dept. of external planning
I am in Waterloo and Toronto, variously, through next weekend. What should I make sure to do while I am here? Recommendations for good vegetarian-friendly restaurants in TO and nice coffeeshops within walking distance of UW are particularly welcome.
*****
Not unrelatedly, I am looking for a job and a new place to live, ideally within biking distance of each other. I have a Bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to the one in which I have worked for 4 years, and would like to continue pursuing. I can see several paths that might take me to someplace good/interesting/fulfilling: full-time work, part-time work plus part-time school, full-time Master's program, teacher's certificate then teaching, random contracting/freelancing...
I am having a hard time evaluating and deciding between these paths. (I will probably do some writing, locked, to explain details.) If you or someone close to you has done a similar thing, e.g. quitting work to go back to school, switching careers, turning contractor, I would love to talk about how you made that decision!
I guess that's a little meta. I am also willing to talk specifics with people in education, or any of the cities I'm investigating as potential landing spots (Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Philadelphia top the list, plus a few other places I'm investigating specific jobs/programs).
Also, I am actually contracting right now, just to keep my hand (and cashflow) in shape while I dither. I am reading through online advice on how to go about this, but suggestions of your favorite dos and don'ts, etiquette, or offline resources to investigate, are also highly appreciated. I am particularly clueless about the taxes/witholding/etc. aspect of this.
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*****
Not unrelatedly, I am looking for a job and a new place to live, ideally within biking distance of each other. I have a Bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to the one in which I have worked for 4 years, and would like to continue pursuing. I can see several paths that might take me to someplace good/interesting/fulfilling: full-time work, part-time work plus part-time school, full-time Master's program, teacher's certificate then teaching, random contracting/freelancing...
I am having a hard time evaluating and deciding between these paths. (I will probably do some writing, locked, to explain details.) If you or someone close to you has done a similar thing, e.g. quitting work to go back to school, switching careers, turning contractor, I would love to talk about how you made that decision!
I guess that's a little meta. I am also willing to talk specifics with people in education, or any of the cities I'm investigating as potential landing spots (Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Philadelphia top the list, plus a few other places I'm investigating specific jobs/programs).
Also, I am actually contracting right now, just to keep my hand (and cashflow) in shape while I dither. I am reading through online advice on how to go about this, but suggestions of your favorite dos and don'ts, etiquette, or offline resources to investigate, are also highly appreciated. I am particularly clueless about the taxes/witholding/etc. aspect of this.
Comments are screened unless you indicate I can unscreen them. You may also PM me or take it to email, if you prefer.