But when I called the guy a week or so later [i.e., last week] since I hadn't heard from him, and told him Judge was excited about this possibility of entering the field of construction, he was a bit taken aback, as he was under the impression that Judge came from within that field already; they aren't really looking for anyone to join their team at the moment, but wanted to meet with him to see if they should take him on anyways (again assuming he was experienced in the field). He said they're pretty busy right now, but that the manager was planning on calling us when it calms down a bit.
I was crushed, any hope of him getting a position there smashed asunder.
I proceeded to post a depressed status update on Facebook (something I never do), and another childhood friend of Pippin's said don't give up hope! Him and another guy - the newly elected head of our village development group - wanted to have coffee with us when he (Pippin's friend) came back from the North Sea to see about work-options. Five minutes later the doorbell rings and lo and behold it is the head of our village development group asking if he can come in for a chat (note: I am pretty positive he did not know anything about my status update).
Turns out at the last group meeting they had discussed the importance of reaching out to families like ours to see if there is anything they can help us with, as they want us to stay - and know that we want to stay but if Judge can't find a job we will have to move.
He suggested Judge apply at the energy company he works for that is located about a 45 min drive from here - and said he can be a reference for Judge (but he'd like to have a cuppa with him or something first so he gets to know him a bit). He suggested applying for the summer temp job there, as well as just send in an open application. He also shared some exciting ideas he has that I see myself as potentially being able to take part in, even if I am not heading back to the workforce just yet.
Then on Thursday I joined a group of kindergarten parents to sit in on a local government meeting that was going to determine the future of the kindergartens here and in the neighboring village (complicated case causing pretty negative discourse between the villages), and I caught a ride with the two guys who we are going to have coffee with and got to discuss a lot with them in the car.
And suddenly we have some really exciting options! I told them that Judge is planning on applying for a language practicant position at the energy company (basically work for free - can get NOK300/day from the government which will cover gas and lunch), so that he can gain experience within the engineering field here in Norway, work with people in Norwegian, expand his network, etc. Totally worth it for us even if it is for no pay for 6 months or so, or until he gets a job around here.
Pippin's childhood friend also gave us some incredibly awesome ideas. Instead of Judge heading back to university to get another Master's degree in two years (if he hasn't gotten a job around here by then) - meaning we would have to move to a city, he could take a vocational certification here through independent study, where this guy could get all the books for Judge to borrow from a friend of his, and then Judge would just have to take the theory tests when he was ready. Once that is complete he could much more easily get an apprentice position, and after two years he'd have Norwegian credentials, making it much easier to get a job here (and since he has a Master's degree already the fact that the credentials are vocational level isn't a drawback in terms of pay grade).
He also suggested Judge send an open application to the local dairy production plant about 30 min. away, where they need process engineers sometimes, so maybe a job there could crop up, and he could work on his accreditation while working...and we could stay here for many years to come.
Judge had also applied for summer jobs in the kitchens at the old folks' home here in the village as well as the other nearby old folks' home (in the village where he takes Norwegian classes). But a classmate of his who also lives in our village and who is related to people who work in the kitchen here has applied the past two years and not gotten a temp position there, so his hopes weren't high.
But last Friday, before we were able to apply to the energy company, we got a contract offer in the mail - no interview or anything, directly to contract, for a summer kitchen spot here in the village.
Hello good fortune!*
*We believe he got the job in the kitchen because this year is the first year the chef-line in the local vocational high school has been shut down. That means previously they had lots of educated trainees to choose from, while this year they do not.
This temp position is pretty much ideal, and I'm so excited about it. His commute is about 30 seconds shorter than when he was working on the production line last winter (assuming he rides the bike), meaning about 5 min or less. This means he doesn't have to take the car - saving time and money commute-wise as well as meaning the car is at my disposal. It means if I need him to come home on short notice - if Cedrik hasn't been born before he starts - it won't take him an extra 30-45 minutes just to get home. And it means he gets to work in a kitchen! Not his dream-restaurant kitchen job (there's one of those about an hour and a half from here, but they probably don't need uncredentialled kitchen assistants either...and we'd have to move there as the commute would be too far) but it gives him experience in a kitchen none the less, a huge dream of his, and best of all it is not long-term, so it gives him a taste without binding him to it longer term.
A while later I told Judge I suddenly felt like anything was possible...felt like we'd be soon notified that we'd won the lottery or something, and he said that he had actually thought we had won the lottery by my reaction when I opened the letter with the contract :P
With spring here, warmer days around the corner, a summer job for Judge, expanding networks, and new avenues to explore, the winter blues have really been expelled from the house. Thank goodness.
.
