Interview #1 & St Pattys

First Interview.
Macys.
Awful.

Long story short... waited in this room with about 10 other applicants, interviewed in another room with five or so desks where others were conducting interviews, $8/hr with full time hours not guaranteed, invited for second interview but fled the scene.

It was so weird sitting in the waiting room with others, who like myself, must be on the verge of being desperate for a job. You would not believe how many people didn't even bring a resume with them. In that respect, I feel I am ahead in the job hunt. What was really awkward was going back to the waiting room after my first interview and having only two other people in there. I knew I did not want the job but I was going back and forth as to whether or not I should take it until something better came along or to reject it and hope for something else soon. When I compared my pay at Salty Dog to the pay Macys was offering, I quickly made up my mind. Not wanting to be rude, I sat there for a while waiting for my name to be called for a second interview, where I would politely thank them for their time and be on my way. After a while I decided just to get up and make a run for it. I will probably never get a job with Macys in the future and I am fine with that.

Sean and I made our way into the city to drink a couple beers in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. The plan was to meet up with John at Banshee Pub on the Upper East Side. We got there, hung out for a while, no John so we left ($7 for a bud light-- yes.. it is Manhattan, but really.. on St. Patrick's Day?!). We made our way down to the East Village to this bar, Grassroots, that Maggie's friend, Kat, told me about. It was a dive, but they had really cheap beer, SC prices! Sean met some guys who were heading to Ace Bar in Alphabet City to throw darts and we decided we would meet up with them in a little bit. We left Grassroots in search of Ace Bar when we stumbled upon a group of friendly Brits hanging out outside this bar, Sidewalk. We asked for directions and while they didn't have a clue where we were trying to get to, they did invite us in for a green beer.

And then it began. They were a group of childhood friends on vacation and living it up in NYC. Nicest people in the world. They didn't realize North and South Carolina were two different states. After way too many green beers, we headed down the street to The Library where their other friends had ventured off to. You guessed it... more beer. It was kind of a dive, but a lot of fun. I found that the key to drinking in NYC is to stay in the East Village. Cheap brews, good people, and great fun. Finally, a little after 4 am, the bar closed and we decided to call it a night while our new friends were out to find a 24 hour bar. It was a great St. Patty's Day in NYC.. that is for sure.

New York: Day One

Last night, I made it into Penn Station fine, Lana and John met me and helped me get to a cab. Walking out of Penn Station into Manhattan streets with the hustle and bustle and lights and noise was quite an experience, kind of overwhelming. The cabbie was nice and it was only $23 to get to my apartment from the Chelsea area. Luckily, Mr. and Mrs. Yen were home and they graciously let me in the apartment and were extremely nice. It was awkward, but good. I unpacked and fell asleep.

Today started with my apartment adventure of the day: Showering. Let me explain.

The shower is in its own room, off from the kitchen. You enter and there is like a foot and a half space with a bathmat. Beyond that is a 3x3 ft shower stall. It was kind of difficult because the linolim floor was cold so I needed slippers in the shower room, but there was barely any room and I didn't want them to get wet.

After getting dressed I decided to make my way into the city. I got so lost. I somehow ended up on Austin St. in Forest Hills (the neighborhood past Rego Park) after walking in a circle past my apartment. I ducked into a Starbucks and pulled out my laptop. A $4 internet fee later, I found out the Forest Hill subway station was two blocks from where I was sitting. I took this pic walking down Austin Street during my first NYC adventure.

I was trying to be discreet with my camera phone, but I think the man on the left totally noticed. Had I waited 20 more seconds, I could have captured bag-head lady. My first NYC Crazy. She had apparantly been shopping and stored her belongings in a plastic bag, placed on top of her head while she danced and sang while strolling the streets of Queens. It was awesome.

I discovered that I need to make sure to bring reading material on the subway, it makes for really awkward situations. You sit there not knowing where to look, not wanting to just read the advertisements like a tourist, or stare at anyone.

After arriving in NYC I decided to walk to Grand Central to find a place to eat in Grand Central and grab a couple maps so I dont wind up walking in circles. I found food, but no maps. I walked around some on Lex and 3rd Ave in the East 40s and explored until I met up with Lana and Claire in the Upper East Side. We walked back to their apartment in Spaha and relaxed a little. Lana took a nap while Claire and I went on a short walk exploring Spanish Harlem.

This was me being touristy and taking pictures of the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal.

We are going to dinner at Itzocan Bistro (one of my favorite places in New York) and then going out and partying afterwards. I can't wait! I am kind of unsure about getting back to my apartment tonight, I can always take a cab though. I just don't think the subway would be a good idea late at night, not knowing exactly how to get back to my apartment from the Rego Park Station. I know I don't need to spend the money, but its my first weekend in New York!

Awkward: socially uncomfortable; unsure and constrained in manner

So finally, at 5:35 after a day of laying in bed while hunting for jobs, catching up on episodes of my favorite shows, and being lazy (aside from breakfast with Jen and P.R.Sans. with Kristen), I finally got up to take a shower. After about a minute and a half of enjoying the calm, relaxing feeling of a shower, I hear a knock at the door. I don't think much of it, thinking it is maybe Kelley coming up to hang out with Anne or something. Then I hear another knock.. and another. I figure Anne must have left or is maybe asleep and doesn't hear it but do not think much of it because Kelley would come back later or give Anne a call. Then it hits me, Anne had sent me the following email early this morning:

Anne C. to me 7:59 AM

Crap, I forgot to tell you last night. Utty called and he's having someone look at the apartment this afternoon at 5:00.


At this point, do I get out of the shower, quickly dry off, and try to catch them before they leave? Do I wait until they let themselves in to find me in the shower and Anne asleep in her room? Do I jump out of the shower, dry off, and try to be somewhat presentable by the time the real estate person lets themselves in to show the apartment? Or do I continue my shower and hope they are gone by the time I am finished? I chose the last option. Luckily, they were on their way out the door by the time I finished up in the shower. Made for quite the awkward moment though, I didn't exactly want to be parading around the apartment with only a towel wrapped around my waist while my apartment is being shown to a potential renter/buyer.