunately our stove and water runs on gas.

[Sunnyskies]

Toitjie, we also struggled with the tumble dryer. Invest in a mobile line and try and put as much stuff as you can on that. I put close to a ducted heating vent to speed the process up. Two birds with one stone and you don't destroy your clothes in the dryer. Our wet winters can be very trying in terms of drying!

[BriD]

Toitjie I hope your new CV helps you to get more opportunities!! Really holding thumbs for you!!

[Crossedover]

Toitjie,

Thank you for sharing your journey .... As much as we may all try and prepare and imagine our first few months I think we all secretly hope it will be easier than what we prepare ourselves for. I am trying to prepare myself but I I guess the true test will be on arrival. The repeated theme of "jobs are hard to come by" is very scary. I have heard a few people having great success after having their CV 'professionally' done... I hope you find this to be the case. Maybe it is something worth doing soon after we arrive.

It's always great to hear of a happy immigrant..... Please keep us updated.....xxx

[Toitjie]

Toitjie,

Thank you for sharing your journey .... As much as we may all try and prepare and imagine our first few months I think we all secretly hope it will be easier than what we prepare ourselves for. I am trying to prepare myself but I I guess the true test will be on arrival. The repeated theme of "jobs are hard to come by" is very scary. I have heard a few people having great success after having their CV 'professionally' done... I hope you find this to be the case. Maybe it is something worth doing soon after we arrive.

It's always great to hear of a happy immigrant..... Please keep us updated.....xxx

Thanx, I appreciate that. You know what the weird thing is? I'm always researching facts and I'm a very serious type of person. And not a risk taker. But when I read about the bad job market before we left, i tuned it out. I didn't want to acknowledge it. And now we are here and in spite of the market being even worse than what it was last year, Im still glad we are here. Somehow I know it will work out.

Apart from not getting job right away I must say our arrival has been extremely soft and cushioned. We got a rental from SA, and I love this house. Im happy in this house, especially in the mornings in the kitchen and dining room when the morning sun shines in and lights up the whole room. I feel at home. And I'm truly happy in Canberra. This is such a beautiful city and meets every need I have.

I'm learning how to handle stress, to handle rejection, to handle strangeness. this is a huge learning curve.

Where are you guys planning on going?

[Crossedover]

We are looking of going to Perth in Jan. We visited Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in Sep last year, and whilst we felt we could live in all 3 we just felt Perth would be more of a fit for our family.... But it is rather hard to make the right decision after only 4 or 5 days in each city.

Since we are unlikely to land jobs before we arrive ( especially at that time of year) we will have to just arrive and hope and pray something comes our way. Fortunately both my husband and I are prepared to take on any work whilst we look for what we want.... Mmmmm in saying that I vowed I would never waitress again after doing it for 4 years to earn money thru varsity!!!!!!! I will pack shelves rather!

I am hoping that with all the immigrants arriving teachers will be in high demand.... But since I don't teach maths or science I will probably have to battle it out like everybody else who is new arrival.

[joweni]

I see you are not considering Adelaide to live and presumably that is because of your hubby's line of work but there is quite a bit of TRT work here. especially if you speak "good" English as many of the relief teachers are Indian or Asian and although they speak English,many students find the accent very difficult to understand.

But South Australia is experiencing a slump at present and indications are that it will continue for a while so perhaps your best bet is the more vibrant states.

All the best with your move.

[Toitjie]

25 April

I have held off for a while, but I miss my journal I was waiting for some good news and then wanted to share it.

As you all know, I had my resume redone and although it cost me a bloody fortune, I think it's the best investment I have made so far.. After I got it back I started applying for relevant positions and within a week I had an interview with a recruitment agency to be represented by, and two interviews with recruitment agencies for an actual recruitment consultant position within the company. I was over the moon when I was afforded those 2 interviews.

