The trip to Boston didn't start so well--I missed my train, and damn near missed my flight. I showed up to the train station exactly 12 seconds too late. The frustration of running to the train only to see the doors close 50 feet in front of you face is only slightly worse than watching it pull away. So on to Plan B. I buy the more expensive bullet train ticket--realizing that even if it was arriving on time (it wasnt), that I would have exactly 45 minutes to get to the Frankfurt airport from the Frankfurt train station, before my plane took off into the clear blue skies of the Vaterland. So, on to plan C--the 120 km taxi ride, and with a steep steep price tag. Monday morning was going great, and I had just spent all my fun money.
Do you remember the old OJ commercials with him hurdling the suitcases and diving over old ladies? That was me--its the first time I did the 7 minute mile since I was 16. But I made my plane, only because it was delayed an hour. My seat neighbor was a soft spoken Russian immigrated older lady returning from the Motherland and back to the Boston suburbs. She complained of the russian mafia at home and didnt much like her visit back. She told me not to try and look for jobs in Russia. The plane I was on was quite new and had personal videos I could choose at my whim. I watched the Monk and some terrible martial art movies with Jackie Chan. Next time, I stick to the books.
I did as much networking as I possibly could at the conference--handing out business cards to anyone who looked my way. I got lucky with my poster placement, as it was placed right in front of the free beer and wine table. So as people waited in line, I made sure they new about my amazing nanoparticles, and the fact that I just happened to be searching for job. I even got a couple of inquiries in my email when I came back. One company in Ireland and another in Alabama. We'll see what shakes out.
I had some informal interviews while I was there, but I have no idea if it is going anywhere. I'm not even sure if the company can hire someone. At the conference I heard lots of unfriendly terms like 'hiring freezes' and '10% personnal reductions'. Words a jobseeker is afraid to contemplate. But I have Plan B, and thats teaching at community colleges. Plan C is a street musician. I know four songs on the violin--I think that should be enough.
I got lucky and was able to stay with a friend while in Boston, which saved me several hundred dollars in hotel costs. It also showed me how another faction of the population lives--so completely different than my own. I stayed with a young family, who has to balance two jobs, daycare, one car, long commutes, and a tight schedule. They made my life look easy. I found out that having kids can be quite expensive. I never realized the costs and the sacrifices--and probably still fully do not. Kudos to those that do it everyday and never complain.
I decided to be a little adventurous and put up a craigslist ad looking for a boston 'tour guide'. Surprisingly, a cute actress/nanny/writer took me up on the offer and showed me around Boston a little bit. Her email name was Jenny Notyet. Not her real name she told me--but the cover she uses for answering personal ads. She took me to the Famous Cheers Bar and we had a couple of drinks while the Patriots were dancing over the Broncos with touchdown after touchdown. At the same time my mom called--I wonder how that looked to her.
I found out she wasn't a big fan of the pharmaceutical industries either. It looks like everyone I meet is looking to the eastern medicines to cure everything. I find this a bit comical, but it looks like Big Pharma needs some better PR. We had a great time anyway and I learned about the medically fantastic advantages of having hundreds of needles placed all over your body. That sounds slightly erotic to me. Who says I dont have an open mind?
So, I am back to work now, missing the USA more than I care to admit, and still suffering from jetlag. I think I will be back for xmas, and am looking now at the horribly expensive flights in and around that time. This time, I expect I will be rather early for the train---say 12 seconds or so.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Subway Strangers
Boston, and the english language--ahh, home again. Something one takes for granted is the ability to speak and understand everyone around you. I miss this so much in Germany it hurts--one cannot just meet random people when you speak the native language like a 2 year old. So, the Boston Subway was my treat to meet random people and enjoy sparking up random conversations with complete strangers:
Sarah and Jessica--two young girls from New York who asked me to take their picture on the Subway. I translated this to mean they were wildly attracted to me and wanted to hear everything about me. So I did. They were in Boston for a trade show about holistic healing and all-natural medicines. My history of working in the pharmaceuticals did not impress them at all, and nonchalantly told me I was the enemy. Ooooh, how I love the uphill battles! So I naturally suggested to them, that their were probably right, and how could I learn more? So they invited me to their trade show, at which they were going to at the next stop of the subway. I had to politely decline, as I was on my way to another social function. But I gave them my card, and told them I wanted to learn more.
Ralph the musician. A young college student sitting next to me started tapping his feet to an unknown tune. Ralph the muscian, was sitting across from this man. Ralph saw the tapping, and decided it was a subway jam session. Ralph started tap dancing, knocking hands against the knees, and making strange beats sounds with his mouth, all while sitting down. This might sounds rather comic, but in truth it was very impressive. He had some rhythms going I cant even describe--I just know talent when I see it--and he made a song right then and there. Turns out Ralph has been a musician in Boston for 30 years--plays about 5 instruments, wears dark sun glasses whereever he goes, and is frustrated with the young muscians of today--saying they have no soul or spirit in there music--just playing to get laid. He plays in a Blue joint and invited me there. I might have to go.
