Decisions...decisions...decisions

So, good news! FINALLY, I know what I'm gonna do for my summer. I just got an internship offer to work in a Property & Casualty insurance company. It's not beggar can't be chooser, instead, from the interviews I had, I got really interested about the opportunities and also the work that I'll be doing.

Last Monday, I got back from the Midwest Games early in the morning, I sorta stayed up whole night. So, I got some rest, and went to get some groceries with my roommates, and also, had kinda an amazing grilling-dinner (well it's Memorial Day).

I went to bed early on Monday night because I needed to wake up early on Tuesday to catch a flight to Boston, MA for an interview. I woke up at 5.15am to start getting ready as I had previously scheduled a shuttle to pick me up at 6.15am to the airport. Everything went rather smoothly, and I was picked up by a limousine to the office (about an hour away). After an interview, a lunch, and 3 more interviews, which was really informative. I was picked up by a town car again, and was sent to the airport.

So, I was there at the airport, reading, playing my NEW Nintendo DS Lite (just a nerdy game - brain age). My flight was delayed, and I was given a $5 meal voucher by the airline, which I used it for a green tea frap and a bottled water.

Anyway, I learned about the offer on Thursday, which I'm pretty sure that I'll accept. The only thing holding me back is I still need to figure out housing and also to buy a car for the summer. So, decisions... decisions... decisions... Where to stay, what car to buy... a lot to think about.

But, it's part and parcel of growing up... making decisions... :)

Typing is therapeutic

Hi guys, it had been a long while since I last updated here. I thought I could wait until I have some good news before I update my blog here, but, I was plutoed. One of my favorite companies that I applied for rejected me after the 2nd interview. It was painful. What a bitter pill to swallow. I do think that it's our loss. Really! My loss and theirs. So, I actually found that typing is therapeutic. So, expect a long post.

Why? Because of information is deemed as private goods, they don't really know about me to make a decision with full knowledge about me. That's why I'm a proponent for knowledge sharing. Knowledge and information should be public goods, make available for all. That's why I don't think interview is a good way to really know a person. It's more like judging a book by its cover. Why not do some recommendations, or some other more insightful ways to really learn about a person. I would say. It's really unfair (i know, nobody say everything is gonna be fair in the real world) for one to be judged just like that.

But, interview is just all about judging a person. From the first appearance, first words, first smell, first sense/feel to the very last thoughts. It's all judge judge judge. It's worse than a blind date(i guess, never have the opportunity). That's why I think people really need to come up with better ideas on getting to know a person before making hiring decisions. Really, it's really disheartening, discomforting, and just demoralizing to see someone with not as good work ethics, qualifications and what not to be running away with offers. I'm not saying that employers are making bad decisions, but, I'm just saying that they don't have enough info and knowledge to make a good one.

I know there are faults on my part, because I know that I'm not the easiest person to read. People think that I'm too guarded, but I'm not. I'm just that plain, that straight and that 'boring' a person. I was told by someone that I'm just too good, too nice, just everything with me is right, and that's a problem. Because, that's not possible. But well, I'm not trying to brag here, but that's pretty much who I am. I am hardworking(call me an workaholic, because it's written on my forehead). I am a fast learner (in stuffs that I'm interested in). I have the grades, the professional papers, the leadership experiences, and other stuffs to back me up. But well, I guessed I'm too prepped up? But I'm not. I don't just do something to make my resume looks nice, but I did a lot of stuffs and hence, my resume is filled. I was never comfortable telling people about my achievements, because that's the Asian 'humble' tradition. Not until I learned that in order to be noticeable, one need to really state a point, make a statement, show a blast, and stress your existence. If not, you will just be buried by others.

I am a positive person too. My biggest problem is that I need to learn to let go. Really, something like such rejections will set me back a lot. It affects me so much that I know that I really need to learn to let go. Life's like that, you know. As cliche as is sounds, it really is. There's no smooth sailing all the time. If there's, what fun would that bring? But, having hopes and being disappointed is no fun either. It knocked me off so well that my positive self was so affected that I had to use all sorta logic to console myself. Most of the time, I can just take things easy, and laugh it off in minutes. But, this got me really bad. But well, at least I'm comfortable talking about it now.

Fear. That's what bothering me now. I know I should still be positive, but after having such a bad first step, I'm really afraid to be hopeful. I'm afraid to be confident, and I'm afraid to really believe in myself. The sheer fear of thoughts that not having an summer internship really makes me shiver. For that reason, I looked for more alternatives and sent in a few more applications just to keep myself busy, and just think that miracles will happen.

