When Risk Doesn't Pay

Risk can be a great thing...in fact, it's created a lot of wonderful memories in my life. But when it doesn't pay out it can feel like a punch in the stomach. Yesterday, I felt that direct hit when I was laid off from my job. It was a risk when I stuck with the company last Spring on a contractual basis. Unfortunately, the company is struggling now, so I'm back at home looking for work.

My favorite comfort foods

Specifically, my position was cut due to the financial situation at the company. Although I knew the company was struggling I had thought my blow had been dealt when my weekly hours were cut from 32 to 20 less than two weeks ago. As far as I knew I was going to continue through the end of the year with fewer hours but with a job. Unfortunately, that changed.

During my particular meeting, I was reassured that it was a decision that was made based on the company's finances and not on my performance. It was meant to be reassuring, but it was all I could do to stop from breaking down. I couldn't even concentrate on putting pen to paper to leave my personal contact information. And when the meeting finished, I was asked to leave the office without saying a word. So I took a few minutes alone, put my chin up and walked back to my desk, packed up my things discreetly and made my way out the door. But that meant that I couldn't say goodbye to my co-workers who I have become friends with over the last 9 months. I couldn't pass along my contact information or wish them luck with the remainder of the year. That was probably the hardest strain of all.

Pesto kept a vigil

What I don't think all companies understand is that some of us know it's about business. It's not personal, there are still a lot of people that are depending on companies to make good financial decisions right now so that they can keep their own jobs. But if you take away too much of the personal feel, it becomes just cold. I was left with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. Fortunately, I know that tomorrow is a new day. Now back to my Oreos and wine...

Things to be thankful for:
- Good friends and family
- A cat that keeps me company
- Books to temporarily take me away from reality one page at a time
- Better tomorrows

A Return to Blogging

That's right, I'm back and blogging again. My life has started to get fully packed with a job, friends, dating and activities which means other things fall away as I try to carve out enough time in my day, lately its been blogging, cooking and going to the gym. And as much as I like my smart phone there is just something to be said about a good old fashioned planner where I can write my to-do list and start crossing things off. So for my return to blogging I thought I would start with an update:

My Humble Abode
I'm living in the Gold Coast of Chicago in a great apartment that I'm renting from my aunt. Unfortunately it didn't sell when she put it on the market a few years ago so I've moved in to pay her rent and live in a great location. I live near North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park, the lake shore bike path, the grocery store, several train stops and my gym. I'm also a short walk from Michigan Avenue, downtown and my office.

Amanda and me in Miami, FL

Jet-Setting
My travel bug has definitely been dormant lately. I've made a few fun trips to various places including Miami (to visit an old college friend over Easter weekend) and Boston (for work and then a weekend with my family). But for the most part I don't have any fun exotic trips planned in my future. Maybe I should start working on that...after I put money back in my bank accounts.

Replenishing My Funds
I have found a job! I started working for a start up company as the Director of Marketing in February. The company creates virtual 3D environments for use during marketing research. For example if a large company wants to put out a new bottle of ketchup they may do in-store testing to see what the consumers will think of it before they spend the money on the new direction. Instead of using in-store testing our company can create a store in 3D online that can be used for testing instead. It's a cheaper and faster option.

Specifically I'm working in a contract position for 32 hours a week which leaves me time to continue some of my other contract projects on the side. I'm really enjoying the challenges of starting up a functioning marketing department. It helps that my co-workers are fun people to work with as well.

Seina, me, Renee on a beautiful St. Pat's

Keeping Up My Social Life
I have continued to meet lots of great new people in the Windy City. It's amazing how many people you can meet when you are open to talking to anyone anywhere. Maybe this was always a trait I had but didn't use, or maybe I learned it while I lived overseas, either way, an outgoing personality definitely seems to open a lot of doors.

