Back to Work!

BY ONEIKA RAYMOND

Living it up in Brussels two weeks ago- oh, the joys of unemployment!



After 7 months of travel and voluntary unemployment, yours truly has rejoined the workforce on a full time basis. That ish cray.


Last Thursday I started working full time again.  I’ve alluded to snagging a job in this post, but never elaborated on how I’d be filling 8 hours of my life every day.  So here’s my job sitch: I’m now teaching full time at a high school in London, covering for a lady who will shortly have a baby and go on maternity leave.

 Over the last two months, I have been doing substitute teaching most days at the same school, filling in for ill or absent teachers.  This substitute teaching opportunity was great in that I slowly got to know the students and school procedures before taking over for the pregnant teacher in question.

But as her due date is fast approaching, the powers that be thought it prudent that her and I start the handover of classes and materials.  So, since last week, I’ve been going in every day and assisting.

The verdict: I love it. But damn, working every day has been EXHAUSTING.
My brain aches from concentrating. My back is sore from all the sitting upright and my thighs scream from ascending and descending staircases between classes.  My voice is thin from overuse– admonishing students to sit down and open their books over and over strains the vocal cords.
Getting up early after 7 months of lolling in bed as I pleased has been severe.  Because I am extremely paranoid and always fear I will sleep through my alarm, my slumber is often fitful, and I wake up frequently and often an hour or two before I am meant to actually get up.

Welcome to the real world! Re-entering the world of work is going to take some getting used to.

Have you ever returned to work or study after a long hiatus? How did you cope?


Psst! Don’t forget to “like” me on Facebook if you haven’t already! Your support is much appreciated!

SHARING IS CARING

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181 Comments

  • Yes yes I have…I generally use it as an opportunity to pick up some better habits than I've had in the past…or try to anyway.

    I hope you're sleeping gets a bit better.

    And YAY for a job! That's always exciting even if it is exhausting.

  • Good luck! I've just started full time in a new role with the same company, as opposed to part time, which I did for the last nine months. I love having more work to fill my days, and my job is really a lot of fun, but I miss sleeping in and napping in the middle of the day and taking leisurely lunch strolls 🙂

  • happy you got a job so quickly, this sounds like my situation in October, yeah for the source of travel money and other luxuries

  • Congrats on the job…hope you catch some rest soon!

  • I have no doubt it's tough, but just think about how you're changing peoples lives!!!!!! Remember to breathe!

  • Good luck, that is rough! Especially for those of us that would rather be traveling 😉

  • Its not the same, but going to school after a break is torture!

  • Congratulations on the new job! I know over time you will be able to get back in the swing of things.

    I feel your pain, though. I'm subbing until I start working full time in the beginning of March. Before I started subbing, I had a lot of time off while looking for jobs. When I first started subbing, I felt exhausted the first couple of months. Sometimes I still feel that way. Like today, I had a rowdy first grade class, and they were wearing me out (I was scolding them a LOT). However, at the end of day, one student ran to hug me and said I was the best teacher ever lol. It's funny how one thing like that can instantly make you feel better 😀

  • Yes, that ish cray indeed.Congrats on your new job. Sounds ideal for you but yes, restarting in the work force kind of sucks. Once you feel more comfortable about your schedule you will be sleeping like a baby. Good luck.

  • Congrats on the new job!

    I started working full time in June, after a 6 year hiatus (grad school). It was SUCH an adjustment…I'm still trying to get used to getting up at 5:30 a.m. and having to look "professional" 5 days a week…I miss my sweats and snow boots…:(

  • It's hard to get back to working full time. I worked part time for 6 months while I finished my Master's and it was hard to adjust again. The days feel long – i usually work 9-10 hrs to take half friday off. I'm not a morning person so I dont think I will ever want to get out of bed. Working all day is exhausting so if you find a way to get your energy up let me know! and good luck 🙂

  • Congrats. Not working was fun for the first week for me after that I got a little bored. Although if I was in other country I would have enjoyed it more! I not going to lie I miss spending hours in the coffee shop and taking naps, and all the reading I got done.

