I called my sister today. She lives in the States and for those of you who don’t know I live in New Zealand. This is completely unimportant except for the fact that when I told her I had been made redundant she had no idea what I was talking about. So I had to explain that I had been laid off. “That sucks.” she said. Ummmm. Yes, it does…but then maybe it doesn’t suck so badly…
In the U.S. when they’re telling you you’ve been laid off it’s usually at the same time they’re handing you a box with your belongings and prying the office keys out of your fingers.
In N.Z. it’s a bit surreal. They tell you you’ve been made redundant without saying the word “redundant” and then tell you you have to work for the next four weeks. Whah? Obviously on one hand this is good. You have four weeks to find work, sort out your finances, and put yourself on a stringent budget. On the other hand it’s just weird to come into the office knowing that in four weeks you won’t be here anymore. You’re sense of purpose has completely disappeared. Your motivation is gone. But by far the worst part is that I am an outcast. No one (except the person who told me my department has been closed down and the only other woman in the office, who just happens to be my friend too) has said anything to me. No one.
Obviously I don’t belong here anymore and this is my opportunity to do something else. I’m not fretting yet. I have ideas. I just need to wrap my head around them and see what happens.
It has to be better than this.
