The 50th blog post/ The three things I really don't want to hear today

Here we are, readers. We've made it to the big 5-0. Not age, I'm not quite there yet. But my 50th blog post. In some ways this seems like a lot, but in others it  doesn't seem like much at all. Considering where I was when I wrote that very first post and where I am now, many things have changed. When I started the blog I was full of direction, inspiration, joie de vivre- surrounded by friends and family and full of excitement for all my travel adventures to come. Now, I am somewhat directionless and lonesome, being hundreds of miles from most of my friends and family, without a real job and without much changing. You've probably noticed the decline of the frequency of my blog posts. This is a sorry shame. I always thought when things picked up a bit I'd start writing again...but things never really picked up.

Now, that's not to say that some wonderful things haven't happened from the start until now, I've met amazing people, I've seen lots of new things and done lots of new things, I've experienced a lot of things both fantastically great and horrifyingly low. And I've grown (not just around the waist). But I can't help missing the optimistic girl at the start. And I'm determined to get her back somehow.

Anyway, I've made it to 50...and here's to another inspired 50 posts of embarassing dancing, and strange encounters, and new places and a bit of sunshine (hopefully).

The point of today's post is to highlight a few things that I, and probably a lot of you too, don't want to hear these days.

1) The Guardian did a survey of all current graduates looking for jobs. The results were as I expected. We're all going through the same depressing farce. 25% of us have lost out on jobs we want, due to 'lack of experience.' This brings me to the first thing I don't want to hear. Every single job, in the hundreds I've applied for in the last 6 months, has ended with the same inevitable result. I've passed tests (even numerical), I've submitted CVs. I've gone to interviews. The final feedback is always the same: "We liked you but another candidate was more experienced for the role."
This really frustrates me. These are jobs advertised as first job positions. Jobs geared towards graduates. Job advertisments which say 'No previous experience required. Full training provided.'. The sheer magnitude of applications mean, however, that they are able to add further boundaries because somewhat over experienced people are going for these jobs as well, due to a never diminishing over-subscribed job market. I get it, honestly I do. I accept the fact that others are more qualified than me and deserve the job more. What I don't get is how you go about getting the experience needed. Because nobody hires without experience!!! 'Internships?' I hear you ask. Alas, according to the Guardian, another sizeable chunk of us found that unless you know somebody in the business, or have a relative working there, you aren't going to get in. Brilliant.


2) The second thing I really don't want to hear is "The orchid's dead, move on." Since a very kind friend gifted me with some beautiful purple orchids at a dinner party in March, I've been caring for them like they are my child. I've been watering them with tepid water (the instructions said TEPID), I been monitoring their moistness (MOIST) to make sure I don't over-water, and I've been moving them from room to room, and climate to climate, to ensure they have variety in their day to day life. And so far, much to my immense surprise, they've survived and they're healthy. I think they've become a social experiment for me. Keeping them alive is proving that I am not incompetent. That I can do something successful. It's a necessary component for my remaining optimism. So the day I hear, "The orchid's dead, move on" will be the day I officially give up. Maybe it's like the rose in Beauty and the Beast. Except I'm less mean (and less furry). If the last petal drops, I'll be stuck this way forever! But does that mean I won't age?? Because I really wouldn't mind that.

3) The third thing I really don't want to hear is 'Looks like snow's on the way again'. I'm a patient woman. That's a fact. If you remember my post last year about our current weather being much colder than other countries at this time of year (http://au-where.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/here-comes-sun.html) I wrote my complaint last year while it was still April, so obviously things had cheered up by this time of the year. It's a week until June. JUNE. This time last year, because I remember it was when my sister was visiting for Eurovision (http://au-where.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/nil-pointsbut-big-love.html) for the last time I saw her before she became a Californian Girl, we were sunbathing. SUNBATHING. In shorts! In England! It was literally high 20s! This year- it isn't even scraping mid-teens. And according to the weather people (not to be mistaken with the Village People http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBXu-iY7cw- sorry, I have to sing that. Every time. Part of my own personal Constitution.) there could be snow in places in the U.K this weekend?? What??? I've gone so long without sun that my skin has become a dangerously white colour, the equivalent of Voldemort. Not an exaggeration.If I develop a snake's nose, you'll know something a tad more sinister is going on. It's gotten to that point that it usually gets to in mid-Winter where you think "I can't honestly imagine it ever being sunny again." Except that emotion has been continuing for about 8 months now. I haven't gone out without a jacket since mid-September. Wow.

What I saw when I smiled in the mirror this morning

So there you have it, crew. Sorry, that sounded a bit nautical, guess I shouldn't have watched the entire 'In the Navy' music video there
"I'm afraid of waaaater!"

Those are the three things I really don't want to hear today. What do you not want to hear? Do let me know. Unless of course it's "She's posted another blog, oh crud!"

