I've been living in another country for about half a year, and at the beginning, things were fine, but I've been experiencing a couple of problems.
I was very lucky to find myself a job soon after I arrived, the type of work I wanted to do, and sufficient hours. However, my hours of work have been significantly lower since the beginning of the year, at points almost half of what I would have worked last year. It's not a typical 9-5 job, and our hours depend on how many customers we have. We have also hired someone new recently, which was a reason for the declining hours. They know I'm looking for as much work as possible, but this doesn't seem to be changing any time soon.
I've been looking for new work, but I have to give a notice period of a couple of months, which seems extortionate considering how little I work and my position within the company. It's made it very difficult for me to find other work, because majority of employers are looking for somebody who could start relatively soon, and will not wait 2 months. It will also be difficult for me to find a second job on the top, as I am supposed to be available all day and at late notice, even if I hardly work.
I wish I could leave earlier, but I don't want to risk being sued or anything like that, and I would not want to leave the customers in a difficult position, and so I feel stuck in this job. Thankfully I enjoy the work I do, but my income can be almost 500 less a month than it has been in the past, which makes a big difference.
In addition, I've struggled to make friends here. I only have 2 colleagues, but we don't get to see each other often as we all work different schedules, and often in different places, so it's just small talk here and there. One of them is a male in his 60s, and while he is a very nice man, it's not someone I would be spending time with at weekends and such, without wanting to sound impolite.
I did have a nice friend here, but she had to leave because of Visa reasons, and won't be coming back. I had met a couple of girls who seemed very friendly in person, and suggested meeting up, but for some reason, once I obtained their contact details, and suggested the meet-up, they ignored the messages and I have never heard from them since, which is very bemusing as I thought we had gotten on well. This has happened to me 3 times since I came here.
I could join a club, but my working hours are so unpredictable, I don't know what i'll be working from one day to the next, which also makes it difficult to arrange job interviews. I speak the language well to an extent, but i'm certainly nowhere near the level of a native. I know this will improve in time, but it's frustrating, and means I have difficulty having conversation with natives, unless it's on the internet. I study, and I have been taking a couple of lessons, but I cannot afford many as it's pretty expensive, and we have a lot to save for.
I have a boyfriend here, which is great, we live together, and i'm very happy seeing him every day. But I feel like a loser having no friends, my boyfriend is at work all day, and sometimes I don't work at all or just an hour or so. I walk past cafes and bars etc. and see people with their friends, and feel lonely. It's sad but the highlights of my day are eating things that I like, or watching films and TV that I enjoy.
I have friends back in my home country, who I get to see every month-2 months, but I just wish I could have at least one here. Sorry to moan so much, I just feel stuck in this job, and I feel like there is something wrong with me as to why I cannot make friends.
I hate to say it, but I'm jealous of my boyfriend. He works with a lot of people his age. They all seem to really like him and always compliment him and stuff. They all eat together, occasionally go out for drinks, and they're all texting in the evening and stuff. He gets on with everyone, is charismatic and funny. I feel like nothing in comparison, and that I must be really boring and not worth knowing.
I was very lucky to find myself a job soon after I arrived, the type of work I wanted to do, and sufficient hours. However, my hours of work have been significantly lower since the beginning of the year, at points almost half of what I would have worked last year. It's not a typical 9-5 job, and our hours depend on how many customers we have. We have also hired someone new recently, which was a reason for the declining hours. They know I'm looking for as much work as possible, but this doesn't seem to be changing any time soon.
I've been looking for new work, but I have to give a notice period of a couple of months, which seems extortionate considering how little I work and my position within the company. It's made it very difficult for me to find other work, because majority of employers are looking for somebody who could start relatively soon, and will not wait 2 months. It will also be difficult for me to find a second job on the top, as I am supposed to be available all day and at late notice, even if I hardly work.
I wish I could leave earlier, but I don't want to risk being sued or anything like that, and I would not want to leave the customers in a difficult position, and so I feel stuck in this job. Thankfully I enjoy the work I do, but my income can be almost 500 less a month than it has been in the past, which makes a big difference.
In addition, I've struggled to make friends here. I only have 2 colleagues, but we don't get to see each other often as we all work different schedules, and often in different places, so it's just small talk here and there. One of them is a male in his 60s, and while he is a very nice man, it's not someone I would be spending time with at weekends and such, without wanting to sound impolite.
I did have a nice friend here, but she had to leave because of Visa reasons, and won't be coming back. I had met a couple of girls who seemed very friendly in person, and suggested meeting up, but for some reason, once I obtained their contact details, and suggested the meet-up, they ignored the messages and I have never heard from them since, which is very bemusing as I thought we had gotten on well. This has happened to me 3 times since I came here.
I could join a club, but my working hours are so unpredictable, I don't know what i'll be working from one day to the next, which also makes it difficult to arrange job interviews. I speak the language well to an extent, but i'm certainly nowhere near the level of a native. I know this will improve in time, but it's frustrating, and means I have difficulty having conversation with natives, unless it's on the internet. I study, and I have been taking a couple of lessons, but I cannot afford many as it's pretty expensive, and we have a lot to save for.
I have a boyfriend here, which is great, we live together, and i'm very happy seeing him every day. But I feel like a loser having no friends, my boyfriend is at work all day, and sometimes I don't work at all or just an hour or so. I walk past cafes and bars etc. and see people with their friends, and feel lonely. It's sad but the highlights of my day are eating things that I like, or watching films and TV that I enjoy.
I have friends back in my home country, who I get to see every month-2 months, but I just wish I could have at least one here. Sorry to moan so much, I just feel stuck in this job, and I feel like there is something wrong with me as to why I cannot make friends.
I hate to say it, but I'm jealous of my boyfriend. He works with a lot of people his age. They all seem to really like him and always compliment him and stuff. They all eat together, occasionally go out for drinks, and they're all texting in the evening and stuff. He gets on with everyone, is charismatic and funny. I feel like nothing in comparison, and that I must be really boring and not worth knowing.
Put the internet to work for you.
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