Sticky Situations

I am go glad to share the ups and downs of my Easter weekend today on this Easter Monday!

My economist went well. It afforded me the opportunity to seriously advance my career. Leaving the office last Thursday at 3:00pm allowed me to catch the earlier 5:15pm flight instead of the scheduled 6:45pm one which was great for me because by 8:02pm, my original arrival time it was pitch black. My hotel room was magnificent but extremely small. My dorm room was twice its size and more than half its cost (however, I mustn’t be picky because it was located in downtown Washington, DC, one block from the interviewing site so that was an added bonus.) As I settled in and ordered room service for the first and last time because it cost $23.00 (I mean I have money but dang!), I watched as my Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the New York Knicks! And prepared for Friday’s interview.

As I awoke nervous but overcome with anticipation I continued to summarize the information the interviewers sent me via email. I asked the front desk attendant for directions to my interview then proceeded one block down that street where I signed in received a visitor badge and the primary interviewer met and escorted me to his office where he outlined my schedule: five interviews with five different divisions within the agency. Initially I thought that this agency was different but not diverse; however, by the second round my opinion changed dramatically (who knew that this federal agency had a public information office and talked to the press!). The third interviewer mentioned in the beginning our email exchange which boost my confidence level and increased my comfort level. The added bonus occurred when I asked questions related to the material, she was surprised that I actually paid attention (The fifth interviewer repeated this sentiment much to my delight! :) After which she walked me to my fourth interview which was my personal favorite because the program manager was so energetic (especially about George Mason’s Final Four run!) that if hired, his division would be one of my top choices. I could really envision myself working under him.

After a nasty lunch at Thomas Circle, though the service was good so I did tip the servant, I returned for what I though would be my interview; however, after my fifth interview with the regional division (with the economist would supplied an abundance of hr information as well as information about the agency and American University. I am extremely grateful!), I met with his boss, the chief who discussed national income accounting. Immediately the flood damage reduction paper that I had written for the cancelled Regional Economist interview popped into my head, and I affirmed that I not only knew about the 1993 Systems of National Accounts but my graduate economic program taught it (I received major brownie points for this response!) He later discussed area graduate economic programs that would enhance my understanding of econometric and statistics. Lucky me some of those programs are at American University! Then out of the blue, my primary interviewer came and informed me that because of my interviewing performance and transfer payment knowledge on my job (I did not compute entering welfare and public assistance data with Cuyahoga County as a transferable skill to be used with this agency; but, then I realized that Medicare is a transfer payment and thereby, qualified me for this economist position) with him, he thought that another interview with a member of his staff would be a great fit for me (I nearly fell out because his assertion sounded as if I had the job. Though I heard this statement made to me either directly or indirectly during past interviewers, when the chief economist proclaimed it, by golly, you had the job! :). Of course I discussed with him my qualifications and the possibility of working in that division. As this interview concluded I headed back to my hotel room with a spring in my step! All of the sacrifices, trials and tribulations had been washed away, because I felt with the fullest conviction that I scored the Economist job!

Realizing that it was late afternoon and that American University was still open while in my room, I immediately called the graduate economics department to complete some additional paperwork because this will be the only time that I could meet with people face to face. This is an opportunity which must be seized. Taking the blue line to Metro Center then transferring to the Red Line going to Shady Grove, I made my way to AU-Tenleytown where I caught the shuttle to the university and made my way to Roper Hall. Yes, I got lost but hey I still made it only to be met with a lowly student worker who snapped at me because there wasn’t any air condition (not my problem!). Still I made my way up to Professor Park’s door to write him a letter about signing my add-on slip and attached my stamp (I apologized for not envelope, my decision was so spur of the moment. At least I paid postage.) and letter then slid them underneath the door. Returning on the AU campus shuttle to the red line stop, I traveled to Dupont Circle to Chipotle (my favorite DC eatery from my Washington Center internship days. Eating the burritos made me feel nostalgic) and returned home where I showered, relaxed, wrote thank you letters and repacked for Saturday’s flight.

Saturday I slept in a little then proceeded to Kinko’s to type the letters. But, the room service bill, arrived first with a $15 charge attached to my original charge. Immediately I went to the front desk where I contested the charge. The attendant opened the room charges and upon seeing the error corrected it. Later I walked to the Kinko’s. In two hours, my $15 budget hemorrhaged to $37 (without stamps). At least the customer service representative provided real customer service as she helped me pry my disk from the A drive. Afterward, I walked to the Martin Luther King, Jr. post office which had plexi-glass everywhere (as a Cleveland resident I was not used to this. Even the ghetto post office did not have plexi-glass!). I bought ten stamps and one envelope to my add-on interview and dropped them off into the bin. After this I wrote a letter to myself on the hotel stationery and mailed it to myself then walked to McPherson Square where I caught the blue line to Reagan National Airport to board my Washington DC-Cleveland flight.

The flight attendant was happy and resource. My trip was dream until the cab driver ripped me off by taking me to the East 9th exit instead of the East 22nd and demanded full payment. I electronically filed my complaint on the airport’s customer service website. Then Easter Sunday, the front desk attendant was reading my paper, filled out the crossword puzzle and farmed out my sports section to the cook by lying to him about whose paper it really was (Why of all days, Easter Sunday!). To make matters worse, I had to walk up ten flights of stairs because the elevators were out. Rats! (But I am proud of the fact that I didn’t curse on Easter Sunday!)

With a weekend like that I was delighted to start my Monday off to a fresh start. The elevator that did work had me stuck on the second floor forcing me to walk down a flight. Then I complained about my paper and the ghetto bitch responded with (Are you sure it was yours? Well, it ain’t yours bitch!). I almost cursed her out but I calmly gave my name to the full-time employee who said that his supervisor would be notified. While at work the team lead taught us how to do a new clearing method (That was another curve thrown at me when all I wanted to do was do my same-ole work! No drama! That made me count the days until I was out of here!) However, calling American University provided a welcomed respite from this because the financial aid and graduate economic staff helped me immeasurably by giving me my AU identification number and registering me for the summer session. Arriving back at the dorm, the elevators were still out but I refused to walk up ten flights so I waited until one came.

Macroeconomics was the only bright spot today because I had rightly calculated that he would teach us chapter 9. Then at the end of class he mentioned our take home second midterm which threw me for a loop but at least I read the material. Now all I had to do was complete the study guide material by Wednesday which could be done. With all of the drama behind me, I am looking forward to Tuesday.