QOTR

Tuesday Wednesday break my heart, Thursday doesn't even start

Hey guys, it's Wednesday here on my blog, and you know what that means...sorry, totally borrowed some terminology from my favourite Youtube Vlogger, Daily Grace. I wish I was a Vlogger. But I don't have a good enough camera. Or enough gumption to make the effort with makeup on a daily basis. Or enough of a strong will to not be scared of the mass amount of trollers who peruse Youtube just looking for trouble. Has anyone else encountered severe nausea when they see a comment with loads of replies? Or when you see a comment has been hidden due to low rating and you just have to click the 'Show the comment' button...and then are promptly shocked and upset by the sheer volume of terrible grammar, spelling and vast illogic of those comments you read.

Anywho, enough of a rant. Today it is only three weeks, 21 days, until both D-day and my B-day. I will be at the airport checking in in three weeks time. What?? In a way, I am so incredibly shocked that the time has gone so quickly and that I already have to leave. But in another way, I feel like the past few weeks have been in stop motion extra slow time in a sort of space time continum and I've been waiting forever for the actual moment of departure to arrive. There's a couple of last minute things I have been stressing about sorting out. But luckily I seem to have gained a handle on most of these and am not really worried about anything. Except for my baggage allowance at the airport. I considered maybe buying just 3 extra kg of weight so I could bring a few more shoes or coats home but it was going to cost me 80 pounds for just three!!! So that's not really an option. I also considered just stuffing my hand luggage full and trying not to wince or fall over when trying to lift it into the overhead locker. But, apparently, they've now started weighing hand luggage in lots of airports and if it gets to be over 10kg then I'm in big trouble. I'm taking home Christmas presents as well, so there's even more extra weight. Then I was advised that maybe I should ship a load of stuff home. But knowing the way things go in this country, it'd cost me an arm and a leg to pay for just one box. So, here it is, the only solution: I have to give a load of stuff away to charity (if I can find a drop off point) or else just throw perfectly good clothes out. First world problems.

Think I finally understand what Hall and Oates are singing about...

Otherwise, things are pretty much sorting themselves out. I'm feeling very good about moving home and possibly have a few prospects lined up. One of which might involve a certain place I've only seen in my dizziest daydreams....a place so cheerful and saddening that I can only express my emotions via the medium of this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tJoIaXZ0rw...and you can bet I'll have just the same spring in my step as Joseph Gordon-Levitt when going there.

Totally Photo Jacked...

Student Loan Company have sent me, along with every one else currently surfing the graduate wave of misery and worry, a lovely letter with the threat of a cheery fine, if we do not make sure to tell them ASAP about why we haven't gotten a job in the U.K and/or signed on to benefits. As someone currently abroad, I have been expecting this letter- which is a mix of panic and excitement on their part, like some Beliebers accidentally at a One Direction concert-with much apprehension. Thank goodness for mothers! My mum has replied to say, 'I'm sorry that my daughter has not filled in and signed your form straight away, she is returning home in a few weeks so please just wait until then.' I wish they'd just learn that, there's no point whatsoever of me filling it in just to say that I am signing on...or in the glorious and extremely rare chance that I do get a job, there's not a snowball's chance in hell that I'll be earning enough to pay off my loan anyway so I'm only going to be replying to say 'Sorry, I can't pay the loan back'...which they're already aware of...so it all seems a bit arbitrary! Is it just me? This is, however, one of the happiest things about moving home. They'll be able to track me much easier when back in the U.K so their letters will hopefully stop when they see that truly I am not in a very well-off financial situation.

Lately though I've been reading this book 'What Color [sic] is your parachute?' which is the worldwide best seller for job seekers...and it's amazing! I've gotten such new clarity about what I want from life and where I want to be and who I want to be there with, and that's why I've only started looking for jobs that I feel I will really be happy in. Because isn't that the most important thing? It's actually easier, I think, when you've never been rich, and never had the brains to be a doctor or a good lawyer (note the good...) or an astronaut so was never going to have a wealthy career, and you've never really desired to be rich, because I'm finding it pretty okay with myself to just look for happiness rather than money. And most importantly, I want a chance to use my key skills: creativity, sense of humour, planning, and charisma..and I'm just hoping something shows up that let's me use all of these.

I also wrote a list of every lesson I've learnt while living here...and it's an illuminating list, that's for sure, with upwards of 10 life lessons learnt. I'm really proud of myself for learning.

OH BOY!!!

I've been some fun with friends...and, as can be seen in this picture, I'm attracting a high calibre of interesting and unique people.
Two questions: *Does man A have a mini torch around his neck??
*Does man B have a brush in his hands or has his air guitar suddenly materialised as a real life guitar??

Everything here in Basel is so beautiful at this time of year and it is a stunning place to experience my favourite time of the year. The lights are just astounding. And they've really gone all out with the Christmas market. Plus, Starbucks has a festive coffee here that is unavailable in the U.K. Cranberry and White Chocolate Mocha. Haven't tried it yet, because I'm still trying to work out whether I find it gross or yummy. It looks really pretty when someone orders it...but cranberry makes me think of the preventative measures of my parents to stop our dogs ruining the grass when they pee....and one time I had a white chocolate hot chocolate with a TAD too much water and it was...DISGUSTING! So, not really geared up to try it yet. But I will. For you guys.

So, that's really it for this week's entry, I will finish with some dialogue from a favourite movie of mine. Bonus points to any readers who can NAME. THAT. MOVIE.!
"You keep on living the dream, Tim."
"DONE!"