Hello ... I am back and bet you have been waiting with anticipation (yeah right). Well I can say that the trip was great. I think I may become a candy girl. A little twist from industrial and aerospace.
It is funny how the second time around... you see things in a different way. When I visited candyland the first time around, it was a cold and rainy day. Everything looked small town and kind of touristy. This trip all I saw were hills, mountains, sun and nature.
I was greeted by a driver who took me to Hotel Candy. I was given the royal treatment starting with a huge bag of all the candy this company makes... oh boy there goes the diet. This hotel is gorgeous and played classical music in the hallways... it was a far different experience from the Candy Lodge the first time around.
I went downstairs as I was starving and thought - who cares if I am the weird girl eating alone in a nice restaurant. I tried to keep busy by reviewing my interview questions for the next day or read the paper. The table was really small and it was hard to do anything but stare off into space and wait for my food. A couple was seated next to me and I felt strange cause I was the third wheel on a shared booth space... I mean nothing is a bigger drag than going out for a fancy romantic meal with your spouse and there is someone sitting next to you alone. Anyways, I tried to give them space but they turned to me and introduced themselves. I began to talk to them and let them know that I was thinking of relocating. Next thing I know we are best friends and end the night with a card exchange. I now have a hair dresser and a place to take my daughter for dance lessons. It was amazing how friendly and open they were to me. This is not something I think would happen in my current city.
The next morning I woke up early to take a quick jog before my interview. I always feel like a run before a major event gets me in prime form. I decided to run outside and tackle some new terrain. I was feeling good about my time starting out but the second half really kicked my butt. Pennsylvania is very hilly and I found myself taking inclines and realizing that I was not in as good of shape as I thought I was... There was a point that I was literally walking up the hill and just panting like a wimp. I guess that is a good goal for my next level of fitness training.
The meetings at the company went smoothly and it was everything that I remembered it to be. But I was confused if I was still interviewing or if I had the job. There was major cryptic messaging going on between myself and the interviewers. Some of my meetings were for me to get more information about the area and others were interviews. I was so confused about my status at the end of the day. Generally everyone seemed to like me so I let it go.
My husband and daughter met me for day 2 where we were going to see the area. The morning started out with us visiting the Director of the Jewish Community Center. He was really nice and gave us a tour of the facility, showed us the synagogues and then gave us a quick drive through "where jews live." It sounds so funny but I imagine it happens with every culture. My daughter and I sat in the back of the mini van as he drove us up and down the hills. At first we pretended we were on a roller coaster and then it turned to car sickness. I don't know how kids don't barf sitting in a mini van when you really can't open the side windows --- can you say nightmare? I was so scared that we were going to vomit in this guys car.
My daughter and husband opted out of round two which was out with the realtor. She was super nice but really wanted to sell us the area near candyland. It was hard for me to articulate that we wanted to live near the jews. She could not imagine why we would want to do that... She showed me some properties and let's just say that I thought I lived in a dump. These houses needed a lot of work and one house had the scariest basement with creepy little rooms. We opened up one and it had a wheelchair in it. My mind started racing about what that room was used for. Did they keep the handicapable child in that room??? Freaky.. This did not seem like a happy house.
All and all - we had an excellent time and believe we would be up for the move. This area has a welcoming community, good cost of living and the job seems like an excellent opportunity.
Realization - We look at situations with our own blinders on. I was so negative about what I thought this company was about instead of having an open mind - if I had decided not to take the interview I would have missed out on my next career move. Realization 2 - I like to be wooed and courted and wanted... these extra touches really help to influence my decision and most of all my families. Realization 3 - I have come to appreciate the great home I have today and hope we can find another that we love as much as this one.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment