Congratulations?

I put on Travis' nicest clothes and made my way to the R train into the City. By way of a friendly hookup I had wormed my way into an interview with a pretty professional Temping Agency. This was, of course, after my applications at GAP and Barnes & Noble totally fell through, something that I still find a little hard to believe. Really? All I'm asking to do is fold clothes. I have a Master's in Spanish Literature, I think I can handle it. (Do I sound bitter?)

From the start, the interview itself was more of a "when do you want to start?" situation, which is always pleasant. I took a typing test, a Word test, an Excel test, an Access test -- all to see if I could manage my way around an office without tripping over the computer cords. Apparently I'm okay, although I totally bluffed my way through the Excel test. I left feeling happier about the job situation, but still a little overwhelmed by where I am. It's a mark of how tough a city can be when you tell people you're new to New York and they all say, "Congratulations." When I asked someone why everyone does that, she said "Because it's so traumatic just getting here and surviving that it deserves it's own special recognition." Huh.

Here's to continued survival, I guess.