Finding Work After Work

Postponing English School Response

This has turned into a type of resting beast I run out from my hiding place to poke. I’ve overcome writer’s block by writing to procrastinate about finding a job! An email arrived so early this morning that I was foolish with sleep when I skimmed through it. Understanding finally that it was a response to one of my English teacher job applications, I threw away my phone. This is the job offering a contract and asking me to perform several tasks before they can proceed with the interview process. Even if they hadn’t taken a week to get back to me, I would still have given myself until Sunday to not think about it as much as possible.

Alternatives

You can’t use the same way of doing things to get different results. Dr Somebody Somebody director of The Important Sounding Education and Research Programme got back to me inquiring about times for a Skype meeting. Her language is formal, and she signs her messages ‘regards’ while using her first name. What do I have to say to this woman? She’s the only one biting though, saying we should see what “synergies might arise from our collaboration”. I sent her a message telling her I’ve been in contact with Alonso Quesada Hernández the author of ‘Plants at the Service of Health’ 1 & 2 (National Herbarium of Costa Rica) and visited the herbs section at the Central Market in San Jose. The National Herbarium at the National Museum is on my list of places to visit but “I need to know what my goals are” is what I wrote her although I like the sound of being a herbalist.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hernández has received an offer of translations services for his books in exchange for experience opportunities with medicinal plants. I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m doing something while betraying my self and its trepidation with hopes of easy resolve or that no one gets back to me, making it the universe’s fault (and not mine) for lack of further action. Not so deep down inside, we both know I don’t want to do anything but walk through the woods, read a good book and lie with my man in the position I shall give a name.

A return to the herbs section at the Central Market to start making connections is a part of the fun but this all needs to be monetised if it’s going to be sustainable.

Application to an Animal Reserve

Mr. Castro sent an email saying he reviewed my application! In brackets he put (“it was my favourite”). Now…in the spirit of doing things differently without throwing out the baby with the gin, I wrote the type of application letter that would either connect with ‘to whom it may concern’s’ inner rebel or be passed around the office for a good laugh. Deciding to have more faith in circumstance than in a sensible contribution from my efforts, I hit send anyway:

PH, Terrawind Torre 1000, Apt 21B, VIA Israel, San Francisco, Panama City dah dah dah@gmail.com 20/02/2018 Dear Mr. Castro, Since my eight-month voluntary position as a CELTA qualified English teacher in association with Heart for Change and the Colombian Ministry of Education, I have known that I want to do more to give back to those (including non-human animals) in need, but a student loan (now repaid) had kept me teaching business English in Panama. My passion for animals was probably inspired by visits to wildlife reserves as a child. I subsequently worked summers for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Barbados where I cleaned cages, fed boarding pets (usually cats and dogs) and assisted the doctor on farm visits and even in surgery. What a fright I must have been once when, covered in blood after fighting to pull a cow’s fractured tibia into place, I rushed into the waiting room to greet someone who’d brought their pet in after hours to see the doctor! How does a teenager choose what to do with the rest of his life though? Graduating in Business Administration from the University of Brasilia, Brazil, was followed by a year of accounting at the Hilton upon my return to Barbados, and it was then I decided that I might fling myself into the ocean if I didn’t find work doing something I loved. I applied for a job at an aquarium. This was exciting! Something I loved – I became a certified diver, swam with nurse sharks, barracuda, southern sting rays and even piranha to clean their aquariums; gave group tours and managed animal husbandry when alone on weekends. This included food preparation and administering medication. My experience there, however, led me to conclude that animals should only be kept in captivity in a way that the Tucan Rescue Ranch does it—as a necessity for rehabilitative purposes, in cases where rehabilitation fails or where re-population is an aim through breeding programmes—not for entertainment and profit.

Luckily, the experience hasn’t stopped me from being awesome (according to my references). I’m dynamic, down to earth, vegan (says a lot about conviction and self-discipline), have emotional intelligence which makes me empathetic and appreciate diversity and…I’m punctual. Thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I am in Costa Rica and would appreciate the opportunity to interview at your convenience. I can be most easily reached at this e-mail (dah dah dah @gmail.com) or at +506 etc.. I look forward to communicating with you soon. Yours Sincerely,

(Are you being sincere or faithful when you use the person’s name?)

“Work or wine?” I keep asking myself…work or wine?