The Working Life

Well, its been months upon months since writing my last entry. By now you've probably figured out the reason is the title of this article. Work is something that is great but comes with its costs. Time is something that you must devote to the job, for which you are rewarded with monetary compensation and invaluable experience in your field. However, the less time you have the less time you can use to reflect on where you are and where you're going. Less time to write in personal blogs, for example. That is my only thought at the moment.

Yosemite

One thing I learned about Yosemite is that they have huge trees. Oh, forgot to mention the majestic mountains and replete parking lots and roads.

Moving in to Atlanta, the Working Life

I landed in Atlanta on February 13th, 2010. I had spent the previous week training for my current assignment, and before that had enjoyed a respite in three places: Germany, Hawaii, and Idaho. I rented a car at Avis for two weeks, and spent the next two hours trying to navigate to my destination, which would take a local less than 40 minutes. It certainly did not help that the traffic on I-35 was backed up and when the cars did start moving they moved way too fast and recklessly so that changing lanes became a chore. The directions given, while helpful if no wrong turns were made, were rendered useless the farther I deviated from course.

That Monday, I started work. While work does go by quickly, when it's over your day is gone - something I am not accustomed to just coming out of university life. I was provided with temporary accommodations, but decided the very first day where I was to lived and moved in on Saturday. My apartment was completely empty, and there were a few kinks that needed to be ironed out including a extremely short hot water duration (apparently they were 'going green'), and a bathroom sink that wasn't a sink but more of a basin (the water did not drain). Thankfully, my work order was promptly resolved.

After getting some furniture at the town IKEA, and after my car was delivered (a journey of over 2,170 miles), I decided to return my rental car early to a nearby Avis location. To my surprise and dismay, they were about to charge me over $1200 because I was in breach of contract by turning in early and dropping it off at a different location. I said no thanks and kept the car parked until it was due and just this morning returned the car to the airport (turns out returning the car is much, much easier than checking it out.

In my free time, you could basically call me a carpenter because I have been assembling furniture including my bed, computer desk, office couch, lamps, and soon my bookshelf and media center. What started out as eating out everyday has migrated into eating ramen and microwave foods and just recently I have been cooking chicken and rice mixed in with some vegetables on the frying pan. I am curious as to how to make things using the oven but have not yet had time to figure out. Slowly but surely my apartment is getting filled with the necessities and my refrigerator too.

What surprised me is actually the amount of strength both mental and physical required to move in. Had I been any weaker, I could not have singlehandedly carried my bed frame, mattress, loads of groceries, etc. Had I not had the mental prowess in keeping a keen eye on what was going on I would have been hoodwinked by the outlying Avis center and also the terms of my lease. For most, I suspect adrenaline would be required to do this, luckily I have only had to use it on my first day in.

Swimming in Hanauma Bay

Last week I had the pleasure to swim in Hanauma Bay. First though, I would like to mention the means of arriving at this almost sacred destination.

Driving up to Hanauma bay, I noticed a sign saying FULL for the parking lot. Noticing two overweight female 'enforcers' with audio cables leading into both of there ears, and also multiple empty spots from a vantage point on the road above the bay's parking lot, I had to shout to get their attention. To my outrage, the two refused to listen to my explanation and simply yelled PARKIN LOT'S FULL, TRY AGAIN! Pulling to the side of the road opposite the parking lot, they pulled out their loudspeaker and yelled MOVE!, and then proceeded to chuckle and laugh amongst themselves.

Thanks to my immaculate patience, I was finally able to enter after 5 rounds of going back and forth waiting for their superiors to call and tell them there were spots available. On the fifth time around they were gone, and so were the signs. Problem solved, without bitter confrontation and without having to see the two ever again.

Once down to the bay, parked and ready to swim, I was again irritated when sudo-guards appeared and forced me after I had already bought my ticket without warning of such requirement to attend a mandatory education session in a room packed with semi-naked underly clad tourists such as myself. The session began with a video clip that was 80% ethnic Hawaiian music displaying some nice scenery without words and the rest repeatedly warning the potential swimmers and snorkelers not to step on reefs or feed the fish.

After finally getting into the water, the wait and irritations paid off. I was able to see under the water dozens of fish and a few special reef dwellers and bottom-movers such as the sea-snail, sea cucumber, eel, pufferfish, and a mighty scary looking fish with teeth outside its mouth that continuously rammed into the coral, eating it. There were quite a few fish whose species I do not know yet they were quite colorful and vibrant.

I had gone to the bay with my cousins and their kids, and unfortunately neither of them got to see what I had as they stayed quite close to the shore to protect their younglings from danger. Once I swam my fill, I joined them on the beach to find other wonders of nature such as wild roosters running about and also a pack of mongoose that made loud noises as they literally went dumpster diving from a nearby rock ledge.

While leaving the beach I took quite a few photos and also had a coin printed using the ever so ingenious device that costs 51 cents and spits out a deformed 1 cent.

Basking in the Hawaiian Sun after walking through dark and cold Germany

Weather can make a big difference, yet people make even more difference. The end of last year and the first weeks of this year were spent in Germany with my wonderful girlfriend and the time I had there was excellent, regardless of the freezing temperatures and dark and gloomy weather. The past week I spent in Hawaii with my relatives and the time I had there had its ups and downs but in general was not as good as my trip to Germany.

Yes there was swimming, good food, and great company in Hawaii yet the time visiting someone who is at the top of my priorities trumps them all. Of course being in a place with great weather with the person I wish most to be with would be the best of all.

China Building 300 Billion Dollar Train System

China is putting some of it's hard earned money to good use - by building the world's largest, fastest, and most advanced train system in the world. The high speed rail line will connect Shanghai to Beijing, and boast a top speed of 220 mph and be able to deliver passengers in just four hours.

Is the world drifting into chaos?

Or is it becoming steadily more ordered, while things of chaotic nature are simply over advertised and broadcast? This is a question that always comes up as one thinks of the things that are happening today - for example recently we have a man who had claimed his son was in a balloon that could not physically carry that much weight 10,000 feet above sea level; we also have pirates going wild in Somalia and have in the past year witnessed the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.