Good Days, and The Other Kind
I went to a job interview yesterday where I was told that in Alabama, experience doesn’t matter. To work in the mental health field you have to have a bachelors in psychology or sociology. I could get a non-degreed position with the geriatric population, however they want a man for the job because of the lifting required. It’s not a job I would take anyway, bedpans aren’t my forte. It was quite disappointing, rather insulting, and just the blow I didn’t need. As it is now, I’m hoping the lady didn’t know what she was talking about. I know I’m more qualified than some kid fresh out of school, but its apparently the state’s rule not hers. Non-degreed positions pay about 15K per year. Well, piss on that.
To make myself feel better I promptly drove about an hour and 45 minutes to Huntsville on a whim to see Alabama A&M’s campus, the closest school that offers a masters in social work. It was a pretty campus, and the students seemed to be friendly as I stopped every five minutes to ask for directions here or there. I’m going to go ahead and apply, and the program would start this summer.
After consulting with my husband, who is steadily growing a business here in Florence, we decided that he will support us while I get the masters. We’ll just move somewhere halfway between Florence and Huntsville before school starts this summer. This made me feel much better. I especially felt better when he said Alabama would not be permanent, but just a good jumping off point.
I don’t mean to be down on Alabama, the people have been so nice to us. Of course, we’re white and straight. Some people do cross to the other side of the road if you’re tattooed, but I’ve heard that has let up in recent years. This is quite a culture shock. Some places don’t have the option of high-speed internet yet. Hence, I’m blogging this from Chris’s parents rather than where we’re staying. The only wine they serve at the bars is white zinfandel. And when I say bars, I’m referring to the two that are here. Everything is a chain, Chili’s, Applebee’s, etc. There’s a fairly sharp gender divide, where the women stick together and the men stick together. I can stay occupied if I am in school, but otherwise I’ll end up atop a watertower.
