Olin College, the college that ... actually exists

Graduation happened. I still haven't sorted through the thoughts nor do i think i will for a long while. If i don't think about it, it's easier to think that this is just like last summer, and that i haven't entered the "real" world, to a "real" job, and an adult life. Somewhere in this apartment there's a nice blue folio that states otherwise, but if i can't see it, it's not real.

The last couple weeks have been a dizzying whirlwind. There were parents and god parents and aunts and uncles and packing and goodbyes and graduation and driving and Kentucky. There's a new money-making scam involving pretending to know what i'm doing while trying to make light bulbs. It's all very different and probably a good learning experience.

Skipping the whole commencement thing, we'll start a couple days later. I spent some time bumming off Jon, Drew, and Miks at their lovely summer apartment. I hadn't really though how much i would miss them until several days of them all the time. they kept me from getting too mopey with laughter, cooking and making fun of drew. Surprisingly, he's the one i will probably miss the most. Maybe it's not so surprising. After going the last Red Sox game (against the Yankees) played while i lived in Boston, I got in my car with my minimal possessions and drove to Kentucky.

Why Kentucky? Well, they make light bulbs here. And at the time i accepted the offer, i was excited to move someplace where i didn't know anyone. Now that I'm here, i'm finding that there are plenty of upsides and downsides to the decision. Sure, I left all my friends to move here, but now i can't use them as a crutch and actually have to socialize with people here, who are wonderful and welcoming. Lexington isn't a city in the way Boston is a city, but the incredibly nearby country side is gorgeous, all green rolling hills, white picket fences and horses, with reasonable housing prices, too. I'll admit that everything has not been sunshine and roses, but I can live in any situation for 8 months.

I moved into my apartment with only the things i could fit in my car from Boston. This means no furniture and no cookware. The most useful things I ended up bringing are my floor lamp, butter knives, lots of pillows, and the iron/ironing board combo. With those few things, very little else is vital. So I've built myself a nest of pillows in the corner of the living room, plugged in my floor lamp next to it, and settled in, reading copiously and eating peanut butter and jelly/honey for every meal. No one ever said moving was pretty. Furniture, cookware, and a much needed new debit card will all come soon.

Work is going surprisingly well considering that a) my boss had serious doubts about me/Olin before i came b) my boss is automatically biased against anyone in the associate development program (which i am) c) i know nothing about glass d) i know nothing about making light bulbs e) i don't remember statistics, at all and f) my shared office has been referred to as the "men's locker room" or "men's bathroom" depending on who you talk to. I'm not being sarcastic on any of those points, but specifically on the fact that work is going well. I get to spend a lot of time wandering the production line, looking at the fire breathing machines. I do lab work all day that actually seems like it will affect things. I managed to impress my boss such that he may actually reverse both a) and b). Overall very well. Some anecdotes:

I spent 2 days measuring the concentricity of glass tubing. I went to grab another 10 rods, 5 feet long each, to make more samples on Wednesday. I lean a handful against the box, then reach in for more. While doing this, the original rods go crashing to the floor, shattering and making a lovely mess. Even with ear plugs, I hear what's going on, as do all the production people in roughly 1/3 of the factory. I stand there, blushing deeply, not knowing what to do. It's my second day, and i don't even know the protocol for cleaning up broken glass, much less the price of said glass and who i have to report culpability to. The last two turn out to be negligible, but as for the first, a fork truck driver comes over with a broom and tells me to take the big pieces while he sweeps up the smaller ones. He reassured my with a smile "This won't be the last time you break glass." He was spot on. He also smiles and tells me not to drop anything anytime i'm over in that department.

I finish my measurements and do some statistical analysis on them. With analysis, it obviously shows that the samples of glass from our sister glass plant next door are obviously inferior to the samples bought from the Netherlands. Still within spec, but inferior. My boss looks at the data, verifies that it looks valid, then starts a war with the glass plant next door. They question my competence, but my boss stands up for me. Turns out that he trusts me because I had a number written on the back of my hand the day before. He had asked why, and I explained that the sample had seemed off, so i set it aside to measure again later, hopefully getting a better value. This single behavior, actually paying attention to the data while making hundreds of mindless measurements and understanding what's going on, has made him trust me enough to start intra-company warfare. Although I don't like the company culture implications, I get the feeling this assignment will work out well.

Lessons learned so far:
1) you will break things. at some point you may actually stop cringing at the sound of broken glass, too.
2) My wardrobe is halfway to business school, while my job is manufacturing. Polo shirts may make their way back into my wardrobe.
3) Prescription safety glasses may be a worthwhile investment. Safety glasses are your friend.
4) Yep. My hands are freakishly small.
5) Glass rods may only be laid on the floor.
6) Be careful where you swing light bulbs. They are much longer than you think.
7) It is actually hard to depressurize a light bulb. By the time you get frustrated a decide to ice pick with more force, the more force you choose may make it explode in your face.
8) You are not allowed in the Mercury room, no matter how much you wants it.

That is not all, but all for now.