When Mike changed his phone number, he decided to update all of his profiles at all different websites where telephone number is required. It included Moster.com - recruiting website. The very next day he got an email from an IT company in Silver Spring, MD, saying that they are interested in conducting an interview with him. Mike passed three online tests and when we came back from our New Year's vacation at St. Petersburg, he got an invitation to visit the company. The interview was set for Monday, January 26th. Mike left to DC on Sunday and stayed with his parents. Monday morning I was pretty nervous at work, checking my cell phone for the text messaged every five minutes. Finally at 1am I gave up and called him (his interview started at 9am!). He said he JUST walked out of the building, that the interview lasted for three hours and then they took him out for lunch.
After my work was over, I met Mike at Penn Station and we went home together. He thought the interview went well, but as usually he had a lot of doubts. The positive feeling that we shared was that no matter how it goes, we'll be just fine. It was a completely different situation to look for a job while you already have a good position. On Wednesday, dad's 50th birthday, we heard from the company - they made an offer with the salary that Mike asked for and a relocation bonus. On Friday Mike called them back and agreed. The trick was that before Mike passes Interim clearance they can't hire him.
Clearance application was very extensive. We worked on it all weekend and few more nights, and Mike finally submitted it on Friday which this bring us to the current week. On Wednesday, WOTI confirmed Mike's interim clearance and he officially announced at his work that he is leaving.
We didn't think long if we should accept the offer or not, because it was an obviously good solution for us. Mike has some tensions at work, we always wanted to move to DC area and I am having troubles at my current work as well. The answer is pretty clear, but the decisions to change our lives are always tough ones even if they are pretty straightforward. It takes some time to get used to the idea of relocating, finding new apartment, getting cars and new jobs. But it is all for good, and we are pretty confident about the change.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
out in the city
Dave and Gillian came to visit us (and New York) last Thursday. People often compare having an apartment in New York City with having an apartment in Moscow. Every single person you know, sometimes not particularly well, would come to visit you.
Fortunately, Dave and Gillian are good friends of ours, and they are wonderful guests who do not make your life complicated while staying at your place. Quiet opposite - they just make everything more fun! We did lots of cool things with them over last weekend !
On Friday we went to the baseball game at Yankee's Stadium. The Stadium is soon to be demolished, and they had s big count down of games before it will happen. Our game was 68th or something :) The weather was cold and windy, and thus it was unpleasant outside, but it was an exciting crowd around. Overall I had fun, even though I didn't have any idea what was going on most of time at the field.
On Sunday we went to see Macbeth with Patrick Stewart playing the leading role. And again, I didn't understand anything. I mean, I understood who killed whom, but not what they were pronouncing while raising their swords. I was counting minutes till the time when I decided a decent play was supposed to end, and was very happy to leave. Though I have to admit, that it was obviously very a well acted and staged performance, it was just me (and larger half of the audience) who did not understand Shakespeare language on the fly.
One easy-to-understand thing we did was a trip to the Bronx Zoo. I loved it, since you don't feel pain when looking at the animals there. They obviously have pretty good life there, very well taken care of and well fed. I want to go back there when Tanya comes - it will be a fun thing to do!
Our friends are living tomorrow, so we will catch up on all our tv shows and sitting at home time before going to Vermont for Miles's graduation (and my birthday)!
Fortunately, Dave and Gillian are good friends of ours, and they are wonderful guests who do not make your life complicated while staying at your place. Quiet opposite - they just make everything more fun! We did lots of cool things with them over last weekend !
On Friday we went to the baseball game at Yankee's Stadium. The Stadium is soon to be demolished, and they had s big count down of games before it will happen. Our game was 68th or something :) The weather was cold and windy, and thus it was unpleasant outside, but it was an exciting crowd around. Overall I had fun, even though I didn't have any idea what was going on most of time at the field.
On Sunday we went to see Macbeth with Patrick Stewart playing the leading role. And again, I didn't understand anything. I mean, I understood who killed whom, but not what they were pronouncing while raising their swords. I was counting minutes till the time when I decided a decent play was supposed to end, and was very happy to leave. Though I have to admit, that it was obviously very a well acted and staged performance, it was just me (and larger half of the audience) who did not understand Shakespeare language on the fly.
