Elise & Sebastian

En route to Honolulu - my thoughts while in-flight

My first day back on paradise island - and I have no idea with this Holiday will surmount to, each step I take is unfamiliar, and at the same time it feels as if I never left. To me, the world becomes so parallel when I travel. 
Below are some thoughts that arose during my in flight - en route hours:

Best Regards

It is mystifying how one puts everything (or nothing at all) into the application process of seeking internships, jobs, scholarships – or things we want that require a certain “letter writing” format.

It’s funny how in this desperate day and age, when we’re all struggling to find jobs to sustain ourselves somehow we place emphasis on those academic taboos that make us nervous just as we are to send out that letter.

Best regards?

Sincerely?

Thank you for your attention?

Who are we trying to impress and what kinds of format-nazis are turning down our inquiries because sincerely is too emotional or too touchy for this kind of work?

At which point in our lives, does that kind of simple thing govern our quality of work?

Personally, I always liked best regards, and of course – sincerely, so as to not sound like a repetitive 

e-mailing, letter writing robot, I combined the two … I wonder if its invented…sincere regards

Serving Mai Tais over nothing

How many post baccalaureates are truly searching for jobs (not even careers) that never suit their interests? How many of them are biting into the media frenzy that 80% of 2011 college grads move home and remain jobless?

How many of them are:

Prostituting

Waiting

Sales Associates

Flight Attendants

Basically searching for JOBS rather than careers with plans?

Personally, its intimidating, I try not to pay too much attention to what the media says, so I walk around with this determined attitude in my Master’s program and search for resume boosting internships or jobs. I feel that the waitressing days are over- given, I am looking for one for now as I return to Honolulu for six weeks, to be realistic a six-week vacation in Hawaii is not the most ideal environment for an individual hoping to be employed in good faith.

So for now, I’ll settle for nearly anything- but even I face the dilemma or elephant in the room that says,

“Yeah Elise, you’re great – but you’re not innovative enough, inventive, or creative to make it out there.”

It’s surely intimidating to think of some of the entrepreneurial ventures I would like to undergo, but the only thing I see stopping me are mental blocks.

I’m hoping to overcome some of them while I am out here with everything in retrospect

Hawaii – Berlin - Hawaii

I'm going to try - Berlin

Actually, I'm not sure if it's about trying at all.

It seems as if I have skipped an entire semester's worth of blogging - which is a shame since so much has gone on since the first day of Berlin, which was my last post!

Shame, shame shame.

I guess it's because I sincerely did not make time for myself to blog my thoughts and experiences.

Sebastian and I considered this semester (which is coming to an end on Wednesday) a crash course into Berlin living, a study hard semester - little time for play, and tons of work and studying with Dresden trips and parental trips in between.

It's been a busy one indeed.

What I should have mentioned before is, I will be back to the homelands sooner than expected.

The original return was set for Summer, but due to mis-communication and what not.

I'll be arriving in Honolulu on the 29th of December. Yay, sort of.

I will deeply miss Sebastian, and the charming life we've been nurturing out here in Europe. The fairy tale never ends. Did you know, that some mornings he prepares my breakfast setting

- teacup and saucer

- dipping spoon

- black tea bag

- toast

- bowl with spoon for cereal and a plate to lay my toast

- and a butter knife

- and an extra cup in case I decide to have milk or juice with my tea

Yeah, it's like that - he's amazing

My stay in Hawaii will be fortunately AND unfortunately short - 6 weeks

I need to make money too! But who's gonna hire a girl when most jobs take ten days to train?!

So it's interhsips, mini jobs, old employers and side jobs to the rescue - I hope.

Do you know how sickening it is to craigslist positions?

It's hard to depict fake and phony.

To summarize, I would like to state that I will be writing more often come vacation time.

How radical of a change to leave winterrrrrrrBerlinnnnn for sunnyyyHonolulu.

Things will be put into perspective, no doubt. And I will take the opportunity to unwind and reflect.

Deep writing, maybe.

Goodnight!