phairoh unleashed

1) I’m in Chicago.  This city is so very cool.  I love going downtown every day for work, spending my day in this bustling city, and then heading home to an apartment.  It will be even better after October 1st, once I move into my own place instead of crashing at my sisters.  At that point, I will finally have my own place, my own career, and my own brand new life in Chicago.

2) The people are awesome.  Absolutely everyone I’ve met thus far in my 3 days of work have been people with similar interests to my own.  Everyone that I’ve met I could see actually becoming friends with, and not just “office friends.”  I went out to happy hour after work at a bar near work, and there were 20-30 people there from work (most of whom I hadn’t met, but now I have) just drinking and having a great time with each other.  I felt like I fit right in.

3) The benefits.  I love the idea of having my own health insurance and retirement plan.  I’m sure that the reason I feel this way is because I’ve always been under the medical plan of my father and by having these plans makes me feel like an actual adult.  The feeling of growing up and moving on is amazing.

4) “Extended Benefits.”  While it may sound something like friends with benefits, I assure you, they are nothing alike.  Extended benefits is just a pool of money that they give twice a year, the amount of which is based on your level in the company.  This pool of money can be used to buy gadgets, like new computers, PDAs, iPods, etc. or work out equipment or any of a huge list of things.  While it may sound a bit strange from this explanation, it is really quite awesome.

5) New laptop!  I got a sweet new 2GHz Core Duo laptop with 2GB of RAM and an Nvidia Quadro NVS 110m video card.  <3

I haven’t actually started doing much yet seeing as my 3 days this week were all orientation stuff, but I’m excited to start on Monday with my actual job training.  From what I’ve heard, it lasts 3 weeks, and then I get put on a project and start doing real work.  SO EXCITED!  I’m so pleased with this job, with this city, and with my life right now.  I miss everyone back in Cleveland and I can’t wait to go back on the 29th to see them, but I am happy to call Chicago my new home.