I'll laugh...

I sent a message to the "generic e-mail" requesting information on a very important payment that HAD to be done on April 21st (else we would lose our reservations for a very popular venue for THE main training of the year!)...
this was back on Tuesday....on Thursday, I called accounting directly and got the information from them (this is against procedure!) that the deposit was already authorized and would go through...Now, my message stated very clearly that we were at risk of losing the venue, right??...guess when they answered me...I got a message on MONDAY AFTERNOON, asking me to provide the invoice number so they could check on the status of payment...
If I had waited, that would have been too late!! ((sigh))...and then they wonder why we (my unit) never follow procedures!! (We'd never get anything done!!)

we ordered a laptop on Feb 19th...supposed to arrive here on April 05....we are still waiting...apparently, they requested the cheque to clear customs on Arpil 10th...and it still hasn't been issued...
what bugs me is this: they implemented this new e-procurement system so that things go more fluently, but, in reality, what it means is I cannot ask a live human being about my purchase orders because I get barked at to: CHECK THE SYSTEM or Contact the (generic) email address...so, NO ONE IS REALLY ACCOUNTABLE!...Can you tell I hate it??

I sent an email (no phone # provided) to Supplier Assistance this morning, and, still haven't received an answer!!!...I'm all for new systems and stuff like that, as long as it DOES mean an improvement....as it is, I feel the only thing this new system does is prevent me from actually calling someone to push this order!!...

((sigh))...And I still have another order for 2 more laptops that are supposed to arrive on May 5!!

...I just got a phone call from the reception desk...someone turned in an annual pass card that belongs to one of our directors (allows them to "purchase" tickets without having to consult HR)...this is his new card (2006-2007), which I gave him less than 1 hour ago!!!! ((patience))

so...I'm back at work...processing payments...and travel expenses!

...documents for MORE travel expenses!!...Just when I thought I was done with them until after the Holidays!!

Once Travel Control starts sending the "Post trip # 000000 has been approved" messages, everyone wants to know which trip they're getting paid for and how much....BUT, they want ME to figure it out!! ...

And, unfortunately, that has been my main occupation yesterday and today...I particularly hate those with multiple destinations and multiple rates of exchange...I feel a little light-headed already!....(processed 7, 4 to go!)...or maybe I just need a sugar boost!...

will run to the supermarket downstairs and buy a banana or something like that!

someone left a comment asking for my resume...I commented this to my boss and, I thought he had somehow asked IT to block my access!! ha,ha,ha,ha!

...now you know why conspiracy theories are so popular! (because we are all paranoid to a certain degree!)

Wow...they just sent me a presentation to translate for upcoming trainings...we do them in English and all our trainings are in English, but, if we want to reach all levels in the organization, we need to translate the materials so that HR can give the trainings to the whole company....this is 1 out of 3(trainings) that need to be translated...This presentation alone is 89 slides!!!....and it has like 8 handouts!! ((faint))

today at work I was invited to a meeting. Since I cannot tell you what it was about, suffice it to say that it was a working meeting -not a general one- and not for the training team...
I know I wasn't there to take notes...
so, I still don't know what the purpose of INVITING me was...

Unsolved mysteries!

I've been working like crazy and I still didn't finish even half of what I needed to do...the good thing is, I finished with the most important things, at least!...tomorrow I get another chance to catch up with work! LOL!...have to find something that I can do in 10 minutes before leaving for the school...hmmmmm

I got the package - turned out to be an envelope!, and left the documents at the Ministry. I called a school ref info for enrollment and have a meeting with the principal tomorrow (HAVE to look into this!)- I called the Ministry of Education ref teaching accreditation, definetely a no-go unless you have your diploma...hmmmm... found the website for the university I attended...turns out now you can do a lot of stuff on line...for other things, though, you have to go there!...they also don't list the courses on line, so I'd have to go there and get a list of the courses required to graduate nowadays (the plan is probably different, if it isn't, all I need to do is make my social hours - translations, maybe? and I'm set!)...if the plan is different, it might require going back for a course or two...or taking a test! ...depending on what the courses are, this would be a good option...
All this and it's still 2:26 here!....Oh, and I graded the listening comprehension/structure part of the English tests!...still have to do that pivot table for the modules feedback... (waiting on 1 overall final survey to update the presentation, though)..
Not bad, not bad at all!

