Leavetakings

YESTERDAY, Ms. C moved out of Duluth to join her sister in St. Cloud, Minnesota. There she will continue her job search and maybe look for a part-time job. It's a sad time for good-byes. Now all three of us are geographically apart. Ms. W in Duluth, Ms. C in St. Cloud and I in Las Vegas, en route to Boulder, Colorado.

Just last night I was also in the company of international students, my co-workers at the UNLV Starbucks branch. There was H. from Taiwan, E. from Korea and two Americans, M and D who might as well be international students because both have spent a significant amount of time abroad. This was my second food outing with new friends in Las Vegas and I am a little sad that just when I am making new friends again, I have to go.

When I left the Philippines three years ago for graduate studies, I was burnt out from working in the same company for 11 years. I was also a bit miffed that, although I worked in media, I did not feel that I was meeting enough new people. Places became too familiar, old routes tired.

Here in the United States I have met so many friends who could be good friends for life. But sometimes they move away, and in the recent months, it is I who have had to move elsewhere. I certainly got what I wished for. New places and new faces. But the desire to stay put (for now) is there once again.

When friends leave, they take a piece of us with them and vice versa. Perhaps that is why these events are so bittersweet. There is a pause and an absence, but there is also the possibility and hope of meeting again.

A job offer and an acceptance

A FEW days ago I got offered the job in Boulder, Co and a salary higher than what I thought the organization was capable of offering me. I wanted to say yes immediately, but I asked to think about it overnight. I wanted to be sure of my decision although it was generally a resounding yes.

So many things came together in this job opportunity. First of all, I like the job itself. It has a strong publications component, something I am totally comfortable with and a significant web component which is something I can competently do but I want to be better at. It's work that combined my two fields: communications and environmental education. It has a graphic design component, something I have always been good at in relation to publications.

The job also places me within a team, particularly a scientific team. This is something I have always been drawn to and I'm glad I've got this chance to work with world-class scientists doing world-class research. I've also realized that I like being in a team (job-wise) and that the solo operator quality of the SoCal job offer did not at all appeal to me. My other pursuits already are extremely solitary--writing and fine art photography--that I need to be in a community for work.

Best of all, I love the quality of life in Boulder and in Denver. My future officemates bike to work and even park their bikes in their offices. What a dream for a cycling buff like me! Boulder is like the American Amsterdam, bicycle-wise. It also seems to me that the workplace is a good one. Seems like the people I've met are down-to-earth and kind.

And so, the next day, I called my future boss to accept the job offer. Nothing is of course final until I receive the written offer and sign on the dotted line. But I have a feeling that this is the end of my job search for now.

I am currently preparing to move to Boulder, CO and I'm very excited. After I've settled and adjusted to my new job, I'd like to be able to help out Ms. C and Ms. W their job searches and hopefully other international students too.

The Date

OH, I guess I owe a post about meeting Mr. I for the first time. Here's what I have to say: He looks better than his photos, is such a nice guy and a perfect gentleman. Our coffee date later segued into a walk which segued into dinner at a nice sushi restaurant. I definitely want to get to know him better. But this aspect hinges on location.

I could write more, I guess, but I'll just keep some details private ;) I used to think there weren't too many quality men around for women of my age and geeky disposition. Maybe I'm wrong, because on Sunday night I spent a wonderful evening with a wonderful guy.

The Waiting Begins for Ms. N and Ms. C

STILL here at Boulder. Interview finished. It wasn't bad. I'm hopeful they will pick me, but you never know about these things really. So I will now detach, write my thank you cards and move on to the next applications. Will also finally read the Harry Potter book. I hope it's arrived in Las Vegas from my friend in LA.

Sitting here at a Boulder cafe. I am so pooped. Have 2 hours to kill. But all I want to do is find a spot to park and nap for a while. Oh, and there's nothing like a serious job interview to clear one's head of cute boy thoughts. I'm trying to resurrect dreamy notions right now but can't. I just want to sleep a dreamless sleep.

****

In other news, Ms. C is also waiting for the results of her onsite interview at Rochester. I was at a very noisy Thai food place a while ago when we talked on the phone. She'll know by the end of business day Minnesota time. I hope she gets it! Ms. C is also wrapping up her affairs in Duluth and will be moving on to St. Cloud soon.

Ms. W on the other hand is enjoying her new place and will be starting her last semester in a couple of weeks. So many changes and leavetakings. Who knows how different next week will be for all of us.

Ms. N: An Interview and a Date

MAYBE a first date and a job interview all in the same trip isn't such a good idea. I'm pretty excited about meeting, er, Mr. I, but my mind is so exclusively on my job interview right that I'm afraid I might be quite boring during my coffee date.

This is my second Asian date. After breaking up with a Canuck, I'm really in no mood to expend any energy to bridge that cultural gap when dating a white guy. Recall that date with fellow-Filipino "Robin". It felt easy and comfortable. And having common experiences and places to talk about just felt so good. I felt like a crack addict getting some of the stuff after three years of abstinence. Not that I've have ever been a crack addict, FYI. But then it was three years of abstinence from Filipino culture and Filipino company. "Robin" was an oasis. Never mind that it seemed we played on the same team. It was wonderful while it lasted.

