Worldly Chatter

Well, my adventures in Amsterdam on Tuesday paid off! I had a call on Wednesday about my CV I had left with a restaurant on Damrak; it is between Amsterdam Central and the Dam Square. They wanted an interview with me and wanted to know if I could come back to Amsterdam at one. I admit I was nervous. I have been on a couple of interviews now, one did not work out, and the other is still up in the air somewhere. I was nervous. I was actually a half hour early getting into Amsterdam I was that nervous! So I ended up going in ten minutes early, I couldn’t take the wait any longer!
Well, the outcome, I was in there for 7 minutes or so and walked out with employment! A little Italian restaurant, cozy and fairly busy and I am going to be working there! Oh the relief I felt walking down those steps and onto the streets of Amsterdam! Finally, I can contribute to the household finances, finally, not all the weight will be put on Dutchie. Instantly I called Dutchie to tell of my grand news but was nowhere near a phone! It wasn’t until I was back on the train on my way to Weesp that I got a hold of Dutchie to tell of the news!
They are going to start me off on a three-month contract with a months’ probation. That means I am employed for three months and after that, they can either let me go or renew the contract. The Dutch love stability and every company gives a contract of some kind or another. I would make only 6.50 an hour plus tips but it is money, it is work and it means the world to me! Seeing as this is a restaurant in the height of tourist season it might turn out to be a seasonal thing but that’s alright with me. I am working and in the mean time I can still look for something more secure and permanent while I bring in the money. The only thing that Dutchie was slightly disappointed to hear was that they would not be giving me travel expenses. A great deal of companies here in Holland will give you travel expenses. A portion of the money it takes for you to get to work they give back. Dutchie receives almost 200 euro in travel pay every month for the gas she puts in to get to work. Since it will cost me 9 euro to get to and from work a day I have to work an hour and a half just to make the money it took to get me there. After that the rest is in the bank. I am just thrilled I will have an income. I will be an active member of society, working and mingling. I will pay bills and contribute the home. It is about time that I was able to take some of the responsibility off of Dutchie and now that I have working papers and finally found work I can!
I eagerly await Tuesday with excitement and just a touch of nervousness. I know that looking for work has been different from in America; things taking longer, less advertisement on windows and newspapers and more on the internet. I imagine the atmosphere is going to be very different when it comes to working. Yet I look forward to it! A new adventure and part of my life is right in front of me! Finally I am productive and useful!

Jobs in Amsterdam, Expats, Netherlands, Dutch, Amsterdam, Worldly Chatter