I have a car (my sis is out of the country and I can use her car today and tomorrow, yay!), so I'll go drop off some documents for one of our trainers, pick up some mail that has arrived for one of our PM's, drop off a letter for one of the directors (yes, I also run errands on occasion!...but, if I leave these things with General Services, it takes about a week...I can do them in just one day!)...I've finally finished inputting all the data from the feedback forms from our training, so all I have to do now is the pivot table and update the presentation, so that can be ready for Friday (I promised it for next MOnday, so...I'll do that this afternoon)
I left the documents for my loan application for the car at the bank yesterday, so I have to remember to call the sales rep and see if the preliminary investigation is ok (they do a credit pull)...then I can either relax or go back to fretting about it! LOL!...
I also have to call the Ministry of Education (they wrote back "please call this number") to see what can be done about accreditation...OK, break's over, back to life!

I went to the interview yesterday...I feel it went ok...as stated before, maybe the things I had against me were: my divorce, the fact that DD's father is not involved in her life (it came up), the fact that I'm not actively involved in the Catholic church (it came up, too, although, at least I mentioned Ale is going to weekly meetings!)...we'll see. I think the interviewer liked me (she kept looking at me while asking me the church things as if pleading: PLEASE say you're active!)...
The things that might weigh in my favor are: I have this wonderful (true!) teaching story about helping a child realize he wasn't "stupid" as everyone said he was, and about being able to stand for himself against a group of teasers after that! (it IS my proudest moment as a teacher!), also the fact that I'm concerned about DD's education and want to spend more time with her...and the fact that, at least we are TRYING to be closer to the church...she said they'd let me know in a couple of days whether I need to come in for tests and more interviews...it's really in God's hands now!

We can scratch them off the list!...they don't offer work by the hour, only full time or part time...part time being from 2-9 on weekdays and 8-2 on Saturdays...not convenient!
And, although they didn't mention how much they paid full time teachers, they did say it was less than what I'm currently making...so, again, not convenient!
Oh, well, it was worth a try!

I just filled out an on-line job application for another school...continuing with my "evil scheme" of getting myself hired and asking for a discount in tuition...lol!...
at least, it feels good to be doing something about my present situation!

sent out 2 more resumes: 1 to Berlitz and one for another call center...figure these would be ideal "additional" jobs to supplement my income, either here or at the school if I get the job...Depending on what they pay...the current language school is paying me $5.75/hour...if any of these offer the same hours @ a better rate... I have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain! right??

According to our agreement, I told my boss (the director) about the job interview today...he said: oh, if you leave school at 3, then perhaps you could come here from 4 to 6, or 7, and continue to work part time with us...so, that means they really value my job....which makes me even madder to think that, if I'm so good, they still haven't found a way to give me a raise! ...and my boss (the VP) is out sick...in the hospital, actually! ((sigh))...there goes my chance of finding out this week!

The person who is going to interview me is not available on Monday at 4pm, so they rescheduled it for Tuesday...
I{m really getting excited about this!!
Can you imagine?? Even if I don't have DD at the same school, I could go home after work and help her with homework, play a while and then go to the other school for my lessons (I need the money!)

They (the school) wrote almost immediately!!!
they want to interview me on MOnday!!! (i'm trying to change the time from 4:30 to 4:00, though, to make sure I arrive on time at the other school for my English lessons!)

::HAPPY DANCE::

Ok, I sent in my application...I know if they are truly as deeply Catholic as they are said to be, a couple of things there will stand out...still, the worse that can happen is that they won't hire me...