  • Girl, do I know your pain! I returned to the U.S. July of 2010 after serving in the Peace Corps and living in Panama for 27 months. Immediately after Pma I traveled to Colombia for a month, made a trip to California and then….dun-dun-dunnnn…returned to work stateside. To make things difficult, I went from lounging and getting up when I wanted to having to arise at 5AM!! Now that ish cray! So I understand. But it's good to not be poor and nice to be back in the U.S. But, you know that won't be for very long. Wanderlust is a curious thing, isn't it?

  • I hate that feeling of coming back from a long holiday and then trying to get back to your usual schedule. I typically take a month off during the summer to go back to the states to see family and friends. Coming back to Japan and waking up at 6AM to get ready for work is seriously the worst thing ever!

    Good luck with the new job!

  • Oh, you poor thing but yay! for snagging a job. You make it sound easy but I know they were just blown away by you. I hope it gets easier and A LOT less exhausting.

    Enjoy Paris this weekend!

  • Ohhhh I know and I dread this feeling! I'm just about to do the same thing after about 5 months of not having to work… and I'm dreading it! It's just difficult to have your schedule be your own and then to have to do things on someone else's time… Anyway, I feel you!

  • I had the same symptoms when I went back to work :
    * headaches
    * That "I need to go back to sleep now" feeling
    * Aches in my legs!!

    But, glad you have a job!

    Are you working at an International or American school? Or local London school?

  • Ick! It's been…let's see…4 months since I left the classroom and I can't even IMAGINE going back.

    So you get PROPS for that. i think I'd just about freak the eff out if I had to go back to teaching teens again, but I know that sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. You've made the last 7 months pretty GREAT, so you can't be mad at that.

    Wear comfy shoes. Drink tea. And try to rest…you'll get into the routine pretty soon.

  • I go through this at the end of every summer, Winter break and Spring break. The first two weeks I get sick,usually a cold because my resistance has to build up a bit. Then, I get a sore throat from talking all day, and I am usually exhausted at the end of the day, and my sleep is usually interrupted because of paranoia…what if I get that one crazy student that nobody warned me about first hand…

  • I go through this at the end of every summer, Winter break and Spring break. The first two weeks I get sick,usually a cold because my resistance has to build up a bit. Then, I get a sore throat from talking all day, and I am usually exhausted at the end of the day, and my sleep is usually interrupted because of paranoia…what if I get that one crazy student that nobody warned me about first hand…

  • I remember how EXHAUSTED I was when I first started working. I'm sure you'll get back into the routine soon though!

  • Yup, I'm working for my husband and while that sounds like a dream — I get paid to travel and I pick the hotels we stay in, etc. — he is SERIOUS. It's been a little challenging, too, as we work from home where my favourite distraction (the idiot box) lives. But hey, I gotta pay for the new shoes/dress/jacket somehow, right?

  • I'm a professor so I'm off all of the summer, most of Dec and all of January. It can be tough getting back into the swing of things. Hang in there!

  • A. I love Brussels.
    B. You're adorable.
    C. I always say that if I ever have to go back to the "real world" I'd be screwed. It wouldn't even be going back. I've never had a real job! I don't know how I'd deal, I'd probably get an ulcer from the stress. Good luck!

  • I have returned to work after a long break, and it's always hard! I try to get into a routine quickly so that it's easier to focus and get work done.

  • Psshh I don't need an extended vacation to make me allergic to work. I went to Rome for only a week and returned 3 weeks ago. I am still rolling into work at 10am. I am on the fast track to getting fired…

  • Let's see… I quit my last real job a couple years ago and have thus far succeeded in scraping out an income here and there from the comforts on whatever home I have, at hours I mostly get to choose, sometimes wearing pajamas.

    A slumbering anxiety is the constant threat that I will have to submit to some form of legitimate employment, show up some place at proscribed hours and feign civility towards people who probably don't merit such behavior. I would sleep through my alarm, be constantly late, argue with supposed superiors and probably get fired for punching an idiot in the face.

