I’ve been unemployed for over six months. Until Friday I was convinced that I would never again find a job and I would live off of my girlfriend once my unemployment ended in February. I was scared that I would become part of “the system” and I would be discounted and *gasp* horrors of horrors (insert a bit of sarcasm) poor. In my head all my dreams would fade away and I would just become another black lesbian statistic.

But then, I got an email. DZ (initials used to protect the innocent) at UNIFEM, the Fund for Gender Equality.  UNIFEM is part of the United Nations and they give out major grants to countries to help development and implement laws and policies that promote economic justice, safety, and health for women and girls around the world.  She emailed me because after not getting the last job I interviewed the organization shopped my resume around and DZ wanted to interview me, I interviewed and an hour later I got the call, I LANDED THE JOB!

Now yes, it is a consulting job that starts at 3 months and will most likely get extended several times. But the whole point is, Simone Nicole works for the United Nations! HOW COOL! HOW COOL! HOW COOL! (see–very cool)

I start in a couple of weeks and my self-esteem has already sky rocketed. The end of my employment upstate was a major blow to my sense of self but I’m back baby I’m building and I’m getting really excited.

Yesterday I went out and got a new coat and some fresh boots and it made me feel like a shiny new penny. When I lived upstate there were these girls that I worked with who didn’t like me because they felt I was materialistic but I have to say there is something to fresh clothes (even if they are thrift) that makes you feel a bit brand new.

Happy Monday!