Now, I was thinking (because another friend now has been asking around and told me that the friend of a friend - small city!- works there, and that she gets 50% off the tuition for her second kid, but that has to pay full for the eldest...)...what would I do if they did offer me the same salary as here, but NOT offered Ale's tuition??...or offered only half, which is still astronomical -imo- as the FULL tuition is ~$4K/year, plus the admittance bonus which is almost $2K!!....
You know what? I'd probably take it anyway! (I just wouldn't send my daughter there!)...I mean, the working hours would be infinitely better (say 7:30- 3 - let's say to 4) as opposed to 8-6...I'd still be able to find a second job, say from 5-7 and would be able to spend more time with Ale...

Dreams are free, aren't they??

I'm stressed and decided to connect to one of my best friends through the messenger...she was in the shower, and I got her youngest kid! LOL! good thing I always start with: are you there??...
Anyway, checking my email, there was an answer from the school!!!....they received my resume and sent me an application form to fill...now I'm confused...there's a field that states:
civil marriage: YES / NO
religious marriage: YES/NO

...now, technically speaking, I should answer NO and YES...but, legally, that is sort of impossible (unless you are divorced, the way I am!)... I'll be honest, though, because nothing good ever came from lying, right??...and, if they are the sort of school who will not have a divorcee, I don't want to work there and I don't want my daughter there! (oh, and, in case I haven{t mentioned this before: no, my daughter is not my ex-husband's...I think I HAVE said that before!!)
Oh, well...since I have to sign the form, I'll fill it out/print it at the office, because I have a scanner there and so could send it in tomorrow!!

wish me luck!!

Since there's nothing to do - at the time!- about the issues in my last posting, I decided to do SOMETHING that might result in more money....I send an email to the Ministry of Education asking how I can become certified (even if you graduated as a teacher, you still have to go to them for tests/certification and, as far as I knew, you didn't necessarily HAVE to be a college graduate to be certified, as long as you could pass the tests!....but, all this is hearsay, so, today I asked!!) ...of course, the bad thing is, now I have to WAIT to hear from them! LOL!

I've posted before about this: I hate waiting...I particularly hate waiting when the "ball" is in someone else's court...
Right now, I haven't been able to even file the documents for the loan because the admin at my sister's office hasn't issued it...not much I can do about that!...I have to WAIT!

I keep checking my email obsessively just to see if there are any responses...not yet, and, it really is too soon for a follow up email just yet!...what can I do?? WAIT!

I'm pending a follow-up meeting with my boss ref the reclassification (or not!) of my job...I already sent him the file detailing all that I do, but, the other admin hasn't (I expect he'll try to kill two birds with one stone here, as he said he wanted to get the file so he could study it and then have a chat with us about it)...I even started it for her so all she has to do is fill out the hours!!!...so, I have to WAIT ...on top of that, he's been training outside the office, so I know he's baglogged AND he called in sick yesterday (there's a nasty bug going around, I've had 1 PM in the hospital!)...so, again, what can I really do about it?? WAIT!...I have to give him a week at least to get up to speed!...

...I was checking and, I still haven't reeived any answers from the companies where I submitted resumes 15 days ago...

This really depresses me....

and stresses me out....

I'm starting to feel that knot in my throat again...the one I had when my parents were still alive, and money problems were really serious....I feel like I'm slipping into the dark hole of debt again...I REALLY don't want to go there...

One for a teaching position, and one for a call center...now, the website for the call center was announcing $12/hour, but, I'm not sure if that is what they are charging to the companies that use the call center or if that is what they're paying the agents...I guess I'll have to wait until I hear from them!!...I was thinking, if they pay $6/hour, a full time would pay ~$960/month (slightly more than what I'm currently making)..but, if it were $12/hour, a full time would pay me 2x what I'm making!!....I don't want to get too hopeful, though!

*************
Just came back from Xerox, across the street. Needed to sign some invoices. I asked the cashier - with whom we have a good working relationship - whether they get requests for translations...she said it's not frequent, but sometimes people do ask. She promised to call me if she gets any requests for translations...so that's another "line" I'm throwing...

I sent out 2 resumes today (one just an "update" to a placement agency, another one in answer to an ad for an HR assistant)...I also saw one requesting English teachers...need to work on a cover letter for that one, but will be preparing it tomorrow (it has to be sent via snail mail to the newspaper!)...

