Sunday @ Pueblo Park

Some tree. I don't know its name yet.

Some cactus. I don't know its name yet either.

Spent this morning exploring Pueblo Park once more. Arrived there at squirrel activity time. Unfortunately, the little critters were just too fast for me and my humble Canon Powershot. All I got of the ground squirrels was this little fella pausing in the shade of a low bush. Look carefully! Click on the image for a larger version of the picture.

Fourth Onsite Interview and Other Random Musings

YESTERDAY was my fourth onsite interview, this one happening at an old historic railroad station in a dusty desert town halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The sun was high and hot, and my black suitpants had strange pale smudges on it when I got out of my rental car. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with the way I handled the interview. It was, to me, as good and if not better than the last one at Long Beach California. The behavioral questions did not faze me. I answered them effectively, sharing brief anecdotes about my work experience to illustrate my skill or behavior. I asked questions not designed to impress but to find out how comfortable I might be working for this organization. In all sense of the word, I was in a business meeting, each party was there to explore the possibility of a relationship with each other, to see if it would be a good fit. And if not, then there would be no hard feelings. Thoughts were exchanged. A contact was established and while there may be no formal relationship now, then there might possibly be one in the future.

That was not true about my Long Beach interview. I wanted that job. I loved that the location put me in the vicinity of two very good friends from high school. I imagined myself babysitting for S. and A. and possibly going out with D. during weekends. And in that interview, this desire for the job was apparent to me and was probably apparent to the panel. I wouldn't be surprised if it made them a tad nervous. But then I couldn't help it. My feelings were sincere. Maybe, next time, when I fall in love with a job or location again, I should practice the Buddhist art of detachment.

***

Interviewing yesterday for a position that I liked but a location I did not quite like was a curious experience. I had to put on what I now call my B hat. To say I was there insincerely would not be accurate. I really wanted to know if I could work with the woman who would be my boss and I could work in the town I would need to visit and drive to thrice a week. I also asked about an aspect about the job that I was uncomfortable with. I liked their response and reaction to my question. I also liked that they were very open about answering it. Right there and then I knew that I would like working for these two people. But would I like commuting to the remote town? I'm still giving that some thought. Anyhow, regardless of whether I am offered the job or not, I think this last interview is the new standard and benchmark for me.

***


More problems with our phone connection. Don't want to get into details but let's just say I will definitely be interviewing using my cellphone. I don't feel good about that right now. Cellphones are somewhat unrealiable. I am considering getting a new one, but I wonder if that would possibly disrupt my mobile line service as well.

***

I am getting quite lonely in Las Vegas. I like hanging out with my sister but she's about the only person I can drag to a Starbucks or to get bubble tea. I met an Indian woman at the SP volunteer's training, and although she was enthused about the idea of meeting for coffee, she's a mother of two children and generally folks who have families don't have as much free time as single people. I am also generally NOT inclined to date these days as I was so inclined when I as at Duluth. I might go out with a male friend but I don't want any romantic or potentially romantic dates right now. I wonder why? Too preoccupied about my job hunt? Too busy? And this particular day, let's say if my much-discussed object of questionable affection Robin were not um, gay and if he lived here. If he asked me out today, this very day, I wouldn't be much in the mood. I might ask for a rain check. I have energy but I don't want to spend it on the intricacies of romantic dating. I just want to kick my shoes off and hang out with a friend.

New york, new york

I went to Stony Brook today and talked with a professor. It did not go very well. She asked me several questions in the textbooks I've learned long before and i did not answer very well. At least i know my weak pt now. I'll prepare better before I talk to another professor.

In the afternoon, I walked along the Broadway from 34th st to central park. The road was full of tourists, traders, buses and other vehicles. I saw a "spider man"'s taking picture with a kid while passing Time Square. At the entry of the central park, some youths were performing hip hop dancing. There were also painters and statue performers. Now I can say I have been to NYC.

It must be some religious festival today. Ran's mom said they got free salads in Italian restaurant today. And I saw 2 people parading with a sign"Only Roman Catholic can lead you to the Heaven".

