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unconventionalsenshi In reply to lilyfairygirl [2011-12-13 01:58:12 +0000 UTC]

thank You! Love your avatar! So romantic and delicate and has SEUSA on it!

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unconventionalsenshi In reply to Gatcha [2011-12-13 01:57:23 +0000 UTC]

lool. They are really not that interesting! but tnx
Hey, how's the language barrier in getting a job in HK? Could you be a waitress for example ? Or work at the grocery store? Or do they expect you to actually know how to speak for such jobs ? Have you tried stuff like that or only English teaching and such? What was your level of their language agan? Can you ask for the price in a stpre by now? just curious... *_*

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Gatcha In reply to unconventionalsenshi [2011-12-13 05:31:22 +0000 UTC]

the language is not really a problem since virtually everyone speaks english. besides, i'm starting to pick up some words. the real problem is the visa thing. you can only apply for one through the employer, and the employer needs to pay some fee. that’s why restaurants, bars, etc would rather hire someone local who doesn't need a visa...besides they'd accept a lower pay. otherwise i'd LOOOVE to work in a bar!! *-* i used to do it in London. i've also worked in stores and in restaurants, so i have experience with that too. bar work is the best and it's lots of fun (not to mention you can always sneak a free drink and people tip a lot XD). i'd love to do it if i could but no one would even look at my CV without a visa.
and besides, as my family says, i need to find a serious "grown-up person" type of job. i'm applying for assistant editor jobs and media-related admin stuff ,both here and in the UK (and even in Bulgaria), so I'm sure something will turn up soon.
otherwise I really have to do some teacher training and be a kindergarten teacher or something (since most people in HK are quite posh, they want all of their kids' teachers to be super qualified, even when it’s just nursery level. o_o)

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unconventionalsenshi In reply to Gatcha [2011-12-13 08:30:16 +0000 UTC]

Hell NO Lady!!! Screw the family (pardon me *_*) I won't let you end up as a babysitter! And screw the 'grown-up job' Bar IS the choice XD lol
I loved the bar when I did it as well (in the UK too )
I do hear you and the HK VISA problem however. Hm....
But wouldn't assistant editor and media stuff require a working VISA as well ? It surely would. I get what you're saying, people don't wanna pay the tax for their employees It sucks but it happens everywhere cuz everyone is trying to make savings, even well-prospering catering spots, restaurants, pubs and so on.
The only thing that comes to my mind is: work *cough* illegaly *cough* for a min wage temporarily and wait till some more serious spot opens up and an employer arises, the one that would be willing to fill out your papers for a working permit and pay what they need.
In any case, is that really affordable to consider applying/looking for a job in the UK or even back home in Bulgaria while you're in Asia right now? I mean, with all the travel costs and so on? And the risk of moving again and then the employer saying: oh, sorry, we don't wanna hire you for longer than a week ... ?
I dunno.
And how is your sis about it? Is she putting up with you staying with her? And how long have you stayed in HK already?
What about the food and living? Is it very expensive? Will you be able to hang out there for much longer withough getting a steady job?
The only thing I don't quite understand is how come they require a VISA if you're already there?? You mean the working VISA, right? And that is set for what? Probably a year or so? And are you on holiday VISA currently? And does it have any expiry date?
Sorry for all the questions I just find it very interesting actually, and I am myself very open to go somewhere abroad quite soon too, so it's good to talk to someone with a knowledle and experience of their own
Btw, Bulgaria is in the EU, right? So you can go freely to stay & work in the UK, without a VISA or even passport? Cuz I could pass the border on ID only and just needed to apply for the National Insurance No
I really like UK, but having the choice I would definately choose Hong Kong over it! It must be so exotic and magnificent and busy... Isn't it?

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Gatcha In reply to unconventionalsenshi [2011-12-14 12:44:09 +0000 UTC]

Oooh, you worked in a bar in the UK too? Where? Why did you leave? *-* Bar work is totally the best, I’m starting to think about it more and more. XD

The thing with the HK visa is a bit funny. When you arrive, you are only allowed to stay for 90 days. Once they are over, you need to go out and come in again and then you get another 90 days. (I managed to do that by going to Macau.) To get an unlimited (work) visa, you need an employer who will sponsor your visa application. If you are applying for a better paid position (like some office job) the employer might be willing to do that. (That’s what happened to my sis.) I was considering illegal work for a while, but since my sis is a lawyer, she won’t let me do it. She was all like “can you imagine what it will mean for my career if they find out my sister is an illegal worker who I keep in my flat?” XD I don’t think anyone will find out (why would they care) but I DO live in her flat so she’s the boss. XD
That’s also one of the reasons I want to go. I am too old to live like this. XD I had a fling with a guy I met, and she kept asking me about it, it’s just…no. XD

