Life After School...and Other Horror Stories

So I promised a return to the blogging scene in April, did I not?  Well, for those of you who've stuck with me, good things come to those who wait!

I am going to consider this my re-launch.  Hopefully meaning I'll be able to keep up with posting semi-regularly about current events and what have you, rather than giving the bi-yearly update on life that the past two years have seen.

So what's with my title?  Well, kids, life after college is not all it's cracked up to be.  You see, when my husband was in school, he was on Saudi scholarship.  That means he got paid, not particularly well as he could not report myself or our son due to our marriage not being approved in KSA, but predictable income we had, and additionally, my husband had 100% of his health expenses covered as part of this scholarship.

At the same time, our son qualified for state health insurance, and I was permitted, due to the ever controversial "Obamacare" to stay on my dad's insurance through my 26th birthday.

Well, my husband graduated in December of 2012 with a 4.0 and an M.S. from an accredited university....to absolutely no job prospects.  And it was not for lack of trying....I've got a handy spreadsheet keeping track of job hunt statistics and from Sept. 2012-March 2013 he applied for approximately 210 jobs, all actually in his field, had 10 interviews, and obtained one low paying internship position.  For those who didn't follow, that means we had absolutely no income for almost three months, and the income we've had ever since is only keeping us afloat due to the generosity of both of our parents.

Additionally, my husband lost his health coverage following graduation.  Our son lost state coverage for reasons not to be disclosed, and I turned the dreaded 26.  I know what they say about lemons and lemonade, but by golly I must not have the right recipe.

My friend's husband described it well, graduating from graduate school.  In his words, "Everyone is congratulating you when really, your life is just like one big deflating balloon."

And before anybody finds a high horse to get up on, I know there are those who have it worse.  War torn countries, evil dictators, critical illness, actual unemployment rather than underemployment and what have you.  I know, I know, I know, and I thank Allah everyday for what I DO have.  Despite this knowledge and gratitude, however, I'm still holding out for a more stable future both financially and geographically.  I have a son who is uninsured, has never been to preschool because we couldn't afford it, and is supposed to start school in the fall and we don't even know where we'll live.  Please forgive me for wanting to provide for his basic needs.

So that's 2013 in a nutshell.  And 2014 is set to start the same way.  So far as we know, my husband's internship ends at the end of December which could catapult us back into unemployment.  To counter that, the job hunt has begun again and the spreadsheet displays 50 job applications since June, with two interviews.  Seriously, America the land of opportunity my arse.

Have we thought about relocating to lessen our financial woes?  He has.  I am adamant about staying in the states.  This country is far from perfect, but my family is here and it's all my son knows.  I know my husband's family is far, but he made the choice to come here for school, to marry me, and to obtain permanent resident status.  I made the choice to marry him, yes, but with the understanding that we would make our permanent home HERE in the U.S.  He has had a job opportunity "back home" in KSA.  The salary would be over 3 times what he's currently making, and they have universal health care.  Does that make me a selfish person, to make us stay here uninsured and living in poverty?  One may think so.  I truly am not sure myself, some days.  However, at this point I prioritize family and freedom over money, so judge away.  I am not fond of the Saudi government nor many of their cultural 'norms.' And neither is my husband or he would have already gone.

And so life, full of its uncertainties, goes on.

I'm alive and...well...

not very well as of today.  Ask me tomorrow; maybe I'll have a better outlook.

It's been a year since I've posted.  A lot has happened in that past year, and looking back, not a lot of it is very uplifting.  I truly miss blogging and the camaraderie of following "friends" blogs and hearing feedback on my own posts.  Graduate school ate my life this past year, but just two more projects and then I will be done.  I plan to never go to school again as long as I live.  Good gravy, 20 years is enough!

I just reread some old blog posts, and my goodness do I sound young, naive, and whiny.  If there's anyone still reading this....why did you continue to follow me? lol, I wish I were joking, but that's the nature of growing up.  Our former selves no longer "knew" all we thought they did.

This is just a short note proclaiming my re-entry into the blog scene.  Don't expect any updates until the semester is out.  In case you're concerned, the goings on of the past year, despite how trying they have been and continue to be, have not taken a toll on my faith in Allah (swt) (although I don't "practice" Islam nearly so much as I should) or my marriage, mash'Allah.  Insha'Allah I can count on that to be the case for the long haul.