It has been an interesting first week here in CA. There’s alot to adjust to: new area, new job, new computer (Mac, baby!), new life (temporarily, my family isnt here with me and I miss them dearly) plus the time difference. This is part one of two of my first week here in CA:
My First Weekend in CA
First Night
The flight was great – 6pm EST, Jet Blue, second row, aisle seat. There was a quiet guy sitting in the window seat with no one in between us. I didn’t even mind that we left JFK an hour late. I guess people realize that leaving from JFK is a hassle because the schedule seemed to have this delay built-in as I arrived in San Jose “on schedule”. I just took the time to relax, watch some TV (Fox 5 NY – the Simpson at 6:30 right through Seinfeld at 11 EST, with some channel surfing during the Primetime stuff) and did some light computer work. I got off of the plane about 11:45pm EST.
Got my luggage and rental car with no problem. Now, here’s where the fun begins. I’m staying at the Availon Silicon Valley and needed to pick up my keys. Since the office at the complex was closed I am instructed to find my keys in a “secret” location. Well, they did a great job of hiding these keys because I spent almost two hours looking for them and turned up empty handed. After a discussion with my relocation agent, the security team at the complex and the corporate housing folks, not to mention locking my car inside the gate of the complex, it was decided that I should just get hotel for the night and pick up my keys the following day. Fine, except for two things:
- It is now about 11pm PST, so to me, it is 2am
- I really don’t know where I am – where am I going to find a hotel?
OK, not to worry, I know how to get back to the airport and actually feel confident that I can get myself back to the hotel I stayed at in San Jose back in April. So, I get myself back there and the parking lot is packed – this doesn’t look good for me. Sure enough – no availability. It is now 12am PST and I’m not feeling well. The person at the desk sends me around the corner to a dumpy, but decent place and I wake the woman at the front desk and she gives me their last room. Luckily, I had no where to be on Friday morning so I could sleep in and hang out.
Man, what a night!
Apt Living
The weekend was uneventful. I unpacked, did some food shopping and drove around a whole bunch. I may have looked at a few apartments but nothing too seriously. The place I’m staying is really nice now that I can see it in the daytime. To this day I still haven’t gone in the pool but I am using the fitness center. Got to make up for all of that White Castle I was eating before I left.
Carl’s Jr. and Deluxe Burger
The highlight of the weekend was definitely going to the Carl’s Jr. across the street and believe me, it wasn’t too exciting. I would compare the food to Wendy’s quality. Oh, and I also went to a townie burger joint on Saturday in San Jose. The burger at Carl’s Jr. was better than Deluxe Burger’s but I can’t say the same for fries.
Tune in next time kids for details about my orientation and all of the hijinks that ensued….