I have a job

Yep the title is correct, not a joke. I have work :-). After a few months of searching and after at least a dozen interviews I've got a job. Last week I had 3 interviews and an informal chat with Berlitz Language School. Of the interviews the first one didn't go well and was a no within minutes of the interview. The 2nd also in Tel Aviv went well but seems I didn't get it. Even rang to follow up and didn't get a reply so a definite no then and then Wednesday I had 2 more interviews, the 1st with Berlitz here in Rishon and they are quite happy to put me on the training if I want to, at present though I do feel that I need a full time role first before I can look into teaching English. Anyway the second interview on Wednesday was in Lod and is for a Customer Service role and after 24 hours of waiting I was rewarded with the nicest phone call I've received in a while asking me if I wanted the job :-). Needless to say I said yes and I start training tomorrow. It’s actually a bit scary as it’s another new thing here in Israel, but also amazing as it’s my 1st job in a new country. But as I said scary because it’s new, but with training I hope that I will not only enjoy the job but excel at it. Apart from that, this past weekend was Shavuot and it was a quiet one, but I was good and went to synagogue, still getting used to the fact that services are earlier here than in the UK as the service on Saturday for Shabbat was finished by 10.45... I got there at 10 as they were starting the Mussaf Amidah and Sunday the service started at 7.30 and was finished around 10.30. Still get used to it, like everything it takes time.

Fun week, busy one again

I seem to be getting a bit lazy in updating this blog, so sorry for those who read and hope to keep up with my adventures in Israel. Last Week was actually quite fun and busy, probably the busiest I've had in a while. Sunday started off with a visit to Tel Aviv to go and look for recruitment agencies and although I didn't find I got to hang out with friends. Monday was a visit to Tel Aviv again for a Job interview, which sadly I didn't get but, plenty more out there. On Tuesday I had a meeting with an Employment Counsellor to discuss what could be done to help me find a job. Then on Wednesday I went to Haifa to visit friends and pick up my Ulpan final exam grade and having started in Kita Aleph I finished in Kita Bet, so I did learn something from my time in Ulpan. I still have basic hebrew, but I'm sure I will pick up more as more time goes on. Then after that I hung out with various friends from my Ulpan who still live in Haifa. Then Thursday I went to the beach with a friend who lives in Bat Yam, also from Hull originally so that was cool, chilling out on the beach. Friday was fun as I went Fruit Picking in an event arranged by Nefesh B'Nefesh and Leket. And in the space of 1 hour 40 of us picked 800 kilos of Beets which were to go to the needy. Then Friday night I went for dinner with someone who lives in Rishon also from the old home town so that was cool. Then Saturday I relaxed for most of the day, before going to see the Avengers again and then heading into Tel Aviv to watch the Champions League Final and eventually getting home at 3am... which might sound like a good night out, but when you have to be up for 7am... not so good!!!. Still a very good week that I enjoyed and I hope its the first of many fun and busy weeks for me here in Israel.

Down but not out

Well its been a busy few weeks, applying for jobs here in Israel trying to find my 1st start and first wage here. Its a struggle, but I've had interviews which is more than I had back in the UK. Still very tough and getting the interviews but not getting past the final hurdle. Its quite disheartening and I hope that someone very soon will recognise my potential and give me the opportunity to work for them, in the meantime its keep applying and trying to stay positive. Though I admit that has been a bit of a struggle the last few days after some job interviews which I felt went really well and then I didn't get. But persevering I will continue to apply. Apart from that, been pretty quiet, its difficult to do much when you have little money so most of my time is on the PS3, Computer or watching DVDS, also feeling very isolated from friends I've made here in Israel, especially those in Haifa. I realise everyone has their own lives but in the 5 weeks since I left Haifa, I've barely heard a peep from any of my new friends and its hard not to feel a little abandoned and hurt that no-one isn't even interested in dropping a quick text to say 'Hi Adam, how are you?. Okay maybe that a bit of rant, but hey when you got no-one to talk to, got to voice your frustrations somewhere LOL. Apart from that, had a good Saturday night, went to play pool with a few new friends even though my Pool skills are shockingly poor LOL it was fun and today, hanging with David and Tal Allen was fun, nice distraction from the empty apartment of the last 3 days :-).