Dating has become much easier when you meet people on the street, at the gym, doing errands and get a little help from Match.com. Of course I still haven't found anyone that I'm serious about so I'll have to keep working on that. But with my new and old friendships comes fun activities:

Our group for playing paintball

• Polar plunge in Lake Michigan at the end of January (Air temp: 34. Water temp: 33)
• Slumber party with a bunch of girls reliving our childhood with games, facials and stories
• Playing Paintball in March with a big group of friends
• Celebrating St. Patrick's Day by the river (a must do in Chicago)
• Running the Shamrock Shuffle (without training!)
• Catching a baseball game at Wrigley in April
• Trivia nights at a local bar

So what's next? Well, we'll just have to see. I seem to have a knack for keeping my life interesting.

Knowing When to Quit

In the past few weeks things have been tough at work.  It's amazing what kind of a toll that can take on a person, particularly when the job is what is restricting me from travelling around the country.  I was frustrated and miserable as I made my way into work for yet another day last week.  I'm a hard worker and I fully expect to experience highs and lows in every position but lately, I started to feel like I had lost the point of my trip to New Zealand.  I've been so busy trying to figure out how to stay longer, I didn't stop to consider if that's still what I wanted. 

New Zealand is a beautiful place with amazing people.  The landscape is diverse and there are endless activities all year long.  I'm a very independent person and I believe I can adjust to just about anything.  I work for an international company with definite possibilities to grow my career.  And I have made so many wonderful friendships here.  But in the end, it's my ability to communicate with my family and friends back home that's been my biggest demise.  I can't just pick up the phone to share stories with them, but more than that I'm not getting in the travelling that I came here for, and mostly I'm afraid I'll wake up in three years and wonder where all the time went.

So what do I do?  Well, if you're me, you quit...or at least make it clear you aren't planning to extend your visa past its expiration in March.  And, you put all of your energy into planning the rest of your time in the country and your return home. Because let's face it, when you are halfway around the world, just jumping on a flight to get back to the States isn't nearly exciting enough.  I think I'll go the long way...

"You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go."

- Dr. Seuss, "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" (1990)  I, like many others, received this book from my mom when I graduated college.  The immortal genius of Dr. Seuss lives on.

No Wonder Everyone's Happy

I've only had to call a customer service line in New Zealand once and it was for a bank account I had recently set up.  It went surprisingly well and I was calling long after business hours for help with the website.  You can imagine my amazement when a REAL person answered the phone. This occurred at the beginning of my visit here.  I wrote it off as a freak accident. Apparently, that's not the case...

I was recently assigned the task of finding out more about getting a toll free number in New Zealand. This is an odd task to write about on my blog but bear with me because this simple request lead me to realize just how much of an alternate universe I must have stepped into.

Now, as a side note, the phone numbers here vary based on toll free numbers, local and cell. Most calls only require 9 to 10 digits but others (like cell phones) have more.  This particular call was a four digit number that promised to connect me to the NZ Telecom customer service line.  I had my doubts.  Dreading the call to a telecom company (notoriously bad in the States and a call that I have had much experience making), I sucked in my breath, bit my tongue and dialed the number.  Amazed when a real person answered (one that spoke English no less), I sat in stunned silence momentarily waiting for the beep or tones requesting an action on my part. 

On the other end of the line, the operator finally got my attention.  "Hello?"  I explained what I was trying to do and she politely said I would be transferred.  Ok, I thought, here we go - let the musical chairs begin.  But I was shocked yet again when the expected cheesy elevator music or advertising pitches didn't come, instead, another person answered!  I was a bit quicker this time and again explained my questions.  I was asked for our company's current 0800 number in order to look up our account.  I waited patiently anticipating the next questions about authority and passcodes and rights to my first born child, etc....none came.  In fact, I wasn't even privy to the background conversations of other callers in the call center.  Where was this place?

The entire call lasted 5 minutes.  I got all of the information I needed, including our current plan, who runs it in our company, what the process is for setting up a new number, and all the other details I didn't even think to ask.  I was so shocked that I asked the person on the other end where he was located..."Dunedin," he said.  Wait...what?!  That's in New Zealand!  "You aren't located on some small island off the coast of Asia?"  I was so thankful for all of his help he probably thought I was just another overly excited American.  But let me tell you - you would have been too!  There are a few American companies that could take a lesson from the customer service here...they actually treat customers...like customers!

