The interview with Sykes didn't go at all well yesterday. Eglinton youth hostel, Haymarket station and the call centre were all in one direction really, so getting there was easy enough. But the interview with the woman there didn't go so well. I adhered to the truth too much I think, saying I had no telephone experience, felt confident, but couldn't guarantee I'd do well immediately. Too much of a risk for them. Of what was left of the day, I spent most of the time in the youth hostel. If that sounds pathetic, actually it isn't. It's filled to the brim with memories from the student exchanges that led me here in 1993, and my holiday with Marjo in 1999.

Today, I wanted to see more of the city, so I walked down the Royal Mile all the way this time, re-acquainted myself with Holyrood Castle, and for the first time, went up Arthur’s Seat. It's quite bizarre to find a beautiful nature resort in the middle of a city, and to almost see Holland from the top! I had another job interview near the Eglinton hostel though (Rosebery Crescent), so in the end I had to hurry back down the hill and across town. I met with Patrick de Gruyter, a really nice German guy with a Dutch surname, team leader at IntroNet. He explained to me what the company does, why they need a Dutch administrator, and I declared my love for Edinburgh, that I had my talents, and he said he'd give the agency a call. Afterwards I walked back to the hostel via the Water of Leith, which actually cuts quite a deep valley, and got the call from my agency: "you're hired". All that was left to do was get back to the agency before 5pm and get things signed. Had dinner at the PizzaHut again and went to sleep very peacefully.

I got on a train to Amsterdam yesterday afternoon, transferred onto a bus to the coast and onto a DFDS Seaways ferry to Newcastle. Then this morning I got onto another bus which took me to St. Andrews Square in Edinburgh. It's great to be back! At 4 pm I had an appointment with Quantum, and met Laura, a spectacularly beautiful girl by the way. Did a typing test (managed 40 wpm), a technical test and got approved for the role at the Sykes call centre. That is, if I get through the interview there, tomorrow. Had dinner at the Pizza Hut.. I know, yes, it's cowardly not to taste the local spices, but I still have to pinch myself about being in Scotland. So a bit of familiarity is al right by me.

Labels: travel

The Nijmegen youth theatre outfit Teneeter are superb. They can do anything, from basic children's plays (yet interesting for older people) to MacBeth. And it's all fantastic. They're in a bit of financial trouble though, as unfortunately after 25 years they still depend on subsidies. Though they've had that sort of trouble in the past, they might weather it. Today I went to see "Een Reis" (a journey) at their Badhuis theatre (picture below by Henk Kersten), written by an unknown drama graduate and performed by unknown graduates too. As I am writing this a few weeks later (ow naughty), I can't remember any of it actually. Too much have happened since then. One of those things that have happened is that Teneeter stopped performing, shut their theatre and ended it all. The governments, both nationally and locally didn't value it enough I suppose. So this isn't merely the last Teneeter show I ever saw before going to Scotland, it's the last one ever, period. Great.

When I was fired at the Philips factory, I realised that was brought on mainly by my desire to be somewhere else. The work wasn't bad, but it's time to live on my own and get a proper education. College, like. And this time for real. So I thought perhaps living in Scotland would be an option: they do have proper schools, and hopefully I could get a job there before then. It's surprising actually how easy it's been to get considered for a job in Edinburgh. And argh! I'd love to live there! Today I had an appointment on the phone with Laura McPherson of Quantum, a job agency there. She wanted to interview me about a call centre vacancy. The wages are good enough, though I am not sure I am any good on the phone really. I'm not really as sociable on the phone as I am in real life hehe, I get a bit tense and quiet. Anyway, I think I can overcome that. 2001 is off to a really good start, at least. I have a job interview in Edinburgh!

Spent New Year’s Eve at my sister Elf's house, with her son and her boyfriends Stratos. Mightn’t sound like anything special, but it was very cool. Not too chilly outside either actually.