Here I come – a nervous wreck

Janine and I leave for San Diego tomorrow. I’ll tell you right now – the expression of the day is “to sweat bullets” – it means to be incredibly nervous (the reference is that when you’re nervous, you sweat, and when you’re really nervous, you sweat out large drops of water) – in anticipation of some major event or situation.  I’m really sweating bullets. Another, similar expression (Janine’s addition) is “to shit bricks” – the idea is the same. It’s kind of funny how we make metaphorical reference to bodily reactions to stress situations. Anyway – I’m rambling again.

One of the primary reasons I’m so “wound up” (nervous, stressed, excited – today is full of idiomatic expressions!) is that It’s almost June, so my work visa expires in 2 months. That may seem like a lot of time, but two months ago I was finishing up my part of the project with Frank and beginning to look at what to do next. Now it’s already the middle of that phase and I don’t have any answers. When my visa expires, I have to leave the country – if I don’t have a job “lined up” (meaning a job offer confirmed) then I probably have to go back to Italy to work. That would not be good. Don’t misunderstand me – MUM! – I miss my family and friends etc., and it will be great to be back in Umbria for a bit, but I don’t want this adventure to finish yet. There’s too much to do. I could be here for years, I think. (Not to mention that Janine is really cute! – and fantastic.) So, “there’s a lot riding” (meaning the consequences of the outcome are serious) on this job possiblity in San Diego. I’ve also been called for an interview in Chicago, so when I get back from San Diego I’ll go down there for a couple of days. Whatever happens, I have to start organising my departure from Madison – talking to my landlord, my bank, etc. Really, I don’t know how I would do all of this without Janine. I would hate to run around all day, and then not have her to hang out, have fun, and relax with in the evenings (although I’m not that easy to be around lately – too excitable!). Anyway  – if the San Diego job comes through, I will really be the luckiest person on the face of the planet. If not, I have been incredibly lucky anyway. EXCEPT I’M SO DAMN NERVOUS ABOUT THIS! So, I’ll stop. I’ll let you all know how the interview in San Diego goes. I’m going out with Frank this evening – to shoot some darts, play some pool, drink some beer and get a “big brotherly” slap across the face to “snap me out of it” (my nerves) and calm me down.

Today’s expressions are all of the above!

Later!

A second interview!

I’ve just been called for a second interview at the company in San Diego! This is great! I just got the phone call today. The assistant to the executive asked if I could come out for a second interview and a closer look around next week. WOW! I was starting to get a bit down on things over the last week or so. I was waiting for California to call, and had a not-great interview here in Madison, and have already sent out 40 or 50 c.v.s – and now I’m going back to San Diego! Janine said she’d come with me and we’ll take a long week-end in San Diego. I am thrilled. I don’t know what else to write. I’m so excited.

Anyway – I’m going to lunch with Frank! I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about this yet. I’ll keep you informed!

The Waiting is the hardest part

One of Janine’s favorite songs – “The Waiting Is the Hardest Part” by Tom Petty. It’s pretty good. It’s very true. I won’t hear about the job in San Diego for another week or so. Ugh. I’ve had another job interview here in Madison, but I don’t think it went too well. I was really nervous because I haven’t slept because I’ve been really nervous about San Diego. It is true, the waiting is really hard. In the information about job hunting and all the advice you can get about job hunting, they don’t tell you how to stay calm while you wait for responses. I suppose I should just keep active – but then I don’t sleep at night and am “beat” (extremely tired) during the day. Janine has been fantastic. (There may be two of us moving to San Diego if that works out!). There are so many things going on, which is fine, but there’s still no clear direction – which is A PAIN IN THE ASS!!! Anyway – here I am again at 1:20 AM because I feel like I’m “spinning my wheels” or “running around in circles” (using up a lot of time and energy but not getting anywhere). Janine says I need to relax and not worry about it because something WILL happen. She’s right. It’s just a strange period.

Work is going well – as always, by now. Although there is the sense that it is coming to an end, so even that is a bit sad. Ok – I’m depressing myself now. You all must be sick of this post!

