Screw Work

The day after that tryout shift at the one restaurant, I received a call saying that things were not going to work out. However, the next day, I ended up getting a job at a Pakistani restaurant, though that whole experience has sucked. Because of my situation, this is the best job that I've been able to find, especially this time of year when there are so many other people looking for work. I'm getting paid 4 pounds an hour, under the table (minimum wage is something like 5.35/hr). On top of that, the restaurant keeps all the tips, though that doesn't really matter as they just have me basically bussing anyway. I'm going to try to hang in until Friday and give my notice then, but I'm not too sure if I can make it. While I have been told that it is customary throughout the UK, I wouldn't be surprised if it is just this place, but the restaurant is holding on to a week's pay to make sure that I give notice instead of just walking out, as I nearly did last night. I am a bit worried that they might try to dick me out of that pay, though I could always report the tax-free, sub-minimum wage pay, so that should hopefully protect me.

My tens days sharing that flat ended and I'm back at a hostel. It's far more backpacker-oriented than the last one I was at, which is rather nice, though I do miss having some storage space. Neither the flat nor this hostel have really had convenient internet access, hence the lack of updates lately.

Aside from the work stuff, I am still really enjoying my time over here.

Interviews and the Egg

I ended up going to the Egg at the Wee Red Bar again Saturday night. It was busier than last week, though I did have problems getting in as it is supposed to only be open to members and students. Luckily, I ran into one of the girls I partied with after the place closed last week. Once again, I went to a couple of parties with her, Mark from last week, and a few other people. Luckily, I knew how to get back to the hostel this time. One of the girls, Kate, lives in Glasgow and offered to show me some of the cooler things in the city that I apparently missed when I was there before.

My interview didn't go very well yesterday. The place wasn't as far out there as the first one I interviewed for, but it was still out there. The clientele was predominantly older, and while I would have still taken the job had it been offered, it wasn't really for me (the manager certainly didn't seem to think so either).

Today, I go to pick up my keys for the flat that I'm renting for the next 10 days. I'm about to head out now and start looking for more places that are hiring.

Screw the busses in Edinburgh

I'm still in the process of looking for a job, having submitted well over 20 CVs to various bars around here. So far, I'm not having much luck, but I'm not too worried (yet).

The other day, I met this Spanish girl, Isaire (think that's the correct spelling), down at the computers in the hostel. She just moved here and is looking for a job and flat too. Last night, I ended up tagging along with her as she went to check out some flat, and while it didn't work for her, we ended up staying and talking to a couple of the tenants anyway. In line with the general trend I've noticed of Europeans not accepting any attempt at declining offers of hospitality, we were first treated (pretty much forced) to tea, then dinner, and finally desert. 3 hours later, we end up heading out to a pub for drinks with most of the people in the flat, and I'm seriously considering staying there for ten days while one of the guys, Lambert, visits his hometown in France.

I ended up having that first interview today, instead of yesterday, as I screwed up and hopped on the wrong bus, ending up on the wrong side of the coast. The place is 20+ minutes outside of the center of Edinburgh, which sucks, but it seemed like a pretty cool place. The interview went really well, but I need to get some paperwork filled out before I could start working there, so we'll see how that goes. Isaire came with, and we then went to look at another flat that didn't work out. We did kinda decide to start looking for a flat that we could possibly share.

We went for a walk after dinner and I was nearly run over by a bus (I'm not exaggerating). I had the green walk guy and started to cross the street when the bus went ahead and flew into the turn anyway, yelling at me in the process. That was the closest of a few close calls I had today, so I've been left a bit traumatized by the whole thing.

It's about midnight here and I'm trying to decide if I should go out tonight. Tomorrow is pretty much gong to be more of the same--searching for jobs and then heading out to look at more flats with Isaire and some other guy from her hostel.

Blah

This was going to be short anyways, but since I already wrote it out once before Explorer took a crap on me, it is going to be especially so. I've decided that I definitely did not give myself enough time to find a job, so I am going to try to reschedule my flight for the 27th at the earliest. If I don't find a job by then, I'm going to have to head home as my credit cards are not holding up all that well, especially not in the UK. I walked around New Town today, and though I only found one place to hand in my CV, I did send out at least seven through email today. Later tonight, I am going to go to what I believe to be (and have pretty much been told is) the biggest dive in Edinburgh, as they are hiring right now.

Last night, I went to the Wee Red Bar, a cool little place on the campus of the art college here for an indie night. While it was apparently unusually dead as there had been a big party on campus the night before, I did end up talking to a few locals, Mark, David, and Becca. Once the bar closed, we walked quite a way back to their place, and then Mark, David, and myself went to this party at the flat of this cool graphic designer from Canada. The place was so far out there that it wasn't even on my little map, but I somehow managed to find my way back to the hostel (after a 50+ minute walk), and got back just in time for breakfast-3 mini boxes of Frosted Flakes. Oh, how I have missed crappy American kids' cereal!

