Friday, November 26, 2010

Step One: Just Like Old Times

Even though I sometimes complain about having to move back to my hometown now that I have graduated, I was reminded on Wednesday that it is not nearly as bad as I once thought.  Wednesday, of course being one of the biggest nights of the holiday season as far as reunions go, could not have gone better.

There is a feeling I sometimes get (and I do not think I am alone in this) where I initially dread doing something because it seems like a chore or hassle.  For example, going to sports practices in high school, or getting out of a comfortable chair to go out to a party at night; it seems like a massive inconvenience and you think that it is purely a waste of time to participate in such endeavors, but once you are out, you have a blast.

Recently I have been feeling like that a lot.  However, on Wednesday night when I was able to see people from high school I had not seen in literally YEARS, it was such a breath of fresh air.  I forgot how much fun high school had been, had a momentary memory lapse of all the friends I had and all the fun things we used to do together.  It was like opening an old book and reliving old moments.  Once I saw the faces of the people I had grown up with, everything came rushing back.

I think now that I, and my peers alike who have had the pleasure of moving back home, are lucky to have the  safety-net of each other being friends.  It's the First Step of the Post-Grad Survival Guide: Having friends and people you can fall back on and who understand. 

Because in the end, we are all in the same boat.  We all are just starting out in the next chapter of our lives.  Whether we have our first jobs or not, whether we have student loan payments to make or are becoming first time billpayers, we are acquiring all new kinds of responisibilities.  However, having the peace of mind that the people we grew up with and know the best are going through the same trials and tribulations as we are, is priceless.  At the end of the day we can go to the neighborhood bar with our childhood friends and know that our buddies have our back

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

...still waiting???

I'm back!  Fear not loyal followers, like a phoenix I have risen again and am here to blog my heart out once more.  It is nearly Thanksgiving 2010 and unfortunately, the job offers have not been pouring in, so I've decided to get back on the horse and do what I do best and enjoy the most...BLOG.

From the glamorous Hamptons I have relocated south to my hometown of West Deptford, New Jersey; a suburban domicile located on the banks of the Delaware River and just minutes from Center City, Philadelphia.  Growing up in West Deptford was pretty much exactly what one envisions when they think of middle-class America.  We had a stellar high school football team, enough drama to fuel one of the many bonfires us teens used to have on weekend nights, and high school was just as stereotypical as what is seen in teen movies.

Ah, it's good to be home.

I can't complain too much though, as I get to see my family and friends who I was estranged from all summer.  Heading home though was quite an adjustment; almost like reverse culture shock when you come home from a foreign country for an extended period of time.  The places and people look familiar, but somehow, inexplicably, they are different.  For the first few weeks after moving home I felt very detached from myself; from the self I had come to know and love so well during the recent summer months.  Needless to say, it was hard to come home.  Harder than I ever thought it would have been.

However, I have upheld my philosophy about work.  I have been rigorously applying and scoping out potential career prospects, but so far nothing promising has come my way.

I did however go on one interview which seemed mildly intriguing.  It was advertised as a sales and marketing position , but was vague on the details.

So I slapped on my charcoal colored suit and a snazzy shirt and tie and made my way to meet with the director of the company.  The initial interview went well and my interviewer even invited me back to "shadow" one of his salesmen the following day.  I was excited to set out and meet some clients and get a fresh perspective on the professional world of sales.  However, the following day was anything but fresh.  It was actually, quite stale.  The aforementioned "shadowing" turned out to be me and a greasy, smooth-talking salesguy going door to door to different businesses trying to persuade them to buy into some type of electrical company.  This went on for eight hours.  Eight hours of door to door sales.  Thankfully it was a gorgeous day weather-wise, but I mean, what if it had rained?  What then?  And the guy even made me drive!  By lunchtime I was tempted to throw myself in front a Mack truck. 

To make a long story short, I was offered the pleasure of being a part of the elite work force, but for my own sanity, I sadly had to decline the offer.  I guess the point is, I'm not taking just any job thrown my way.  Call me picky, but participating in mindless employment just does not interest me.  Maybe in a few months when my student loans are chasing me down with pitchforks and torches and my car breaks down, I'll change my tune.  But until then...I'm still waiting.