----
On the second day, I met another two profs. I prepared a bit well this time and had good talks with them. One of them is a young cute prof with shining earrings and bracelets and rings. I could not control myself but thinking he might be a gay. But he is surely a good researcher and nice prof. Another prof gave me some hope of fund supporting. But nothing was guaranteed, and patience and hardworking are appreciated before luck comes. I ended my 'business trip' and started to have some fun.
----
I was asked what I was going to do in NYC. It's a hard question. NYC has so many attractive places and I had limited time. No matter how I arrange the schedule, I would have regrets. I wanted to visited the empire state building, recalling the fateful meeting of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle. I also wanted to visited the Statue of Liberty, feeling the heartbeats of Lady Liberty. I also want to take the Sex and the City tour- it's amazing that Ran's going to have a roommate who was a minor actress in the tv series. But time was limited and I had to save them for my next visit.
Ran and I spent one day looking for Japanese comic stores. We went to the semi-Japan town in east village of Manhattan. It was disappointing. We did not go there at right time. Most of the restaurants and bars there open at 6pm. The bookstore there stopped selling Japanese magazines. There's only one comic gift shop. We took subway uptown and located one fine comic store in 33th St. The shopkeeper recommended us another big japanese bookstore KINOKUNIYA in Rockefeller Plaza. We finally found a bunch of pop magazines with cute Japanese stars there.

Ms. N, the Barista

IT'S OFFICIAL. I am now gainfully employed. Well, at least part-time. I'm going to be a barista! I start Monday :)

So near and yet so far

I am sitting here at the UNLV Student Union waiting to process some hiring papers with the Starbucks assistant branch manager and the Hiring manager. I wonder if this will really push through. I really hope it does. I'm so psyched to be a barista.

***

Two phone interviews scheduled next week:

San Francisco job
Tuesday July 31
2 p.m. Pacific Time

Boulder, CO job
Thursday August 2
9 a.m. Pacific Time

The tricky thing here is if I get offered the California job on the same week and if they do offer a work visa. This is going to be a tough choice. It's going to be one of those times that one needs to do a Pros and Cons list.

***

In the middle of this hopeful time comes a Murphy's Law instance. "Things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance." This time it's our phone line. for some reason, my mother just decided to switch carriers without telling my sister and I. And so I was sitting at my sister's PC composing an e-mail to Boulder Colorado HR person when my internet connection went zonk. About the same time, C. called my cellphone and said she hasn't been able to get through to my landline. I though of the Boulder interview, which at that time was scheduled on Monday, and thought oh no! Murphy's Law.

It seemed that I was going to have to take the calls on my cellphone. And we all know that even that is susceptible to Murphy's Law. But we'll see. According to Vonage, we are supposed to get some doohicky in the mail and that this is what we need to get our phone working again.

***

I have always dreamed of living and working in San Francisco. It's my kind of city. Unfortunately, it is also an expensive city. One of the most expensive places to live, in fact. I'm kind of excited about the interview, but I wonder if it will be feasible for me.

I met a fellow-Filipino today. Her name is M. and she works at Starbucks. :)

Warning!!!

Look what I found at the airport!

The sign reads:

Passengers are advised that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has determined that Bandara Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia does not maintain and administer effective aviation security measures.

The "Joy" of Being an International Student

I was telling this story to a friend just now and I thought, "Hmmm... this I can put on the blog =)" So the story goes like this.

When I was a freshman 6 years ago, a wonderful opportunity came my way. Disney company was giving a presentation about its internship program for college student. At the end of the presentation they announced that whoever is interested can wait to be interviewed right then. So I thought, why not?

A few weeks later I received a letter from Disney stating that I got accepted for the program. I can't describe how happy I was. The program meant I got to go to Disney World in Florida, free pass for all 4 theme parks, access to the leadership classes offered during the program, and a whole new set of friends whom I would be sharing the dorm with. My first summer in the US was going to be a blast! It was until the evil regulation destroyed my dream.

In order to do the internship, I needed to get permission from the international student adviser. Paperwork, paperwork. My major had nothing in relation to the kind of work I would be doing for Disney. So, naturally, I couldn't go.

~*~ The End ~*~

The next year I found out that another international student I knew had been able to participate in the program because she met with a different adviser when doing her paperwork. Moral of the story: seek second opinion. I wish I had.

talk in the airplane

Before the airplane landed in newark airport, I had a nice talk with the lady next seat. She's reading 'snow flower and the secret fan' and began to weep. I looked at her. She said sorry and explained the book moved her. It's a novel of the friendship of two chinese women who lived more than 100 years ago. After she knew i'm a chinese, she asked me whether the traditional women has a special language other than that of the men's. I thought she meant the difference between the handwriting. I found i was wrong after i checked the internet later. There did exist a special women language in a certain area and a certain era. it's consists of more than 2000 characters most of which can't be recognized and pronounced now.

