Update on Stanford Job

So here is an update on the Stanford Temp Job.

I was originally hired to work for the month of October. The job then got extended through the month of November. The end of November then became the end of December. A coworker told me that this is very common for the office. They will hire a temp and just keep extending the termination date until they can longer classify the employee as a temp. I think they could technically keep me until October 2009. After that they would have to get rid of me or make me a FT employee.

I didn't mind the job initially. The novelty of the workplace and the assignments I would be working on made the job semi-exciting and interesting. I would spend my days working on various administrative projects for the 8 different employees that worked in the Vice Provost office. Such tasks included filing, making copies, and working on Excel projects.

As of now, the novelty has completely worn off! I have finished the major projects they originally hired me for and now have me working on very RANDOM and very MENIAL tasks. It started off by just taking the cardboard boxes that piled up to the dumpster and running mail and messages across the campus (b/c they are too lazy too put it in InterDepartmental mail and want it sent instantly). It the slowly turned into manual labor (which you know Joey G is not liking too much. Anyone remember my Starbucks stint?) 

For the past couple of weeks they had me working in another building across campus, which is acquiring new furniture and more employees. In order to accommodate these changes I have been asked to perform some pretty demeaning and insignificant tasks. This included moving furniture (desks, closets, tables, chairs), cleaning out closets, and vacuuming. I did this under the supervision of a 60y/o woman who LOVES her job and everything about it. This makes it even harder since I couldn't feel more the opposite and it is hard to hide my irritation (as much as I try). 

I have done some pretty low level jobs in the past. I have put in my time and have experienced my share of menial jobs. I appreciate their necessity but I am way over qualified to be doing such tasks. 

My plan is to work here until I the school closes down for winter break (even if I have don't have another job). In order to keep my sanity, I have to move on.

Tickets

There is always an adjustment period when you move to a new city. Among other things, transportation and parking have been issues that have taken me a while to adjust to. 

I never have really driven in a major city before (downtown WPB dosen't count). Besides the hectic traffic, bikers, and one way streets, I had to get used to concept of parking meters and street cleaning. I had been exposed to these things in Boston but never had to deal with them on a daily basis since I didn't drive. Thus far, I have received over $200 worth of parking tickets. Some for legit violations and some for really stupid reasons. I got $50 parking ticket for sleeping through street cleaning at 8AM (legit), a $60 parking ticket for parking in a residential parking zone (semi legit; there were no spots left!!!) and a $50 ticket for not turning my tires to the curb when I was parked on a hill (RIDICULOUS). I understand that the meter maid wants my car to hit the curb should it ever be bumped, but $50 dollars. Really? I have an E brake for a reason and the hill wasn't even that steep.

Aside from the parking tickets, I have had a bad experience with the CalTrain, which is the commuter rail that serves all the Bay Area. During the first week of my temp job at Stanford, I used the CalTrain to get to and from work. I bought a weekly pass that gave me ten rides on the train. On the ticket there are ten empty spaces that are used for stamping the date and time for each ride. Before you get on the train, you are supposed to get your ticket validated at this machine that stamps the ride time.

Towards the end of my first week, I forgot to get my ticket validated for my ride home. The Stanford shuttle bus that takes me to the CalTrain was running behind and it arrived at the station just as the train was pulling up so I didn't have time to get my ticket validated before getting on. So when the attendants came to check tickets I had to explain what happened. I guess she was having a bad day (or she didn't like me) and starting getting sassy and condescending. She was preaching up a storm saying that I need to be more responsible and that she was no way of knowing if I paid or not. Mind you that this train is headed back to SF and is packed with people. All eyes were on me and the sassy conductor for a good fifteen minutes. 

After the lecture ended, she finally issued me a ticket. I just assumed that I would have to pay the the price of a one way ticket or even the price of a day pass. NO! I got a letter in the mail saying that I owed $200. I know!! Get over yourself CalTrain. Could you be even more unreasonable with your prices? I mean that amount is completely disproportionate to the offense. The ticket displays the dates it is valid for (five days in total) and I don't think anyone is going to take the CalTrain more than twice in one work day. 

My public transportation "initiation" took off to a rocky start but hopefully this will be the end to my tickets.

I hate you CalTrain!

Balance Act

It has been a little while since my last post. This is a result of having the FT temporary position at Stanford. Working 9-5 every weekday with an hour commute decreases the amount of free time I have. I am sure all you employed people out there know what I'm talking about.

Over the past month and a half of having this job at Stanford, I have been forced to become more strategic and methodical about my free time. I try to balance gym ("working on my fitness"), grocery shopping, running errands, job hunting (most importantly), and going out with friends. Its defintely a chore trying to balance life, work, friends and love. I honestly don't know how Kelly Ripa does it.

But like everything else it becomes easier with practice. 

Temporary Position #2

STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Office the Vice Provost and Dean of Research
Palo Alto, CA
10/06-10/31

And back for #2!

Since the temporary agencies I applied to in the city were not being so helpful, I had decided to apply with the temporary service at Stanford University. They loved all the extra BU activities I had done and were really helpful landing me this gig.

It's not the most glamorous job in the world but I do get paid pretty well. Officially, I am the Administrative Associate to the Vice Provost and Dean of Research. The office is pretty high up in the rankings of administrative offices (which will be great for connections).

In terms of my actual workload:

• Work Monday through Friday 8AM-5PM
• Perform general administrative tasks for the various staff members

The position technically lasts until October 31, but there might be a possibility of it lasting longer. I would definitely consider working this job for another month but I wouldn't take the full time position. The job is very basic and I would end up leaving it once I found a consulting job. Regardless, its a job and a paycheck.

