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.

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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.

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....

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.

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.

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.