The lady, whose name is Kelly and who's a salesgroup manager in siemens, and who's 44 and just coming back from a business trip, talked about interview questions (she gives a lot interviews). She said 'how' questions (behavor questions) are always more interesting than 'what' questions (tech questions). She also talked how to manage teamworks effectively. She's career-driven and also full of delicate emotions. I found her personality is very charming.

Seberkah Cahaya

That title is "A Spark of Light" in Indonesian. I got an interview invitation. Yeah! Finally... And this time, it would be my second time interviewing there. I hope my past experience helps. Although if I heard correctly, I was told that this time it would be a group interview. I've never done that before. Hopefully it would mean less questions to answer.

Aside from that, I'm also will be having a phone interview tomorrow. So I'm not doing nothing. =)

Ms. N's Day Off

ALL this full-time job hunting can turn one's brain into mush. I called Ms. C. this morning and whined about today's lack of motivation. I've got a quota, but try as I can I wanted to spend zero of my waking ours today on the job hunt. So I declared a break. Today was going to be Ms. N's day off.

Went to the public library to return some books. Looked around and found a book written by 2005 American Idol Winner (and one of my two favorites, the other being Fantasia) Taylor Hicks. He's such a cutie! So I borrowed that, drove to the Starbucks across UNLV and spent the afternoon with Taylor and a Grande Iced Mocha.

Not a bad book. Taylor's roots in blues music runs strong. I also like Otis Redding though I don't own an album. But I also love "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay".

As I sat back enjoying Taylor's story, the my phone rang and it was the HR person from that Boulder job. She asked me if I was still interested in the position and said she hadn't received my materials. That was very weird because I knew the address I used was correct. I even sent a follow-up e-mail. Anyhow, I assured her that I was and dictated the link to my work samples.

I'm glad I did not spend the whole day staring at my gmail inbox. I know job hunting is time consuming and one really needs to work on it and keep on it. But the advice to not let it eat up all your time is sound advice indeed. I needed to spend some time enjoying what I enjoy doing and I recognize now how important that is even in a time like this.

I think about how life can be such a delicate juggling act and how important it is to listen and pay attention to one's gut feelings and thoughts and to discern what they mean.

Today I am very grateful for friends, near and far, who surround me. New friends who are a breath of fresh air and old friends--those who have known me since childhood--who are steadfast and steady. All of them a safe place to rest during life's turbulent storms.

Ms. N Update

Yesterday, I got an e-mail from a Sanfo org asking when I could be available for a phone interview. I think the numbers game strategy is working. I sent some thank you e-mails yesterday, a reply to Sanfo, a follow-up to Boulder and today I sent one application to DC. Current count is 36 in, 14 more to go before July ends. I really need to keep focused. A friend invited me to go to Comic con this weekend. I am so tempted. It is just an extension of my Barstow trip. But I am quite strapped for cash. :( It WOULD be a nice break. I'll feel better about it if I knew that my Starbucks job was a sure thing. But it isn't yet.

In other news, my drab life of job searching has been graced again by a friendly voice on the phone. Yup, it's my strange infatuation of, um, let's just call him Robin. Ah, how to explain this strange connection. Methinks part of it is that I have been deprived of Filipino company for so long. I'll just enjoy the friendship while I can.

I have a four-hour (!) volunteers orientation later at the Springs Preserve. Must look for other opportunities like this.

I Likes lolcats.com :)

Thoughts on a Sunday

I have a job interview on Friday at a remote outlet town between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I think to myself, "Well, at least its in a 'Manhattan Transfer" song." It shouldn't be so bad. But I am having doubts about this job interview. In the first place, I have doubts that the company would be able to sponsor a work visa for me. Secondly, I am thinking of the cost that a two city job might entail. I will need to spend three days out of the week in city A and the rest in city B. Think of the petsitting expenses. Think of all that driving. And think of the fact that deep inside me I can feel the nesting instinct growing and growing.

