So Pretty!

Fully loaded too. I picked it up this morning... I should be finishing up my work term report but instead I'm going to play with my new Lappy!

Sad news, my holding deposit has not made it to California yet. This is BS. Now I need to know where my money order is! Lets hope it will be there by monday. I know they will hold the apartment for me... but i just don't want to lose the money.

Detroit to Phoenix to San Jose

The ticket is bought... it's really real... May 10th 7:55 AM I'm on my way... 7 hours later at 11:45AM... I'll be in San Jose...

Man is that ever scary to think about!

Very Interesting...

Okay... So yesterday afternoon I receive the email that my DS 2019 would be sent to me. This morning at 10am Tyler signed for the package. Wow... FedEx is great! So after I get home from doing a whole lot of work today. I open this package and unleash a new stress kinda.... Now I new fee to pay... $100 to SEVIS a department of the department of homeland security (DHS is what it is referred to as) What the fee covers I have no idea really but without paying it I can't get into the country. So that something to do this weekend too... Tomorrow, I have a phone orientation with CDS people to finally talk about all my questions which is great. thats at 1:00 est.

Just a few minutes ago, I recieved a phone call from the Villa Monte... I hope they were going to say, the apartment is your we are faxing the lease tomorrow... but they still haven't recieved my check/money order thingy.... BUT... they asked me if I would like to be on the second floor or on the first... which is pretty cool... and i choose the second floor, however now i think my apartment number has changed, so I should call her back and clarify.

I'm going to buy a plane ticket, a laptop and a SEVIS fee before saturday I think... Thankfully Friday is Payday so that helps a little.

DS-2019 == J-1 Visa ;

So I have some great news... I think...

"Hi Janna-Lynn,
Your DS2019 has been issued and will be sent to you via FedEx ..."

What that means (i think) is that I have my J-1 Visa and I will be able to work .. err.. i mean train in the states. And they sent out the fedex by the end of the day today! WOO! Big improvement on yesterday when they said that they didn't have the visa application yet. I feel twice as good now.

As soon as I get the document (and a little clarification) I'll be buying my Plane ticket. Time is closing in ... I think the ducks are lineing up just fine.

Haha... so geeky

Also... "Once we receive a complete application, we can process it in 3-4 business days, so if you are a Canadian citizen you should not be worried about receiving your paperwork in time to start on May 16th." Makes me feel better... !

Time keep slipping away...

Its hard to believe that this will be my last full week of work at the university of Windsor. Theres so much that I haven't finished yet! I could probably work for another month just to get caught up. Scarier thought than that... I have to move to California soon! Like 2 and a half weeks and I'm supposed to be there! This is just crazy.

So I will be outlining my plans for this week...
Work
- Finish Calendar's Usability Report (Tuesday)
- Transfer data from computers (Friday)
- Make a report of the Focus Groups (Monday)
- Make a brief summary of the Music Follow up study
- Work on the OUCC presentation
- Work on my work term report (ALL WEEK)

Cali
- Once I receive confirmation about my security deposit for my apartment (sent yesterday) I'm going to set up a US bank account.
- Really nail down what I want for my laptop
- Talk to the school's travel agents to see about booking a flight to San Jose

Other
- I want to work out this week at least three times
- Michelle and I are going to make Chicken Ceasar salad one night.
- Michelle and Tyler would like to buy a desktop computer
- Party on Thursday
- Party on Friday

I think that should be enough but i might add some more... I'm going to go work on my work term report... It really really needs to be started

Its probably going to be pretty small...

Located on the Mountain View - Los Altos border,
the Villa Monte is the Bay Area's best-kept secret.
The Villa Monte is now accepting applications for
large studio and 1 bedroom apartments. We have a
beautifully landscaped garden setting with a heated
swimming pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center,
24 hour on-site maintenance and covered parking.
Location, location, location!
Close to shops, public transportation, Hwy 85, 237,
280 & 101 for a convenient commute in any direction.
This is a great place to call home.

Just a credit check and a holding deposit away from calling it home for 4 months. Fully furnish all inclusive.

Starting to come together

So some things are starting to come together. My Visa package has been mailed (I hope) and its out of my hands now. Just have to pray.

Getting close on the apartment front... Found a place REALLY close to work. Google says that i would be able to bike... its an option, but it depends on how hot it is and how much the bike is. Can get the apartment fully furnished or partly furnished.. haven't decided yet.

I think I've decided that I want to buy my laptop before i leave so that I can set it up how i want and i don't have to pack as much software and such. Theres a really cool bookbag that I would love to get before i leave but i'm not sure that they will ship it to canada or that it would even be worth it to ship here.

time for bed

New Link

Over on the right hand side there are a number of links. Some of them are important some aren't. The 4th one down "PHOTOS" will be interesting to watch. This is where I will be posting most of my photos through the kodak website. I will try to make a note in my blog whenever I load new pictures.

Currently there are a few pictures from Easter weekend in Grand Bend.

Happy Easter

So its been a few days since I posted last but I don't have a whole lot to update really... The hunt for an apartment is back on... The little studio apartment isn't available until June 1st, which totally sucks. But I guess I'm keeping it in mind as a back up. Seems pretty hard to find an apartment for about $1000 that is furnished and all inclusive.... Maybe I'm being picky.

on other fronts the work visa is in process... They took my money anyways hopefully it gets to the right place. The package of information will be sent asap... probably Monday when my official transcript is ready. Keep fingers crossed

I'm home in Grand Bend this weekend for Easter and for the first time since I found out the Google news. Its kinda interesting cause the conversations that I'm having here now are the same conversations I was having 2 weeks ago with everyone in Windsor. Its always interesting to tell someone new about the job, their reactions are always different. Some don't quite understand what Google is all about. Some get it.


