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| Yesterday morning I was interviewed for a job, got a job offer several hours later... and I am starting tomorrow! It happened so fast. I found out about this position through one of the headhunters I've been using. It's a temp to perm position, but with a great company and should be a good start. Oh yes, the company's name is Merrill Lynch. It's a big investment bank. I will be working in their collateral management (for over-the-counter derivatives). Some of you are probably wondering how in the world I ended up at an investment bank. So do I! But since my degree was in Global Finance and Trade and I enjoyed my international finance classes, I thought I'd give this field a try. Thanks to all of you friends for supporting me through this time! Job search can be nerve wrecking and I appreciate all your phone call, e-mails, prayers, and xanga comments. I'll keep you updated on how things progress from here!
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| Today was not the best day I've had, but it's over. An hour-long conversation with a fellow job seeker and the soothing sound of the rain outside calmed me down. Nothing terrybly wrong, really. Just another long day of job applications, phone calls, e-mails... Plus I caught a light cold a few days and it got worse today. My room does not have air conditioning, which, combined with a stuffed nose, I could stand only for so long. So I took a trip to the Brooklyn Public Library - the best place I could think of that has wireless internet and air conditioning. Along the way, I explored a different part of town with its very different ethnic mix from what I see here in the ocean view Brooklyn dominated by Russians and Italians. (You should have been here the day Italy won the World Cup. The Italians were a happy folk. And they sure know how to celebrate!)
I've been really enjoying the ocean. If I had a choice, I'd buy my house somewhere close to the water. I'd be content with a hut, if it has an ocean view! I got into a routine of going out to read and have my quiet time on the pier every night. It's one of the most peaceful places I was able to find. It's easy to be still there. And I so need it, in the midst of all the city frenzy and uncertainty of my life right now. I can sit there for hours, watching the sky change colors, listening to the waves, and feeling God's peace wash over me. This will definitely be going on the list of my best memories from Brooklyn.
Last Saturday was a great day. A new friend that I made here took me on a boat ride in the Central Park. It was a perfect day for it. Of course, I took some pictures to share with you.
It was such a bizarre mix of "wild nature" and human intrusion. Perverse or magnificent - you make the judgment...
The building in the middle (picture above) is where John Lennon lived and was assassinated. That's if my companion was correct...
And a glimpse of Colorado, right in the middle of the park. I couldnt' be happier!
Time to go take my medicine and head to bed. Nobody wants a snotty interviewee, so I'd better get in shape! | | |
| On the eve of July 4 I realized that in all the time I spent in the US, I had never been here for the Independence Day. And I couldn't have picked a better city to see a good celebration of this holiday this year! Given the choice of going to Manhattan and spending the whole day in one spot waiting for the fireworks (and we are talking 8 hours or so of waiting) or spending it at a BBQ at Yura's (my roommate's) friend's place on a rooftop overlooking Manhattan and seeing the same fireworks from a bit of a distance, I quickly opted for the latter. The food was delicious, the host was extremely gracious and entertaining, the company was quite diverse but interesting, and the fireworks - the longest I had ever witnessed and sense numbing.
This is what we could see from the roof right before it started.
The nice Manhattan skyline quickly disappeared when the fireworks started going off. After twenty minutes of all the blinding brightness in the sky, my vision started getting numb to all the visual effects. I think they should have paused a bit for the grand finale for me to regain my senses and appreciate it a little better! Here are a few pics of what we saw during the fireworks.
Doubtless, it was a great first 4th of July! | | |
| So my mom decided to help me do some networking. She remembered a lady that she became friends with a little over 27 years ago when both my mom and she were giving birth to their first children (me being my mom's first). They shared a maternity ward, both had extremely difficult labor, and both ended up raising children who left "the family nest" early and ventured out to explore the world. My mom's friend moved to a different part of Ukraine more than 10 years ago, but they had kept in touch. From the most recent she heard, her friend's son was also in the US and she was convinced he was in New York. So she got his phone number and I called him up. Yes, it was one of those: "Hey, remember me... your roommate from the maternity ward? You were so annoying, buddy, screaming right next to me all the time..." Well, I can't remember what exactly I said, but it was the strangest thing when 30 minutes later I realized it was one of the easiest conversations I had ever had with a stranger and I really felt like I was talking to an old friend of mine. It was freaky how much in common we had. Well, my mom got some facts wrong - he is not in New York and can't really help me with my job search - but the connection was still well worth it. If you have any "friends" like that, call them up. You'll be surprised at the stories you may hear. If nothing else, it helps you have a fresh look at your own! | | |
| I didn't realize how much I got spoiled by the weather in Denver! More than 300 days of sunshine a year - you start taking it for granted after a while! It's been raining in New York, on and off, for almost a week now. But I am actually enjoying it - it reminds me of Ukraine. Not much new with me. I've been very busy interviewing with recruitment agencies, reconnecting with DU alumni, networking, running around the city... Looking for a job is a full-time job! No job leads yet, but I have learned a lot about the job market here since I moved. I am so blessed to have friends that are there to encourage and share their job search expertise as well as their networks of friends with me. It's all about the people you know. What I've learned is that it takes people months to land a good job and finding one is quite an experience. So, I've relaxed a bit and am here to enjoy the ride. It's been pretty interesting so far!
P.S. I went to see "Click" last night. Great movie, if you are looking to see something at the theater. It really made me wish I was closer to my family... | | |
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