Spent yesterday evening with an acquaintance that I last saw nearly 15 years ago. He got caught with the Ostrich Egg investment craze which some of you might recall and relocated to OZ to start farming. To cut a long story short, it was a failure as there was no market for it.
Anyway he shared his experience and it was quite an a journey. He comes from the corporate world and doing a business case is second nature to him. After the failure of the farm, both his wife and him were in denial until their money ran out. Too shy to ask for help from friends and relatives, they cut off all contact and moved to a small rental and stored most of their furniture in a storage locker. Eventually these too had to be auctioned off. With nothing in their name and kids in school, he went to the welfare agency and was surprised how helpful they were. The family went on the dole and they found a cheap rental as a home.
He had been applying for jobs with little success. He told me that his loss of confidence must have come across badly during interviews. The welfare agency asked if he was prepared to be a tradesperson and he agreed. He told me that the state paid for his lessons but the apprenticeship was a humbling experience. He started off buying drinks and food for the crew some of whom were younger than him. Only consolation was no asians so no loss of face. Eventually he became a electrician and began working for a firm. He went on to work for himself and is now running a successful business. He has 6 employees and has enough to buy an Audi and Toyota 4W. He lives in a nice house and was proud to show the photos. The son and daughter have done well and are in Australian Universities.
He told me that his wife is a changed person and lot more independent. He told me that his wife and he were resigned to the fact that they would lose all contact with Singapore including family and friends. He is still struggling to call or contact them. He is full of praise for the OZ system of welfare and saving him from a life of doom and gloom.
Anyway he shared his experience and it was quite an a journey. He comes from the corporate world and doing a business case is second nature to him. After the failure of the farm, both his wife and him were in denial until their money ran out. Too shy to ask for help from friends and relatives, they cut off all contact and moved to a small rental and stored most of their furniture in a storage locker. Eventually these too had to be auctioned off. With nothing in their name and kids in school, he went to the welfare agency and was surprised how helpful they were. The family went on the dole and they found a cheap rental as a home.
He had been applying for jobs with little success. He told me that his loss of confidence must have come across badly during interviews. The welfare agency asked if he was prepared to be a tradesperson and he agreed. He told me that the state paid for his lessons but the apprenticeship was a humbling experience. He started off buying drinks and food for the crew some of whom were younger than him. Only consolation was no asians so no loss of face. Eventually he became a electrician and began working for a firm. He went on to work for himself and is now running a successful business. He has 6 employees and has enough to buy an Audi and Toyota 4W. He lives in a nice house and was proud to show the photos. The son and daughter have done well and are in Australian Universities.
He told me that his wife is a changed person and lot more independent. He told me that his wife and he were resigned to the fact that they would lose all contact with Singapore including family and friends. He is still struggling to call or contact them. He is full of praise for the OZ system of welfare and saving him from a life of doom and gloom.
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In Spore it's all about $$$:(