I've finally purchased all my flight tickets (from London to Dublin and from Dublin to Manchester), also, I've booked my hostels at Dublin. In addition, I've bought a huge backpack for my trip and it's now on its way to me. I'll start packing really soon, because it is going to be a crazy week right before my spring break begins. 4 exams on that week. Not to mention, most probably, I'll need to start working on my first draft of my course paper, which is my potential thesis. I'm really looking forward for this spring break, because it had been a really long first-half of the semester for me. All the interviews, classes, work, unforeseen stuffs, and also, extra-curricular work are really wearing me down well. Not to mention, I need to start studying for the actuarial exam in May too. All the emotional ups and downs are not easy to deal with either.

OK, my thoughts are going everywhere now. Last 2 weeks had been really cold. I read somewhere that it was one of the coldest Feb in 100 years here at Michigan. I don't think there was a point in February thus far that's above the freezing point here at Michigan. And, that's just temperature. If you were to take into consideration the wind-chill effect, it's even colder. Most nights, it's more than 10 degree Celcius below the freezing point. And the coldest I'd experience this month is a whopping -24 Celcius. Pure temperature. -29 degree with wind chill. How cold is that? too cold... too cold. Hopefully, it's just because of the arctic blast and not because of the late start of the winter season. But, well, what do i know about being hopeful again?

I really do hope that I will have some good news to share with all in my next post. Keep warm, but stay cool... :)

Pheww

So, phew, another busy week after another long weekend had passed. It was all good.

After walking around in my monkey suit for days, often wearing it for the entire day, to classes drawing stares, and to interviews answering and asking questions, I finally got done with my 1st round interviews (all 8 of them) today. Some interviews went well, where the interviewers were just so nice and friendly, and the interviews went by just like an informal chat sessions, where I got to learn about their job and working environment. So, thanks a lot to all interviewers for making these interviews, and also for your time. Whatever the outcome is, I believed I learned a great deal from all these sessions.

So far, I have some good news to share, but it's kinda pre-mature for me to say anything yet. So, I'll keep u guys posted.

Listening to the State of the Union now, it's kinda weird for me to type this, but well, I can multitask pretty well.

Last Saturday, my buddy Dane turned 21, and on Friday night, we went to Ashley's, where I got a Cider sampler flight, a Great Divine IPA (Indian Pale Ale), and an Irish car bomb. It was amazing.

Anyway, so, it's been crazy with everything, companies coming in having information sessions, going to almost every one of them, eating pizzas for 3 or more nights a week, to the point that I can remember the smell of pizzas by just imagining them in my mind. So, no more pizza for weeks or months to come.

So, I've decided to move out of dorm, and moving in to apartment (Northwood III) next year. Seeing how I'll have more free time, and more freedom with staying in an apartment, I'll be doing more cooking(hopefully, I won't be tired of it comes the time I've to cook every day, or eat out).

Also, I've decided that I'll get a car for next year if I were to get an internship this summer. :) We'll see how that goes.

Also, I'm starting my series viewing, with currently 24, American Idol, CSI, CSI:NY and ... on the list, and more to be added to the list (Lost).

And, I'm working close to 20 hours a week, but I've been dropping one shift or two for my interviews and all, so, it's all good so far. Classes have been going, just that I'm considering, and still have 24 hours to do so, whether I want to pass/fail Econ 431 (Industrial Organization & Performance) so that I can afford to miss some late Thursday classes.

So, I'm all nervous right now, trying to learn more about table manners, and also, being comfortable with being myself. I'm just afraid that I would be too nervous in front of prospective employers/colleagues and making a fool of myself.

Moving on, I'm still searching for a topic (more like searching more articles to confirm my topic) for my Econ 495 proposal. I'm looking at the social program of training inmates to help them re-entering the society. Either that, or I'll be evaluating the program of bringing health insurance to the poor. Pretty interesting...

Well, i'm getting a blog diarrhea, better stop here...

also, I'm attaching 'my' cheesy tuna noodle casserole' recipe:

1 (12 1/2 oz.) can chunk light tuna in water
1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables (optional)
1 (12 oz.) pkg. wide egg noodles
Season to taste (Garlic salt, chopped garlic, black pepper, salt...)
1 can cream of mushroom soup (very important, main part of the gravy)
1 1/2 c. milk
1 (8 oz.) container sour cream (optional - but will be great to have it)
1 1/2 c. grated Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 c. grated Mozzarella cheese
1 SWEET Onion (i love these...)

Microwave the frozen mixed vegetables. Cook and drain the noodles separately. Heat soup, milk, and sour cream. Blend until smooth. Mix all ingredients together with tuna(make sure the tuna is well-flaked and 3/4 cups each of Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese. Pour into a baking pan. Top with remaining cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

(I googled this. And did some modifications to it. Add some hot pepper if you like it to be spicy.)

Enjoy!!!

Also, QOTD (quote of the day) : One of my Econs professor, while lecturing: Take this sucker here, and put it into that sucker there. And you will get this. Now this sucker...