Gettin' down to business

I had my first job interview today, thanks to Omer (Keren's brother). But I should say: yes, it was a formal job interview with Omer's company, but I wasn't expecting much from it. I'm still primarily interested in forging connections and getting advice about interesting design houses in the area. It's not that Omer's company isn't worth working for, it's just that I wasn't expecting a job as much as I was hoping for some advice about the local scene.

Tel Aviv has been so good for me. Over the last month, my perspective has changed about certain things. Maybe it's that I'm adjusting to the country and culture. Or maybe I'm just learning to take things one day at a time (piano, piano!). But this is the first time I've had to participate in something like a job interview (really it happens anytime I have to talk about myself and my work), where I didn't feel as if my entire sense of self-worth was on the line. Things would still be okay if the interviewer wasn't so into the work, or if my interests diverged from those of the company. I'm still proud of the projects I've worked on, I still think I can work hard, I still think I'm alright at what I do. It's okay if I have to work a little harder to find something I'm happy doing.

Hah -- I still felt really wound up and vulnerable afterward (clearly I'm not one who likes to have to defend themselves and their work, and I still like pleasing others), but it was nothing a glass of wine can't cure.

Somehow though, despite my change of attitude about the consequences of the interview, I still felt compelled to prepare for it and whip up something good to show. Even though it was an opportunity pretty much without strings attached -- I didn't care that they said they weren't looking for designers -- it was still a good dry run, a good kickstart back into thinking about past work I've done, my future here in Israel, and how to integrate the two.

Tomorrow we go to (another!) meal at the Sharons' house. I hear that this time it's a bar-b-que. Can't wait to observe the Israeli grilling technique!