The Thrill of Spontaneity

The verdict: As I mentioned before, the interview went extremely well. I didn't hear back from them when I was supposed to though, so I took it upon myself to follow up. I called to ask if a decision had been made yet, but didn't get an answer. So I e-mailed them. I received an e-mail the next morning explaining that I was the candidate of their choice. However, funding did not get approved, so their was no immediate need for some one with my skill set, and hiring would be delayed until further notice. Should anything change, they said they would contact me. This was the last outcome I thought would happen. The more I think about it, I think I would have rather them tell me that they picked another candidate versus knowing they wanted me but I can't have it. Having that just dangling in my face is far worse than accepting the rejection.

Nevertheless, I have made the decision to tough it out and stay up here. I have applied to many places and passed my resume out to contacts throughout the city and I have no intentions of looking back until I clinch something. I actually landed an interview the day after I found out the first job fell through, but later declined to even show up to it. After more research on the job (which I found on craigslist, later found on monster.com, even later found on careerbuilder), I learned the job description is completely falsified and not up my alley at all. I decided not to waste my time. Instead of stressing myself out even more, I went camping with some new friends in Rhode Island for Memorial Day weekend. I went with my dear friend, "E", her boyfriend, and his group of friends which turned out to be a big group of 14 campers. Great break from reality, and it was nice to kick back and shoot the shit with some new buddies.

As far as short term plans go, if I don't find a job by the time I overstay my welcome at every single one of my friends' couches, then I will reassess. If this whole job in the city thing doesn't work out, I've seriously considered road-tripping the U.S. Just packing my car up and driving from city to city, visiting places I've never been until my money runs out. I would sleep in my car, eat super cheap (cup-a-noodles? sure, I am Asian), and really only spend money on gas. Crazy? Well, it would be a great story to tell and this time in my life would be the prime opportunity to do it. I could even document the whole thing and try selling it to the travel channel. Well, that last part is a little far fetched. But, if all else fails in New York that trek could possibly be the next part of my life.

Throughout this whole process, I have been fortunate enough to have great friends and family supporting me this whole way. Friends, strangers even, showing me more support and offering guidance and assistance where others I consider close friends turned their cheek. People I met for the first time ever asking me to send them my resume so they can pass it along to their city contacts. I am so very gracious for them all. It is a really great feeling knowing how many people called, texted, facebooked, tweeted, etc'd me wishing me well. I will never forget these people who have helped me thus far, and only hope to repay them someday.

And so my journey continues. Tomorrow is another day. I thought this thrill of spontaneity was losing its luster. But actually, its just begun its climax. In the words of Diddy: Let's go!

My Crazy Week in Review

Do you ever look at where you are in life at this moment, and wonder how on earth you got there? For instance, I am currently in Danbury, CT for the first time sleeping on my dear friend's boyfriend's couch. Exactly a week ago I was waiting tables in Raleigh. And somewhere in between there I moved out of my Raleigh apartment, drove up to New York, interviewed with a great company right up my alley, and have no clue what life will throw at me next. Talk about spontaneous, right? Well let me recap everything in hopes to map out where I'm headed next.

Thursday, May 14th: I receive notice from the company that they're interested in interviewing me. They suggest Friday (the very next day) or Monday. Given that I am still in Raleigh, I agree to a Monday interview. So that left me frantically packing my whole apartment up, selling stuff on craigslist, donating everything else to Goodwill, and continuing to work my shifts at the restaurant until my departure date of Sunday morning.

Friday, May 15th: I have not received confirmation back from the company for an interview time all day. Still, I pack, sell, donate and work as planned. They're just busy, I think, they'll get to me soon.

Saturday, May 16th: Still packing, selling, donating and working a double. Biting my nails all the while because I still have received no confirmation time--and I'm scheduled to leave tomorrow. Thoughts race through my mind about if I don't hear back, should I still go up there and gamble it all? Though they left me on the edge of my seat, I fortunately heard word back around 7p. *Sigh of Relief*

Sunday, May 17th: Finally done packing, I turn in my apartment keys for good, bring the last of my things to the storage unit, and take off. The drive is really mundane. I'm drowsy the whole way because I've been running on four hours of sleep for the past three nights preparing for both moving out and the interview. At some point during my drive, I'm certain I fall asleep with my eyes still open only to regain consciousness when I hear myself sleep talking when I was initially singing a song in an attempt to keep me awake. Strange, but definite wake up call to pull over and grab some coffee. I stay on the phone most of the drive with loved ones to keep me company. Twelve hours, a tank and a half of gas, an hour of getting lost in the city, and surprisingly only two annoyed honked horns at my NC vehicle later, I arrive in Brooklyn with my friend.

