My So Called Adult Life

Well, dear readers, it's true. This blog does still exist. And is in need of a massive catch up. So I will do some cutting and pasting and editing of an email I sent my travel partner from India the other day updating her on my life in bullet form. Consider this a recap slash update:

-Got back from India. Three days later flew out to Denver to visit my brothers in Boulder. Funness ensued. 

-Quickly flew out of Denver back to Boston to dodge yet another massive snow storm. We had a hand full of those over the rest of the winter, although I apparently missed the worst of it in January. See below:

-Started working two days a week for my uncle's company, doing admin-y work. This had many pluses, among which was seeing my cousin who was pregnant with twins twice a week and a cousin-in-law regularly.

-Did nothing mid Feb - mid April except work two days a week and look for jobs.

-Oh, actually, I interviewed for a position at the end of March. The only noteworthy thing about that is they technically still haven't gotten back to me about it.

-At the end of April I went to St. Louis for a cousin's wedding. It was a good time and we narrowly avoided tornadoes. See previous post.

-In early May I finally started to get some feedback on the job front. Interviewed for a position at one of the big Boston hospitals on the phone, seemed to go well.

-In early May I started to plan a surprise birthday party for my mother with 85 people for mid-June. This turned out to be difficult since I a) live with my mother and b) have the nosiest mother on the face of the planet.

-Took a networking trip down to DC in mid-May to try and stir up some contacts, set up some informational interviews, and get a feel for whether or not the job search would be any easier down there. That trip went well, had 5 different informational interviews with 3 different companies, and I felt good about it. Saw many friends down there I had not seen in a long time, including a friend from Peace Corps and her husband, who I had never met. Husband asked me if I would be interested in a 3 month maternity cover position they had open where he works and I said sure, why not, so he passed along my resume.

-I returned to Boston from DC via NYC (did I mention this whole trip was done via bus? Yup, I'm that broke) and while in NYC learned that the 3 month position place wanted to interview me. So I set up an interview for the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend on the phone (which, in this timeline, was the next day), after the in person interview I already had scheduled earlier that same day at the Boston hospital. 

-In person interview at the Boston hospital went well, I thought. Phone interview with 3 month position did not go well, I thought.

-Friday of Memorial Day weekend I went to the airport to go to a Peace Corps wedding in Nashville. Missed my flight to NYC, despite being in the airport (only 30% my fault, I've determined), and had to be rerouted through MIAMI! Had a delay of multiple hours in Miami, but did at least get to watch some of one of those Bruins games. Got to TN at 3am my time and on the way from the airport to the hotel saw 3 people outside a bar with homemade t-shirts on that read "God hates gays," "God hates fags," and "Burn in hell." I think they were talking to sex workers outside the bar. 

-Wedding was awesome. It was a big ol' Peace Corps reunion as it was two volunteers who both served in Guinea (at some point or another), so I got to see many great friends I hadn't seen in years. It was way too much fun, but also way too short. Notable moments included the bride and groom walking in to the Star Wars theme and leaving to African drumming. Awesome. 

-Got back from the wedding and heard nothing from either job. Three month position told me I would hear early the week after Memorial Day, Boston hospital told me it would be 2-3 weeks before I'd hear anything. Didn't hear anything from either that first week.

-Cousin who I worked with had twin baby boys on June 3rd. Hudson and Maxwell. They're friggin' adorable. See for yourself:

They are not identical

-At the end of the next week I heard from the 3 month position in DC and they offered it to me. For practically no money and definitely no benefits. Like, less money than I was making 5 years ago without a master's. And they maybe wanted me to start on Monday June 13th. Party is planned for June 15th. Would really prefer the Boston hospital job over 3 month position. AHHH!

-Talk to Boston hospital, they tell me they have someone who is a better fit for the position and they are going to offer it to him first, I should do what I need to do. I say ok, go full steam ahead with 3 month position in DC. Talk them up a significant amount to a liveable wage and to starting the Monday after the party, June 20th. Make plans to live in my friend's apt while she's away for 2 months; everything starts to fall into place. Get very excited about spending the summer in DC with lots of friends. 

-Get cavity re-filled that has been bothering me, despite not having dental insurance, because at least I still have state-issued health care coverage that will cover the x-rays part. And did I mention no benefits in DC?

-Have surprise party on Wed June 15th, out of town guests and all. Great success. Mom is totally surprised, loves it, I am now favorite child forever. Proof:

Surprise

Favorite child

-Finally start packing on Friday, June 17th since bus is booked down to DC for Saturday morning. Packing, packing, packing, check email around 2:30pm, have one from head of group at Boston hospital saying things have changed on their end, they would like to offer me the position, not sure what my situation is, but think I would make a great addition to the team, can I please call them?

-Have slight freak out, mom goes crazy, I make her leave the house.

-Finally connect with Boston hospital guy at 3:30 on Friday, he makes me an awesome offer that includes dental benefits (grrr), I say yes.

-4:00 on Friday - Call 3 month position in DC and tell them I won't be starting on Monday.

-Unpack

-Cancel shared bike subscription in DC

-Send keys back to roommate in DC I never met

-Mind blown.

That more or less takes you up to present day. I start my new job Monday and am feeling very ready for that. I am not only bored, but very broke, so am looking forward to remedying both of those situations. I'm also just excited to have a "real" job that will be using my master's degree and working for a great organization. I hope to be happy here for some time and be able to just "be" for a while. To actually live my life, rather than worry about my next step will be.

The icing on the cake is that I found an amazing 1 bedroom apartment in walking distance to work starting on September 1st. Ideally I would have liked an August 1st move in date, but this place is worth waiting for and the extra paychecks under my belt before I move out will not go amiss.


There you have it! My 6 month recap/update in one post. Stay tuned for first impressions of the job.