I am still marveling about the way interviews are done here. They are so not-intimidating and complete opposite of what I'm used to. I always hated interviews and tried to avoid them. But here they are a breeze (I guess I should thank South Africa for preparing me since we really had some grueling interviews there)

The lady that interviewed me for representation was fantastic. She is very professional and we chatted like old friends. What I loved was that she said she loves South African ladies, as we really work hard and have loyalty and good work ethic. The other two interviews were also pleasant. The one a little more formal than the other but all in all more like a chat really

Then both companies requested me to do a series of psychometric tests during this week, which I guess I did well in because...... *little drum roll*.....yesterday I was asked back for a 2nd interview with the MD of both companies respectively, both interviews next week Wednesday, 3 hours apart.

I have been struggling since yesterday to get the smile of my face. And I know this is only the 2nd interview, but let me have this....if nothing happens after next week at least I had this couple of days to dream

Both positions would be great and the companies are fantastic.

I really need to get employed because I can't stop cooking and baking, I discovered my inner chef but I'm getting as fat as a pig!

[OubaasDik]

Whoohoo ....

Hope you get offered both and can play them off against each other ....

Remember, you owe me a dinner ...

[BriD]

Awesome news!! Holding thumbs that they both come through and you get to choose. So glad things are looking up!

[Jacovl]

Great news!

Hope that both opportunities will work out in your favour!

[Ericadslv]

Wonderful news Toitjie - you deserve it. Who did you use to do your CV? I'd like to get mine done before we move.

I look forward to hearing about the job offer. Makes me more optimistic about Canberra....

[Bronwyn&Co]

Thanks for the update Toitjie. As you say, you are having a great few days imagining the possibilities. I never considered getting a professional CV done but times have changed and I'll use your tip in future! Fingers crossed and holding thumbs

Edited April 26, 2014 by Bronwyn&Co

[Toitjie]

Erica..here are the details

Roland Coombes - Business Manager
itouch professional solutions
Switch: 1800 450 527
Direct Line: 02 9029 9214
www.resume-solutions.com.au

[Ericadslv]

Great - thank you so much.

[Batsie]

All the best Toitjie. I also used Roland for my Aussie resume and cover letter and am happy with how he transformed my CV. The hits are coming through as well, only downside is I am still offshore.

[Lenista]

Toitjie- beste nuus ooit! Even though I only know you from the forum, you have been on my pray list. I am grateful that things are looking good for you!! * high five* keep us posted!!

[Toitjie]

1 May

I have been waiting long long months and even longer nights to write this post.....

You have guessed it!! I am gainfully employed! Finally.

It is funny how things work out (not that I found anything funny at the time about the next story)

A couple of weeks ago, I was getting really frantic as nothing was happening on the employment front and I started applying for many many posts outside my particular skill-set. In the meantime my resume was redone and a lot of applications were lying somewhere on someone's table. But when the holidays started my daughter begged me to take her horse riding and when I googled a few places I saw that one of them advertised stable hands.

I thought - I love horses, I dont have a job, I used to have a horse, I'm pretty sure I can do horse-poop and feed them, and what better job than working with the animals I love most in the world. So I applied. And...was promptly rejected.

That was it...after that rejection, where I was found not good enough to scoop horse-poop out of their stalls, I felt very dejected.

But then the day after that I got 2 calls and got 2 interviews. A third interview with an agent was also mixed in between.

For the 2 interviews I progressed to psychometric tests and with both a second interview that took place yesterday. The first one did not go well at all. Somehow, for each answer I gave, I could see from the MD's facial expression and body language that I did not give him the correct answer and the more I talked the more he frowned and the more nervous I became. In the end, I felt like I literally wanted to fled from the boardroom.

But the other interview later the afternoon went smoothly. Actually i don't think it was an interview at all. It was basically to tell me more about the company and it was hinted that I would be made an offer. But I still stressed about it...without a definite offer or a definite phone call with a solid offer, I just wasn't sure...so I worried through the night and finally at 4:30 pm this afternoon she phoned me back with a solid offer.

So the worry is over...at least the worry about an income. Now I have to get the job done, and do it good!

There are so many people who supported me throughout this..people that I have not known for that long but who supported me like old friends, which I appreciate immensely!

[Lenista]

Jippeee!!!!! Congrats! So bly vir jou xxxx

[Fish]

That's great news Toitjie...congratulations !!!

[Barbara1]

Well done Toitjie, so pleased for you. Was hoping that you would give good news today. Hope you celebrating tonight!