Julie, a petite young asian executive from some company in Baltimore I forget. Very cute and very frantic to catch her plane with her mom. She was asking me the fastest way to the airport-subway or taxi? I acted like I knew and said the subway. I might have been biased, cause, well, I was on the subway. She was in town for her sister's wedding. I asked her if this put pressure on her husband search, as she was single and looking (or I assumed--I saw no wedding ring). She just smiled at the question. But I got her to the airport (I was on the way there too) and she wished me a nice flight.
Taquisha, a BBW native boston, very drunk, very hungry, and very talkative. She told me all the best places in Boston to eat for cheap. She said her 205 pounds of love (her words, not mine) proved it. She was quite hilarious and made me laugh at all her descriptions of the 'succulent slices' and 'lucious lo mein' to be found. It made for an entertaining 1am subway ride.
Sarah and Jessica--two young girls from New York who asked me to take their picture on the Subway. I translated this to mean they were wildly attracted to me and wanted to hear everything about me. So I did. They were in Boston for a trade show about holistic healing and all-natural medicines. My history of working in the pharmaceuticals did not impress them at all, and nonchalantly told me I was the enemy. Ooooh, how I love the uphill battles! So I naturally suggested to them, that their were probably right, and how could I learn more? So they invited me to their trade show, at which they were going to at the next stop of the subway. I had to politely decline, as I was on my way to another social function. But I gave them my card, and told them I wanted to learn more.
Ralph the musician. A young college student sitting next to me started tapping his feet to an unknown tune. Ralph the muscian, was sitting across from this man. Ralph saw the tapping, and decided it was a subway jam session. Ralph started tap dancing, knocking hands against the knees, and making strange beats sounds with his mouth, all while sitting down. This might sounds rather comic, but in truth it was very impressive. He had some rhythms going I cant even describe--I just know talent when I see it--and he made a song right then and there. Turns out Ralph has been a musician in Boston for 30 years--plays about 5 instruments, wears dark sun glasses whereever he goes, and is frustrated with the young muscians of today--saying they have no soul or spirit in there music--just playing to get laid. He plays in a Blue joint and invited me there. I might have to go.
Julie, a petite young asian executive from some company in Baltimore I forget. Very cute and very frantic to catch her plane with her mom. She was asking me the fastest way to the airport-subway or taxi? I acted like I knew and said the subway. I might have been biased, cause, well, I was on the subway. She was in town for her sister's wedding. I asked her if this put pressure on her husband search, as she was single and looking (or I assumed--I saw no wedding ring). She just smiled at the question. But I got her to the airport (I was on the way there too) and she wished me a nice flight.
Taquisha, a BBW native boston, very drunk, very hungry, and very talkative. She told me all the best places in Boston to eat for cheap. She said her 205 pounds of love (her words, not mine) proved it. She was quite hilarious and made me laugh at all her descriptions of the 'succulent slices' and 'lucious lo mein' to be found. It made for an entertaining 1am subway ride.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The landmine of intellectual thought
Dear Cain and Able,
In this short life of ours, its a well known fact that we are going to meet different people, with different experiences, different upbringings, and vastly dissimilar environments. With this in mind, we cannot expect others to share the same thoughts---especially for those of us who know better.
Lets exchange opinions in the spirit that we both know we are not going to change each others mind. Its really next to impossible. Our opinions are shared only to show parts of our personality. After 30 years of building the sculpture, that is our mind, 5 minutes of conversation isnt going to do anything but loosen up some dust on that rock we call a brain. But it is stimulating never-the-less.
So the name of the game is this: when it comes to politics, religion, or jolly rancher flavors, we must come into the game knowing we already lost. Civility is everything, win or lose.
A Happy Public announcement made by the TWJS Broadcasting Corporation.
And now for the riddle of the day:
JBN
JBQ
JJOTC
Which nursery rhyme is this?
In this short life of ours, its a well known fact that we are going to meet different people, with different experiences, different upbringings, and vastly dissimilar environments. With this in mind, we cannot expect others to share the same thoughts---especially for those of us who know better.
Lets exchange opinions in the spirit that we both know we are not going to change each others mind. Its really next to impossible. Our opinions are shared only to show parts of our personality. After 30 years of building the sculpture, that is our mind, 5 minutes of conversation isnt going to do anything but loosen up some dust on that rock we call a brain. But it is stimulating never-the-less.
So the name of the game is this: when it comes to politics, religion, or jolly rancher flavors, we must come into the game knowing we already lost. Civility is everything, win or lose.
A Happy Public announcement made by the TWJS Broadcasting Corporation.
And now for the riddle of the day:
JBN
JBQ
JJOTC
Which nursery rhyme is this?
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