At the minimum, I think of this interview as an opportunity to practice. Still, at this point I am feeling a little fatigued and yearning for a pick me up, like an exciting workshop, going to the Comic Con or maybe finally nailing that job at Starbucks (they have put my hiring on hold because they want to offer me another position) :P.

In the meantime, I think I will have a mango.

Happy Weekend!

Today: did a phone interview from a place where I'd love to work at. I think it went well. The interviewer also mentioned that I did good. So I hope I'll get the invitation for an on site interview next week. *finger crossed*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The last installment of Harry Potter, tonight!! Well, I'm a fan but not a crazy enough fan. So I'll wait patiently for my copy to arrive, sometime next week. My friend who's in Perth Australia text me.

"I have my Harry Potter copy in my hand!! ^-^ What about you?"

Saturday hasn't even started yet over here!!

Not good at babysitting

After I stay close to a 2-year old kid for 2 days, I feel sick.

She needs so much attention that I can't afford. I feel sorry for her and for myself. I am here to take care of her pregnant mom--she's going to have another kid. I can do cooking, laundery, and driving, but not taking care of her daughter. She's a cute kid. But she keeps doing meaningless things and wants others to locking eyes on her. Her mom's spoiling her by satisfying all her needs and not leaving her one step away at home. I don't like that. But I'm not the parent so I keep silent. I'm watching the mom and the mom stays around the kid so I stay around the baby. It's boring. I don't like the mom's life. Even the mom herself told me: after she got married, she did not feel any change; but after having the 1st baby, she found she lost freedom; and now she has no choice but keep going.

If I have a baby, I will be hard hearted. I will focus on my own life and give my baby just basic attention. If I care about him/her too much, I will begin to hate the baby.

WHY

Being in the US, almost everything has to be clearly out in the open.

Recently, Ms. W and I are diligently learning the Japanese language through an online podcast due to our love for the many interesting Japanese TV programs (and the cute boys that are in it, whatever, it's good for the eyes, LOL!).

Well, there was one lesson that taught the expression, "Yooji ga arimasu." Which translate to "I have something to do." And this expression is, as the podcaster called it, the magical get-out-of-jail-free expression. This is because when the expression is used in Japan, that's it. You won't be asked what the thing that you have to do is. Well, most of time.

I think it's probably the same all across the Asian culture, at least in my country it is. When you want to refuse a date for example, just say, you have something to do. But here you need to have a reason why. WHY? Such an intriguing word.

Like, sometime ago, a recruiter called during lunch. She asked for a little of my time to talk about a job opening. As I didn't want to say that I was munching my rice, I chose to be vagued and said, "May I call you a little later as now is not a good time for me to talk." And she went, "Why? Are you working?" Sigh...

Anyway, for those who are also in the job hunting process and wanted to know about your salary range, here's a good place to search for it: SalaryExpert.com. And good luck on your job search!

A job offer! ;D

TODAY, I accepted a job offer to be a Starbucks barista. :) :) :)

I know, I know. I have two masters degrees, left a stellar career back home and all I want to do is make coffee?

You may not believe this but many, many writers harbor secret desires to become baristas. In Manila, many years ago, I was with some writer friends who were tired of their teaching jobs or their editing jobs. Around that time, I was near burn-out myself. And so I said, "You know, I only really want to be a barista right now." And one by one my friends revealed that have wanted that job as well.

But this was the Philippines, where stepping "down" the career ladder is not just unheard of, it is also, well, seditious and out of the norm. So I knew that as much as we sighed and dreamed, none of us would be baristas. Coffee shop owners maybe. But not barista employees. That was a job for college kids.

***

On a whim after that conversation, I decided to fill out an application for a Starbucks barista position at the branch near Ateneo de Manila on Katipunan Avenue. Then I waited and waited and never got a call back. I told my burnt-out friends about this and although it ignited a spark of interest in them, they said they weren't really surprised I wasn't even interviewed.

"Did you tell them you have a Masters degree and currently work for the number one newspaper in the country?" one friend asked.

"I told them, but not that way," I retorted. "And you're supposed to be honest in a job application right?"

"You're over-qualified," one said. Just say you have an undergrad.

I applied at another branch, this one nearer a restaurant district. No call back. My friend said, "Maybe you're still overqualified this time because your undergrad degree is from UP."