One easy-to-understand thing we did was a trip to the Bronx Zoo. I loved it, since you don't feel pain when looking at the animals there. They obviously have pretty good life there, very well taken care of and well fed. I want to go back there when Tanya comes - it will be a fun thing to do!
Our friends are living tomorrow, so we will catch up on all our tv shows and sitting at home time before going to Vermont for Miles's graduation (and my birthday)!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Video Games Live
This weekend, Mike and I went to the Video Games Live concert, which was an amazing experience. It was an interesting compromise for both of us: games and going out. As a result, it was the perfect night out, when both of us were pretty happy.
It was my first time at Beacon Theater, which I heard so much about. Honestly, I found it very ugly. Huge woman-warriors statues and ceiling decorations looked more like an exaggerated parody on a theater, rather then something tasteful. The entrance hall was very narrow, so people were jammed in the vestibule. We came early, and got a chance to buy a souvenir t-shirt for Mike.
I very much enjoyed the concert, which was very entertaining. Everything in the United States is entertaining, even the symphony concert! The audience was encouraged to cheer and applaud during the performance when they recognized the piece of music they like. The orchestra and the choir performed my favorite intro to the Civ IV game, and many more video games music pieces, which were very powerful and of a good quality.
Also, I died my hair red Sunday night. It looks totally awesome!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I am back, I promise
It's interesting, but one has so much more free time when employed rather while being free from any obligations. Months of January, February and March went by so quickly and unremarkably that I can hardly remember anything I did at the beginning of this year. At the same time, I didn't have time for anything, I never posted a single note on this blog.
I can't remember anything from January. In February we went to Rochester. Mike was sent to the training from Columbia during the St. Valentine's week. We continued our tradition of going out of town for the 14th of February by combining it with some technical classes in the morning for Mike. We stayed in a very nice hotel Woodcliff, where we had very nice dinner and spa massages to celebrate the year since our engagement.
In March we had an interview for the green card. It was crazy stressful, especially considering that we had to get up at 5:30am that day in order to make it on time to Garden City, NY. I didn't hear from them since then.
At the end of the March, at the time of my desperate job hunt (still never heard from anyone!), my old job Penny Lane Studios asked me to work for them temporarily. It means I can be here until I find something else. It works for me, and it works for Penny Lane. Yay!
Since I started this job, I caught up on all of my emails, planning and arrangements. I participated in St. Michael's meetings, and I plan to do more. I am going to the gym. Not too often, but still more then before! I got so much more free time, that I am back to write my blog again.
I can't remember anything from January. In February we went to Rochester. Mike was sent to the training from Columbia during the St. Valentine's week. We continued our tradition of going out of town for the 14th of February by combining it with some technical classes in the morning for Mike. We stayed in a very nice hotel Woodcliff, where we had very nice dinner and spa massages to celebrate the year since our engagement.
In March we had an interview for the green card. It was crazy stressful, especially considering that we had to get up at 5:30am that day in order to make it on time to Garden City, NY. I didn't hear from them since then.
At the end of the March, at the time of my desperate job hunt (still never heard from anyone!), my old job Penny Lane Studios asked me to work for them temporarily. It means I can be here until I find something else. It works for me, and it works for Penny Lane. Yay!
Since I started this job, I caught up on all of my emails, planning and arrangements. I participated in St. Michael's meetings, and I plan to do more. I am going to the gym. Not too often, but still more then before! I got so much more free time, that I am back to write my blog again.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
from outside fo New York
I am not in New York right now, and that's a very good excuse not to write... I guess :) Well, you can always find something to justify the lack of discipline. But indeed I didn't write for a long time. Another reason for that is that I am not working anymore, and I don't have those amazing days when it's just me and my work computer and I have nothing to do at all, besides writing this blog.
So, some updates from my life. I am in Saint-Petersburg right now. I came on the 8th of July. Tanya also came back from her internship the same day. We all got together to go the cemetery on the 10th of July, one year later since mom died. It's still the idea that I cannot explain or get used to.
Soon after that our days became crazy getting ready for the visit of Mike's family to
Saint-Petersburg and for our party which was scheduled for the 18th of August. We were running around meeting people, who were taking part in the celebration. All in all it was great success I think. We have lots of pictures!