Things to be thankful for:
- Small delights that keep my day going
- Patient family and friends that deal with my ever-evolving plans and directions
- Five successful months on the other side of the world!
- Spring is finally on its way in

Working 9 to 5

I feel like time is quickly slipping by and I'm not keeping up. And then I have a day like today and I realize I haven't even been here for two months and I've accomplished quite a bit!  A few weeks ago I had an interview with Corporate Express (an international company recently purchased by Staples).  Two days after my first interview, I was called back in for a second interview.  By the following week I had a job offer and a start date of today (April 28).  The offer is a fixed term contract that will take me through to the end of my visa in March 2011.  I'm losing a bit of my ability to be carefree but in New Zealand employers are required to provide 4 weeks of vacation each year.  I think I'll adjust to this new schedule.  Not too bad for 7 weeks into my crazy adventure.

I'm working in the marketing department of the Auckland branch of Corporate Express.  I will be commuting to work each day - which doesn't require nearly as much as a commute in Chicago - but it can still take 25-45 minutes depending on the traffic. I'll be working with my manager and one other person (still to be hired) to build the marketing department into a much more developed program.  If our department is able to meet our goals, the potential is to hire more staff allowing me to gain managerial experience.  When I decided to come to New Zealand I planned on looking for a job in my field, however, I was sure that I would end up in an administrative role making enough to break even.  What I found is something that I may have been able to achieve had I stayed in the US, but was definitely not expecting when I moved half way around the world.

After day one - which involved meeting people and immediately forgetting names, reading company material, and setting up my desk - I think I'll like it.  After a few weeks, my rose colored glasses may come off, but for now I'm sticking with my typical optimistic outlook.

About the picture:  Included as a reminder as to how beautiful the scenery is this shot was taken overlooking Piha Beach, Northwest of Auckland.

Adjusting to Life in New Zealand

I have know been here for over one month.  I'm already starting to work on plans for my birthday celebration.  I thought this was an appropriate time to remind people (and myself) why I chose New Zealand in the first place. 

It's easy to say that the people make the difference. But New Zealand doesn't throw me into an entirely new culture and it doesn't offer as much bang for the American buck as other countries could....they even claim to speak English here.  Here are some fun facts (that may or may not be true - depending on the reliability of the Internet) about the country I'm now living in:

• There are over 9 million beef and dairy cattle in NZ.  (There are only 4.3 million people.)  Actually, less than 5% of New Zealand's population is human - the rest are animals. This is one of the highest ratios of animals to humans in the world 
• The world's first commercial bungy jump took place in Queenstown, NZ in 1988. (The city is now the self-professed "Adventure Capital of the World" due to the wide variety of crazy stuff they come up with to pass the time.)
• At 41.2^o South, Wellington is the most southerly capital city on the planet. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere are Barcelona, Istanbul and Chicago.
• The last fatal earthquake in New Zealand was on the West Coast of the South Island in May 1968. Three deaths resulted. (However, smaller earthquakes hit the islands annually)
• New Zealand gave its women the right to vote in 1893, a quarter century before Britain or the US.
• New Zealand has 15,811 km (9,824 miles) of coastline, and no matter where you are in the country, you are never more than 128km (79.5 miles) from the ocean.
• Auckland, the City of Sails, has more boats per capita than anywhere in the world with 80,000 privately-owned boats - one for every eight Aucklanders.
• New Zealand was named after a group of Dutch islands called Zeeland, thanks to the Dutch cartographers that mapped the area.  "Zee Land" is loosely translated to "Sea Land."  (This is all assuming that Wikipedia is correct). 

