Hi jw91,

You are not alone! For the job ~ my friend had that. Over and yet under qualified. She was only brave enough to get retail jobs. (Which is also OK!) I kept encouraging her to have her own business. Even if you’re a gardener, you go to people’s houses at 5 AM and leave before they wake up. There is a demand for that. Or if you hear about people complaining or wishing they had something ~ fill it. For example, there is no one (NO ONE) in our area who can fix pool filters/motors. They can shock your pool, sure. But fixing the tiles, etc.? Forget it! So find a little niche and fill it! There is a “Bat Man” ~ a guy who is on call 24/7 to get raccoons out of your attic. These are just a few examples. Make business cards and do part time stuff until something else comes your way.

As far as the family, I’m telling you this story to make you feel better. At family reunions there was one of my dad’s cousins. She was my absolute favorite. I loved her, and I thought she loved me. Five years later, after a particularly painful breakup, I decided to “reset” by visiting her. Well, I wasn’t as beloved as I thought! (Even now, twenty years later, I have a sneaking suspicion that another relative planted a bad seed in the cousin’s mind towards me.) The first day was wonderful! The second day was great! However, by the middle of the week I could see the collective family staring at me like, “Why is she here?” I was confused. What had I done? What hadn’t I done? Did I say something? Not say something? By the end of the week the favorite cousin yelled at me and accused me of yelling at her! She went nuts. I promptly went home and told my dad that his cousin was crazy. He was all “I know”.

Unless you are born in a culture or raised in a particular household you will never pick up on every nuance that will make you gel right in. And believe it or not, but the program you were in WON’T let THEM take on another boarder. They lost a person because of them and YOU can give the PROGRAM a bad review! (This you CAN do!) The family is now labeled “DIFFICULT”. In fact, you can warn people via the internet about how they wouldn’t help you with the family. They could have at least helped you find another. You can even sign off, “Nothing Personal”!

And, believe it or not, the family might be feeling some guilt. They failed to have you, after all. Maybe some of them are thinking “What’s wrong with US? Are we so set in our ways we can’t even have a guest from another culture in our house?”

With the crazy cousin, years later I could tell she felt incredibly guilty because she was all nice to me at the next reunion. I was all grown up then, dressed up like an elegant lady and that made her second guess herself too.

Best,

Inky

Hi J (@J and @Inky)

I am in the same boat as you. I am a recent graduate and I moved to DC, and I moved away from California. I worked as an intern for a Congressman at the Capitol Hill. I have a part time job as a server, and doing another internship (development internship part-time). I have a lot of experience with Non-profits and health care. I received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Human Development (Health Services) with a minor in PSCI. Sometimes, I think..I should have stayed and pursued medicine.. maybe Ill get a better job..

yet I was unhappy.

Yet, I can’t seem to get a job with it. It bothers me, and I get so angry. I literally want to cry. I need money, to support myself and pay for my loans.
I just keep thinking… why? am I not eligible for these jobs? I moved all the way from California to Washington D.C. For crying out loud… I worked for the Congress, I should get a public service job asap. and not have to deal with this.

I get angry at times.. today I started my job as a server. I still apply for jobs.. and I am studying my GRE so I can get into a Master in Public Health.

I apply for alot of administration, non-profits, something that fits my alley.. and doing a part-time internship to improve and better my skills.

I get mad, I cry. Today I cried, and it rained while I biked home. I hate working in the restaurant business. but I need money.

I plan to travel to Japan to visit my family and Brazil in December.. so that is why.. I am working even though I hate it.

I found another job.. which will is assisting an elderly (I have alot of experience with elders) and I would get paid alot.

I am still applying and I never give up. I use my frustration to keep going.

Another addition to my sadness is the fact that, I lost one of my lover-companions, his ex-gf wanted him back.

I feel defeated, and unemployed. Its only been a month.. I mean I am not unemployed.. I do have a job. But its not a job that makes a difference in my life.

I mean.. the betterment of myself. I want to work that provides care, and my knowledge for the betterment of society.

I hope to join the peace corps with a master program. I pray, alot.. I pray to the lord.. and thank him.

Yet.. I feel sad.. and depressed. Like a rollercoaster. But I know, I need to keep going. and my destiny will soon come.

Best,
Yuri