Tag Archives: work experience

So I’ve made a REDICULOUS decision and taken a job in Ottawa for a year.
There.
I said it.
I’m leaving Toronto to go to Ottawa for a year.
My contract at York ended last week, and I’ve been busy trying to figure out what to do with my life. As it ends up unemployment rules big time, but I’m told it isn’t a sustainable life plan. I’ve been doing lots of yoga, and balcony gardening, and hanging out with friends. But there’s no librarian-ing in my daily coming’s and going’s, so what good is that???

So, to Ottawa I go. The job is going to rule big-time. I’m a Management Librarian at the University of Ottawa’s business school (recall: this is my job at York, plus French. And a delightful downtown campus. And a canal. This is why it’s going to rule big time). I’m very excited to start, and I think it’s going to be absolutely wonderful professional experience. And already having a year’s experience under my belt makes all the difference. I know what I’m going to work on in terms of subject specialization (Oh hai financial data! I’ve been ignoring you for the last year, but it’s time we went out on a date and got to know each other), teaching (and the general insanity that accompanies September and October), where I want to contribute to committee work, and where I want to focus on my research. It’s amazing how professional experience makes you better at your job! Crazy, eh??

The rediculous part of all of this is:

1) I’ve turned into a huge Toronto jerk over the last three years, and Toronto jerks never leave Toronto, unless it’s to go to the cottage. I will have to watch my tongue in Ottawa, and not start any statements with, “Oh really? You don’t have that here? Because in Toronto….”.
I love Ottawa lots too. It’s a beautiful town, with lots of patios and bike paths and good friends of mine – I just don’t want to alienate the locals.

2) Listening to me speak French hurts my ears. I used to rock the French language in a big way. Quebeckers used to ask me what part of Quebec I was from. I was the REAL DEAL. But that was ten years ago, and now it sounds like I’m just mangling the language every time I open my mouth. I’m going to work hard over the next year to rectify this, because I have to teach instructional workshops in French! Oh mon dieu. My interview was half in French, and I could literally feel the sweat dripping down my back as I was answering those questions. I’m hoping this will better better with time, because being extremely sweaty for year is not appealling to me, or my wardrobe.

3) I’m taking on two rents. It’s like I have a pied-a-terre in Ottawa, without the income bracket or executive position that justifies a pied-a-terre. I wonder how my future boss would feel about me sleeping in my office for the year… ? I could shower at the athletic centre…

As I get more used to the idea of moving, I’m getting more excited at the prospect of getting started with work, and getting to know a new group of (likely fabulous) co-workers, faculty, and students. Is it weird to call your future employee ahead of time and ask which committees have openings? Yes? M’kay, just checking.