MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
appreciate this isn't the best place to ask for advice but you do get the occasional gem thrown in amongst the crap...
i've a teaching contract starting on tuesday. problem is it's only four hours. if i'm lucky i'll pick up a two or three hours privately or through the local language school. that would earn me around 150€ a week. it's enough to keep me fed, watered and quartered. it does leave me with plenty of free time, however. BUT. where i am now i may as well be in southern england as far as the weather is concerned. no snow. a few untaxing hills.
the girlfriend is working on her diploma (she's been a student for the last six years!). ideally she get it done and then we can bugger off somewhere more exotic than germany. with me out the house she gets a lot more work done than when i'm here.
i'd like to earn more and in more inspiring surroundings, namely spain, portugal and italy. i've been applying for jobs but it is getting on my tits. wrote of god knows how many emails. got a few responses but then they've either found someone locally or i simply don't hear back.
failing the teaching position somewhere exotic i think i'll try find a job in the alps over the winter.
bored bored bored.
I'm sorry if this is a fail on my behalf, but what exactly was your question for us? What would we do in this position you find yourself in?
don't know.
realised only after posting but i'm not sure if i've a question or am looking for an answer.
just want more work/money. can you help?
The starting point is to know what you really want to do. I don't think anyone can help unless you really know what you want. If it's money then that could mean a new career in which case this will take time. If it's more money right now, you need to really focus on what your core skills are. If your girlfriend's diploma is not going to take too long then just be greatful for what you have in life right now in terms of a relationship and a stable home and income.
cheers si,
i know what i really want to do but it'll take time before i'm in a position to do it (time + money + skills = dream job).
i'd just like it if now i had something a little more concrete instead of short term contracts and lots of ums and arrrs from potential employers.
would also like to come out the other side of winter with a little more money than i'm going into it.
Is "wrote" an actual word? It doesn't look right to me
Maybe it is the fact that you are writing emails? Maybe a short cv and covering letter would work better for some people? Only an idea.
Quite a lot of teaching work in Madrid, but I'd suggest spending a few days here pounding the streets and talking directly to people. It might be a bit late now as most courses have started. It's all a bit of a cattle market at the beginning of the year, if you're available you'll get work.
I don't know much about the more attractive areas of Spain though. Good luck.
yeah, obviously included cv, relevant certs, references etc.
@ rocketdog.... write, wrote, written
i write to you
i wrote to you
i have written to you.
Can you not get more teaching hours or perhaps a job in the local. Maybe you could start a small ebay business. perhaps some work at the local sports centre or football stadium. what other tourist things are there near you where they would appreciate an english speaker. my grammar ain't half lazy on this forum.
still doesn't look right, but then neither does "rode" a bike
Alpin
I think my point was that although you are including them in your emails, it is still better to send actual letters etc through the post. Just a thought.
sending letters would cost a fortune. besides companies ask for info/applications to be emailed.
i could try harder where i am now to get my foot in the door and my face well known but i've no inclination of staying here. once the GF is done we're off.
tourism is pretty low on the radar. not much to come here for. the town sits in what was (still is) a 'headland' poking into east germany.
i could try and speak to some local carpentry firms (because that what i am originally), but i don't like the way the germans work. start at 7am and will willing work through untill 5/6pm with one hour break. all for ~14€/hour - almost half what i was earning back in the UK (when there was work).
the other thing is i'm not insured here and it is bloody expensive to do so.... not the socialist paradise the germans will try and have you believe.
What about coming back to the uk to teach? You could do a short term contract. I have contacts if you are interested.