So a couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to embark on another landmark of my professional career: my very first business trip. Just talking about it makes me feel 10 years older, like some kind of successful business man, when in reality I'm just a young scientist learning new things. The experience in itself was pretty gratifying, and the best part was it was ALL EXPENSES PAID! That's right, flight, hotel, food... all on the company. Perhaps I even came at a better time, as there was a meeting of the minds of the higher ups. I'll go through my few days up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
So one of the things I enjoy doing while traveling is getting to completely bum out during the plain ride. If you're going to be sitting in a space for 4+ hours, then you better bum out. This wasn't the case. This was business. So I ended up traveling in a button up and some dress pants, which was more than annoying, but at least I could take off my shoes to let the professionalism breathe.
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| Smell that business. |
So stopovers are a thing. I had one at Chicago, where apparently there's a gigantic bean. Normally I'd be all over the place looking at new stuff and all the duty free items, but since I was traveling with my boss, I pretty much had to contain myself the whole way. We shared some lunch, but all we ever talk about is business. It kind of takes the whole trip part away from it... but after all it's called a business trip. The rest of the plane ride was alright. Smaller plane, but a lot of leg room. My boss left me to upgrade to first class... which I think is a dick move only knowing that I'd probably do the same in his position.
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| Pictured: Over-exaggeration |
While there I began to feel the professionalism seep through my pores. New faces, new facility, and a whole lot of questions. I did what I need to do as my boss attended the meetings and eventually the shift for that day was about to end (we did arrive after lunch anyway). The real fun began afterward, where I got to check into my own hotel room, my own king size bed, my own space. It was a pretty sweet deal, and don't forget - all free. There was a bar/restaurant downstairs and a gym that I'll eventually take advantage of the next time I go back, and I will NOT forget sneakers.
The time came to meet up with my boss and others for dinner. Apparently this was a pretty big deal. We got to this fancy place, reserved out a back room and at first it was a cocktail hour kind of environment. Everyone had a beer in their hand, and I was reluctant to ask for any - but apparently with this group beer is good. AGAIN - ALL FREE. Everyone started to get comfortable with their drinks, becoming more open to conversation and eventually we all sat down to eat. This place was pretty fancy. We're talking waiter goes around and shoves wine in your face and you can ask for a sample. Do the little swirl thing and sip the wine like I know what I'm doing. Either way, I just went with it.
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| "Yes, this certainly tastes like wine." |
Now the weird thing about this particular company dinner - and probably all the others to come - is that everyone is older than I, and I really wanted to try and deviate from work conversation. Around these folk, however, it's pretty difficult. I ended up only speaking when I was spoken to, and I watched the hockey game in the background I could see from the bar. There were a few people talking about something I could relate to, but much too far away from the table to contribute. Just waiting for my food. Calamari Salad, 14 oz Rib-eye, and some chocolate dessert. I took a photo of it for you:
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| Surprisingly low in fat. |
During the first night in the hotel, I didn't find much to do because of the whole forgot my sneaker issue, so I just decided to relax it all off, plane rides, a days work, and good food. Not much TV going on in Canada, or at least not enough for me to know. Eventually I just did what I normally would do, fall asleep to YouTube videos. One important side note that I ended up learning sooner rather than later is that in the summer, Canada's experiences a sunset around 10 PM and will rise at about 4 AM. Which is insane, because I had to shut the blinds and turn of all the lights to convince my body that it was time for some sleep. I've heard its the opposite in the winter, which basically means I'm not going up there in the winter.
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| Ah, those summer nights in Canada... |
Next day was more or less the same. Did my work, and dinner was located at an older male colleagues request, a fancy Hooters called Earl's. There a group of 4 colleagues began opening up a bit more and we talked less about work and more about not work. The man who chose the location for dinner has a retarded child. He (not the child) enjoys ABC's Once Upon a Time like I do. My female colleague strokes her ego by watching Jeopardy and has commitment issues with her partner. My boss' kids has a real hard ass for a mom, and also enjoys classical music. The last thing I found out is that I'm too young now to relate to some of the things they talk about. Classic movies and actors. Just seems very dated and it's where the fun of talking stopped being fun because I was just out of the loop. Well at least our waitress was attractive. Again - all free.
After dinner and before we were all going to retire to our separate (free) rooms, my boss invited me to the bar later attached to the hotel. We had already been drinking at dinner, but I guess since the bill was picked up by one of our other colleagues, he still had some extra money left to spend on HIS travel card.
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| "GAH, this one still has money on it!" |
I agreed to join him, and was under the assumption that we would talk more about work. We did. Though a part of me was hoping that he would've taken the initiative to talk about something else... or was that supposed to be my job? Did he invite me out in hopes to talk about something else other than work? The dinner we JUST had proved that we don't have much in common anyway... what an evil ploy. I was confused, ordered 2 tall drinks added to my previous drink at dinner. He had 1 and a margarita (I guess that means it WAS supposed to be casual). Either way, he left me with some sound advice, and really made sure I would take care of myself in the future if I ever had to fly this project - or any other endeavor - solo. All in all it was a pretty relaxing, open heart experience. We retired to our rooms and we left for our flight the next morning. What did I learn from all of this business trip experience? My job is giving me much more responsibilities than I originally thought, and my colleagues have a lot of trust in me. Though I guess that's why they hired me in the first place, no?
I have to get me one of those "global entry" passes that my other colleagues have. Since they travel a lot they opted to apply for this option that pretty much let's them pass security. Well... pass it faster. Someone with long hair on top of facial hair doesn't really do
too well with the TSA. Especially with the Canadian TSA.
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| "Yup, definitely American." |
All my colleagues took first class on the way back home. Jerks.
ta ta kids
