The Plot Thickens: Lost My Day Job

No adventure is complete without its ups and downs.

Yesterday I was informed, after 3 months of working part-time at the café just up the road, that I would be let go effective immediately. I asked why, and the answer I got was essentially that they were changing owners.

I don't know why changing owners means that I absolutely had to be “let go.” I'm sure theres a real reason somewhere. I wasn't the best worker in the place, and I didn't particularly like the work.

Whether the reason was personal or not, it happened. Now I must start all over again. Hit up all the job search engines and put out resumes to anyone and everyone who will hire me, so that I can have enough money by the end of the month to pay rent-

Hahahaha.

I am very fortunate. I was the one person, if they had to sac anyone, would probably be the least stressed about it. Although my precious ego is a bit bruised, realistically: I have no dependants; no landlord; and the life-saving free food shelf at Auberge Alternative.

That being said, I still need to make some money to pay off my student debt.

So I will need to find that income tout-suite. Thankfully I have been smart with my money lately, and have the luxury to take my time and choose to work for a company that shares my core values. I have to be proud of the work I do or else it's not fair to myself or the employer.

I am proud to work at Auberge Alternative. I knew as soon as I read up about them we would be a good match. This is going to sound like an ad, but it's not! Organic food, free food, and I can attest to only using natural cleaning products. The profit comes in from tourists who appreciate the same things, at a price which is absolutely fair. I have the utmost respect for the owner and the manager, and I adore the other employees who are still there for me after my traveller friends have moved on.

So as long as I continue to do good work here, I won't be homeless!

A great musician told me, “The more angsty your life is, the better your art will be.”

And I see her point. After getting over the initial shock of being fired my next thought was, “This will make a great blog post.”

I think secretly I am loving this uncertainty. I am standing on a surfboard at the peak of a pointy rock, and if I fall to one side its great adventure and everything I hope for, and on the other its homelessness, solitude and despair. Despair!!!!!

But like a bird who is perched on a thin twig I just know:

I'll be alright.

Thanks again for reading. I'll keep you updated on my (second!) job searching adventure as an anglophone Canadian with a moral compass in Montréal.

Make good choices my beloveds.  

[approx. 6 Months Rent Free] So I live in a hostel...

It wasn't always like this.

I used to live like a normal 20-something in several normal-to-subpar accommodations that were congruent to my budget and whatever mood I happened to be in at the time of lease signing.

That was until I packed up everything I owned in my Chevrolet Cobalt and moved from Lethbridge, Alberta to Montreal, Quebec.

My car packed and ready for the start of my big adventure. 

In the background is the house of a great musician, and a dear friend who let me live with her in exchange for tending her garden and caring for her cats. At this point I've been living rent free for 2 months. 

"The Scenic Route" my drive from Lethbridge to Montréal.

Why? Why? Why? WHY? 

I knew no one. I barely spoke French. I had no idea where my next pay check would come from.

I had my BFA and my debt. I had my car, my bike, my $30.00 tent and about 2 and a half months left of summer in case I didn't find anyplace to live. You're never homeless with a car and a tent... but only in summer.

Luckily, for the month of July 2015 I also had Auberge Alternative. A little arrangement I had made prior to leaving Lethbridge through Workaway where I would work part time in exchange for my lodging.

It was only supposed to last for one month. The plan was to (within that time): 1) Find a job. 2) Find an apartment 3) Become bilingual.

As the month went on it appeared that none of this was happening. Two weeks in and I had not found a job, therefore looking for an apartment was out of the question, and as it turns out: French is hard. You don't learn it in a month. You just don't.

So I got scared.

And I almost gave up. I called up my eternally lovely grandparents in Winnipeg asking if there was a chance I could stay with them (...again) and my old job to see if they would take me back.

Two things happened next:

1) I decided that I was in too deep and leaving now would be giving up. I gained the skill; courage! 

2) Turns out the workaway person who was supposed to come for August, wasn't going to come after all. And I had made friends with the owner and all the staff, I had put in my best effort all month, so they let me stay. 

And for that I am eternally grateful.

Now it is almost 4 months later, and I'm still here. 

I keep in mind that this is not a permanent situation.

But I am grateful for every day that: I come home and meet people from all over the world; I go for a walk in Old Montreal, which is just outside my doorstep; I moved to a city where I knew nobody, and yet I have not been lonely for a single day here. Not one single day.

And this to me, is exactly where I need to be.

So I decided to write a blog about it!

And that's why you're here. 

If you're still here.

Hi Mom :)

This has been a quick summary of the past few months. Now you know my situation. Obviously lots has happened that did not fit into this blog entry, as I am sure you have many more interesting things to do with your time and yet I am grateful you took irreplaceable time from your life to devote to me.

In return I hope to make you smile (or laugh, if I can), and show you how I am making it by living the "alternative" lifestyle and that you can do it too! If that is what would float your boat in particular. 

If you have any questions that you think I can answer, or suggestions for topics that I can write about please leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading! Bisous!