it's not going so swell for me here in germany i've been here like almost 5 years and i'm just getting more and more depressed... i have no friends, no job, and cake decorating/baking business is pretty slow over here. i am seriously thinking of going back to the US maybe next year, before this whole thing takes its toll on my marriage.

i will have to start from scratch, of course - i think i'll even have to live with my grandparents for a while until i can afford to live on my own. my question is, will my skills be good enough to find a job as a cake decorator in the US? i have never tried before (i used to be a pre-school teacher). how much are cake decorators paid (i'm talking ice cream shop or bakery decorators, not home-based - as much as i'd like to have my own business, i really need the insurance)... can i live on it alone or will i have to have a second job in order to pay rent, etc?

it's either cake decorating or an office job, but cake decorating is more fun

p.s.
i realize i can probably get a better-paying job if i take on a 3-year patissiere/konditor course here but i really can't take another 3 years of being this lonely.

Sorry things are not going swell over there in Germany! I know the Baskin-Robbins near me is hiring a cake decorator and the Michael's near me is also hiring cake decorating teachers. I'm not sure at all how much Baskin Robbins would pay or what a Wilton instructor makes, but you could probably combine those two jobs or something. Maybe teach at night and on Saturdays and then do the Baskin Robbins during the day or a job at a bakery or something. I know it's hard living in a foreign country and not knowing anyone. It makes you extra homesick! Living with your grandparents while you look at job opportunities sounds like a good idea. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

thank you

there's a baskin-robbins and a michael's near my grandparents' - maybe i could start there. thanks again.

But the thing with Michaels or Baskin Robbins is they most likely will not have insurance for you. Michaels instructors work for Wilton as a independent contrator. Meaning part time work. So you could get a job in another field and work part time in your passion. One thing I noticed however is my old cake instructor started advertising the classes on craigslist.com and she is now full in her classes. Before she barely had 4 people in it. They get paid based on how many show up the first night.
Where are your grandparents living?

Hi Darra,

I´m sorry to hear that your unhappy. I really can understand you, for not taking another 3 years for a training. Your cakes are very beautifull, so one thing came to my mind:

Have you ever thought about giving classes, lessons etc.??? Due to the fact that Tortissimo is now selling cake decorating stuff, I´ve got the feeling that this wonderful craft "starts" over here. I know that you are not allowed to sell any cakes, but you can sell your knowledge! Maybe you could start by placing some flayers in the supermarket, with a picture of a your cakes and "Want to learn how to decorate?" on it. I´m pretty sure you will find some students. Maybe you could try to do a course at the Volkshochschule.

On after thing that might be interessting for you is this site:
http://66756.homepagemodules.de/ it´s a German cake decorating forum and there are some very lovely ladies over there a cross Germany and Austria. I really would like to see you over there!


Ganz liebe grüße aus Hamburg

Bettina

thanks

i guess i can do pre school on weekdays and michael's/baskin robbins on the weekends.

my grandparents are in chicago.

You do a wonderful job decorating cakes and cookies. I'm sure you would have no trouble finding a job decorating, but in chain bakeries and ice cream shops, they don't appreciate what a person can do. I worked at Dairy Queen decorating cakes when I was in high school and I made about $7.00 an hour. That was 10 years ago and in South Dakota, so I'm sure the wage has went up and the cost of living in Chicago is greater than here on the prairie .

One other thing the best way to break the lack of friends is to have them over for coffee. Anybody! My husband laughs at me because I do this with strangers and seem desperate but it is a woman thing I think to want friends around.

Gutten Morgan! Darra.
I am sorry to hear about your current situation.
We all go through this one time or another, so don't feel like you're the only one. I know this can sometimes be a big vicious cycle. (personal experience and all).
So, as one talking from experience, don't give up something will definitely come up.
I know I am gonna get chewed on in this forum for sayng this, but, do you have any Walmart close by?
Do you know if they are supercenters or not? If they are you can apply there for the bakery and when you go in for the interview, bring your portfolio with you so you can show off your skills.
It is soo hard to find skilled decorators for Walmarts, #1 because of the "slab cake" mentality most people have about the decorating and #2 some people think it's an easy job, "Who needs skills for Walmart?"
They do have insurance . You can get hired there and if you decide to go back to the ol us. You could transfer and not lose any of your benefits.
The payscale depends on the area. Like where I live, in my town the going wage for most stores is like 6-7 dollars an hour, whereas in larger cities like Denver the wage is more like 10-12 dollars an hour for starters. I know sometimes that seems to be a great difference but it depends on the area (I live in a small town, where most of the local stores only pay min wage, that totally bites if you ask me) but at least it's a job and with the price of gas I don't have to commute too far)
Bakery Associates would make more than the regular floor associate would, for starters and if you really put your whole self into the job, it's quite realistic to think that you could actually become an assistant in @ 2-3 years.
I know I could go on and on but no one really wants to listen to anyone say anything decent about Walmart.
But it's an idea though. Just thought I would try an help let you know that there are opportunities out there that not a lot of others would have thought of.
I do know that there are Walmart's in Germany, maybe not a whole lot but there are some.
Sometimes what we have to do to get over da funk is to get out and be the one who makes the first move, even though we feel like we are spinning our wheels, and not going to accomplish much. At least it's a step in the right direction.
I do know how you feel though, been there done that bought the ol'
t-shirt so to speak. Just know that we are pullin for ya hun and wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

I got in part time at a high end caterer as an assistant pastry chef, and I have a teaching degree and am only self taught in cake decorating. I found the job on Craigslist.com which is a free advertising place. I often see ads for pastry chefs or bakers, you might try checking there wherever you plan on moving in the states. It will depend on where you want to move to how much they pay you, but the higher paying jobs probably are located in a higher cost of living area.

Darra--
I PM'd you. It sounds like we are both in the same boat. Wanna be friends?