Sad Awakening.

I cried on the drive there.  I cried in the waiting room. I cried because this is what it has come to. I cried seeing the many others out there seeking the same help. I cried because they may be more worse off than me. I cried when I told the lady what I have left in my bank account. I cried thinking how thankful I am to have this sort of governmental assistance. I cried because I'm sick of being underpaid or not paid at all for the work that I do. I cried because in a fucked up way, this is a pretty interesting and cool life experience I'm experiencing.

Yesterday was an emotional day. I really had an awakening. A super sad wake up call to my financial status. I am poor.

I  am poor like everyone else that was waiting to hear their name called at the Washington Connection. Waiting to tell their struggle story. Mine went something like this: I moved up two months ago, and have been doing absolutely everything I can to land a job. I'm a full time job seeker who often works overtime. I have a journalism degree from one of the top J schools in the country. I'm fluent in two languages. I have experience. What the fuck? Does it really matter anymore; a college degree?

Never would of thought I'd get here. I'll get myself out.

Scammers.

I posted an ad on Craigslist for my services as a Spanish tutor. Trying to get some sort of income going, and all I get back is a response from a damn scammer. How do I know it's a scammer? We sent a couple emails back and forth. See for yourself:

Scammer: Hello...Are you available to teach my son a lesson under your service..email me
back with your charges..

Me: Hola! I am still available to tutor Spanish. Tell me more about your son. How old is he? What is his level of Spanish? Is he taking Spanish in school? Does he have curriculum to follow? Where are you located in the Seattle area? I charge $30/hr. If needed, I am willing to compromise on this. Gracias!

Scammer: Hello, Thanks for getting back to me and everything sound good to me, Am Mrs Clark  by name, my son is coming  for an holiday in your (CITY), His name is Micheal and is 16 years old .I want him to be busy in the time of the day,because am in Spain for business trip i will be back
in 2 months Time that is why i  want him to be lesson,..I will want you to email me back with your price and i have decided to let him attend your lesson and he will be coming 2 hour in a day ,also get
back  to me with your own convenient time and day you want my son to be coming in 2 days in a week and i haves Someone (Nanny) that will always drives him down to  your lesson center..I will be happy if  you can help my son because my son is highly interested in your tutor lesson.. Make sure you check your email often if there is any emergency or important notice

Kindly get back to me with your information below to be on the check.....

Name:
Full address: Not P.O.BOX
City:
State:
Postal Code:
Phone Number: That i can send text message

Hope to read back from you with the details requested


I will NOT be responding to this last thread. She didn't answer my questions about her son's "level."What is this in 'your (CITY)' thing?....Who would have a nanny drop off their kid with a stranger?

F*!& no will I be giving you my address! And, whoever this is needs to be searching for English tutors instead of Spanish ones.

Stamps.

I figured the day I applied for food stamps would be no less than the appropriate day to begin this blog.

I should have started it two months ago. To bring you along for the ride. To see if you could hold on tight for as long as I have.

Who does this? Goes to a city w/o any big leads in hopes to do more than just survive? To make it big? Or to just make it? Silly me. I do it.

Guess it's what dreamers and go-getters do. It's a risky risk.

I've heard, though, that nothing worth it is easy, but I honestly didn't think it would be this hard. 

I just got back from Spain where I kept up a blog on my struggle to find work in an economic recession. Now I'm back in my own damn country, writing the same damn struggle-blog. Sick of writing about strife. But I guess you can't get to success w/o a fight.