Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

We had our Christmas dinner and gift exchange session with the in laws on Christmas eve. After the dinner, we spent a quite evening playing ‘Mancala’ and ‘Labrinth’. Our 6 year old was the happiest I suppose. She received at least 8 or 9 gifts last evening. For a 6 year old, that is overwhelming. She was so excited and it was a gift in itself to see her smiling and laughing and jumping with joy.

I gave her a little radio/mp3/cdplayer and a bottle of child perfume. Those were last minute gifts as I really had a little trouble finding her something. Especially with a limited budget. She likes them though and I’m glad. I was thinking of getting her a music instrument that she can start learn to play. A guitar or a violin or even a flute – I saw on an online store where they are selling a gemeinhardt 2sp flute at more than 50% discount at the moment. But since we don’t think she is ready for it yet maybe next time. Music lesson is indeed in our next agenda for her.

As for the adults, we only had one simple gift each – either chocolate, wine or biscuits. We’ve already informed each other that it should be a minimalist sort of Christmas for the adults. After all, it is not really the gifts that matters in this special holiday but the feeling of togetherness. In the end we all enjoyed ourselves. Tomorrow we will be visiting more relatives.

Have a Merry Christmas and may the New Year bring joy and prosperity!

The problem working with local employers sometimes is that they do not like to follow ther rules when it comes to employing people. Or they take it for granted. They think that people are desperate enough for work that they can do anything they like thinking that employees won’t leave. Well, that is true here I know.  Not only speaking for myself but also for my previous colleagues whom I worked with before.

I love working in kindergartens and daycares but my morale is pretty low right now following the knowledge that my current employer was trying to cheat me on no paying my healthcare and tax – I still doubt that they pay even now. For that, I am not going to linger if I can help it. If I had the money I’d venture on my own, be it selling eyelash growth products online or open my own daycare! Well, but the thing is, I’ve no money to go on my own. But at least I can really try to look for a different job. I’m trying to go for multinational companies this time. I am not sure whether they are better than local employers, but from what I heard from friends and acquaintance, at least they do things professionally.

So yes, I’m going throught the job search all over again now. But I am much more determined after getting 2 employers that lack in credibility. God help me. I really need an employer who has  integrity and believes in fairness.

I went out with a friend today. She wanted to watch the 3 musketeers so I accompanied her. The movie was oookaayy… but not that good in my opinion. To me cool effects doesn’t mean a movie is good. Just okay. The storyline is too simple and predictable.

After movie we had lunch and did some shopping. I wanted to get some Fimo clay. Though we started out carrying a few things at the hobby shop, but ended up buying not even half of what we picked up because they had a little problem with their POS system as they could not key in the prices of some merchandise. Too bad really.

I was out with the friend for nearly 6 hours. The feeling of being single – child at her grandmother’s and husband at work. It felt good.

It has been rather foggy today after the storm we had last evening. A pretty scary storm it was, especially when you are living on top of a hill on the top floor of a 4 floor apartment building. Well, the howling of the wind and watching how the trees swayed wildly was scary. I’m just glad there no thunder or lightning.

Other than that, it was not such a bad day. I was at home half of the day, then later had to buy something for the daycare and tutor in the evening. The other half was a home too. He has been staying home for nearly a week now since he lost his job. Well, the company had no money. So he has been looking for a new job. There is a job prospect as his ex-boss recommended him to another company. So fingers crossed for him. We all hope that he would find a job soon as there are bills to be paid and car needs to repair – back light has to be repaired but the shop didn’t know how much they would charge us just yet. Wish they had an auto shop software that they can give an estimation immediately. What ever it is, my salary is simply not enough to pay all. It would be help but still won’t be enough.

I hope tomorrow would be a brighter day and that we would get some sort of good news.

After 2 months of searching, 3 interviews, I found a new place to work at. A daycare that just started up. I need to travel at least 1 hour to work and an hour back. But I only work 3 days a week. For now at least. The salary is low for now, but will increase when I work more than 3 days a week and again after 3 months probation and completion of daycare management course and health check up. Even so the salary isn’t that good in general, not that I can even buy Polaris Ranger Accessories with my monthly salary. As an American friend said, Hungary is not really a place to make money but is a good place to spend it. It is true. So many things to do and see and spend money on – museums, events, clubs,  concerts – but the average salary is quite low by European standards I think.

