Holiday Office Parties

It's that time of year again. When the higher ups want to do something nice for their employees but really just force you to spend even more time with your coworkers. Don't get me wrong, I am all for holiday office parties. I am very much looking forward to my own to be held next week. There are some tricky parts of them to keep in mind though while having some team bonding.

1. Alcohol. What is appropriate? Typically the rule of thumb is just not to get shwasted. It's alright to get your drink on, but don't get sloppy. Remember that you are still around your coworkers in a work environment and they will likely judge you professionally for it. This is a little trickier for my personal office party because my boss doesn't drink. Not sure how to handle that yet.
2. Are you obligated to go? Sometimes you really just don't want to attend. However, you may lose out on some imperative work place bonding. Unless you have already put in your 2 weeks notice, you should at least make an appearance. What do you have to lose other than an hour of your life?
3. Conversation. Talking about work is almost inevitable, that is the one thing you all have in common. However, the party was organized for enjoyment, not for work. Find some other common ground with your coworkers. No need to bring the stress of the office with you into the holidays.
4. Inter-Office Hook Ups. This is the time of year and occasion where people think it's ok to ignore the fact they work with a person and hook up anyway. If that might be you please steer clear of the mistletoe and don't drink too much. I am the only female that works in my office, I'm very grateful that no one is even close to eligible for me.

On that note, enjoy your first Holiday Office Parties Post Grads!!!!

Disbelief

Let's get real. Shikole and I write a lot of advice posts on this blog about things we've learned so far as new post grads... but if you ever saw our gchat conversations, you would probably stop reading this all together. We're barely keeping our heads above water in this crazy post grad world, and sometimes I feel like I should be getting more advice than I'm giving.

Part of me still feels like a college student. Like I'm on an extended full time internship that will end soon and I'll be going back to school. It's not really that I miss being in college. I'm just in disbelief that it's over.

A few weeks ago, an article that I wrote for my company was published in an actual news publication. I brought the newspaper home for Thanksgiving to show my parents, and realized that it didn't really feel much different from when I used to do design/ writing for my college's magazine or newspaper. Except in this publication, my article was alongside professionals in an industry that I continue learn more about on a daily basis. These type of opportunities were things I strived for in college, to get my writing out there, to build up my portfolio. But now, it's really happening. This is what I've worked for and I'm almost indifferent.

This is where I enlist your help post grads. This time around I'm asking for advice. How do I snap out of it? How did you help you brain finally cope with the idea that you are no longer striving to break into the working world.. that you're now actually part of it?

Mean Old Lady Syndrome

I guess I shouldn't classify my current actions under the term "mean old lady" because there are plenty of very nice ones. Unfortunately, after working at a retail store during my college breaks (Homegoods) that was frequented by this percentage of the old lady population, I have built up quite the stereotype.

These type of ladies are enraged when discounted bird statues aren't on sale for more than the 75% percent off markdown price. They complain about unswept sidewalks, huff over the fact that the bathroom is in the back of the store, and write down our names on their receipts so they can make sure to get us "in trouble" if there were any discrepancies.

Unfortunately, during the past week or so, I think I've started to become one.

I'm not sure if it's the suddenly freezing snowy weather, or other womanly problems bringing it out of me, but I have been quite the feisty "old lady" post grad lately. Last week, the road near my job wasn't plowed, leaving it an icy mess the next day. I called up the City of Rochester to complain.

Yesterday, I called up my landlord and told him that we NEED a new flusher chain on our toilet because the safety pin trick he keeps trying to make us use is just not cutting it anymore. He said he would see what he could do, and I said I'll see him within the next two days.

I then called him up again later that night to tell him that our lease states our driveway will be plowed if more than three inches of snow fall. We had about 8 or so yesterday, and I ended up shoveling the whole thing twice (with help from my very nice boyfriend)... no snow plows in sight. This morning he sent a plow over at 2am. Yes, it was annoying and woke me up- but at least it was done.

I think I might actually like this side of me. I've found that if speak my mind with confidence, people will eventually listen and do the things that should have been done in the first place. I hope to keep this part up. But, if you ever find me haggling down the price of glassware in a home decor store, please tell me to snap out of it.

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Did I Mention It's Snowing?

When people told me it snows a lot in Rochester, I honestly didn't think I would notice that much of a change from my hometown (also in upstate NY), or my college town (only 30 minutes away from Rochester). I now understand what it means to live close to Lake Ontario. It means snow, every day. Not blizzard conditions by any means, but just constant, steady, snow.

The photos above were taken from my bedroom window this morning... welcome to winter!

UPDATE: 4:34 pm Today I got myself out of my "I hate snow" funk and went for a walk around my neighborhood in a snow storm. I bundled up with my coat, hat, scarf, mittens, and snow boots and set out armed with my camera. Right now I'm operating without any photo editing software so please don't mind the poor quality of these photos. Here are a few more from my walk today.

This planetarium is pretty much behind my apartment in Rochester!

While I may be just a tad stressed out about my Dodge Neon slipping and sliding to work during these snowy days, I love that this Sunday I could just go for a walk to a local coffee shop and relax, when this time of the year was always so hectic as a college student. No finals, presentations, or evaluations for us, post grads! Just the holiday season to embrace!

Istanbul or Bust

During our giveaway a reader had requested more posts about travel. Lucky for Rachel, I plan on doing just that when I get my tax return. I have been considering many places to go for my 10 vacation days from work. I was thinking Israel because I love Jewish men, and also Germany because I'm German and love beer. I considered Maldives because my roommate showed me a gorgeous hotel and resort there that has an underwater restaurant. But I think I have decided that I really want to go to Istanbul. I went online and found a round trip plane ticket as well as 7 nights at a hotel for only $850. I would go in March around my birthday and fly out during the week which cuts down on flight costs.

Hotel Agan is the best one I found. It is located within walking distance of the Blue Mosque, one of the many sights I plan on seeing while there. It's officially called the Sultan Ahmed Mosque but gained it's nickname because of the blue tiles inside.

The Topkapi Palace is another site I plan on visiting. It was the main residence for the Sultan during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. I would love to walk through such a beautiful building and gardens that has been in existence for so long. I'm especially interested in visiting the Harem. I've read about them in so many books and want to actually see what one looks like.

The last place currently on my list of places to visit is the Grand Bazaar. Haggling with the Turks sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon.

Any other suggestions on where to go in Istanbul?

Snow Day

Oh wait... no. Snow days don't exist anymore in the post grad world!



While I believe that many parts of my undergraduate education failed to prepare me for the working world, this was actually not one of them. My college, located in very winter-y Western, NY, had two official "snow days" the entire four years I attended. Both were during my freshman year. One was due to a blizzard, and the other because the insane wind chill made in dangerous for us to walk outside. Apparently those snow days were the first in 50+ years.



So basically, I'm used to figuring out ways to make it to class and work during inclement weather. The difference now is that I am reliant on a car to get me to my job that is about 10- 15 minutes from my apartment. In college, I either lived on campus, or close enough where I could walk to campus if I needed to. In post grad life, it seems like the annoyance of winter weather is magnified.



To cope, I'm trying my best to make sure that my car maintenance is up to date, that I have my handy small shovel in my trunk, and an ice scraper. Today I avoided the nearest highway, where people tend to get into accidents if it's raining outside, and opted to take slower city streets home from work. Remembering to brake slowly and avoiding sudden jerks of the steering wheel are two more tips that have helped me stay safe in the snow these past few years.

Happy un-snow day post grads!