In other news, a Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house burned to the ground on Tuesday night. The house is on Langdon street, which is really close to me. Apparently no one was hurt, but the house was destroyed. Fraternities are strange things. They are student associations that do “community/student involvement” work. I get the impression that there are lots of parties and that type of thing. I’ve never really figured out their purpose – except to formalise socialisation. Anyway – it was crazy here on Tuesday night. Since I was up (it was only midnight) I walked down to see it. You can get a news clip if you go to http://www.channel3000.com/news3multimedia/index.html and look for Sigma Phi fire.  Now that I think about it, the accent of the firefighter being interviewed is typical Wisconsin. I really noticed a difference when I went to California and the people spoke with a much more “open” accent. Here they sound like Canadians!

Anyway – I’m going to try to sleep.

The expression of the day is: “aòskldhjfioydy” – it is a frantic burst of keytyping that expresses frustration and mental exhaustion in any language. heh heh (I can’t think of an expression of the day!) I’m outta here!

The waiting game

I got back from San Diego on Wednesday. I took a couple of days to look around. It’s a pretty nice place, and the sea – actually ocean – is fantastic! I think the interview went well. There were about 20 of us, and they told me that they were interviewing only about 40 people. The questions were fair and functional, which was good. We talked a lot about the job – actually more about the job position than about my experience. I think they were evaluating my responses in the conversation. They were very nice though, so after a couple of minutes I didn’t feel intimidated.

Anyway – It’s late here. I’m going to bed. More later.

Wish me luck

Wish me luck everybody! I leave for San Diego tomorrow. My interview is on Tuesday. This is really fantastic. On the one hand, its a job interview – you know, JOB for MONEY – and not a small amount of money – at least for me! To be called for an interview means they’re interested in hiring me – or they probably wouldn’t have called an Italian. At least, I like to think that this is the case. I hope that this is the case!

I’ve been talking with Janine and Frank and everybody about this, and they all say that it makes sense: they wouldn’t call me for an interview if they weren’t seriously interested in hiring me – or seriously curious about me anyway – because of the commitment involved in hiring a non-American. Frank says that my internship here has really helped me – but he won’t say whether or not the company called him or Mr. Lundgren. If this were Italy, I’d almost be sure that they had – but it’s not, so I’m not. Anyway – I’m rambling on again.

Janine has been fantastic about all this – although right now she’s asked me (reminded me) not to write too much about her here as she does work for Mr. Lundgren here in Madison – so her comments shouldn’t be made too public. It’s been kind of funny at times, the things that I’d like to write most about are private information. Anyway – work aside, job interview aside, Janine and I have been having a great time. I’ve been really lucky here in the US. The only thing this place has required of me is that I work like crazy and have a good attitude. With that, so many things have been so positive. I have to begin thinking about moving out though. I have my apartment until the end of July – but that’s not too far away. My internship officially finishes soon too, although Frank says they could keep me on an external contract for a couple of months if necessary. There’s a lot going on. I suppose I’m tired too. More has happened in the last year than in the rest of my life – and it looks like that may be the way it stays for a while. Frank gives me funny looks at work – a lot. He says he feels proud of me like I was his little brother or something and he “gets a kick” out of watching me do all of these things. That’s pretty nice. I will hate to leave Madison. In a year, I’ve got to know my co-workers and some of them have become really good friends – and now a year is almost over and I realise that it has ONLY been a year, and that has gone fast too. When I think about it, the people I know at home, I’ve known since elementary school, but I always took it for granted that they were there. Now I have new friends – who ARE true friends and soon will not be there. Anyway – I’m rambling again. I woke up thinking about this stuff this morning, and Janine isn’t here to talk to, and it’s about time I posted something too! I really hope the job interview works out well. That will give me something to focus on. I’ve sent out quite a few applications to other places, mostly in and near Madison though – and then there’s the idea of going back to Italy. That’s perhaps the strangest idea of all. I know that whatever I do next, I’m not finished with the United States yet. I learned so much, and had so much to do, and have enjoyed it so much here, but I know that it is only a small part of what I could learn and do with more time. As Frank said, I’ve got time.

Anyway – enough for now. I’ve got to get some coffee and see what Janine is up to this afternoon. It’s Spring! The weather isn’t horrible! Maybe lunch down at the lake and a movie or something.

The expression of the day is “cool as a cucumber” – it means to be reserved and logical when everything is going crazy – to have the right reaction for the right situation and not to show excessive interest or emotion. These days, I am NOT “cool as a cucumber”! Bite into a cucumber, it’s cool inside. Cool like Fonzi! Not me, I’m a chattery mess. I’m still chatting. I’ll stop. Have a great Sunday everyone!