***

With this job offer, I thought I had escaped the stigma of the "overqualified" label. It was touch and go. My interviewer, an upbeat young man, kept asking me if I was sure I wanted the job even if it just paid $7 an hour.

I told him about working as a darkroom lab assistant for less and being the most dependable lab assistant (maybe) ever and that seemed to win him.

...Until he told his superiors about my application and my background in communications and advanced degree in education. Now they want me to come over tomorrow because they have an opening which pays more but is in a different area. I assured my interviewer that I really am just interested in being a barista, but that I would speak to his superiors tomorrow.

I don't know what they want to talk to me about...But I really just want to be a barista :)

My random thoughts

As Ms. N mentioned before, yesterday was an exciting day for me. I was so happy when I saw the email. I immediately finished the online aptitude test and submitted it in. Hopefully this is the last step I need to do before hearing the good news. Please let me hear a good news... It's been a looooooong wait!

This week, Ms. W and I attended a Math conference held at our department. On the first day, I saw my professor from my previous university. I felt so happy seeing him there. I think because he's a part of my fond memory in my previous university. We only talked for a little bit. Yesterday was his turn giving a talk. And boy, it brings up some memories back. I couldn't help but smile when he spent the first 10 minutes, talking about where he came from and the celebrities that have some kind of connection to the place. Right then, I thought to myself, "Oh right, he likes to talk about celebrities." LOL! Those times when he went off topic in class to talk about celebrities, how could I not remember??

In the afternoon, Ms. W and I went to the mall with one other friend. I bought a pair of black formal shoes that was on sale. For my coming interviews... :P

Good News for Ms. N and Ms. C

TODAY has been a day for good news for both me and C. we both got replies or signs of life from several companies we have applied to. This morning C. shared news about a development with a Texas company application which she interviewed with two months ago. Nothing definite yet but definitely something positive. She was asked to do an online evaluation test. C. has also gotten a few more calls from the recruiting company, albeit nothing definite as well.

On the other hand, I got a call today from a company I have always wanted to work for: Starbucks! In the quest for a full-time job, I of course need a part-time job. And one of my dream part-time jobs is to become a barista for Starbucks. Could it be this dream will soon come true? I've set an interview with the university branch manager for tomorrow afternoon. Tonight I will dream of free coffee!

Update No. 2: Sugar high and pimples

JUST a quick one for now.

Finished two phone screening interviews today. Looks likely that I'll get to the next level for both, which is another round of phone interviews, this time an hour long and panel style. Haaaay!

Today I got a response for an internship that I applied for. Will be setting up another phone interview for that one as well.

One application sent. And a lot more stuff to do tonight.

I am feeling that my pimples are multiplying and I was on a sugar high during the second interview. Know why? Because I felt, at several instances, that my speech was too sing-songy and that my voice sounded a little shrill.

More later. Just gotta step out for Bobba tea with sister dear.

Ack! More sugar! Why?

first time camping

Intercultural Communication is the most fun course I have taken in UMD. I just came back from camping with my classmates this morning.

We went to Trego, WI yesterday. After setting up the tents in Earl park, we drove upriver and canoed down to our camping place. Then we had BBQ, walked slackline and played ultimate frisbee. As the sky became dark we sat by the bonfire to dry our shoes and clothes, play games and talk scary stories until it drizzled in the midnight. I was so tired that I fell asleep as soon as I entered the tent. Even the spider Katy found in the tent did not bother me much.

I saw so many fun people. We got three 'Goei's. Ryan, lecturer of this class, has 2 little brothers visiting and joining our trip. All three of them are bald, funny, energetic. Cory has the exact same voice and smiling expression as Ryan. So someone said we should paint Cory blue to differentiate them. Cory's a professional ballet dancer, he performed several ballet movements by the bonfire. And his brothers mimicked. John is young and tall. He also likes making fun of people in a nice way. While playing frisbee, he shouted behind Ravi "I'm in your team!" and Ravi tossed the frisbee to him blindly. I also like to talk about Shawn, Ravi, Aaron, Katy, and Laura. But I am hungry now and need a lunch break.

Ms. W: Job or PhD, it's a problem

I've been here for 2 years. I came to US to get a Master degree in math&statistics, and hopefully could get into some PhD programs after this. But my applications to the graduate schools were not that successful. I applied 10 schools this year, and got 2 admissions without support. The tuition is a big amount. I am searching support and looking for jobs right now. I can stay in my current program with support for another semester. After that, I will go to Stony Brook University with support from family(I hope I don't have to do that) if I have not found supports or jobs then.