As for applying from a distance…yes, it’s a bit risky. If they call me tomorrow and ask me for an interview I’d have to say something like “can we have an interview over the phone” which they might not accept. OTL Technically, I have a ticket to go back home, so I can just change the date but, like you said, it’ll be reeeeally stupid if I return, go for an interview and then get rejected. .___. But when I came here I was planning to look for a job until the end of the year and if nothing comes out of it, to return to Europe. I think I’ll stick to that. XD

What can I say…HK is really nice, it is busy and exotic, and all of those things and I am really, really glad that I got lucky enough to live here for a bit. But it has some problems to. Firstly, the rent is ridiculously expensive, even more so than London. Secondly, you can’t live well on a normal salary - you’d need an above-the-average one to be able to have a good lifestyle, go out, shop, etc. Thirdly, it’s very, very small - compared to London it’s practically tiny, even though it has loads of skyscrapers. Besides, I’ve lived in the UK for nearly 8 years, I do feel it like my home and most of my friends are there. Wherever I go it kind of pulls me back.
Although we’re in the EU, Bulgarians and Romanians are not allowed to work in the UK freely – it’s similar to the rules here – you need to have a job offer if you want to stay longer than 90 days. This doesn’t apply for me though – since I’ve worked in the UK for some time, I got issued a work permit that gives me pretty much the same rights as a British citizen. (Not to mention that my bank account is a UK one, I’m registered with the NHS and so on XD) After having this document for a few years, you are eligible to apply for a British passport, which I consider doing, even though it costs, like, a gazillion pounds just to apply. XD

UK is the best option for me, if I manage to find a normally paid job that will enable me to pay my rent, buy food and repay my student loan. Back when I was doing my BA I used to work at one university’s accommodation office during the summer. It was very boring work but they paid me £1200 a month, which was more than enough. If can find something like that, I’d be fine. (Of course, back then the job market was much more relaxed. ) Bulgaria is also ok, because there I got the advantage of having a degree in media from a good British university, which should technically enable me to find a better paid job in a good organisation… Then again, most jobs in media in Bulgaria are supposedly given to people with connections, so I’m not very sure how good my chances *really* are.

Urgh. I hate job hunting. T-T I love the actual work, but looking for it is just…BLEH. It depresses the hell out of me. XD

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unconventionalsenshi In reply to Gatcha [2011-12-14 23:02:07 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, I get what you're saying Thanks for explainting that all to me

Yup I did some barwork I was a live-in hotel staff for some time It was a very tiny port-town near Ipswich, Suffolk county so not the best choice of place and very boring but I landed out there by a coincidence basically.
I did bar and waitressing when I was in Oxford as well but it was ages ago and on holiday only, I didn't even have proper work permit back tnen

It sucks that Bulgarians can't work in the UK freely yet Glad you're able too though And so great that you lived in the UK for 8 yrs! It must feel like a second home to you
I totally understand that you have to respect your sister's opinion at least while your stuck in her apartment
Oh, and I think what you said about HK is kinda like Japan O.o One also can enter for 90 days just like that but has to leave after that if still on holiday VISA. But funny thing is changing holiday VISA into a working VISA status while in Japan is kinda impossible, one needs to get the paperwork from an employer while there, go back home, apply for a working VISA to the embassy at home, wait till it's issuesd and then they may come back O.o At least that's the case of Polish-Japan VISA relations
Or so I've read

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Gatcha In reply to unconventionalsenshi [2011-12-26 18:10:45 +0000 UTC]

OMG sorry for the late response!! My dad arrived for the holidays so I hadn’t checked my DA in ages.
Anyway, happy holidays!! Hope you’re having a lovely time!
I’ve been to Ipswich, it has a pretty country side. How did you decide to go there? Aren’t most people there British? Or were there foreigners too? Even though I’ve lived in the UK for ages, I’ve stayed the longest in Cambridge and London, both of which are full of foreigners. Most of my friends are foreigners. xD Places that are predominantly British make me a bit nervous. xD
As for the visa thing…Japan seems to be very strict about those things. >_O They even take people’s fingerprints when they cross immigration…I thought that was a bit extreme. ._. It made me feel like a criminal. XD In HK no one really cares. xD I bet it’s easy to find illegal work but my sis won’t budge… >_>

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unconventionalsenshi In reply to Gatcha [2011-12-27 03:38:51 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, happy holidays to you too I've been away off DA myself because I also have family visiting this Christmas
Yeah, I guess majority of my friends were British, apart from the ppl I would work with (cheap foreign labour force )
I didn't choose Suffolk as my original destination. It was more like I had a job offer from there and the rent was extra low so I was like yeah, whatever. I doubt I would willingly settle down in such a rural area permanently though. Unless I really end up being a spinster who takes care of a bunch of stray cats, then that place would be purrfect
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

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unconventionalsenshi In reply to humpadinkhuckleberry [2011-12-02 23:49:09 +0000 UTC]

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humpadinkhuckleberry In reply to unconventionalsenshi [2011-12-02 23:55:23 +0000 UTC]

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unconventionalsenshi In reply to silverwings1986 [2011-11-30 23:05:36 +0000 UTC]

thanks!

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