We had many guests! My friends from University and high school, our relatives and family friends. Total a little less then 40 people including Mike's family. We had great photographer and restaurant.
Since Mike and his family left, it was kinda sad and mellow here. Weather is like weather in the fall in Russia. It's cold and it rains almost every day. And I am here all by myself... I mean without Mike :) Because actually I am meeting my friends almost every day! I have so many people here who are happy to see me, and it's a blessing.
I am doing some volunteer work for my high school which is getting ready for its 100th anniversary, and it keeps me busy. I also do lots of house errands while waiting for October when I will go for my visa interview in Moscow. Dad, Tanya and granny already have their visas and we are going to buy their plain tickets this week. So, everything is almost set to go :) I just need to be patient and not to complain without real reasons all the time!
So, some updates from my life. I am in Saint-Petersburg right now. I came on the 8th of July. Tanya also came back from her internship the same day. We all got together to go the cemetery on the 10th of July, one year later since mom died. It's still the idea that I cannot explain or get used to.
Soon after that our days became crazy getting ready for the visit of Mike's family to
Saint-Petersburg and for our party which was scheduled for the 18th of August. We were running around meeting people, who were taking part in the celebration. All in all it was great success I think. We have lots of pictures!We had many guests! My friends from University and high school, our relatives and family friends. Total a little less then 40 people including Mike's family. We had great photographer and restaurant.
Since Mike and his family left, it was kinda sad and mellow here. Weather is like weather in the fall in Russia. It's cold and it rains almost every day. And I am here all by myself... I mean without Mike :) Because actually I am meeting my friends almost every day! I have so many people here who are happy to see me, and it's a blessing.
I am doing some volunteer work for my high school which is getting ready for its 100th anniversary, and it keeps me busy. I also do lots of house errands while waiting for October when I will go for my visa interview in Moscow. Dad, Tanya and granny already have their visas and we are going to buy their plain tickets this week. So, everything is almost set to go :) I just need to be patient and not to complain without real reasons all the time!
Friday, May 04, 2007
ILP is over
Last night, I went to the Leadership program dinner - the last event of the International Leadership program in I. House. Leaving my room, I told Mike, we will have chicken marsala. And we had it with the sides of potatoes and string beans. The same menu over and over again. Greet everyone and say thank you - check; remind about the mission of I. House - check; leadership, tolerance, different cultures - check, check, check; chicken marsala and potatoes - check. The whole evening was like an obligatory assignment for the programs office that they had absolutely no desire to do.
I truly enjoyed my fellowship. I liked the work I was doing, the yearbook video I was filming and editing was something that I really like to do in life: to film and edit. I am very grateful for the people I met. After one year in Columbia, I realized that I didn't have any friends or even people I know around me! Mostly, because my classmates with whom I developed somewhat decent relationships moved from NYC after the school was over or just started new life outside the university and we had nothing more that would connect us. The leadership program in I house, helped me to meet people and I think I even have a few friends now!
Everything was good in the program, except the programs office. I think the problem is that they actually don't think about fellows as real people who need to be treated seriously and fairly. They consider us as temporary students that they don't have to work long with, and thus they don't have to think about maintaining good relationship with. Plus it's just students, not trustees, not speakers, not donors, not even colleagues. Sigh. So, after all, I am glad that all that nonsense is over.
I truly enjoyed my fellowship. I liked the work I was doing, the yearbook video I was filming and editing was something that I really like to do in life: to film and edit. I am very grateful for the people I met. After one year in Columbia, I realized that I didn't have any friends or even people I know around me! Mostly, because my classmates with whom I developed somewhat decent relationships moved from NYC after the school was over or just started new life outside the university and we had nothing more that would connect us. The leadership program in I house, helped me to meet people and I think I even have a few friends now!
Everything was good in the program, except the programs office. I think the problem is that they actually don't think about fellows as real people who need to be treated seriously and fairly. They consider us as temporary students that they don't have to work long with, and thus they don't have to think about maintaining good relationship with. Plus it's just students, not trustees, not speakers, not donors, not even colleagues. Sigh. So, after all, I am glad that all that nonsense is over.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
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