Good food this weekend, good times hanging out with my family. The picture is my dad and I going for a bike ride. Think I'm going to have to have it printed and take it to the office with me.

Gotta spend money to make money

The cost keep adding up... this week's paycheck is already spent. Hell, my first paycheck from Google is almost spent.

Tuition, Health Insurance, the remaining balance on my visa and imigration program fees were paid today. I know I'm going to make it back or get reimbursed but still makes me feel very poor right now. All additional spending is on hold.

Humm.... gotta buy that flight too...

Trying to say planted

So much to wrap my head around. So much excitement. Everything is just going so fast.

Today I found out that infact Google is covering the rediculously expensive visa program that they want me to go through. Which is great news cause I really didn't want to pay it and was feeling like even tho they are paying me well this is going to cost me.

A lot of the cost are still adding up tho... $45 dollars a month for insurance coverage. I could go with the schools coverage but it doesn't meet the minimum standards that they want. So, I'm going to have to pay for 5 months of coverage. But better safe than sorry... especially in the states.

Hum... not much else new. I think I'm going to apply for the apartment that I want tomorrow.

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

List of people I've had (or will have) to contact... (aka hoops to jump through)

Lawyer
Accountant
CS Faculty
Banker
Co-op Advisor
Immigration Specialist
Social Security Officer
Landlords

Not to mention two interviews to begin with. And eventually a background check. Probably going to ask for physical too.

Welcome from Google...

I received an email yesterday from Anna at Google. Anna was the person who I did the first interview with and the email really made my day!

Janna,

I'm very happy to hear that you have accepted an offer from us for the upcoming summer internship and I'm very much looking forward to looking with you!

Cheers!

--
Anna
Usability Analyst, Google Inc

I'm looking forward to looking with her too.... :-D

What does postage cost to the States?

Cool little package!

 

Its Official...

On a number of conditions....

Offer is conditional on... 1. My work Visa, 2. My background check, and 3. that I'm smart enough to get myself to Mountain View by 10 am on May 16th.

I received the final offer package this morning and completed the contract when I got home prepared everything and have it in an envelope ready to go tomorrow. I also sent, my only friend in California, Meghan, an email asking a few questions and saying that I have accepted the offer and that I will mail it back to her by Friday. And just recently recieved this response:

Hi Janna-Lynn,

Thank you so much for the email and congratulations! We really look forward to having you here this summer!
...

And the email went on. But it was great!

Secondly, I'm trying to get used to all this fame. But its all a little weird to me. I know its a big deal that I'm working for Google, but I didn't understand how big everyone else thinks it is. And maybe thats just from my prospective. Personally I'm trying not to make it that big of a deal, cause being star struck by the company is just going to make me more nervous my first day of work. I'm already considering the fact that I have the chance to be the youngest person working there.

The First Picture!

Shes pretty darn cute! And its a pretty awesome Camera!

Must play more! 

What a day this has been...

I recieved an official offer by email today. and I'll recieve an even more official offer by fedex this week. Included in the package, a release form so they can do a background check and a 17 page NDA/Contract. Which is a little crazy to think about. But I'm excited non the less.

I talked to my advisor today... I planned the rest of my education in less than 20 minutes... it was ... great?!

I've been feeling a little bi-polar lately. Sometimes I'm SO excited and giddy and I want to talk about it with everyone and then without warning I'm scared and I just want everyone to leave me alone about it. I really noticed it when it came to the pay. Cause sometimes i'm like.... pish... I can afford that now... and then in the next moment I'm thinking they are going to take soooo much from me in taxes that no matter what I'm paying I will still just be treading water.

So in a moment of ... "i don't have a care in the world" ... i splurged and bought myself a present for my hard work.. Yes it is a digital camera but not the one your thinking... no I totally upgraded and there will be pictures later tonight but if you want to check out some specs on it you can.

I'm giddy again... and kinda hungry.

Choices....

But First, you know what I hate about blogger? Its hard to figure out where to sign in. I can be looking at my blog and want to sign in to make a new post and I have to go all the way back to the main blogger.com page to sign in. Just not very user friendly.

So many choices and decisions to make...
I'm looking at buying a new laptop with part of my relocation bonus, something nice a portable and that I can travel with when I'm communting. Also I think I'll upgrade the digital camera I wanted in the last post.

Sorry Folks, I'm not planning on disclosing how much I'm making while I'm there, you'll just have to keep imaging.

Now I have to get all the ducks lined up. Make sure I'm totally obsessive about the details and pray everything goes according to plan. I have meetings going on all week to get things in line.

Its all a little overwhelming...

There is too much to think about that I can't just focus on one thing.

Housing is huge. The current front runner is a little studio apartment near San Jose. From here I can commute about 30-40 minutes to work on the light rail.

Immigration is huge. I'm waiting to talk to a immigration specialist from Google, Meghan is hooking me up.

I'm going to need a new bank account I'm sure. How do you just pick an american bank!?

What I need to take is pretty big.
Still having issues with what to do about a computer. I guess I just have to ship it right? Or should I rent something?

I'm looking at buying a Digital Camera. Fairly cheap and to the point so that I can have a point and shoot and my SLR too. Any opinions?

I need to find some solid luggage that I can wheel around on my own. I'd really like to be able to take my large picture frame with me so I can have my favourite pictures with me but I'm not sure if it will fit.

Help me develop my list... What am I not thinking about?