One of the reason I have not got support is my GRE verbal scores are low. I took the test 3 times, once a year during the summer from 4 years ago except this summer. The average is less than 400. It was painful and became a nightmare. the shadow of failure makes me uneasy. I fear if I don't overcome this, which means I could get a score greater than 500, I will never have confidence in my english. I will do it again. But it will occupy too much time which I am short of.

The other reason is my hesitation. I don't have a clear answer why I go to PhD programs. To stay at US? To be respectable? To have more vocation? Do I really like statistics or math? Will I be successful in this field if I don't like it? Is it worth if I become successful but miserable? Do I want to spend the rest of my youth life in campus? Do I really have the talent to handle the phd program? will I enjoy the life of being a phd student and after? what kind of choices do I have after my graduation? Is it better to find a job right now? Is it possible for me to find a acceptable job? which benefits me better in long term, job or phd program?
To be a phd student also involve other problems as a female student. I will be 28,29 after graduation. Should I find significant someone and marry before that? And fundamentally, what kind of life do I want to have? Does being a phd student in the correct direction of life?
I get lost in these questions, again. I need meditation.

Pueblo Park exploration

I WAS getting bored with walking 10 laps around our condo complex, so today I decided to explore a new park. I put my favorite walking clothes on, put on some sunblock and off I went to Pueblo Park in the Las Vegas Summerlin area.

The park entrance is located along Lake Mead Avenue about 200 meters from the cross street Buffalo Drive. There was more than enough parking when I got there. A couple was walking their little poodle. I really didn't know what to expect. I had no idea how large the park was nor how long it took to walk the loop.

I was disappointed to not find any park maps, but I did like that the park was clean, accessible, not crowded and not to isolated either. It was a nice day, not too warm and large cumulus clouds provided a nice shade. There were working water fountains and clean restrooms. Dog poo stations were abundant and stocked with plastic bags.

The whole loop took 1.3 hours to finish. I saw many, many little squirrels. They were so tiny I thought they were frogs. Not a few of them were sucking on the tiny water spouts sticking out of the ground. There were road runners, other birds I could not identify and lots of rabbits.

On the trail were leisure cyclists, none of them wearing helmets, hmmmm. People walking along or with a friend or with kids. Lots of dog walkers. But not so much that the trail felt crowded. The trail is punctuated by a street so I had to cross it to walk the rest of the trail. After a mile, there is a stretching station with various steel structures where you could do chin-ups or pull-ups on. I tried to use them but my arms aren't strong enough yet!

Anyhoo, I really like this trail and I will likely return next weekend or sooner. I am also enthused to explore other parks. I'm quite excited!

Phone screen

So, the Career Builder approach. Is it effective? Hmm... I'm not quite sure. But I have received several calls from recruiter companies who've gotten access to my resume through Career Builder. So I can say that uploading your resume on CB is not completely useless.

Speaking of recruiters, I was contacted by a recruiter company, let's call them SH, several days ago. This company is based on Texas. The recruiter left a message saying that she had my resume in front of her and wanted to talk about a job opening that I was inquiring about. She didn't tell me how she got my resume. Moreover, she spoke fast with an accent which made me clueless about what her name was and where she was calling from. So I called her number back and got to an automated operator for the company. Whew! At least now I know the company name.

After some research to make sure it was a legit phone call, I called her back to set up a phone screening appointment. It was set up for 10 am my time the next day. (We made sure we're on the same time zone). So the next day I set up my alarm for 8 o'clock. After waking up, I decided to close my eyes for another 10-15 minutes before taking a shower and getting ready for the phone call. But then, 8.16, my phone rang. I looked at the number, and it was her! Shoot! Should I just ignore it? Then I thought, I'll just answer it and get it over with.

She started by asking if I received the material she sent over to my email address. I thought to myself, it's 8 o'clock in the morning, when am I suppose to check my email? So I just said that I didn't receive anything from her,which turned out to be true (I checked later on and there was no such email). Then she asked about 3 questions and that was it. She said she'll try sending the materials over again and we would talk again after that.

