This has been one long week; the reason for the very late blogs, sorry. After our lovely lunch last Friday, I left work on early for a road trip to Boston. In Boston I spent the weekend with the Saltire interns there, unfortunately or luckily, Stuart and Mack were away which meant I got a room and bed for the weekend, thanks Mack.
When I left for Boston I left with a long list of things to do and see in Boston and I still have a long list of stuff to do and see in Boston. Instead of a total tourist discovery weekend like I do most weekends; we spent the time hanging out. We started with a catch up and wee night out on Friday, it was really great to speak to people form home and hear their stories and tales, what they had done and things they had saw that were different from home. The Saturday was totally chilled with lunch in the park then a walk down the Aquarium sadly the queue was so long, we just decide to go a walk at the harbour. We stopped for a drink in the sun and the harbour atmosphere before heading back to the local bar for the very American wings and beer for dinner. Saturday night was a night I will never forget; it was so amazingly beautiful. I was invited to join the others to a party at some local halls of music students they had met. The party was a roof top party with the most amazing night view I had ever seen. The clear skyline of the big building of Boston was… well it’s hard to describe we have some photos but none fully capture the true scene fully. So after some music on the roof, a happy birthday welcomed in and a peak at a man shaving in shower we headed down the river. At the river we went for a little dip and the water was warm - and not like when you say to your pal the waters warm you should jump in too – but really it was warm like a swimming pool. Although, not as clean. So there we sat and floated at the swimming deck at the river side with another completely different view of the awesome city skyline. I beautiful walk home along the bank of the river so a perfect end to a perfect night. A long lie, wee walk and breakfast and I headed home back to Schenectady, on Sunday.
On Monday morning I was back to work nice and early where Vibol and I found out about the large deliverable, we were warned about on Friday, was about and what it would entail; long nights till about 10pm; free dinners and not having to be in for 8am (although not that late was in for 9am/9:30). Again you non engineers are going to be gutted, but can’t say what it was. However what I can say was that I had to get up to speed in this area quickly so I could fully contribute to the team and project. (My manager, Mike, told me at the end of the week that I had; which made me feel super great to know that I had played a meaningful part in such a large and intense project. )
I also learnt a valuable lesson this week of digital is forever. This week I have killed a few highlighters and while on a call meeting my highlighter ran out of ink. As I couldn’t leave my desk and my section was up yet so I wrote a joke email in form of a news report to let the others on the team know my highlighter died. Well I was left a little red in the face when my massage was sent back to me, as my boss forwarded to his boss and his boss to show although this was a long and tough deliverable we were keeping our spirits high. Thankfully everyone found it funny but I learnt not to send emails I won’t want everyone seeing.
As promised the before Friday at lunch we ate for free that week. Well dinner anyways. Each night I was treated to a different American take away and I wowed the team on how integrated I was becoming by finishing my dinner every night. (I haven’t been near scales since I’ve been here and certainly do not plan on it.) My American take-away’s included:
Monday – Subs, yes the foot long
Tuesday – Thia, Red curry I was told won’t be spicy, it was a little, maybe Miaread’s work has been reversed and I can’t even take slight spicy food any more. Sorry.
Wednesday – Pizza, wings and garlic dough ball. Sharing food with engineers I had the initial fear that if I didn’t eat quick I won’t eat (thanks boy’s for teaching me that one) but it was all ok I realised Mike and Vibol were not the student engineers back home could share food like normal people. Sorry for doubting even if it was just for a sec.
Thursday – Mexican the ultimate American dinner. With chilli Nachos. Super Taste.
Friday we were out by 6pm, an early night, and just in time of a few at happy hour. After a slice of pizza and on the way back to the car we walked straight through the set for new Ryan Gosling movie when we came out the pizza place. So if you see a tall guy and a pealey wally lassie in the back ground of a Ryan Gosling movie, that’s me and Mike.
This weekend my plans are to do nothing. After a week of working 12 hour plus days I do not intend on moving or thinking much.
Reporting from Schenectady,
I’m Flora Wright. Good Night.
xxx