Greetings! (part 10)
Posted by special_child at 06:02 PM on November 14, 2006 as a favorite post.
Yes, more greetings... from Manila, that is. 
I'm baaaaaaaaaaack (yeah, for those of you who have been deceived into thinking I went AWOL or I won't be coming back, you are definitely mistaken)! I arrived last Tuesday night (or Wednesday morning, since the flight was delayed by at least 10 minutes) at Terminal 1, and as usual the first words I uttered when I felt Manila air was, "Ang init!" 
My whole trip was fun. The last few weeks I spent in San Francisco and the neighboring towns and cities were absolutely wonderful. Unlike last year when I had only two weeks to cover Northern and Southern California, this time I had almost a month to actually live the life of a Californian. It was so nice to discover how it is to go around town, know the public transportation (as I am one heck of a commuter, even abroad ), go to tourist and non-tourist spots, and just plain appreciate what it had to offer me. 
I have a lot of things I can talk about, but I won't go into detail. All I know is that San Francisco is a nice place to live in... and who knows? I might someday move there. If the opportunity permits. And if you know me, you'll know what the term opportunity connotes.
Top Ten Things I Had Fun Doing While In San Francisco
10. Considering that I'm not much of an artist, I was very appreciative of the museums that I was able to visit in San Francisco (de Young, Legion of Honor, and SFMOMA)...
9. And it was fun seeing an original Rembrandt! I also saw a Van Gogh, two Picasso paintings, and some from Cezanne and Chagall.
8. I was able to somehow master the public transportation of the Bay Area, which includes BART and Muni.
7. I got the chance to celebrate my first Halloween in the States. I was also able to wind clocks back because of Daylight Savings Time.
6. It was back to downtown for me, as I saw more stores that were previously closed. The new mall there was very chic.
5. Enjoyed the weather: it shined, it drizzled, it fogged, it got cold. Too bad I missed the snow in Chicago.
4. I had Ube and Macapuno ice cream from Mitchell's Ice Cream, voted one of the best in America.
3. I took some nice pictures of seagulls and the sea lions, both of which I didn't see in daylight last time.
2. This time around, I went under the bridge. Details in pictures which will be uploaded later (in my Multiply page). It's worth every penny you pay. Hehe.
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. Purchasing $1 bargains at Borders! (I swear, one time I saved $78++!)
Yes, now I miss the States. Before, it was just so-so. Argh. 
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud 
P.S. I just hope the yearly thing sticks.
Currently enjoying all the keyboards.
Currently deciphering e-mail.
Currently checking the clock tick to 6.
Currently feeling somehow fulfilled.
My First Three Weeks @ IBS
Posted by special_child at 07:19 PM on November 30, 2006 as a favorite post.
I want to break my habit of creating entries in between big gaps.
Anyways, just a primer: It was the eventful and very blessed day of 19 September 2006 (most of you probably don't know this); I was given a US visa in the morning, and I was given a job offer in the afternoon. To cut the long story short, my trip to the US commenced (see previous entries) and my start date for the job was moved to 13 November instead of 2 October. That was fun.
Yes, the next Monday after I arrived from the States, I started my job at IBM Business Services (hereon referred to as IBS). I was hired last September for the role of IT systems analyst, and I was given the grace period to start after my trip. Eventually, I met my manager Merryll (hadn't I went to the States, I would have started with her as she transferred to IBS from another company) and my teammates Binky and Ge. A few days after I arrived, the team had another new hire, James.
Overall, the first three weeks were fun. I got to explore IBM's offices in Cyberone and IBM Plaza, meet other people from different teams during onboarding (what they call their new hire orientation here), and see my past interviewers as teammates and colleagues. So far I have no regrets and qualms (maybe the work isn't pouring that much yet); the only hindrance it causes me is that it takes away 5 hours of my everyday life through travel time (from Bacoor to Libis and back). But despite the challenges along the way, I can pretty much say that it's a company I can stay with.
Top Ten Fun Things I Enjoy Most In IBS
10. There is Tang and iced tea in the pantries (my shallowness comes out).
9. My desk is near: the window (but not directly by the window), two doors, and the water dispenser.
8. Yahoo! Messenger, Friendster, and YouTube can be accessed here. The only things you can't access are: P2P downloading, porn, and MIRC.
7. I now have a TP (ThinkPad), meaning I can work from home. The only extraordinary thing about it is it has fingerprinting capabilities (I can unlock the PC by scanning my index finger). It's not mine, though; it's still company-owned.
6. The work environment is very nice. Even the desk design is nice.
5. People around here call each other in first name basis only, regardless of age or position. But I always add -san to my Japanese acquaintances.
4. I have lots of roles (let's see in the long run if it's a good thing or not ).
3. The meetings are fun and enthusiastic, especially the IT meetings.
2. Merryll imposes coffee breaks. Go Starbucks planner!
-and... (drum roll please)-
1. The company itself. It's a fun place to be.
Let's just hope it's a fruitful and enriching experience. Next week should be a complete turn of events.
Marvin the Martian™, jaz thinking aloud
P.S. Thank you God!
Currently enjoying "Happy", performed by Ashanti.
Currently deciphering an INQ7 update on super typhoon Reming.
Currently checking the Libis skyline at night.
Currently feeling relieved.