Immediately after I get out of my car, we go out for dinner and drinks. We hit up this place on Bedford Ave called Sea. Right when we walk in house music is blasting, and everyone is dressed so trendy. Definitely a "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" moment. As we sit at the bar waiting for our table, we grab a lychee martini (recommend this!) and a pomegranate mojito (very strong). I have to say something I must get used to is the price of drinks in the city. At the restaurant/bar I work at in Raleigh, martinis and mojitos are $5. The ones we ordered were $10. Very good and strong, nevertheless. She and I catch up, talk about her life in the city, and my interview tomorrow morning. We get our table, order some lettuce rolls and Brooklyn Lagers to start. That was my first time trying it, and I must say it has to be one of my favorite Lagers. I am a heavy beer drinker too, so I was thoroughly impressed. :) So we order shrimp pad thai and curry, both I recommend, and got our checks. Another thing I must get used to is the whole bring-out-only-one-check-and-divide-it-amongst-yourself thing. Quite frankly, as a server myself, I just think it's plain lazy to not split checks. But apparently, being a naive noob that I am, this is the norm up here so it's just easiest to bring cash when going out. Lesson learned.

Afterward, she walked me through the subway route I would take to my interview tomorrow. Pretty simple route with only one transfer, luckily. We got out at the 42nd St/Times Square stop. I must say, it doesn't matter how many times I've seen Times Square at night, it still takes my breath away. As we exited the subway and walked up the stairs, I plastered on a perma-grin at the first sight of the bright city lights and tall skyscrapers. I'm really here.

We return back to her apartment in Brooklyn, and for the first time get a glimpse of a NY apartment. I must say, I was thoroughly impressed with the space she had. TONS of room, great location, and pretty safe. Though I was completely opposed to Brooklyn initially (thank my preconceived notions to Sex and the City), I'm totally loving Brooklyn now. Shortly after we arrive, we hit the sheets. I've got a big day ahead of me.

Monday, May 18th: Today is the day! Though my interview isn't scheduled until 11am, I start my day off early to mentally prepare. I get into the city around 9a, and head to a FedEx Kinkos to print out my resume. While I'm pulling up my resume from my e-mail, I notice an e-mail from the person I've been corresponding with regarding my interview. My interview that was supposed to happen in two hours got pushed back to Friday. Nooo! Completely changed my plans. I was upset at first, but took it as a test. How bad do I want this? So I did some readjusting, had people pick up more shifts for me at the restaurant in Raleigh (I hadn't told them I was leaving yet--I didn't want to burn any bridges if this job in the city fell through), and told them Friday was no problem at all. Since I was so upset, stressed, and sleep deprived for the past four nights, I decided to head back to the apartment and take a nap. The city and I would catch up later when I am in a better mood.

I woke from my nap refreshed and less stressed. Shortly after my phone starts ringing with an unknown number trying to reach me. I answer and am elated to find out there was some schedule shifting done at the company and they could meet with me earlier--tomorrow at noon. YAY! *Another sigh of relief*

I head back to the city to meet my friend for 10 cent wings in East Village. I meet some of her colleagues during dinner and am intrigued at the conversation they have about this thing called foursquare. Definitely something I want to get involved with once I am here permanently.

Tuesday, May 19th: Today is the big day! I woke up, checked my e-mail just in case there was another schedule shift. Nope, all systems go. This time was for real! Got ready early again, and made it to the city about an hour and a half before my interview. I sat in a nearby Starbucks and absorbed everything I knew about the company and industry, reread parts of my book What Color is Your Parachute? (for any job hunters/career changers/finding yourself people out there, this book is for you!!!) As I sipped on my caramel macchiatto with soy milk and nibbled at my banana nut loaf, I felt a strange calmness and excitement about the interview. Before then, I was nervous, frightened, self-conscious, not confident. But now, I was quite the contrary. I was ready to kick ass! Perhaps it was just because there were so many schedule changes, I just wanted to get it over with.

I arrived at my interview ten minutes early, met with the two gentlemen that would interview with and potentially work for. The interview lasted only thirty minutes long, but it was a great interview. I really felt good leaving the interview and couldn't have asked for a better way for it have gone. I answered their questions honestly and articulately and they kept reiterating "how much they liked me". They told me I would hear back by the end of the day or tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed still.

After the interview, I walked up to Grand Central to meet my other friend coming from CT. Since my Brooklyn friend had a lot going on in her schedule for the rest of the week, I decided to get out of her hair. My other very good friend who recently graduated the MAC program at Boston College welcomed me to stay with her and her boyfriend for a little bit until I hear back about the interview. So we met in the city, grabbed lunch, and sat in Bryant Park to catch up. We then walked through Chelsea up to Murray Hill to pass time before we drove back to CT. We wanted to avoid rush hour traffic, so we dipped into an NC bar to grab some drinks. I must say, though they had country music and water out of mason jars, it just didn't work. I guess I'm just so tuned into what is "redneck" and southern enough to be considered part of below the mason-dixon line. Nevertheless, it was a close replicate and close enough--asking for a duplicate is like asking NC to make NY pizza, it just doesn't work but it's good enough.

We left after just one drink, drove to CT and went out for trivia night with her boyfriend. After taking last place in trivia night (lol), we headed home and crashed.

