Hobnobbing in Boston

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.