So the whole day that day, I kept refreshing my email folder. Nothing! Not even in the junk mail folder. At the end of the day, I left a phone message to let her know I still haven't received any email from her. And that was the end of it, I didn't hear from her again. It felt like a joke...

Today I got another phone call from SH recruiter. But this time, it was a different person. She speaks clear, she mentions that she got my resume from CB, and I notice something else. When the first person called, she told me to call her on a different number from the SH phone number. But the second recruiter give me SH's 1-800 number and gave me her extension. So, was the first one not a legit call? Hmmm...

Well, that's my recent job search experience. A very weird one...

Job Infatuation

I'M a creative writer and have a very active imagination. I once got infatuated over a guy I had been e-mailing and speaking to over the phone before I even met him personally. In the same vein, I get infatuated with job possibilities. This has advantages and disadvantages.

PRO. I don't want a job I might hate. And I don't want to live where I would be miserable. So it helps when I am excited about a position and when I am passionate about its possibilities. Employers like that. If I were an employer, that is one of the things I would look for.

CON. I get very disappointed when I don't get the job offer. This happened about a month ago and I felt bad for two days. It's a fact of life of the job hunt. There will be times when you won't get the offer. The sooner one gets over the disappointment, the better.

Keeping physically active and fit has helped me. I now walk an hour every day and this helps offset the large blocks of time I am sitting on my butt and sending out applications. Endorphins rock! I also like being able to talk to Ms.C about the job hunt, as well as other people (aforementioned object of infatuation for instance).

So this time, I try not to be too infatuated till I get and offer! ...But then Boulder, CO would be such a nice place to live =)

Here are other links that discuss the Job Search Blues:
Job-hunt.org: Beating the Job Search Blues
ABC News: The Working Wounded
CareerOne.com: Axiety, Depression and the Job Hunt
Jobseekeradvice.com: Job Hunting Tip: Time Management

Job Search Update No. 1: Bad sending day, good results day

Applications sent today: 1???
Total for this Cycle: 34 out
Phone screening interviews set: 2

So many things went wrong with my one application for the day. The position was perfect but I noticed quite belatedly that the organization prefers DC applicants. Then my electronic application would not send. I guess there are days like this as much as there are productive days like two days ago (sent 9) and yesterday (sent6).

Ms. C Intro

First post.

Let's see, I've been an alien in this country for 6 years. And in the span of 6 years, I've only managed to make 4 REAL friends. Yes, it's that hard for me to make friends here.

I don't live in those big metropolitan US Cities where I can easily meet people from my own country. Well, someone from your own country doesn't literally mean best friend. But it's just easier to get along with them initially when we speak the same language. And the more people you meet, the greater the chance is to find someone you can really hang out with.

Second disadvantage of being in a small US town. The food!! Sure, anywhere you go here, you can find Chinese food. But mind you, these are AMERICANIZED Chinese Food. And I think everything on their menu can be summed up as battered 'something' deep fried with sauce on top. Seriously!

That's all I can think of for my first post, so I'll stop here for now.

PS: I'll leave the 'wise advice' posts to Ms. N. My writings would probably be really random. :P

The US Job Search: A Numbers Game

LAST month, a new friend told me something I should have realized many months before. In many ways, a US job search is a numbers game. The more applications you send out, the more chances for a phone interview, an on-site interview and eventually a job offer. I began my job search in May 2006 before my last semester in school. Since then I have lodged 80 applications, have had 10 phone interviews, three on-site interviews and one job offer (which I turned down, but that is another story).

I should consult C.--our resident statistician--how many applications I should send to have at least 5 job offers. I am guessing I need to multiply 80 by 5. So...400 applications? There you have it. If you don't have luck by your side, the only real route is to use brute force. And so that has been my path for the last three months. Took me long enough to realize this. But I'm glad it dawned on me now as I begin the seventh month of my job search. I'll be honest. It hasn't been easy. But hey, I'm convinced I'll come out of this with more character, strength and stamina than I already possessed.

This is primarily what I am going to write about in this blog because it would be a pity if other international students did not learn from my experience. I will also write about the search for good Asian food in the US, sightings of other international student communities, what I miss about the Philippines and general observations on behavioral and social norms in the United States.

Often, I will be reflecting or replying to C.'s and W.'s posts. You are welcome to share your anecdotes and experiences. We'd like to hear from other international students too or other geographically adventurous souls!