Anyway, at the daycare we have 3 children. They only been there for less than a month. The routine is simple everyday. They arrive between 8:30 a.m to 9 a.m. I have to prepare and give them morning snacks at 9. Then they can have a little freetime play. At 9:30 a.m, either I or another teacher will have to conduct the circle time. At 10 a.m it is eating fruits time, then  we go to the park. Be there for an hour or an hour and 15 minutes. 11.30 is lunch time, and 12 they go for nap. At around 2:30 they got up and a little snacks and free play. Parents come between 3 – 4 p.m.

That is pretty straight forward. I love this job. I can only wish that they pay more.

The internet has become such an important component in many peoples’ lives that it would be really hard to live without a good connection. I recall the days when we had to dial on to the internet and it would take ages just to connect, and slow loading of pages is not something uncommon. Yet we thought that was good enough.

Now that sort of connection would be unbearable. Exactly the sort of feeling I’m going through now. I’m only using my mobile phone as a modem to connect to the internet. Though it is extremely slow, but it is keeping me sane. We just moved to our new place, and there is no wifi internet yet. So I’m pretty much dependent on my mobile internet. I am thankful I got it. Though tomorrow the people are coming over to connect the internet. Too good to be true, but we still hope it is true. Compared to the current connection, browsing with wifi connection would be like driving a car with extremely good auto wheels – smooth.

Hopefully will be updating my blog with a better connection soon!

After weeks of living with boxes and luggages, we finally got the key to the new apartment today. So tomorrow or the day after we will be sending some of the things over to the new place.  Most of the stuff that we won’t be needing now at least. Books, some of the clothes, pots and pans, soft toys and my printer  that will be stored up – it is Hewlett packard’s region 2 printer that I need to order original hewlett packard toner cartridges from the US or SouthEast Asia. So won’t be using that printer for a while.

Tomorrow is public holiday here. So most probably they will close the bridge due to the firework show at night. So may not be able to do everything tomorrow.  What ever it is, I am glad that finally there is some moving to do.

Although I’ve been promised that I would be working with the current kindergarten in September, I am still looking for better opportunities. Not better paid but safer or much more stable. I was told about 2 weeks ago that they won’t be able to take me in only to be told again a few days later to not worry because there is a chance I will work for them. Well, I do not need that kind of promise. I need it to be written on a legally binding document. This they cannot do, so away I would go if I find something better.

I went to one interview recently. Though it was not too far from where I work, but I needed a map. Just like a tomtom car gps, a garmin trucker gps, I wish they have something for pedestrians. Do they? hmm… Well, it took me a while to find the place. Good thing I started early knowing that I might need time to find my way.

I spoke to the education director of the kindergarten, filled up forms and she showed me around the kindergarten. The applications will be referred to the financial director and hopefull around August they will call me and tell me whether I’d go for the trial or not. Yes, I have to go for at least a day of trial to see how well I can adapt and they can adapt with me.

All in all, I’m keeping a positive view of it all. I still have more than a month to look and wait. Further, I might not even go to another kindergarten if trully the current employer holds on to her promise this time.

The day finally came for us to attend a houseparty hosted by one of my colleagues. I’m not into parties that I seldom go to one. But since I passed the last one I couldn’t think of an excuse not to go to this party. At least the idea that I’m going to the countryside makes me happier.

Hopefully next week we will be able to go to the countryside to relax. No loud traffic, no party. Just the sound of the birds, the sun and the hammock. We finally got ourselves a tent, just to try out camping (in the weekend house garden). Next we would like to get bicycles complete with a yakima bike rack so that we can transport them around with us.

Summer is indeed a good time to be spending the days out of the big city.

It’s middle of July and I’m at home relaxing the days away. Well, most days at least. There were changes at the Kindergarten and I was told only 4 people will be working for Summer camp. So I had my holiday a bit earlier. I don’t mind so much though.

I managed to read 3 books last week only and currently reading 2 books. In the day, I’d read ‘Mr. Darcy’s diary’ and in the evening before bed I’d read, ‘The civil contract’. I’m hoping to be able to squeeze in at least 12-15 books in four weeks. I’m in a reading frenzy.

Although I have a few more unread books on my shelves, I still go online to look around for more books to buy. For my birthday, I told myself. Some girls would rather have a pair of Black diamond earrings but I don’t mind having more and more good books as gifts. Well, at least that is how I feel at the moment as I’m in the mood for chain reading.