At the beginning of March I wrote a blog post asking for help finding work. I received a lot of awesome responses and help structuring my CV, Cover letters, and even a few smaller freelance jobs out of it. Thanks so much for your help, Internet! You really are the best ever.
I have a job now, and quite a different one to what I was expecting. I’m working as a sushi assistant at Midori Sushi on Willis st. I handed in my CV there in November but heard nothing from them until now. I was kept on file because the daughters of the owner wanted to meet me since I was an artist! I believe that this is officially the cutest way to get a job.
It’s quite intense work that requires a lot of focus and stamina. There is a lot to do and remember, and it all has to be done exactly the right way. I’m finding the transition into work quite unusual (because I’ve been unwell since before graduating, I haven’t ever had a normal job), but at the same time really rewarding and motivating. I’m enjoying things like mornings, serving customers and having many small tasks to focus on. The morning routine becomes almost meditative.
I love that the job is incredibly Japanese. Behind the counter everyone speaks Japanese, which has improved my listening comprehension unbelievably. I feel like I’ve stepped into Japan when I get to work, and only clues like the voltage transformers bolted to the walls and the chicken sushi give away that we are actually still in New Zealand. I could write so much on this weird transplanting of Japan overtop of New Zealand.
This is the Nigiri machine. I love how it proclaims it has the TOP Power of rice!
My work has to be both quick and presentable. If I focus more on one I get told off for the other. The only way to improve at this is for me to gain experience. Every day I improve a bit more, and every day I forget something different. I work with really lovely people. While they’re strict, they’re also understanding.
The downside of having this job is I’m being pulled away from my creative projects. The Otherwalls feels a bit forgotten, and preparing for Armageddon and Craft 2.0 feels like an uphill mission.
I’m hoping once my hours settle and I get better at my work that I will be able to claim back some of my brain power to use for creating. At the moment I’m running on a mix of sushi and the pop radio we listen to while we work. I love the sushi, but the radio makes me feel musically malnourished. Still, if the radio is the only thing that I don’t like about my job, I guess I’m doing pretty well!