Getting home

[Eireann]

Okay, everyone.

I've applied for every damn job that looked like I could do it, and even a few where I didn't really meet the qualifications. A few organizations have contacted me, too.

So far? Nothing. Zero.

I'm going to apply for unemployment benefits on Monday (yes, I can do that).

My cousin suggested a fundraiser to get me back home. I think this is a good idea. I'd like to get your input. Just asking people for money is hard for me. It seems to me - and, here, I'd like your input - that when people give money, they'd like to get something back; something more than "Thanks!"

What's the best kind of fundraiser to have? A raffle? Goodies from Prague? Something else?

Your ideas are welcome.

[Mikkel]

Couldn't you get a job as guide or something like that? That's one place where your speaking good English and some Czech would be an advantage.

Both a raffle for some goodies from Prague and guaranteed goodies would be a good idea. You are right. The money will come in faster if people get something for their money. Marionettes and crystal glass? Or beer?

[Eireann]

I've already tried getting a job as a guide. In one case, the conditions were horrifying. It seemed like a good place to work at first, and the guy really talked the company up, but it came down to this:

All guides for this company start by working a certain tour. Let's say that there are 15 people on the tour. Another company employee counts the number of people, and gives each person a ticket. At the end of the tour, if anyone wants to go on another tour, s/he hands in the ticket, so the company knows that the guide was good enough to make the person want to experience another tour.

This particular tour, the one that is the jumping-off point for all new guides, is free. That's why it appeals to people. But it doesn't always appeal to them all the way through. It's free, so they don't necessarily feel that they have to stay with it. And, sometimes, they don't.

All to the misfortune of the tour guide, because, you see, the tour guide has to pay the company for each tourist in the group! The guide can only hope to make up the money in tips at the end of the tour. And even if someone drops out of the tour, the number of people is counted at the beginning, so the tour guide has to pay anyway. The company tells you encouragingly that other people can join the tour along the way, and you don't have to pay for them, but I doubt that this happens often.

So, since I refuse to pay a company for the dubious honor of working for it, I dropped that idea.

I tried another company, but the agreement I was expected to sign gave a truly horrifying amount that I would have to pay if I breached the conditions, and since I don't have that kind of money, I declined.

So, maybe a raffle. What would interest people the most?

[Mikkel]

So, since I refuse to pay a company for the dubious honor of working for it, I dropped that idea.

I should think so. I wonder if that is even legal. It sounds like a way of cheating students who doesn't know their rights.

[Eireann]

It seems to be legal, unfortunately. This tour company has tours throughout Europe. I think somebody would have kicked up a fuss by now if it weren't legal - and I discussed it with an acquaintance who is a lawyer, and he didn't say anything about the legality (just that it was an extremely unfair practice).

[Rapscallion]

I'm going to apply for unemployment benefits on Monday (yes, I can do that).

Can that be backdated at all? I've heard that in the UK if you find out that you qualify for a benefit, and if you should have had it for some time previous, you can often get it from the last few months as well. May be worth asking about.

Rapscallion

[Eireann]

It's not retroactive. It's contingent upon me suspending my business license. After I do that, I'm eligible.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Eireann, this might be useless to you, but I want to put this here, just so you know it anyway: you're in my thoughts and prayers. I am sending positive 'vibes' your way... and I do hope things straighten out. :|
EDIT: 'stuff from Prague' sounds awesome, but, if the Ukraine is like most countries, there's going to be a tax of some sort, possibly a lot because of 'commercial' shipping or rot. /downer

[Eireann]

Prague isn't in the Ukraine; it's the capital of the Czech Republic. It's famous for its crystal (which is HORRIBLY expensive, by any but the richest standards), and beer. Oh, and hockey.

And beads. Beads!

I don't think there's anything to worry about with shipping prizes. I've sent many a gift from here over the years, and no surcharges were ever applied.

So. Everyone. Shall we try it? Shall I buy some tickets, and earmark them for various people, for a drawing at a later date? I do have PayPal, so money can be sent to me immediately. For prizes, right now I have many unique mounted and matted photos that would grace any room (though be warned; some of them are pictures of skulls).

If we can get enough interested people - if you can tell your friends, anyone you think might be willing to help - I'm sure that this can happen.

And, tbc - thank you so much for your positive vibes!

[teh_blumchenkinder]

... uh... I knew that!
(I mean, seriously, National Geography State qualifier both times I could go, the internet, three shiny actual print atlases... honestly... I blame insomnia.)

[AdminAssistant]

My friend who studies Ukrainian and has spent summers in Lviv would be peeved if I didn't remind people that it's just Ukraine. As she says, "You don't go to the Canada or the France."

Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

[Eireann]

I do not know what to do.

I've been approved for unemployment. The benefit? A pittance. It's not enough to pay my rent, not enough to cover most of my rent, not enough to show to my landlady for a good laugh. It's not even enough to cover other living costs. It's nothing. They might as well have just given me a good, hard slap in the face. That's how little it is.

I used to wonder what it would be like to be homeless. Now, I'm on the verge of finding out. And I'm not kidding. I've been packing up my stuff this evening, throwing out things, putting other things aside to give away or recycle, and panicking. If I could go home tomorrow, I'd do it. I was talking to a very sweet friend of mine today who said, "When I've got the money, I'm going to fuck off out of here."

He's a restaurant owner, and when I came in (recovering from a cold) and he heard my voice, he set me up with some fresh ginger tea with honey and let me have at it. I ended up staying there for some time.

I do not know why things happened the way they did. I could have gone home last summer, but I thought I had a job. And then it fell through. Then I thought I had another job. And then it fell through. And then I thought I had something good lined up.

And it fell through.

All these hopes dashed, all that money spent, and nothing coming in. And now the unemployment office has let me know how much it thinks my life is worth.

I can't take any more of this.

[TheSHAD0W]

Uhm.

See if you can get yourself deported?

[surreal20]

One of the better options is to put up a link in your signature for a "donation" button through paypal. Most people have paypal these days, and this way it's secure and it goes into something that you can keep track of easy enough.

Since so many people here are trying to be as supportive as they can, you might find that it's a good option.

yes, if people get items it would probably bring in a bit more money. But the real issue is, if you get money from them, you have to go and spend some of that money to get them something as a gift. So therefor, you may end up as even, because of shipping and what not.

Try this first. Even if one person donates a dollar, if you have the whole population of CS or even a small portion, that's the beginning!

I know that if you started a thread that simply said something along the lines of "if you find it in your heart or wallet to help me go home, please hit the donation button in my signature." I would deffinately sind you something.

This way it's secure, safe, and you or I can't get any personal info from it, other than what is NEEDED through paypal to work.

"Do or do not. there is no try."

[Eireann]

That's EXTREMELY kind of you!

However, this isn't my site, and I don't want to step on any toes by doing something like that. Once that sort of precedent was started, where might it end?

I just - I really don't know what to do. At all.