A Sigh of Relief and A Breath of Fresh Air.
Today was a big day, I finally got my work permit from INS! After jumping through hoop after hoop for the past three months the American government is allowing me to work. It's been one hell of a confusing process and I feel so a sense of relief now that it's over. The daily frustration of seeing all kinds of good jobs in the papers and online and not being able to apply for them was really starting to build up, especially since the holidays are coming. It would have been different if I was able to work from April to July, those are not traditionally expensive months. But when you start coming near the end of the year not being able to work hits harder than at any other time of year. Yeah yeah I know, I know. Everybody has been telling me not too worry because everybody understands my situation and they realize that my hands are tied but still, it's just a terrible feeling to have when you're used to having a check every two weeks for the past 7 years. I hate being unemployed. I mean I HATE it.
I think I was "lucky" enough to have gone through a stretch of unemployment at a very young age. There was a time when I was 18 or 19 years old and I couldn't find full time work. I was in one of those catch 22's that young people face when applying for work, everybody was looking for experienced workers, but how do you gain experience if nobody will hire you?
I'm lucky as hell to not have to be in that situation again, I have 7 solid years of experience all at the same company. I also started at an entry level position and by the time I quit my job to move to the USA I already had 4 years supervisor experience under my belt. The opportunity to prove myself is all I needed, and I thank my former employer for providing me with that chance.
So anyway, I met quite an amazing woman today while I was down at the INS office. After all the paper work was done and I was waiting for my picture I.D. to be handed me I had this mid 30's black lady approach me. She says she saw my passport and noticed I was from Canada, and was curious as to what part of Canada I am from. When I told her I was originally from Vancouver she replied, "Ahh yes, a Canucks fan huh?"
Say what?
Apparently she is a HUGE hockey fan and has been following hockey for a long, long time. This lady just wouldn't stop talking about hockey and even told me that her husband once said to her (and she imitated him in his thick accent), "Hey woman, you be growing up in Jamaica where it's 92 degrees in da shade, whatchu gonna know about hoc-kay?"
You had to be there.
So she continues to spew as much hockey knowledge out as fast as she can, as if it's been building up while living in a country that doesn't follow hockey (I know the feeling). She tells me she loves the New York Rangers and that Mark Messier is her favorite player. Ok so she isn't perfect, but whatever. She also goes on to say that she really likes following the Canadian teams because they are more authentic to the game and that they play the game "like it's supposed to be played". She went on to say she was disappointed to see the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets move to the states. Whoa! This lady is an old school fan! Her rant continues on with the local coverage of hockey, or the lack there of. She told me she has written letters to ESPN complaining about the lack of coverage and pleaded me to do my part in helping America discover hockey. Man, I thought I was nuts! I told her she was a very rare breed and that I thought it was awesome to find such a great hockey fan that shares my frustrations. I also told her that I hated New York because in 1994 they beat my hometown Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Her response? "Yeah but Trevor Linden played awesome! He's one of my favorites too, and Kirk McLean played very well and almost won the series for Vancouver by himself"
I love this woman. What a breath of fresh air among the smog of NBA, NFL, and NASCAR coverage.
We ended up talking all the way down to the parking lot before going our separate ways. It still blows my mind that I'd find someone who is such a hardcore hockey fan that is not from either Canada or the US, but rather from a country where it's 92 degrees "in da shade man".
I think I was "lucky" enough to have gone through a stretch of unemployment at a very young age. There was a time when I was 18 or 19 years old and I couldn't find full time work. I was in one of those catch 22's that young people face when applying for work, everybody was looking for experienced workers, but how do you gain experience if nobody will hire you?
I'm lucky as hell to not have to be in that situation again, I have 7 solid years of experience all at the same company. I also started at an entry level position and by the time I quit my job to move to the USA I already had 4 years supervisor experience under my belt. The opportunity to prove myself is all I needed, and I thank my former employer for providing me with that chance.
So anyway, I met quite an amazing woman today while I was down at the INS office. After all the paper work was done and I was waiting for my picture I.D. to be handed me I had this mid 30's black lady approach me. She says she saw my passport and noticed I was from Canada, and was curious as to what part of Canada I am from. When I told her I was originally from Vancouver she replied, "Ahh yes, a Canucks fan huh?"
Say what?
Apparently she is a HUGE hockey fan and has been following hockey for a long, long time. This lady just wouldn't stop talking about hockey and even told me that her husband once said to her (and she imitated him in his thick accent), "Hey woman, you be growing up in Jamaica where it's 92 degrees in da shade, whatchu gonna know about hoc-kay?"
You had to be there.
So she continues to spew as much hockey knowledge out as fast as she can, as if it's been building up while living in a country that doesn't follow hockey (I know the feeling). She tells me she loves the New York Rangers and that Mark Messier is her favorite player. Ok so she isn't perfect, but whatever. She also goes on to say that she really likes following the Canadian teams because they are more authentic to the game and that they play the game "like it's supposed to be played". She went on to say she was disappointed to see the Quebec Nordiques and the Winnipeg Jets move to the states. Whoa! This lady is an old school fan! Her rant continues on with the local coverage of hockey, or the lack there of. She told me she has written letters to ESPN complaining about the lack of coverage and pleaded me to do my part in helping America discover hockey. Man, I thought I was nuts! I told her she was a very rare breed and that I thought it was awesome to find such a great hockey fan that shares my frustrations. I also told her that I hated New York because in 1994 they beat my hometown Canucks to win the Stanley Cup. Her response? "Yeah but Trevor Linden played awesome! He's one of my favorites too, and Kirk McLean played very well and almost won the series for Vancouver by himself"
I love this woman. What a breath of fresh air among the smog of NBA, NFL, and NASCAR coverage.
We ended up talking all the way down to the parking lot before going our separate ways. It still blows my mind that I'd find someone who is such a hardcore hockey fan that is not from either Canada or the US, but rather from a country where it's 92 degrees "in da shade man".
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