    I recommend you quickly drop back out of the labor force and skulk under the radar gleaning shillings through travels and telling people about them. Life is exhausting enough without the requirements of formal servitude.

  • Congrats on the new job!! but being in Europe you will definitely still get the opportunity to travel a lot!!

  • I understand. Even though I'm a freelance work-at-home mom, when I started working/writing/traveling regularly, I couldn't believe how exhausting it was. But, hey, we are women. Here us roar! Good luck!

  • Yep!!!! Between working at the women's shelter and then going to ireland – no working then. And i had a month between my return to Chatham and starting at Goodwill. Waking up is hard to do!
    It was even more difficult this time around as I was off from the end of July and didn't start my job with Greenwich until the 10 January… yikes! that was REALLY hard!

  • @deidre: That's admirable that you try to change your habits. I try to start off with a clean slate myself, lol!

    @Lindsay: I know! I find that I have so little time to laze around now that I'm working!

    @kimvan: It's DEFINITELY a blessing to have more cash to line my pockets and pay for trips!

    @Deej: It's been go go go for the last little bit, I must admit! Hopefully in a few weeks I'll get back into the groove and have a bit more down time!

    @Andi: Thanks for the lovely words, it's kinda cool to think I may be having some sort of impact on the kids!

    @Ashley: I know, right?!

    @liveletlive: I think that work and school are very much the same! Except that you don't get paid in school… At least most of the time!

    @Afromorena: Wow! Our situations are so similar! I feel you on the students wearing you down part! It's so lovely when they show appreciation, though! Must be so cute to teach little kiddies! The youngest I have are in grade 6!

    @Rhona: Thanks for the congrats! Things are sure to settle down (I hope!) in a few weeks!!

    @Mae: Congrats to you! I am also struggling with the concept of have to dress professionally 5 days of the week! It has been a great excuse to go shopping though… LOL

    @catae: I hate waking up, but once I'm out of bed I am chipper as anything! I guess you could say I'm a morning person. 🙂

    @B: Having a job now has impacted my free time greatly! Now I barely have time to lie around in bed, what a shame!!!

    @kvowels: What a cool opportunity you've had! Consider having to get up at 5am payback for such a great experience LOL!

    @Diana: I think that summer vacay is a blessing and a curse for teachers. Coming back to work after 4 + weeks off is devastating!

    @Emm: Thanks for your kind words! I don't know if they were blown away with me but I think they like me 🙂

    @Erika: Good luck on your upcoming transition! It kinda sucks not having as much free time, but at least you get paid!

    @speakingtall: I'm working at an international school in London! It's cool because the students are literally from everywhere.

    @Britni: I had to laugh when I read your comment- I'm remembering the convo we had about teaching when you were here visiting! Jokes! You are doing the damn thing writing wise, though, I envy you!

    @Dee: Yikes! I can say that I usually don't get sick when I return to work- and hope not to! Poor you!

    @Emily: I think I will!

    @Tanya: LOL @ hubby cracking the whip! I am *certain* that you are a model employee, though!! 😉

    @Nic: You feel my pain! But I am jealous of you because you get more time off and work with older students.. 😉 Thanks for the comment!

    @Kyle: You are lucky that you get to work for yourself! But you are so talented and such a good businesswoman that I really couldn't see you having it any other way! That being said, if you could find a job that would keep you in London… I'd be all for that! 😉

    @Lady: You are so diligent and organized that I can't imagine you having any difficulties getting back into the swing of things!

    @Anon: OMG lol!! You are amazing!

    @legrandezombie: You don't know how much I always look forward to your well-crafted comments, they are just too witty for words! One day I would love to live off of my ramblings and travel tales but for now I will continue to work under "the man" and collect my paycheck every month! 😉

    @Mrs Pancakes: Thanks! That's the upside to being here 😉

    @Monique: Indeed, hear us roar! As difficult as it is to get back into a routine, I'm actually kind of glad for it- I was turning into a sloth!

    @withinireland: Don't you just wish we were all independently wealthy and didn't have to work (or at least could choose the conditions under which we work?!

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