Job search

After a week in Santorini, it was decided that I would start looking for a job. Life on the island had to be financed after all. It was more expensive than expected, especially since the apartment I can call my temporary home lacks a kitchen. Plus, I didn't plan on just being a tourist in paradise for the next few weeks. So, off I went. The job search in Fira. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be more complicated than expected.

2 things were clear. 1. The workplace must be within a walking distance. 2. A combination of work, friends, and exploring the island should still be possible. Everything else: open.

Of course, I would have preferred to work as a yoga teacher or fitness trainer. However, it seemed that both professions were not in demand. So, I quickly accepted that.

I took a job search tour through the surrounding alleys, left my number at a hotel, got the email of a clothing store manager, and received a direct rejection at a café with vegan ice cream, which was the reason for my inquiry there.

The person in charge of the hotel at the caldera contacted me the next day and we arranged a meeting for the next morning. The position available there was exactly what I had in mind. Initially, I was supposed to take care of the reception and incoming/departing guests for a few hours, before taking over the adjacent café afterwards. However, when we talked about the working hours, our expectations quickly differed. They were looking for an employee to work for 6-8 hours in the evening. A compromise would have probably been possible with the number of hours. But the evening, which was meant to be dedicated to exploring the island and spending time with friends, not work, was the problem. Ultimately, this aspect was the final nail in the coffin for this job.

Although the two who gave me the email of the manager would have been really nice colleagues, I didn't even contact the clothing store. That was mainly because I suspected that they would also be looking for an employee to work for 8 or more hours. But also because my wardrobe, which mostly consists of sportswear, doesn't really match a job that requires style and fashion.

In the café located just 4 minutes away from my apartment, a young man immediately rejected me, and he wasn't even really friendly. However, I still liked the café because it offers vegan options and has a small courtyard with plants, inviting seating, and Wi-Fi. So, I decided that if I couldn't work there, I would at least come to study for my nutritionist training. And that's what I've been doing since then. In the meantime, I get discounted or free coffee. Since I got to know the two behind the counter and had conversations with them. They knew that I was looking for a job and wanted to help me.

Yanis, the initially unfriendly guy at the counter, reminded me that first impressions can be deceiving. One evening, after work, he took me to a bar owned by his friend and asked if I could work there. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible since I don't speak Greek. However, during the tourist high season, which is also ending in Santorini, and the locals and Greeks take back the bars and clubs, this is considered a requirement. Anyway, it was also a shisha bar, so I wasn't really unhappy that it didn't work out. Plus, after the hotel conversation and from Yanis and Beate, I knew that working days in hotels, cafes, and bars last at least 8 hours. There is usually no day off. This would make my second requirement, the compatibility of work, friends, and experiences, impossible. Plus, the hourly wage is around €4.50/h - €6/h. Unimaginable.

Angel, the second café employee, showed me a Facebook group where jobs on Santorini are posted. From then on, I diligently searched through it.

After the second day in the group, an ad was posted looking for a babysitter for 2-3 hours per day. This immediately caught my attention and I texted the provided number. Viola called me back. We arranged to meet. Lucas, the baby, instantly won me over and I sincerely hoped it would work out. Despite my lack of Greek language skills. Since he's only 6 months old and the family, with an Albanian-Greek mother and an Italian father, converse in English, they are overall multicultural. So, it seemed like just a minor flaw that my experience would make up for. The fact that I interpreted the situation correctly was confirmed by the acceptance the next day. I was very excited about it. Spending time with a little angel and having a meaningful activity. At the same time, earning at least some money. However, the job also meant that starting from Monday, I had to be on Santorini every day and be available in the morning. So, I decided to take a break from my holiday and explore another island over the weekend.