So now we move on to Vietnam. Hmmm, don't really know much about the country other than the war, the soup and Lea Salonga's musical. But then again, my date is Vietnamese-American. Probably more American because he grew up in the US. After this date, I'm going to take a break and let my online dating profile remain inactive. My interest in meeting new people is stronger than ever. But my interest in romance has waned...for now.

As for the interview, I must remember not to tell any jokes and not to mention the dogeaters.

Just for the sake of posting...

Today, it really feels like I'm finally done with UMD. Why? Because today I finally return my office keys to the department. And as I walked back to the bus stop, I decided to take the long way. Passing some classrooms that I've taught in or took class at. Most of them are locked since it's summer, so I mostly just peaked through the window. There was one auditorium class that I really liked but the classroom was totally dark and I couldn't see a thing. Then I passed the corridor that was closed mostly through last year because of renovation. It was finally done and it looked great. Kinda looked out of place though...

And I also took a picture of the big chewing gum machine in front of the cafeteria that I walk by every time I enter or leave campus. I rarely see anybody putting a coin through it. I wonder if they've refilled it since it was first 'planted' there...

And finally here is where I get off the bus every morning (I mean mornings when I have to be on campus ^-^).

You are not through to the next round

Well, for the San Francisco job, that is. Also got a rejection letter for a job in Oregon. Did I ever mention that looking for jobs is like riding an emotional roller coaster?

Still, I still feel better having turned down the SoCal job. No regrets.

And I know what went wrong in the San Francisco one. I told a joke! Man....

I have no voice

WELL, I do have one but it's more of a croak. I'm feeling better today and able to venture out of the house and into the Las Vegas heat. I have some chores to do and then I'll probably hang out at the coffee shop where that cute hunky barista works. But what I really am is excited about flying to Denver.

If there's anything I have enjoyed about this job hunting thing is that it gives me an excuse to visit different places and meet new people. Who would ever think that I would visit Hyannis, Massachusetts or Barstow, California or Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Not the most remarkable tourist spots but new places nonetheless. I like discovering how different places can be. This to me is very refreshing after living most of my life in the Philippines, half of it in my hometown and the rest in Metro Manila. After three decades, everything seemed predictable.

To my delight, I've discovered that my hotel is near a light rail station. This means I can just explore Denver on foot on Monday. That way I'll save on gas money and won't have to shell out coins for parking meters. Goodie!

Home Alone Wednesday

IT is the lull between the end of summer classes and the beginning of Fall semester. The lines of people wanting coffee at the shop I work at has begun to thin and our work hours have been cut. Next week, I don't have to report for work at all. This gives me a break to concentrate one more on applications. Recently I have not been motivated. Turning down a job offer can be emotionally taxing. Thankfully, this was easier but nonetheless draining.

I am looking forward to Sunday because that is when I leave for Denver for a job interview. The institution is in Boulder but I'm staying in Denver because the airport is there and Denver downtown seems to be a better place to explore. Also, I've got a date :)

And unlike my Las Vegas China Town date, I feel more detached about this one and I think that that is a good thing. No more filling in the blanks with the description of your own personal concept of "the right guy". I am just going to meet with him briefly at a coffee shop and maybe make a friend. I feel that I'm too busy or too preoccupied right now to think of romance.

In other news, I am home alone right now and am trying to recover from a very bad cold and a sore throat. I think it arose from a very bad combination of throat singing in the car, a cold virus, sleeping late, stress and PMS.

Bleagh.

Messy Messy Monday

It was last Monday. I came to the twin cities to take an actuary test. The test was on the afternoon, at least I thought so. I bought an 8:00 greyhound ticket from Duluth to St. Paul.

Since I just moved into a new place, I was tired unpacking and slept soundly the day before. I did not hear the alarm. It was around 7:30 that I wake up. I was not sure how many ID cards needed for the test. So I searched for my passport vainly for 10 minutes. Time's run out. I stopped searching and rushed out and drove speedily to the greyhound station.

It was 7:55 that I boarded the bus which was ready to go. 'Hi W~!' Surprisingly Ms. C was on the same bus. I sat beside her and began to check my stuffs. "No calculator? Oh I forgot it at home ... No cell phone? I just saw it... must be in the car." I ran to my car and was back with the cellphone within 1 minute. If I knew what would happen in the day, I would not bother to fetch the cellphone at that moment.

In the St Paul bus station, I got lost. From the info I got from the web before, the bus station should not be there. It should be 2 blocks away from the test center. (Later I checked the address, and the guard told me long long ago, that is, 5 or 7 years ago, the station moved.) Obviously the greyhound website has not updated for quite a long time. Luckily some kind staff in McDonald told me a bus can take me there.