Wednesday, May 20th: And here I am. Still haven't heard back from the company, but still have a really good feeling about it. I will continue to keep you posted on this journey. :)

I think I've discovered what I want to rename this blog if I get the job. Obviously if I get the job, I will no longer be "NYC Bound". I think Naive NYC Noob is most appropriate. hahaha...partially because I love the alliteration.

Urgent Update!

ATTENTION!!! There has been a breakthrough on my journey to NYC!!!

So after contacting every person I know who may have contacts in the city, I finally received word from a friend who I met through the professional business fraternity I was affiliated with. I applied for the position, she put in a good word for me, and I have an interview this Monday for the job. I should have known New York would sweep me off my feet just as fast as its very streets are. I guess New York City being a fast-paced place covers all grounds. So I will be arriving Sunday night, interviewing Monday, and hopefully hearing back within the next two days whether I get the job or not. Luckily my friend, who is the same person who got me this opportunity, is allowing me to crash on her couch until the interview process is over. She is the epitome of the perfect person to have in your network. I've talked about how an unhelpful network is worthless. Well, she sets the perfect example of how great networking really is. If you're reading this, words cannot express how thankful I am for you. If I get the job, the first thing I want to do is take you out for dinner and drinks!

I never imagined I would get a bite this fast. I only graduated a week ago and expected to be working at the same restaurant I have been for the summer. But for some reason, I feel this opportunity is perfect for me. It could not have come at a better time since my lease ends this Tuesday and I was going to literally be homeless if I did not figure out what I was going to do/where I was going to be. I truly feel the puzzle pieces coming together for me and cannot contain my excitement. The only thing separating me from New York is this interview. No pressure, right? Ha!

And on top of that, being a college graduate has finally hit me. I was numb of the concept until now. Knowing that I'm about to start being a "real grown up" in the big city, away from family, friend, the familiar has really made me an emotional mess. First I'm jumping up and down elated, then the next second I'm teary-eyed thinking about people whom I've grown incredibly close to in a short amount of time. I'm so anxious to see my dream unfold in front of my eyes, but at the same time am saddened that I may lose contact with people I really care about. Of course, nothing lasts forever--I've done the whole moving up-and-leaving thing before (I'm a military brat, I've done it a million times). I guess being a military brat has really opened my eyes on this process. Because I know that I will lose touch with these people since it's happened before to me with other close friends I've had in the past. I have a chance to change the pattern this go-round though. Hopefully won't get to swallowed in the city and lose sight of my loved ones below the Mason-Dixon line.

As I'm writing this blog, I have an apartment full of stuff that needs to be out by Sunday before I leave. I'm posting a picture to show you all how much work I still have to do:



Needless to say, I will be up all night. But I'm praying all this stress will be worth it after Monday. For those of you that are reading this, please say a little prayer for me as well. I'm a big fan of The Secret (i.e. the Law of Attraction...read this), so if I get many people joining me with positive energy and thoughts of me successfully getting the job then we can really put the Law of Attraction to the test. I will keep you posted. See you in the city in two days! Ahhhhh! It's really happening!

Things I'm Going to Miss

This morning, at 8:00AM, I walked into my very last exam in my undergraduate career and felt a strange calmness. At 9:20AM, I turned in my exam when my professor asked me, "Are you graduating? I will need to grade your exam first if you are." I smiled, nodded, and walked out with a strange sadness. I've been anticipating the end, this moment, for such a long time--literally begging time to hurry up. And now that it is finally here, I can't help but beg time to slow down. College has flashed before my eyes faster than I ever thought a span of four years could move. All I want to do is enjoy my last days being a college student, basking in this moment but it's already all over. Normally I would fuss and complain about studying, holding it off until the very last minute. But during my FINAL final exam, I was comfortable and willing to study. Perhaps because it was the very last time I would partake in this practice, I subconsciously felt the need to relish in the moment. But for the first and last time, I was happy and enjoying studying.

As cliche as it sounds, graduating college is truly a bittersweet experience. The past four years of my life have been nothing short of a liberating experience that has been crucial in learning and growing into the person I am and will be. I'm healthily scared on what lies ahead of me. Coming out of high school I was convinced I would go to college, find my soul mate and get married. But now, I'm at a completely different place. No soul mate. No marriage any in sight yet. Let's hope this time my future plans are more realistic. What do I see for myself in the future?

New York? For certain.
Working for an ad agency? Hopeful.
Being a published author? Perhaps.
Soul mate? Laughable at the moment, but possible.
Marriage? Still no where in sight.
Success? Inevitable.

NC State, I'm going to miss you dearly. You've been my home, my adult foundation, my life. I cannot thank you enough for the past four years I've spent with you. I only hope to do you proud and show you what I've learned from you. I'm going to miss the deep-fried-everything, knee-slapping country music, cheerwine, southern accents, and even the mulch smell. I will always bleed red, and never forget where I came from.

In the words of Michael Scott (The Office), "You have no idea how high I can fly."

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I will be updating soon though, seeing how I graduate in 6 days!!! Get excited (for me). :)