I am not an employment office
A couple of days ago, I got a message from this girl on my facebook that I have known for almost 9 years. She moved away right after university to the states to pursue higher learning. She was an international student and obviously that cost a lot of money. Her father I believe is a doctor in Dubai and she is very well off. Anyways, she is also on my MSN list and I barely talk to her. We talk occasionally to say hi, but her conversations are always limited because she has “other” things or “other” people to talk to. Understandable. People have their own private lives and it has been over 5 years since I last saw her.
So I was online on msn and she was too. Instead of chatting with me to ask me a question, she sends me this sappy message on facebook asking for me to help her Uncle who is married and has kids too. They are in Toronto and he is unemployed.
Remember I work at the University in London, and I was shocked when I read it. Help a grown man with his family? She said, “he is a programmer from back home and he just moved to Canada and he has a family to feed and cannot find work. Since you work at the university please please find him a job where you work, I beg you. He will work anything, even minimum wage.”
What? Min what? Minimum wage? I never had a minimum wage job before. A programmer earning minimum wage? Was the guy this desperate that he would work for almost 8 bucks an hour? Was he really a programmer or just a guy who needed a job and had too much pride to get a job as pizza delivery guy?
I mean what am I? Because I am an Arab I am suddenly the Arab employment office for my work? I hold no position of authority, or influence at work. I wanted to reply back to her and tell her, “Can you find me a job? I have been stuck with mine for over 5 years and I cannot seem to find another job that I may enjoy since I grew out of my current one long time ago. I am sorry that he is broke. I know the feeling when you have a father who doesn’t work and has too much pride to find anything in between the job hunt to put food on the table. It’s a tough life. Sorry that his children are not old enough to work instead of him and give him the money because he is too proud and cannot stand the fact he can’t find any other in between jobs until he find something else that he desires. I am sorry that he may not have a North American education that he thinks companies here would accept him right away from a foreign University or Institution. I am sorry that life’s a bitch, however, from your pictures on facebook and your great time in clubs and parties and dressing half naked with your daddy’s money is not going to help your poor uncle and his family. I am sorry that I cannot be of any help, although I am Arab, but I don’t believe in Wasta (inside connections).”
So I ignored the message, it has been over 2 days, and she never asked or messaged me on MSN regarding this issue. Maybe he is not that desperate, or she found some one else on her 300+ friend list to help him.
Note: Image courtesy of hereditarynarcisissm.deviantart.com
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Hi Mona,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I like your writings a lot. Many times I find myself relating perfectly to what you’re talking about (specially on the feelings and emotions level)
Well, about this topic, i can say nothing but: typical!
but why did you ignore..it would have been so nice to reply back to her with what you wrote above :mrgreen:
well, i don’t like to be mean, but some ppl deserve it and even work hard to earn it
Regards
hello Oriental Arabesque,
thanks for stopping by.. the reason I didn’t reply back is because I don’t like to hurt people. Ignoring is better than actually sending her that message. I don’t like hurting anyone’s feeling. So might as well not say anything then saying something I will regret!
heh..i know the feeling in a similar fashion… i like to do a lot of my own automotive work..especially brakes..its easy and cheap to do yourself… so i have “friends” who manage to find my phone number when they want me to save them a little money..but amazingly i never hear from again…until the next time they need something.. (computer problem etc) … ugh!! hence my lack of any “real” friends… i enjoy your blog very much btw…very refreshing
I don’t quite understand why that upset you so much.
I have helped friends find employment. Back in high school I helped a friend get a job where I worked. Didn’t pay much but he was hired based partly on my good word. What’s wrong with “inside connections??” ie. helping those in need.
You could’ve just told her to tell her uncle to drive on down and fill out an application like everyone else. Or that you simply had no influence at your job and couldn’t help.
no influence and no help what so ever!
Why not let her know that. She might take it personal if you just ignore her. You know what I mean?
I don’t think she cares..
Yeh, I don’t think so either. She sounds very self absorbed. Her saying she doesn’t have “time” to chat with you is not a reason.
well i dont see anything wrong with asking you to help her uncle….u may know someone…my husband is always getting calls from engineers looking for work and he is always happy to help and pass his resumes on..i’ve helped a couple of my friends get jobs at the companies i worked at..of course all i did was pass the resume and give good word..but if she just talked to u after so long to ask that..then yeh that would be annoying…she is sounding like my mother in law…whenever she sees someone who works in uae as an engineer she starts asking them to find a job for hubby…and im thinking what they heck..does she think it is this easy? if we want a job in uae i’ll contact employment agencies..not too many people have the authority and influence to help people find a job…
exactly my point.. I hardly talk to her or even communicate and she is asking for help from poor me..
lol
I think her asking you this after not speaking to you is kind of fresh, meaning what balls she has to ask you of this. I do not like people who try to use others in such a manner. If she is too busy to talk to you what does that say about her when she comes to you for this kind of help. Just does not make sense.
Hi Mona! Don’t sue me, unrelated comment: I TAGGGED YOU!
This seems very upsetting to you. I would tell that girl to save some money her daddy gives her and sponsor her uncle until he gets back on his feet. People who show up only when they need something led me to develop a view on situations like this: there are millions of annoying people in the world standing in line to annoy and upset you. And not enough seconds in a lifetime to worry about those people even for 1 second per person. So, why worry? Oh cr@p, I just remembered, I gotta go and help one of those people this weekend with a computer. Probably another virus.
am I not allowed to directly link it to deviantart? it’s not hosted on my server.
Done
thankyou =)