I got off the bus and found I lost my cellphone in the bus. The only number I could remember was my own number, so I called it. I was so happy that the bus driver answered the phone. She told me to go back to the stop after 2 hours and I got it back.

Then I went to the test center. The guard was puzzled since he did not know there's any tests going on on that day. I called the number of the test center and the staff was off office. Then I called CSA and got the answer that the test should be on Wednesday. Oh Snap!

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This Monday Ms. W and Ms. C met in the twin cities again, in another SAS test center. Ms. C passed the test. Congratulations! Ms. W failed. Cheers!

The Gut Knows What the Gut Feels

FUNNY how a bodily organ so unrelated to logic can be such a valuable guide in life directions and life decisions. There's that overused saying: "trust your gut." You know how you feel about something but can't explain the logic or reason behind it. You just know. You feel it in your gut.

That's how I felt about the California job, especially when I got a really low salary offer. The job description was great, the location as not so great and the salary offer was worse. Objectively, I would not be able to have any kind of decent savings with that one. But they were offering to sponsor a work visa. Dangle something like that in front of an international student and well, you might just get everything you want out of her or him. But the operational word is "might".

Today I turned down the California job offer. I realized, well, if I wanted to I could always scrimp and save. I'm pretty good at handling expenses anyway. I was all knotted up and kind of scared of continuing on with the uncertainty of life without a full-time job. The pressure had been building up since Saturday when I started procrastinating about writing the letter. But this morning, as soon as I clicked on the send button, my stomach muscles relaxed. It felt good and freeing.

Manila does not seem scary anymore. Ms. W and Ms. C, I assure you I am not giving up on the job search. I am just finally opening myself to other possibilities. :)

Not Today

IN a while I will examine the SoCal offer one last time and decide whether I am going to take it or not. In a while I will sift through my job application bookmarks and look for openings again. In a while I will draft a follow up letter to the Boulder company with which I will have an onsite interview the next week, and another one to the SanFo company that I still haven't heard from. In a while I will try to decide if I should change my application strategy. In a while I will wonder about starting to look for jobs in Manila. In a while...

But not today.

Today, I will sit here in the coffee shop and admire the so very nice looking barista behind the counter. The one that makes me quite speechless and causes a silly grin from me while I order. Today I will not worry about jobs. I will just do things that I love doing regardless of my job situation. I will write. I will ruminate. I will people watch. Today, on this Saturday, I will just be. And I will befriend that specter called uncertainty.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

YESTERDAY I consulted a friend who is an immigration lawyer and she said it would be very risky to accept the offer from SoCal because the employer is not 100% cap exempt. I've realized that I've been barking up the wrong tree all this time. Well, at least a lot of wrong trees. Now it doesn't quite matter how many applications I've sent. What will matter is how many I send to the right employers. My targeted application process has just become more, well, targeted. The clock is ticking and part of me is kind of scared. But the other part is unfreezing.

Ms. N gets an offer

YESTERDAY at around 2:30 p.m. I listened to a message left by a woman who had interviewed me. I was being offered the job. It was kind of surreal and I was definitely unprepared. I wasn't expecting to hear from them till late this week.

Now I find myself in unfamiliar territory. I had been offered a job before, but I turned that one down. Now might be a different story. And so I've scrambled to call friends, compute cost of living comparisons and such. I've finally gotten to ask the dreaded work visa question and will hear back about it tomorrow.

In other news, Ms. C. also had a panel interview today in Rochester. Go, go Ms. C! I'll be calling her later today to trade news.

Got a movie date with Baby Sister. And Friday is Karaoke night at Coffee and Beans (the one that's got that gorgeous Fil-Am looking barista :) )

A Collapsed Bridge, Coffee and Waiting

YESTERDAY, a bridge section of I35W collapsed, plunging cars and other vehicles into the Mississippi River. I worry about friends who travel to Minneapolis. Yesterday, I checked on the Ex and he's okay.

It's a peculiar feeling of worry. Kind of like when I receive news of some disaster in my home province in the Philippines and my hometowns. I feel like rushing there to help. I think about friends who live and work there. I feel the same way about Minnesota. I guess part of me considers the state one of my homes.

As I type this I am also think about a phone interview I finished this morning. I think I did well. There were some sections where I rambled. But all in all, I was more relaxed and it was more of a conversation rather than an all out sales pitch. I was also able to ask some good questions.

So now I wait.

I wait for final results on the SoCal job.

I wait for possibly an on-site interview for the San Francisco job.

And I wait for an on-site interview invitation from the Boulder, Colorado job.

I need to shape up and attend to my thank you cards. And I just discovered that I made date error on my SoCal job application. I'll be attending to these tonight, tomorrow and over the weekend.

***

In other news, I'm getting better at making coffee. Getting the hang of blended frappuchinos and I've been starting to learn espresso drinks. Today I made my first cappuchino and I'm pretty sure it was a correctly made one and adhered to the 10-second rule. I like the people I work with and I look forward to coffee and the company.