How long...?

Come Tuesday, it'd be three weeks since I arrived in Melbourne. Throughout my drive from Perth to Melbourne, I fantasised about what life was going to be in the Emerald City... cute little apartment somewhere in the inner city; commuting on the trains or trams to work with my dark wool overcoat and cashmere scarf; sipping my skinny latte as I peruse The Age on a Saturday morning, grocery shopping in Victoria Markets, going to the theatre on a Friday night... Well, life hasn't quite turned out the way I had planned in my little head. 

Since I arrived, I've been living at a friend's apartment about half hour from the city. While I'm not quite living out of my suitcase, the whole set up is very temporary until I secure some kind of employment, after which I will then look for a place to rent. 

My days start at about 730am... or 8am... or whatever time I drag myself out of bed. I make myself a cup of English Breakfast tea, and whip some oatmeal porridge and sit myself down in front of the TV for a dose of Sunrise on Channel 7. After that, I either head off to the gym to pump some iron, or head into the shower, get dressed and decide what I'm going to do. For the most parts, I spent my time going through job advertisements online and preparing my applications. Applying for a job in Australia is a tedious affair as most jobs have about 6-10 selection criteria  that needs to be addressed. The applicant is expected to write about half a page telling the advertiser how his/her skills, knowledge and experience meets each specific criteria. So, I'd end up having to write about 3-5 pages, and it's the most painstaking task after writing essays for university assignments. Sometimes, it's quite easy to replicate your 'answers' by cutting and pasting from previous applications. But there's still a lot of tweaking to get through. What's more painful is having to go through all that, then getting a rejection email saying your application has been unsuccessful! It's happened a few times now and you know what, I don't think you ever get used to rejection! 

It's coming to the end of week three, and I've probably put out about 12-15 job applications, and still jobless. I have scored a couple of interviews and I guess that's a start. But I have to be honest that my morale isn't the greatest. With my reserves slowly depleting, I am not looking forward to digging into my savings to survive a few more weeks of unemployment. I can't stand not having a routine... but I think that has got to do with the underlying fact that I do not have an income! 

I absolutely hate living by myself (my friend and his family are away in Brisbane). I used to like the idea of having a place to myself, but after living with my housemate for the last year, I have grown to like the idea of coming home to someone. I can't wait to secure a job so I can get on with looking for a shared place to rent. I am convinced with each passing day that we were not meant to live by ourselves, that we were created for community. Or at least I am. I miss connecting with people, talking, engaging, discovering... 

Don't get me wrong...it hasn't been all bleak here in Melbourne. Sure, the weather has been cold, and sometimes wet and overcast. But I've been so blessed by the warmth of family nearby, of catching up with a couple of old friends... people who have made being here just a little easier. Just as the winter will slowly turn to spring, my 'winter' will melt and new life will emerge. I was reading the Psalms this morning and came across Psalm 12, where the psalmist asks, "How long...?"... I too wonder how long before 'spring' awakens...