I overheard a conversation the other day that REALLY bothered me...two people from my area were discussing the monthly bonus all employees get, and one of them said: but, people don't look at it as a bonus anymore, they consider it part of their salaries...
Now, people in my area do NOT talk idly, if this was mentioned, it's probably because the bonus is "in danger"...most probably, they want to change the way it is calculated, so that we only get it (or only get it IN FULL) if the whole company reaches its goals for a given month...hey, I think it's a neat idea...but, if this is done, it will probably go down for at least 6 months...and I cannot afford to lose any income! So...now I have extra motivation to keep looking!!

****
I also sent a reminder to all my contacts ref: translations!

hmmmm....I just helped a very good friend of mine to send me a Word document...first time she ever did that! ...
I have been thinking about call centers a lot lately (mostly, about the Dell call center down the street!)...while it wouldn't be wise to switch jobs to go there (they pay less than what I make here!), it would perhaps be a good idea to see if they have some hours available (I recently saw an ad for another call center that advertised "flexible, customized" hours)...If they pay more than the English lessons, it would be worth changing and going to work for them instead of for the school...I have saved the number, so I'll give them a call today after lunch and see ....what's the worst that can happen? they will not have convenient hours or they will pay less, in which case, I'm ok the way it is OR, they'll have the hours and pay more!!!...

I have to try to schedule a follow-up meeting with my boss regarding the raise/re-classification of my job position....I know HR is going nuts right now with the re-organization and the new systems they've put in place, but, honestly, I cannot wait for them to finish to bring this up...plus, I want my boss to know that this is still on my mind!

the VP asked the other admin and myself to give him a detailed list of all that we do, plus approximate time we dedicate to those tasks each week...thought it would be interesting to post it here:

item avg hours/week
Training logistics -major trainings/ preparation 15
Training logistics -minor trainings/ preparation 6
Training Logistics - assisting other depts 1
Training logistics -major trainings/ feedback data input 10
Training logistics -minor trainings/ feedback data input 9
Training logistics -major & minor trainings/ sorting left-over materials 5
Training Logistics - assisting other depts 1
Training Logistics - process payments for suppliers 2.5
Procurement-Purchasing requisitions 2
Procurement-receipt of purchases 2
Travel- COBUS- pretrip - Directors 2.5
Travel- COBUS- post-trip- Directors 6
Travel-COBUS- bookings/transp- managers 1
Travel-COBUS- bookings/Hotels- managers 1
Travel- COBUS- pretrip - managers 2
Travel- COBUS- post-trip- managers 4
Travel-COBUS- bookings/transp- analysts 1
Travel-COBUS- bookings/Hotels- analysts 1
Travel- COBUS- pretrip - analysts 1
Travel- COBUS- post-trip - analysts 1
Travel-PERSONAL- reimbursement requests- Directors 1
Travel-PERSONAL- bookings/transp-Managers 1
Travel-PERSONAL- bookings/Hotel-Managers 1
Travel-PERSONAL- reimbursement requests- Managers 2
Houses- PAYMENTS- utilities 3
Houses- PAYMENTS- domestic employees 4
Houses- ADMIN- general 3
Filing 1
Personal errands- VH 2
Personal errands- Directors 2
Personal errands- Managers 2
Cars- maintenance- general 2
General- problem solving 2
Translations- SDG 2
Translations- other depts 1

Of course, I don't do ALL things every week...but, this gives you an idea of what my days look like...and I still find the time to log on! LOL!

I don't know what he wants this for...hopefully it's to see if he can get HR to give us raises (yeah, right!- most probably to see if they can add a few things!)

I went to another job-search site and found a couple of interesting postings...
interesting as in I can apply and the $$ is more than I currently make!...the most promising one is for an Admin Assistant for the President of a multi-national company, paying $1,300-$2,000 based on the experience/ qualifications...keep your fingers crossed!
I soooo need a job that pays more....and I soooo DESERVE a job that pays more!!!