So, a lot has changed since my last post. In preparation for the Europe trip, I had been applying for jobs like a mad man, with little to no avail. After applying to over 60 jobs in Europe, I began to look outside the box. I was forwarded a job opportunity at a children’s camp in Hong Kong, but did not hear back from them within a suitable time frame, so naturally, I had assumed that it was just another job I hadn’t gotten because of my American Nationality.

Well, plans continued to move forward with the Europe trip, until one day a few weeks later, I received notice that the job in Hong Kong was interested in me.  I went through a Skype interview with the woman who was responsible for the hiring process, which was a lengthy interview for over two hours. The woman was unsure of offering me the job because I lack some of the proper certifications necessary for the job.  Although not the most qualified candidate for the position, I am a Registered Nurse (RN) and the woman stated that an RN would be a great asset to the camp. So, after speaking with her colleagues, they decided to offer me the position as a program leader, under the stipulation that I also help out with arising medical issues and an upcoming health inspection.

During this time, I was also awaiting a response to a possible employment opportunity in Spain, which was a one year contract, great pay, and a nice apartment in the city. The job delayed in responses to my emails trying to get a straight answer, but all the only answer that I had gotten was that the organization was highly interested in me. Meanwhile, I was sitting on a contract for the Hong Kong job, and needed to make a move soon or there would be a possibility that I would end up with no job if I waited any longer in signing the contract. I decided to go for the job in Hong Kong, because it was a neat job and an opportunity to work in Asia, a place I am not as familiar with as I am with Europe. I signed the contract and sent it in. 36 hours later, I received an employment proposition and a work contract for the job in Spain.

With the contract signed for the job in Hong Kong, I finally purchased an airline ticket for $1060, which was $200-$300 more expensive than what it would have been if I had purchased the ticket when I first received the job contract. Definitely a bit pricey, but I would be reimbursed $750 for the ticket with the remainder falling on me. The job goes from the 19^th of September to the 25^th of November, and then I’ll have a possible extension of the contract from the month of March and onwards.

This leaves me with an unexpected three month vacation that I am going to take advantage of. So now, instead of bumming around Europe, I will be bumming around Asia. I am pretty excited for this neat opportunity. I don’t have much experience at all in Asia, therefore this will be a new frontier for me. I am more interested in Southeast Asia: The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. I would love to travel through all of those countries but I do not know yet if that will be plausible. I am going to look into it though. I am most excited about going back to the Philippines, and exploring the country on my own.

Anyways, I am just giving an update on everything that has happened. Basically, I forfeited my trip to Europe (and an $850 airfare, bummer) in order to take this job in Hong Kong. I am pretty disappointed that I won’t be able to see all my friends that I was so excited to see in Europe, but given my track record, I will end up there again to visit sooner or later. Such is life. Take care everyone. 

After spending the past few weeks desperately applying for jobs in the European Union, I am beginning to feel a little bit discouraged (just a little, though). I have searched the internet and applied for numerous amounts of jobs that I feel I am definitely qualified for. Now, I am beginning to receive a string of responses that basically convey that they will not even consider me because I am an American citizen.

I’ve done my research, and an American citizen can receive a work visa if there is a job lined up that is willing to sponsor them. I’ve applied to a myriad of jobs across many different sectors, and I’ve received little valid interest. Because of the European Union, jobs are more often given to those from within, rather than outsiders (understandably, but still)…

I fully comprehend why jobs cannot be freely given out to outsiders, but, c’mon, can’t they just make an exception for me this one time? Haha.

The most important goal for this upcoming Euro trip is to secure a job. I feel that if I can score an in person interview, I will not disappoint. I may feel a little bit discouraged, but I still have yet to give up!

Over and out

Curt

I’m looking at jobs in Val D’isere, France right now. I am in the process of applying to a bunch of them, but it’s hard to foresee whether or not they are willing to take both my friend and I. There is a position for Chalet Management Couple (which is not necessarily a romantically involved couple, but rather two people that will work together) which seems like an interesting job. We would basically just play hosts to whatever family or group would be staying in the chalet we’d manage, and cook and clean for them. I love to cook, and I really don’t mind cleaning, so this job is relaxed. I would much rather have a job where I’d be using my nursing degree, but at this point, anything would suffice.

