It’s a new day, it’s a new start.

Cheesy Bryan Adams songs aside (no joking, ok? I love the cheese that is Bryan Adams), I decided to start a new blog.  Because, well, the old one was stagnating at best (notice the passive voice – whose fault was that exactly? :)).  But mostly because the service that was hosting it is about to stop doing just that tomorrow.  So yeah, welcome to wordpress, my loyal follower!  I hope we both like it here.

And yes, I did get a new job. I’m now a recruiter at Amnesty International ČR.  I am extremely happy, and yes, proud of myself for getting the job.  It is the first job I even interviewed for, and the first job I got after two years of not working.  I also honestly believe in what Amnesty does, and I am a member myself.  Plus, a flexible schedule, a good pay, and an internationally recognized organization (I believe I gained great experience from my past jobs, but the companies’ names just don’t ring a bell in the States).

As a recruiter, I stand in public places and try to recruit new members for AI.  Yes, membership involves a donation.  So I stand somewhere for hours and address strangers passing by me: “Good morning, sir, are you interested in human rights?”  Most people pick up their pace when they see me.  To those that stop, I explain what AI is, recap the history (keywords: 1977 Nobel Peace Prize! Václav Havel!), present our current campaigns and offer membership.  As you might guess from this description, I deal with a lot of rejection.

Naturally, it’s unpleasant.  However, as an aspiring artist, I think that’s a good thing.  Actually, a lot of things about the job are very beneficial for my future career – like dealing with a lot of different people I don’t know and being pleasant, standing outdoors for a long time, or articulating my thoughts clearly and effectively.