Well there’s your problem. I don’t know if it’s different in Japan, but it’s the FIVE second rule over here.
I just quit a job I worked really hard to get. I recently landed two creative writing related jobs. I'm keeping the writing one, but I'm letting go of the one that was working for a literary journal I an editing role. I wanted to be able to do both, but I just didn't think I could really handle it. The writing one I've had for a few months. The literary journal one was about to start. I hope it's not a mistake. I had really wanted to to both and I don't think I gave that much notice, but my fear was I could lose both of them from spreading myself too thin and was going to fail at both of them if I tried to take it all on. A few months back life was different and I could have handled both, but recently I'm struggling just to keep writing. These are both paying positions. I'm keeping the one that pays better and I think it more important for my overall career goals. It just sucks that I felt like I needed to give one up. These opportunities don't come often, at least they never have for me. I hope I'm not making a mistake. Have any of you ever had to quit a writing or editing job? Did you regret it or was it the best thing for you in the long run? It totally sucks that I can't do everything I want. And I took the job I just quit several months back, but it was about to start now. I think I have good reasons for leaving the literary journal even if it's before I really started, but I still feel bad. The creative writing position is more work than I thought it would be, but I really don't want to lose that one. So, I made the best decision I thought I could make given that life circumstances are just making it too hard for both, especially if I want to continue with writing projects that are outside the realm of both these jobs. Anyway, I would love to hear from anyone who quit a job they thought they really wanted. Both jobs look good on a CV, but that doesn't matter too much. And both could have opened doors for me in the industry. The one I'm keeping already seems to be doing that and I think it's more important to keep that one. Plus, it pays better than the literary journal one. I know a lot of people want these sorts of jobs. I hope I'm not being stupid. I just felt like it was going to be too much. Still, damn. I wish I had a way to pull them both off. It's probably for the best, but why do I feel so shitty quitting?
"Me here, hello to everybody. I'm seeking a place for Yellow Snowman in a musical Pissing on Ice." "Good afternoon, Sir. I found out that you need extra staff for your film Urea iacta Est. I wonder what kind of film that might be?" "Of course I have experience as a hostel receptionist. Don't you smell my CV in my left trouser leg?"
In Fnland: If you can bite harder than it, it's still clean enough to be eaten. But if sammich bites through 2by4 or your wrist, it has been too long in the floor/street/whatever. You can't eat it. It has civil rights now. And in two weeks time it's gonna seek (and get) asylum from Sweden. Just let it go. Don't mess with it. Can we be sure you keep us safe from aggressive cheese cakes and trigger happy bananas?
Ninety minutes sitting around the post office trying to buy an international money order is as good for you as an hour in the gym, right? Need it to renew my passport. The State Deparmtment website has instructions on how to do so, but the instructions are entirely in English, so if you don't know the Japanese translations of the terms they're giving you, you're reduced to using the translate app. Of course, it also links to the Japan Post Office English site, which is likewise entirely in English and has no cross-links to the original Japanese page that you could show the employee at the counter. And after using the translation app to figure out how what the State Department (I typed in "Foreign Ministry") was in Japanese (somehow it's never come up in conversation), I then had to certify that the money wasn't going to North Korea, the yakuza, or international terrorists. And we'll leave that last category for the Debate Room, because I could argue either side pretty damn successfully. Finally, because of some dumb-shit American counter-terrorism rule, the whole thing has to go through Tokyo, so I'll actually get the money order in the mail in a week to ten days. If I was sending the money to Syria, Yemen, Myanmar, Switzerland, or the Vatican I could have it right away, but 'Murica needs some more checks on it. Guess I'm not going home this summer.
Did I mention something about my mother accepting my choice as if I was an adult? Haha, don't be silly... She's still trying to wear me down. She have her co-workers backing her up. Even talked loudly about me getting dependant on an Englishman (because of course I could never get a job of my own, right?) in the lunch room today. Guilt-tripping me and making me feel bad is usually not a good way to persuade me. I feel like moving far away from my mother might be good for me.
We've got that fun to come next year with CT's passport. Though at least that will be from within the US. But the whole no cash or cards accepted nonsense really drives me mad.
he can pay by card or cash at a passport agency...which shouldnt be a problem if he's in the states - iains problem is being in japan
Do you have an American Express card? When my partner and I were in Japan in 2001, we had to do some financial whoop-de-doo with foreign money (in our case, we had to get some cash from our back accounts in the USA), and it was basically impossible for anyone to help us except American Express. And American Express handled our transaction right smartly. Japan had some weird rules about moving money in and out of the country, and everyone (Bank of America, Western Union, etc.) just pretty much threw up their hands and said, "Sorry, guys. Can't be done. If this were anyplace but Japan, no problem, but this is Japan, so, problem." American Express said, "Sure, we can do that." And they did. And that's one reason I'm an American Express fan for life.
I do have AMEX, but the State Department has a new rule (I think) that it has to be an international money order. If you can go to the consulate, there may be other payment options, but Citizen Services is open from 0830-10:30, weekdays only, by appointment only. The next available appointment is July 16th, when like most normal people, I'm at work. Anyway, the money order is all paid for, now I have to wait 5-10 business days before it comes and I can send it it, and within 3-4 weeks after that, I'll have my passport. The timing was fine, but I didn't know about the new "super-slow" money order policy, in case I was sending it to the terrorists in the State Dept.
Facebook has given me a video made up of pictures of me (all three of them!) with a sappy opening about valuable moments and special friendships, and every time a video like this pops up, all it does is remind me that I'm just a miserable loner with no real friends, and it just makes me feel lonely.
You could go to a stock photo site and download some new friends, create sockpuppet facebook accounts for them, involve them in romantic and professional disputes with each other, and cash in in the form of a less boring "precious moments" bit of Zuckerburg spam.