Well the first day is over. It's been a very long two days. seems more like a week. Flew from Spokane to St Paul to Columbus. Met a couple of other techs from Spokane about 10 minutes into the flight out of spokane sitting right behind me. Oh yeah, for those of you who don't know whats going on with me....
About two months ago i responded to a job post on Craigslist for a spokane tech needed just for one weekend for the Chase-Washington Mutual Conversion. After a bit of paperwork and phone interviews i had it all set up. One day of going to a WaMu branch on Division to sit on my hands for 9 hours and work for 20 minutes.
They pay was pretty good and a job is a job.
A couple weeks later the same recruitment company e-mailed me to see if i was interested in being a lead tech and working for a longer term. After several phone interviews and planning and coordinating and confirming many things I got the job (which i still didnt really know what it was.... or for how long....) in Columbus, Ohio. So Tuesday i got my flight information, Wednesday I flew out. We all caught up now?
So the first day is over and i learned a lot more about what is going on. I am going to be working in one of the main Chase offices here in Columbus with as a help desk technician. The main job is the one weekend changeover July 24, 25, and 26. I will be in charge of 3-5 branches, communicating with the lead technicians and managers there if any problems arise and to monitor their status for my higher-ups. So yeah, im that cool....
Which leads me to my next point... Being cool.
I've always kinda prided myself on being nerdy, well, not so much nerdy but just good at what i do. Dave is knowledgeable as well, and so is Jared and Jerrod. But They are also proper human beings, you know, with people skills. My fellows here are somewhat lacking in the social skills department. Out of 149 people in training today, 2 were female. And the rest just seemed to all have that certain 'Trekiness' about them.
Anyway, i havent gotten much sleep lately and its almost 11 here. got to be up early to catch the shuttle into work.
Out for now,
Jeff
Friday, July 3, 2009
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Back home, a journey's end?
So im back now. no worse for the wear i suppose. I miss all of the amazing people i met along the way and cannot wait to be able to meet up with them somewhere in the world sometime soon.
Being back is still a bit surreal to me. I am sitting in the Pub on campus just using the internet here at high speed, and as people walk by its still a little weird to hear their american accents. not changing, no different from one person to the next. Im sad but a little grateful that my irish twang has left me as much as it did. i still picked up a lot of irish and australian inflections and words like heaps and ages. and some foreign sayings like 'ca va?'.
It has been great being back the two weeks i have been back though. Seeing all my friends again and being able to drive to places and actually knowing where things are and how they work. My travels have given me a greater appreciating for everything that is here. That is not to say that it is the best place in the world, merely different, there are so many different things that i have experienced and so many more things i want to.
Right now i am living in the apartment/shop that is near my parents house in Sprague, just applied to Best Buy for a job as a Geek Squad and hope that i get some sort of tech job anyway. Still one college class away from becoming a actual grad, a class i plan to take online in January.
In the long term i do not know yet what i want to do. Peace Corps still looks appealing though in my travels i found out that there are other volunteer organizations that i would like to do a bit more research on.
One thing that i can say is that i am very content with the world. I feel as though i am heading somewhere good in the world, that i am now better able to make a difference and have gained useful tools in this quest.
im ready to keep exploring.
Being back is still a bit surreal to me. I am sitting in the Pub on campus just using the internet here at high speed, and as people walk by its still a little weird to hear their american accents. not changing, no different from one person to the next. Im sad but a little grateful that my irish twang has left me as much as it did. i still picked up a lot of irish and australian inflections and words like heaps and ages. and some foreign sayings like 'ca va?'.
It has been great being back the two weeks i have been back though. Seeing all my friends again and being able to drive to places and actually knowing where things are and how they work. My travels have given me a greater appreciating for everything that is here. That is not to say that it is the best place in the world, merely different, there are so many different things that i have experienced and so many more things i want to.
Right now i am living in the apartment/shop that is near my parents house in Sprague, just applied to Best Buy for a job as a Geek Squad and hope that i get some sort of tech job anyway. Still one college class away from becoming a actual grad, a class i plan to take online in January.
In the long term i do not know yet what i want to do. Peace Corps still looks appealing though in my travels i found out that there are other volunteer organizations that i would like to do a bit more research on.
One thing that i can say is that i am very content with the world. I feel as though i am heading somewhere good in the world, that i am now better able to make a difference and have gained useful tools in this quest.
im ready to keep exploring.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Moustache Party
So, once again, i am in Belguim.
Last week i was thinking of coming home early due to the loss of my camera and all the rest of my bits. that feeling faded once i saw virginia and Alexis, Florine, Engerand, Julie, Pierre, Benjamin and Nicholas. Truly great people.
For dinners here as with most other meals everyone is a giant family and we all crowd around the table, about 8 of us or so at most meals and we eat and talk and laugh. Much similar to thanksgiving, but everyday. It is such a comfort to be around people like this.
A few nights ago Alexis and I rode bikes to Benjamins apartment for poker and beer. When i got their Ben and Pierre were playing guitars like true heroes, dancing and singing and picking up a flute or a clarinet from time to time and just improvising some mad tunes. it was like a private concert just for Alexis and I. we stayed up till 4 playing cards and music.
Tonight there is a party at the same apartment, the themes are Moustaches, the 30's, and/or leather boots. You must have at least one of this things upon entering..... i dont want to shave but dont have the other two. I tried shaving once a couple years ago with Jared in Dressler. I looked like a pedophile and shaved it off immediately. I hope to find some leather boots or 30's style clothing but just realized i dont know what Belgians wore in the 30's. may or may not be the same as us.
Anyway, its tough writing this without my glasses so i will end it here.
thank you all back at home for the wonderful memories i have been treasuring here. They give me something to look forward to when i get back, as well as something to make me feel loved abroad. They motivate me to go out and continue to venture around and meet new people.
Right now, Virginia is preparing a meal while others play classical guitars better than i could ever hope to play. I wish you could all experience the whole thing, the ambience of it all in this amazing house.
cheers, and i will see you all in just a few more days!
Last week i was thinking of coming home early due to the loss of my camera and all the rest of my bits. that feeling faded once i saw virginia and Alexis, Florine, Engerand, Julie, Pierre, Benjamin and Nicholas. Truly great people.
For dinners here as with most other meals everyone is a giant family and we all crowd around the table, about 8 of us or so at most meals and we eat and talk and laugh. Much similar to thanksgiving, but everyday. It is such a comfort to be around people like this.
A few nights ago Alexis and I rode bikes to Benjamins apartment for poker and beer. When i got their Ben and Pierre were playing guitars like true heroes, dancing and singing and picking up a flute or a clarinet from time to time and just improvising some mad tunes. it was like a private concert just for Alexis and I. we stayed up till 4 playing cards and music.
Tonight there is a party at the same apartment, the themes are Moustaches, the 30's, and/or leather boots. You must have at least one of this things upon entering..... i dont want to shave but dont have the other two. I tried shaving once a couple years ago with Jared in Dressler. I looked like a pedophile and shaved it off immediately. I hope to find some leather boots or 30's style clothing but just realized i dont know what Belgians wore in the 30's. may or may not be the same as us.
Anyway, its tough writing this without my glasses so i will end it here.
thank you all back at home for the wonderful memories i have been treasuring here. They give me something to look forward to when i get back, as well as something to make me feel loved abroad. They motivate me to go out and continue to venture around and meet new people.
Right now, Virginia is preparing a meal while others play classical guitars better than i could ever hope to play. I wish you could all experience the whole thing, the ambience of it all in this amazing house.
cheers, and i will see you all in just a few more days!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)