And some random information about my own experiences:

• I watch just as many (sometimes more) American television shows here than I did back home.
• I occasionally catch what could be an American accent, and feel a rush of excitement when it turns out to be true.
• I'm living in a big small town.  Everyone knows everyone within a few degrees and it only took one month to insert myself into this small world and start playing the game.
• I love that the toilets have two flush options (a half flush and a full flush).
• But clearly the flushing isn't about the environment, because all of the towel bars are heated so that you not only have a dry towel every time, it's also toasty warm.
• Among other things I've discovered that Americans have a reputation of getting overly enthusiastic about things - Me, get excited about ridiculously small trivial things?  Never.

Things to be thankful for (more on all of these topics later):
- A new flat in a great location with fun new flatmates
- A job offer that should be coming this week
- 30th birthday plans that could include a "Cowboys and Indians" theme party

What a Difference a Week Makes

Job...check (even if it is temporary); Job Prospects...check (second interview planned, more recruiting agencies in the waiting); Apartment...check.   This week I am working at a temp job, I have an apartment, I have an interview with a company regarding a more permanent position, and I've decided to buy a car - a big change from just one week ago.

Working 9 to 5:
Over the last few weeks, I have been contacting recruiting companies in order to find some temp work.  I met with one particular agency about two weeks ago, when they had me come in for an "interview."  I arrived, filled out piles of paperwork, and then they set me in front of a computer for testing.  What I thought would be a few brief tests turned into 2 1/2 hours of mind numbing delirium.  First came the Word and Excel tests.  These tests were based on Word and Excel circa 1957 and only allowed 2 tries before assuming you were a moron and wouldn't get the answer.  Keyboard shortcuts were only partially working and descriptions of icons didn't show up when hovering with the mouse - I was crippled.  (Sample question:  Move to page 8 of this document without using the page down key or scrolling.  Seriously?)  I would like to know who scrolls using the "Go to" function.  Clearly, the creators of the tests aren't users of the software itself. 

I managed through the software testing and typing test (over 70 wpm - I can't believe that was my only B in highschool).  And then they set up three more tests - verbal, math, and analytical.  Despite having regular flashbacks to the GRE, I managed to pull through and score pretty well.  (1 of 30 verbal questions:  Which one does not belong:  Sister, Daughter, Mother, Man, Child, Husband).  At the end of the tests, I met with not one but three lovely ladies who were in charge of the recruiting.

It all paid off when I received a call for a job from one of them last Thursday.  I was enjoying my day exploring the zoo with a friend and her kids (I can now mark "see a kiwi" off of my list).  I started working at the Museum of Transportation and Technology (MOTAT), on the following day.  My role has been working with the Director of Operations to update the budget and prepare the presentation for the board. It's quite interesting stuff considering I'm just a 2 week temp.  Trolleys drive by my office occasionally as they move around the facility and I get to enjoy planes, trains and automobiles during my lunch break. (Pictured: A view of a portion of the campus, courtesy of the MOTAT website)

And, in the meantime, through a friend I heard about a position that had recently opened in the marketing department of an international company with an office in Auckland.  Although they were looking for a permanent hire, they agreed to look at my resume.  I sent it in on Tuesday.  By Friday, I had spoken with the HR department in Sydney and agreed to apply officially online.  I did on Saturday afternoon.  On Monday morning I received a call from Sydney again, this time to set up an interview for the position on Wednesday.  Immediately after the interview on Wednesday they called to set up a second meeting on Friday morning.  Things certainly move quickly.

Off the Streets of Auckland:
While trying to find work, I've also managed to find an apartment in Auckland.  As of this week, I will be moving into a townhouse in Parnell (a nice area downtown just south of the CBD). I have a tiny room (somehow I found something even smaller than my studio apartment in Chicago) but the three levels I share with flatmates more than make up for it.  Unfortunately, you'll have to use your imagination to determine its greatness until I can properly post some photos and details.

Things to be thankful for:
- Networking: still the best way to find a job hands down
- Sea fishing trips, even if everything I caught had to be thrown back, I still count it
- Things falling into place at just the right time