Let’s make that Operation GET TWO JOBS…

As I was preparing this morning to head out on my newest leads for a job, I heard the rolling thunder sound that signals I have new e-mail. I check it, and it’s an e-mail from the professor on my university who oversees the research position I’ll hopefully be starting soon. I translate it loosely:

Dear Conor,

I’m so sorry to have to tell you this

[...]

Nokia-Siemens very unfortunately
[...]

funding withdrawn, therefore

[...]

no, and futhermore

[...]

you’re fucked.

Sincerely,

Well isn’t that special? The research project at the university I was slated to take part in, paid for by Nokia Siemens, has been nixed and my position as research assistant died therewith. This trip just got a whole lot more interesting.

I still haven’t received the necessary certificates by mail that I need to work at the grocery store up the street, but I hope to get them yet this afternoon. The nice woman on the phone told me they would arrive at the very latest today. Even if they don’t, I’ll stop by the store and let the manager know that all my paperwork will be sent along very soon, and that he should hold the position open for me. He had said I couldn’t start working until March 1 anyway, so I don’t expect this to be a substantial problem.

Oh, and the hostels thing didn’t work out at all. I visited four.

Update: I did receive something from an agency supposed to send a certificate for a prospective employer, but it wasn’t actually the certificate. Sigh. I suppose I’ll receive that tomorrow. I did end up going down to the store to speak with the manager. The “manager” was not the gentleman I spoke with last time, as this person today was actually younger than I am. I explained I’d already stopped by about the “help wanted” sign and spoke with the boss who said to come back about this time with all the paperwork finished. The paperwork is taking longer than expected. The kid didn’t really care, told me not to stress about it and to turn the stuff in when I can.