Sigalit - Additional Information
Sigalit,
What people are telling you in Israel shouldn't scare you off. I lived, worked, and studies in more than one foreign country, and I was forced to reinvent myself and to restart my life a number of times throughout my life. Moreover, I did it all alone with no one to help me even when I was just a kid. In view of my previous experiences, I don't want to reveal too much on an Israeli forum, but people find it difficult to comprehend how I manage to be a top student while having to deal with everything else that has been going on in my life. Actually, I have decided to drop a course that I have just been accepted into and that starts in January. Apparently, apart from being an extremely exhausting topic for me emotionally, the course requires that I come to class three times a week for one hour each. Since I had previously met the professor during a reception, I might attend the first couple of classes as a guest. There is one other course that I am taking in January, in addition to the very crucial one (with the high profile lecturer that I am still on a waiting list for), and that is very important to me. I take courses that are related to my professional and personal background or that can enhance my personal knowledge, can provide me with better access to what I need to accomplish, and that can help move my projects forward. I realize that it sounds mysterious, but I have too many big fish to fry these days, and my objectives keep changing by the day. What mattered to me at the beginning of the summer is no longer a priority today...
Unlike other newcomers, you will not have to settle for a survival job. While it's not a good idea to live on your savings, with your advanced degrees, you will have no difficulty finding something rewarding. Don’t worry, you will not starve – there is assistance to jobseekers, and many highly-educated professionals go on Social Assistance (Ontario Works) until they land a job. If you cannot get a job as a lecturer, with your background, you can apply for an administrative job at any of the colleges. I understand that you have never actually worked in your field in Canada. With no recent Canadian experience, it may be difficult, but you could try to get a job at a pharmaceutical company. I can tell you who to approach. However, you need a good resume, and once you get here, I can direct you to where they'll do it for you. Opening a small gallery is much too risky financially. I have a friend who is a well known Cuban photojournalist, and she exhibits her work internationally. She used to have a studio and closed it down. Her former boyfriend paints, and he too used to exhibit his art. Still, he also had a fulltime job while painting. Some places let you display your paintings for free. Hopefully, you'll get to meet Dr. Sara Diamond. Did you send her a copy of your CV? She would be able to introduce you to all the right people, and with your background, you would be the perfect candidate for her university. You also need to create a Linkedin profile. I just noticed that I am connected to Dr. Diamond through someone very high profile whom I had once recommended to U of T as a guest speaker. In addition, you ought to look for a better location to live than in North Toronto. As a single woman you need a more professional or artistic location. You can easily find a reasonable place to rent in Midtown Toronto or in the Annex. I lived in a furnished room in the Annex years ago when I moved to Toronto.
