The Way Time Flies

I know I probably mentioned this a billion times, but I can't believe I am two months away from being here for two years! A week ago I got a notice that I need to decide if I am going to stay in my current apartment or find another place to live. The end of the lease coincides with my South Korea trip to Seoul, so I am not sure I would want to try moving before traveling internationally. The one thing I really dislike about the current place is the fact that the kitchen space is literally a hallway. There is also the occasional pest problem, but the location is very nice. It is hard to beat being a few blocks away from the lake front with access to the Belmont red line, the Clark bus, the Broadway bus, and the Sheridan bus,which makes it hard to imagine moving more West in the city.

This is Noel cooking in my hallway.

TRIGGERS- TO SEARCH AGAIN?

I usually don't check my other email that I use for job searching, but occasionally, some of those emails end up in my personal account. For some reason, when I saw an alert for new job postings, it really made me think about the fact that I probably should start looking again. Another thing, I can't believe.

I have known for a while now that there is a clock over my head at my current place, and it will be good till the end of 2014. The fate of the Division of Science is in the hands of people who don't know anything about what it takes to do testing, research and development, and what role the laboratory plays in representing the U.S. when it comes to developing international safety and standard guidelines for dental products.

Of all the jobs I have had in my short career life so far, this place has a personal meaning to me, which is why I always thought that if I ever came back I would want to stay for the rest of my career. It's a very romantic notion that you could stay loyal to your current company and they would also look out for you. But, the times have changed so much. To stay competitive in most fields, one must move around every three to five years at a company to stay competitive. For engineers, I believe that is true. Every time you move around, you're learning about new technologies and instruments, you're learning from your coworkers as they are learning from you hopefully, and you're challenging yourself and testing your abilities to adapt to changes.

A year ago I said I would ride this out and return home to take time off  to spend with my family and friends back home as well as spend time on my art before looking for another job, but now I want to actually transition straight into another one when the time comes. This might be due to another thing I believe about myself now at this point. That as much as I love art as my hobby, the amount of time I would spend doing it, would decrease as I get older because other things become a priority. I lived and did some of the things I always wanted to in the last couple of years with it, and even if it was just a taste of what was possible, it was good to know that I had potential and that other people thought so too. That validation was what I wanted, and it helped put me more at peace with it.

Whether you like it or not, you always have to be aware that changes are coming.

NEW FRIEND

I haven't taken many photos with the new people I met, but I did get permission for this one!

This is Rishi at Farmer's Market at the MCA.

Summer concerts begin at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

People were dancing at during the last song by the Pink Martini :)

Summer in Chicago

Summer is in full swing now with the humidity and sun in Chicago. I have to say it is probably my least favorite season because there isn't much you can do to stay comfortable when it's hot. During the Spring, Fall, and Winter, you can just layer up. My preference is to layer up instead of taking layers off so I guess I'll have to find a way to stay cool somehow. Apartments that are old have window installed AC units, but I am probably going to skip getting those units.

This new season brings about many changes. I'll probably limit the amount of cooking I would do in the oven or on the stove because heat does not dissipate well in my place. It means more salads, fruits, and precooked chicken or meats. In addition, the city is bustling with activities in every neighborhood which means more time outdoors and less at home. In the last week I've done rooftop yoga, seen the Book of Mormon Broadway, ventured up to Devon for Indian Food, and meet up with some old friends.

AKIYO, RICH, ASHBEY, AND PING JING

Sometimes it is hard to say how long you'll stay close to a friend. I feel it shifts all the time and even though it does, and you don't see someone for months at a time, it doesn't mean you can't pick up where you left off. In the last two weeks I either started talking with them again or have met up with them. It was good to see or talk to these four down to earth people. We talked about changes in our lives, and questions we have about some of our social interactions, our plans, and so on. It's nice that it feels so easy. It's a guaranteed good time!

PICTURES????

I haven't been very good at taking photos since I am not sure how well that would go over with some of the newer people I am now friends with.

I was cool with rooftop yoga until we started doing yoga.... HAHA!