Who knew . . .

Looking for a job sucks. So far, I've turned in 4 CVs (yeah, bars here expect CVs from applicants), and am about to go back out and hand in a few more. I'm starting to think that it's going to take longer than I gave myself, so I'll have to call the airline and see what I can do about my ticket.

(Finally) Back in Edinburgh

Had another relatively hellish trip. When I was booking my flight back to the UK, some Brits assured me that there would be trains running to Edinburgh all night. I assumed that they knew what they were talking about and didn't bother to double check to make sure that I had time to make it from the airport to the train station to Edinburgh before things stopped running for the night. I got to King's Cross Station about 3 hours after the last train of the night to Edinburgh had left. I ended up spending a total of 6 hours in very cold, damp train stations this morning.
I am, however finally at the hostel this morning, and so far, it looks really cool. I'm going to do some laundry, sleep a bit more, and then start looking for a job.

Back to Edinburgh

I´ve spent the past two nights in Zagreb, which has been a decent experience. The people here are definitelz nicer than in Budapest or Belgrade. My first night in, the owner was absolutely no help with info on places to go, or even how to get into the main part of town. All she had to help me was a small map showing the locations of other hotels and hostels (which I seriously considered using), and a map showing the ?bars?around the hostel. Of course, they consisted of a cafe that was closed at that point. Last night was better as several people were having a joint birthday BBQ--I ate a lot of meat and then later, we went to this big party on the football field outside the student dorms.

I am heading back to Edinburgh, where I might meet up with someone who was staying in the hostel in Glasgow. It's weird, but because it's relative familiarity, it almost feels like I'm heading back 'home' (hopefully it will be for a short time).

Back at the hostel

Just got back from Szimpla (again). God, I love that place. Met this cool couple, Simon and Veronica, a couple running a business flying people from the UK into Hungary for dental work. Played foose (?) ball for the first time and scored the winning goal. Tomorrow is my last full day in Budapest before I head over to Belgrade. Still haven't decided where I'm headed from there as I've had a hell of a time trying to arrange transpo from my preferred places back to Edinburgh.

Random Night

So, the Canadians I was supposed to go on the literary pub crawl with tonight bailed on me, leaving me to play in a pool tournament tonight. Met a couple more cool Canadians who talked me into going on the pub crawl (again). Did that for a few hours and then went out in search of Whistle Winkies, which was supposed to have a cool indie night tonight. I knew the main street it was on, but not where exactly it was on that street. Was walking down S Bridge as it started to rain more and more. Finally gave up and started to head back to the hostel (already soaked by now) when I heard someone call out 'Mattie.' I look over, and it's Jordan, the Canadian I randomly met two nights ago. He's with some Eastern European chick who shields me from the pouring rain with her umbrella. No one knows where the club is. It finally stops raining, I head off in search of the club or my hostel again, and the club ends up being 10 feet from where I've spent the last 20 minutes standing. There is a cool indie band playing and the crowd ranges from drunk suits to standard indie kids. Had a good time and finally make it back to the hostel without being completely soaked (though I am pretty damned wet). Hopefully I will actually make it to the literary tour tomorrow night.

More Scotch!

Just had another big Scotch night: Oban 32 year, which was rather disappointing, and Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1964 ($2200 a bottle), which was very, very good. Not sure if I would rank it above the Bruichladdich 1970 I had in London, but it's definitely in the top 3. It had notes of what I would call the characteristic Glenlivet flavor, but also something else, entirely unique on top. Missed the literary tour tonight, but made plans with new people to go tomorrow, so we'll see how that pans out. Aside from the Scotch, the day has pretty much been a waste, just did laundry (walked for an hour and a half to a place that ended up just doing dry cleaning, then went back to the hostel.) Getting ready to go back out now. Going to try to check out another indie night that will hopefully be more indie than the shit last night . . .

A Little Disappointment

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Originally uploaded by msgacy2.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Went to a couple modern art museums, ate, and then started off on the hostel's pub crawl again. Didn't seem as cool as the prior night's, so I ended up heading to some bar located just below a hostel where I met up with an Australian, Canadian, and then a brother and sister from NC (I swear, I really am trying to meet people from other nations). We went to a couple of the places that had looked really promising, Cabaret Voltaire and Subway, the former was pretty cool, but packed and I don't think I have ever been subjected to more pungent BO, and the latter was playing emo and had a bunch of little kids jumping around. The actual bar was cool, though. Perhaps other nights there will be more my style. It's pretty overcast today. Have to do laundry, then perhaps go do a whisky tasting, and then I'm meeting up with the group from last night for a literary pub crawl.