This doesn’t mean to say that I’d be ditching hopes of scoring a nursing position, but I’d need something to sustain myself whilst in Europe. I’m looking into it right now, and hopefully will find something worthwhile.

Over and out

Curt

So… I currently live and work in Fawnskin, California, which is a small town across the lake from Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains. This is about a 3 hour drive from where I more or less am from, San Diego (America’s Finest City). I am working as the Registered Nurse for a YMCA summer camp, and the job is amazing. It is the perfect mix of outdoors, office, autonomy, children, and fun. I am currently having an awesome time, but the one drawback of the job is that it is only seasonal. I am employed here for not but 9 weeks. The summer is coming to an end, and with it, so does my job (and paycheck). I have approximately 2 more weeks to go here- I am officially done on the 22nd of August.

I’ve been contemplating what I’d be doing afterwards, and I had yet to come to a concrete decision. I was looking at jobs throughout the United States, but my passion is truly international travel and I’d love to just go for it. Being an American citizen has its drawbacks though, and the one that I’m really upset with is that many foreign countries do not like to hire American citizens for employment.

This morning I woke up early, and couldn’t sleep. I’d been considering going to Europe in the fall, but I had been putting it off. So in my sleepy haze I logged onto some travel sites and came across an $850 round trip plane ticket to London. It’s not the best of prices, but considering it is a round trip, New Zealand Air direct flight (only 10 1/2 hours, no layovers) from Los Angeles the first week of September, I was stoked on the price. I decided to just go for it and book it. Yeah, 85 days in Europe.

Now what? What am I going to do in Europe for 85 days? Well, the primary purpose of my trip is to secure a job that is willing to hire an American citizen, preferably one in the popular ski destination, Val d’Isère, France. I have a friend that highly recommends the ski season work experience there, so I would love to check it. Well, besides the job hunt, I would also like to spend my time adventuring.

This is the tricky part. I do not have a lot of money to spend. My budget is pretty tight. When I say pretty tight, I mean really tight. What I mean is, I have very, very, very little money to be throwing down for the necessities of life, such as food, shelter, toiletries, etc… So, this is the deal. I would love to see how far I can go with as little money as possible. Budget is pretty much miniscule. I am going to come to depend upon the kindness of strangers and other comrades I meet along the way. Although this is not the first time I’ve attempted this, I usually end up going to places where I have numerous friends that will often go out of the way for me. This time, I am going to areas of Europe I am not quite so familiar with, and therefore, have fewer friends in surrounding regions.

On the other hand, I do have an awesome friend of mine joining me for the journey. For this, I am grateful. Even though I don’t mind going at it alone, it’s always better when you have a good friend by your side, especially somebody that you respect and trust. Most importantly, we always have a good time together. So basically, this blog is just a precursor to what is to come. I am working on a general tentative itinerary, or more of a to do list, but in our situation, that is going to be a bit difficult. We are basically at the mercy of of our collective decisions and the will of the universe. I have faith in mankind. I’ve done my fair share of traveling in the past, and I’ve never felt as if I’ve been thrown into a situation I couldn’t handle.

Anyways, I’ll be adding to this until I embark on the trip and whilst on the trip as well. Sorry if this was a long, all over the place blog, but I’m starting to get tired.

Over and out

Curt

Sitting in a low chair at a bar in one of the hipster areas of San Diego (North Park), completely sober, I’ve begun to notice peoples shoes. I don’t really pay attention much to shoes, but in the moment I’ve started to pay attention. Shoes say a lot about a person.

Just a random thought.

I’ve been so MIA the past few days. It’s tough to keep up with this when I’m always on the go with my visitors in town. Yesterday we ended up in 110 degree heat of the desert. It was a friggin’ blast.

I love my life.