Waitress work (Portland, Eugene: lease, credit, find a job)

[janedelorean]

Just flew back to LA after an exporatory trip to Eugene. It is so gorgeous in Eugene. Lush, laid back, I loved it. Bopped around downtown and it seems like every other store front has a for lease sign. The restaurants were very empty. Would love to attend Lane Community College, the most beautiful setting for a school I have ever seen. So, I'm a career waitress, unfortunatly yet fortunatly I'm very good at it. Have tons of college credits and would like to pick something else to be...love school too. Can you pay rent and bills living in Eugene as a waitress? And if yes, where? Spent yesterday in Portland and it seems more people are eating out there. What's with all the Thai places in Eugene? No good ol' downhome comfort food or did I miss it?
Weather was gorgeous-rain then sun then rain then sun-every hour it changed. And the big beautiful trees! Wow, that made me feel good. Also, yes the water out of the tap was delicious.
Flew back into the basin of smog today, concrete and palm trees, tall skinny trees with a few leaves at the top.
Any advice out there for a great waitress who wants to get out of this crazy jam-packed city?

[backdrifter]

Unfortunately the employment situation in Eugene (and all of Oregon) is not very good right now. Eugene is worse than the Oregon average with at least 14% unemployment. You're going to have a hell of a hard time finding a job, especially in any service or hospitality industry such as waiting tables and the like. I'm going to Lane next year full time and I will have saved enough to live on and pay my tuition through the entire school year so that I don't have the stress of trying to find a job that's probably not there to begin with. My only advice is to stay where you are until you finish school and until the economy improves. Or save A LOT of money before you come up here. I can't blame you for wanting to move up here, but unfortunately it's just a really bad time to do that.