No place to call home for Irish students in New York this summer

A summer of work sun and fun has turned into a nightmare for visiting Irish students

Farrington, a law student at the University of Limerick, arrived in New York at the end of May but has still not found a job.

“I had a few waitressing interviews and an interview in Zara (clothes store) but nothing back yet,” said Farrington.

Like Farrington, the other three girls have found themselves with a lovely apartment, but no job to pay the rent.

“We need to get jobs soon or we are going to run out of money,” laughs Healy, a second year student teacher in Dublin.

The girls, who are having the time of their life in New York, were putting a new plan together for Thursday in search for a job.

“We will probably head upstate tomorrow because the city is not giving us anything,” adds Gallagher.

Michael O’Connor was alone when he entered the Aisling Center on Wednesday. O’Connor, 20, is from Co. Galway and is studying for an accounting degree in the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

O’Connor arrived in New York with a friend on May 31. So far his J-1 experience has been lonely.

“I really want to meet other J-1 students,” said O’Connor, who has been busy trying to find a job he is happy with and a place to live.

Up until last Wednesday, O’Connor and his friend have been staying with a friend of a friend. Not an ideal situation. He feels they are intruding and came to the Aisling Center on Wednesday in search of a room for rent. He soon learned that he had to get in line.

O’Connor is presently training as a waiter in a bar in White Plains in Westchester.

“To be honest I’d prefer to be a laborer or furniture remover or something like that, you know, a nine to five job, but so far I’ve had no luck with anything in that area,” he said.

O’Connor was initially hoping to have a summer of fun in Long Island, but after being rejected for a job New York was next on his agenda. So far he is questioning if he made the right decision.

“Me and Frankie (his friend) really need to get somewhere to live soon. We are imposing on the person we are staying with and he has family coming from Ireland,” said O’Connor urgently.

O’Connor, who came to the U.S. with $1,500, said he was sensible with his money and would be able to pay a deposit and rent if somewhere becomes available.

If accommodation doesn’t present itself in the next few weeks O’Connor and his friend may be forced to back to Ireland for the remainder of the summer.

​
Nster.com