Folsom Street Fair

Tis the season of festivals and fairs in San Francisco. I swear these past couple of weekends have been packed with them. This past weekend, for example, there was the Castro Street Fair (hot tranny messes parading the streets of Castro), Oktoberfest (drunks stumbling on the streets), and Lovefest (everyone dancing on Market Street).

The most memorable festival I have be

en to however would have to be the Folsom Street Fair. It was two weekends ago and the name gives ABSOLUTELY no justice to the actual events that occurred. It's the LARGEST LEATHER FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD. Naturally, San Francisco is home to such an event.

The fair spans six city blocks and is filled with tents featuring sex swings, flogging demonstrations, and the classic spanking over a person's knee. Any type of sexual domination you can think of was in full display.

The leather afficionados were not afraid to show their love for the fabric. I would say about 1 in every 4 people there donned some article of leather clothing (mostly chaps or some form of underwear). 

And if the people were a little hot, they would walk around completely nude. That's right....Completely naked walking the city streets. Before I got to the fair I had a "Penis Count" game going with my roommate to tally th

e number naked guys I saw. After 17 we both lost track.

Its pretty funny to think that some of these people that were naked (or close to be being naked) or that were involved in one of the "domination demonstrations" could be the city's lawyers or doctors or schoolteachers. Some of these people could be high profile in their industries but yet have some kinky sex fetish and take advantage of the once a year outlet to express it. 

Well it was an experience... Below is some of the photos I took at the fair. 

Things Might Be Going Right For Ole' Joey G

I am so happy that I decided to stick out here. 

To be honest I had some apprehensions about whether I was going to make it and fit in here. I think those thoughts inevitably come with the territory of moving to a new place. But the past week has been filled with progress, new friends, and satisfying immersion into my surroundings.

Employment

I think my efforts in being persistent and consistent with my employment search is paying off. I am finally getting temporary assignments to keep me busy and to help earn some extra cash. The temporary agencies are actually CALLING ME and wanting to put me to work. I think the season of recruitment is beginning and that all the consulting companies I have applied to will hopefully begin contacting me and setting up some interviews.

Housing and Roommates

I LOVE MY ROOMMATES! We all get along really well and are engaged in each others lives. There is Shea who is the sweetest and the most kind hearted lesbian I have ever met. The girl has a heart of gold and is great to talk to. There is Nat who is a very laid back musician who is also great to talk to. He is actually going to teach me to surf sometime. Should be pretty interesting. And there is Lauren. She is kind and funky girl who loves her soul music and dance parties. 

I really enjoy living here because everyone is so laid back and friendly. Its great that I am able to stay here for the month of October (I can't believe that September is almost over). If given the chance to live here for a couple more months, I would take it in a heartbeat. I mean how could I give up this great view...

I know right? Its a great view of downtown SF. This was shot from the balcony of the apartment. I actually have this view from my bedroom (Almost as good as the view of Boston I had in Stuvi). Speaking of the bedroom...

This is where the magic happens. I am really slumming it, let me tell ya. And yes that is an AeroBed and Alex's old TV on the floor. Furniture is a luxury right now.

Friends

Hanna Mark has been AMAZING by introducing and including me in her social circle. I have been able to meet so many friendly and smart recent college grads. 

For example, last night I went to a wine and cheese party at one of Hanna's high school friend's apartment. I was able to mingle and meet a bunch of UVA people, some of which have had similar experiences to what I have had. Some of them made the cross-country road trip to SF. Some of them are still unemployed. And some are in the same position I was in two months ago (brand new to the city with no job, limited friends, and plenty of free time).

I knew that I couldn't possibly be the only the person that did the big move to the West Coast with absolutely no attachments to the city. But I really don't know too many people from BU that have done it. I am so comforted and glad that I was able to meet people that I can really relate to and learn from. 

All in all, I think San Francisco and I have a future together. 

I LOVE IT HERE AND I INTEND TO STICK IT OUT FOR AS LONG AS I POSSIBLY CAN. 

Temporary Position #1

SALESFORCE 

Mail Room

Financial District

9/24-9/25

It official people! I finally found a source of employment in this city that has been resisting it since I arrived. Even though its temporary and pretty petty in its significance and the actual work involved, it's a sign of progress. It's an indication that things may start getting better for me. It may also be an indication that my "break in" period is reaching its climax.

I say that the "break in" period might be ending because after being at the job for a little less than 4 hours, I was contacted by THREE of the other temporary agencies I had applied to. Pacific Placement had called me in the morning at some point to see if I was interested in a week long position. Unfortunately, I missed the call. Then, I was contacted by the temporary office at Stanford University. Unfortunately, they ended up giving the position to someone who had worked there previously. Finally, I got called from Searchwright who ended up giving me another temp position at Salesforce for next week.

I guess the saying is true. It's easier to get a job, when you have a job. 

The job was just what I thought it terms of the duties I performed. I logged in packages when they came into the mail room and then logged them out when the various employees would pick them up. Needless to say, I picked up the routine of things pretty quickly.

Aside from the tedious work, I was able to network a little bit. I shared the mail room with two other employees. Josh is a young and kind guy with a dry sense of humor (we ended up having some banter back and forth by the end of the first day). Elisa is middle-aged, sweet lady. She is "that woman" whom EVERYONE in the office knows and that you have plenty of two minute small talk conversations with. It was a great work environment for the time being though.