The Struggle is Real

(Trip to Singapore July 13, 2015)

It was July 2015; I was to receive my last pay as full time Art teacher after my contract ended, I was well paid, not big, but pretty decent for a brown foreigner in Thailand.

I know some Filipinos were paid half of what I was receiving and they were doing Jobs that they had to, while I was doing what I wanted, to teach Art.

The monthly rent for my Condo, my obligation for my Son’s Child Support, my sick Mother who was staying with me, plus my visa was running out.

I mean these are not the worst worries in the world, but these were mine at the moment.

So, I hurriedly looked for another Job; at least 50 applications per day for a week were sent, including to other countries.

After few days, I received a promising reply from Singapore, as Art Teacher, for an Art School, so I took the chance with my last money to fly to Singapore for the interview.

Friends helped me out really a lot, I would live with my College Brothers, some will buy me a meal or a drink, and so I wouldn’t have to spend much.

In exchange, I tell them my stories, made them laugh, or sometimes I just listen to theirs, this reminded me that I wasn’t struggling alone and made everyone’s worries bearable.

The more I learned about people’s qualms, the more I became more principled, to look only for jobs that would develop Creativity, Teamwork, and most importantly, something with compassion.

The pay wouldn’t really matter anymore, the experience will.

As of now, I’m still looking for that job.

Luckily I painted close to a hundred before and during these times and sold maybe 20 of them, my Pet Series took me off the ground and have people started to seriously notice my work, It made me make it to the next month.

I’m thankful.

If things weren’t that desperate; I wouldn’t experience being a REAL ARTIST.