Day 4, 5, 6

Day 4:
So, all the travel and early risings really did not allow my body to recuperate from the cold and cough I had developed during finals. I was not feeling that well. Luckily for me, the firm keeps a doctor in the building (at left) that I immediately saw upon walking into his office. After prescribing me some medication and picking it up from the pharmacy across the street, I went home and proceeded to sleep from 8 PM to 6 AM.

Day 5:
Friday was Russel day. The Russel 2000 Index is a list of 2000 stocks that the index tracks. On Friday, the index re-balances, which mean many stocks are added and removed from the index. Therefore, the many funds that try to use the Russel as their base price comparison for the year must sell all the stocks that are going out of the index and buy all those going in. Most of this trading is done on Russel day, therefore, creating large amounts of volume for the market. I work for the group that manages getting trades to the various exchanges, and this is obviously a significant day for their business.

It was great to see and learn how they operated their various products. I learned a ton about the system and hope to start my own project in the near future. After a successful day at work, my colleagues and I went to a local pub by Wall street for a nice beverage. After that is was Japanese food and home.

Day 6:
Saturday was the first day in a few weeks I had no major event planned (class, final, graduation, travel, or work). This allowed me to sleep in for a bit. After, my roommate and I traveled uptown a bit to go see Central Park, the Apple store and FAO Schwarz. We saw some amazing break dancers performing in the park. The Apple store is located below ground, but its entrance is a glass box at the street level. It was definitely one of the cooler Apple stores I have seen.

After purchasing some new headphones, we proceeded to the giant toy store, where I had to try my hand at playing the large piano. We were able to capture a cool in-air action picture of my musical playing skills.

Overall, it has been an amazing week. I have made a lot of mistakes, occasionally made a fool of myself and got lost many times, but heck, I learned and know what to do next time.

Day 3

Took the Path to work under the Hudson from WTC. One of the most amazing things I have noticed about NYC are the social rules everyone follows. For example, when boarding/exiting a subway train, all waiting to board stand at the doors' sides until all have exited through the middle of those waiting and then they board. Also, when taking escalators, people on the right stand while the people on the left walk.

At work, I learned all about order management and how to take equity trades to the various exchanges. Also, through out the day, I enjoyed the office view. Manhattan above. Statue of Liberty below.

Day 2

Work (28th floor overlooking Manhattan). Meet boss. Tech talk. Bowling. Bars with colleagues. Rain. Taxi ride home.

NY - Travel + Day 1

After graduating Saturday, a late night of packing (thanks Sarah) and seeing friends later that evening, I left for New York Sunday morning. Sarah drove me to the airport along with Danielle. It was definitely weird saying good bye to the people I have lived with and been with the last four years. They made my life and they are now my family. It is amazing to think that we live in this continuous flow for four years of class and socializing and then on the morning of June 17 the sun rises and we spread across the land evoking images of the diaspora. The hardest thing about the move is not coping with the new location or culture, but leaving the people I care about most.

After some delay and a couple naps I arrived in NYC. With my 60+ pound bag in its proper place on the trolley, the bag and I made the taxi ride to my new home in a 48 story building. Unfortunately, I am on the fifth and the view is of a brick wall. The roommates are all good guys, are very welcoming and have made the transition easier. They hail from Philadelphia, Virginia, and Tennessee, respectively.

After a late night run for a deli sandwich and some cough medicine through the streets of a very unknown Manhattan, I went to bed at 1 AM. I woke up at 6:15 AM. For those out there who need help doing the conversion, it is 3:15 AM PST. With my suit in place and the accompanying tie tied, the 20 minute taxi ride to orientation was easy, but definitely too costly to make a regular habit of ($18).

Orientation oriented me with the company culture and the tax forms of both New York and New Jersey. After meeting many Stanford interns and listening to various presentations, I walked out of the building to the stark realization that I was on my own in the streets of New York. It was an amazing thought, yet the funny thing is that after all that orientation I was quiet lost on how to get home and took several moments with the map my Mom sent me with to determine the best subway train to take home.

After a ride and a bit of a walk enjoying the various street shops and vendors, I arrived home. My roommate arrived at a similar time and he pulled me a long on a shopping trip. It is amazing how having to carry your food back from the market changes one's perspective on what they can buy. After purchasing some items and making a nice sandwich, the roommates and I traveled to the water front where we enjoyed the sites.

Tomorrow I start at 9 AM, which is definitely better. It will be an interesting day of many new experiences where I will learn both academically and, most importantly, about life. As Sarah said, "The sun is coming out! Smile because the world is ours for the taking."

Lets see what we can do.

Leave?

Why would I want to leave this?

Comment

The more I learn, the more I realize I do not know much.

Concepts

Punishing a peer in unharmonious no matter the ends (man governing man)
Undergrads are fed and led
Ivory tower are lacking of hearing
Family matters
Selfish in chaos
Smile/Lift weights
Deadlines are man made and self imposed
Lift the weight off your shoulders and realize the good things
Everyone is busy/its all relative
Don't complain
Enjoy the friends thou has
Don't give unsolicited advice
To thine own self be true