Too comfortable?!
Back again! Apologies for any delay. Looking back at the old blog I might just have to set a day for updates and see how that pans out. I'm thinking Thursdays but don't hold me to that.
Hmm so what has been happening for the last couple of weeks. Well I have settled fairly well into the house at this stage and working 3pm-11pm has keep my weekdays quiet enough. I got paid on Thursday and that certainly brought a smile to my face! Ate a whole 10pc bucket of KFC the following day! Was working yesterday for 4 hours as we get double time so that was handy enough but it meant that the day was mostly gone. I went into downtown afterwards to pick up some stuff and just have a look around and there was a fair bit of activity with Halloween and everything and I'm beginning to think I should have gone out but who knows, maybe I'll end up heading out this evening and we'll see what happens.
During the week I'm doing one of four things; eating, browsing the web, ice-skating or looking for video game employment. So there is not a whole lot to report on those fronts. Ice-skating is going well and is good craic, and I have still yet to fall but maybe that just means I'm not pushing hard enough :P. I've sent out 20 applications today to gaming companies in the area so hopefully those will return some fruits over the next few weeks but we'll see how it goes.
On Monday and Wednesday of last week I walked around downtown looking for companies and managed to find some. Slant Six Games were interviewing people when I arrived but unfortunately it was for more senior positions. Big Sandwich Games had moved office on the Friday before I arrived and so could not be found. Then I went to Blue Castle Games who are quite far out of town and I'll like to note now that it had been raining constantly all day. Well I took out my handy development studio map and headed to the marker that said "Blue Castle Games". Well I walked and I walked. I asked for directions and I walked. All to no avail. I couldn't find the place and ended up walking in the soaking rain for far too long. I did a very uncomfortable 8 hour shift with no jumper, a damp t-shirt and numb feet. That was not a happy day :).
Game studio map. Dried out and crinkled. It'll be framed if I find a job.
That's what a 108' boom looks like when it's on its reel.
And that's what the factory where they're made looks like.
Den här är en Dalahäst.
We'd just finish a game of Pictionary. I'd been teamed with the girls. Guess who'd won.
On Wednesday, armed with update intel I set out for Blue Castle Games again and with the sun beaming (raging I didn't take more picture that day, was some good opportunities) was this time successful in finding the offices. As it turns out they had been previously located by Deer Park but had moved from there a number of years ago. The recruiter was away for the day and so I got talking to the head of HR and one of the founders. We chatted for a bit, happened to catch the Technical Director as he went by and generally left with a fairly good feeling. I've been in touch since and will get in touch again next week to see what the story is but overall I was happy enough. Hopefully I'll get a chat out of the recruiter if nothing else.
The red illustrates the route I took on Monday to try and find Blue Castle Games.
That red "A" pointer? The actual location...
Oh, on a side note; the bus drivers over here are the best I've ever known; they'll wait for people if they see them running, be understanding in situations where people don't have the correct fare, save people money, chat to anybody. Overall they've been really great.
And to explain the title; while it's all well and dandy having a job and a place to stay it's not really what I want at the moment (it's nothing I couldn't do back home really) as it's very awkward to get downtown and the job is not very "relevant" so I'll keep it going for now as it's certainly by no means a bad situation but most of my spare time is going towards finding different jobs or practicing my programming so that's why there has not been much touristy stuff yet, but hopefully that'll all come in time.
Hmm so what has been happening for the last couple of weeks. Well I have settled fairly well into the house at this stage and working 3pm-11pm has keep my weekdays quiet enough. I got paid on Thursday and that certainly brought a smile to my face! Ate a whole 10pc bucket of KFC the following day! Was working yesterday for 4 hours as we get double time so that was handy enough but it meant that the day was mostly gone. I went into downtown afterwards to pick up some stuff and just have a look around and there was a fair bit of activity with Halloween and everything and I'm beginning to think I should have gone out but who knows, maybe I'll end up heading out this evening and we'll see what happens.
During the week I'm doing one of four things; eating, browsing the web, ice-skating or looking for video game employment. So there is not a whole lot to report on those fronts. Ice-skating is going well and is good craic, and I have still yet to fall but maybe that just means I'm not pushing hard enough :P. I've sent out 20 applications today to gaming companies in the area so hopefully those will return some fruits over the next few weeks but we'll see how it goes.
On Monday and Wednesday of last week I walked around downtown looking for companies and managed to find some. Slant Six Games were interviewing people when I arrived but unfortunately it was for more senior positions. Big Sandwich Games had moved office on the Friday before I arrived and so could not be found. Then I went to Blue Castle Games who are quite far out of town and I'll like to note now that it had been raining constantly all day. Well I took out my handy development studio map and headed to the marker that said "Blue Castle Games". Well I walked and I walked. I asked for directions and I walked. All to no avail. I couldn't find the place and ended up walking in the soaking rain for far too long. I did a very uncomfortable 8 hour shift with no jumper, a damp t-shirt and numb feet. That was not a happy day :).
Game studio map. Dried out and crinkled. It'll be framed if I find a job.
That's what a 108' boom looks like when it's on its reel.
And that's what the factory where they're made looks like.
Den här är en Dalahäst.
We'd just finish a game of Pictionary. I'd been teamed with the girls. Guess who'd won.
On Wednesday, armed with update intel I set out for Blue Castle Games again and with the sun beaming (raging I didn't take more picture that day, was some good opportunities) was this time successful in finding the offices. As it turns out they had been previously located by Deer Park but had moved from there a number of years ago. The recruiter was away for the day and so I got talking to the head of HR and one of the founders. We chatted for a bit, happened to catch the Technical Director as he went by and generally left with a fairly good feeling. I've been in touch since and will get in touch again next week to see what the story is but overall I was happy enough. Hopefully I'll get a chat out of the recruiter if nothing else.
The red illustrates the route I took on Monday to try and find Blue Castle Games.
That red "A" pointer? The actual location...
Oh, on a side note; the bus drivers over here are the best I've ever known; they'll wait for people if they see them running, be understanding in situations where people don't have the correct fare, save people money, chat to anybody. Overall they've been really great.
And to explain the title; while it's all well and dandy having a job and a place to stay it's not really what I want at the moment (it's nothing I couldn't do back home really) as it's very awkward to get downtown and the job is not very "relevant" so I'll keep it going for now as it's certainly by no means a bad situation but most of my spare time is going towards finding different jobs or practicing my programming so that's why there has not been much touristy stuff yet, but hopefully that'll all come in time.
posted by Andy at 00:04
2 Comments:
A Swedish horse? Keep it going ... you'll break through soon enough. Love the 'so near yet so far' trail. Hope you get to an ice hockey match too: that would be cool!
Nearly wept when I saw that map, ya poor chicken! Can understand how you feel about the temp job, still, 'Oil Boom Operative' will be a real ice-breaker when you get to interviews. In the meantime enjoy the ice skating..... the fall, when it comes, will be spectacular!!(thou' from the photo you are at least wearing head gear - so there Seamus!!)
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