The land of the long white cloud

It must be the desperation of being just that little bit closer to 30, but I subjected myself to another futile flurry into job possibilities in NZ: hostel jobs mainly, as teaching jobs seem difficult to come by when I'm still in Oz and I can't consider moving over reliant on 'supply' when I have a daughter in tow.

I think I must have emailed every single hostel in the country outlining my explaining and trying not to sound too desperate :) Alas, this move turned out to be a BAD one, especially considering my current state of mind: I spent the next week deleting rejection after rejection from my Inbox...Nobody wants a 3 year old staying in their hostel.

Now for the rant: I realise wanting to bunk down with hordes of drunken, smelly 18 - 30 somethings with a preschooler is possibly a bit unusual, however, having managed a hostel myself, and having parents and grandparents who have been and still are in a similar industry, it is one of the few jobs that I perceive as 'do-able' with a toddler/preschooler in tow. If I had the money I'd buy my own bloody hostel and show them how it's done...but alas.

I had a lot of strange replies too - some would take the coward's way out and tell me they'd filled the position, then I would see it readvertised almost immediately on the BBH site! Others told me they couldn't spare an extra bed (although I'd specifically mentioned that daughter and I would share a bed!) and so many told me that their hostel was 'not family friendly' yet they had 'family friendly' written all over their website!!!! Understandable, but infuriating nonetheless. I really thought that amongst all of the hostels there might be one, just ONE who would give us a chance.

I also applied for a management position with YHA NZ, but rejection was waiting in the wings here as well. At least they allowed me the dignity of a reply...there is nothing more humiliating and annoying than putting hours...sometimes DAYS into a job application (and in some cases I've also done an interview!!) and then have no response from the company/school/government department. I think I've already ranted about the job in Tasmania, but if not, remind me later and I'll let you in on their incompetence!

The best job in the world...?

Oh my Lord...some of you may have seen this on the news or perhaps the advert on tv. I was on Lonely Planet's Thorntree Forums and came across some desperate soul trying to pimp his cause on there, and I followed the link...

If nothing else, the website confirms that there are some VERY strange (and delusional) people on the planet. There are 8000 applicants so far and my computer is old and crappy so here are just a few...

Susan I think my Nanna would vote for her. Feed the fish???!!!

Helen for the glamour shot she chose as her avatar alone. Did she not realise the selection panel would also watch the video?

A few were quite good - in terms of technical aspects. Haven't posted them here because we only want to see the outlandish ones, right?? What I don't understand is why so many people thought they had to use the 1 minute to educate the Queensland Tourism Board on the island, the Great Barrier Reef and Australia...just in case they don't know or...?

Like this guy. (What the hell, he was born in 1770??)

Okay, until the last 2 seconds I was voting for this guy! Maybe not Hamilton Island but surely there's another island somewhere that needs a policeman? He's not like the ones on The Bill.

Help! Help! Do you think this guy has family voting for him?? "I am jobless...I want to spend six months on this island to make-a the tax" He's in the top 3 based on popularity!

Ugh. I can't watch any more, but it's brilliant marketing. I don't even want to visit the Whitsundays, yet I found myself suddenly longing for the job (only for a nanosecond...now if it had been a SCOTTISH island seeking a Caretaker you'd be laughing hysterically at my application video right now :)