This just in...

Ok, after a ton of im's and wall posts, I probably should update my blog with my newest job opportunity. I flew to Atlanta last week to interview for an international marketing firm. (They aren't based in Atlanta, that's just where the recruitment happened to be.) It also happened to be where Bonnie is living, so I totally got to visit her! (More on Atlanta fun times later.) After an information session, group interviews and a personal interview, they offered me the job! I will be moving to Belgium to start my two week training in the middle of August. The training will be at their offices in Overpelt, the Flemish part of Belgium, an hour from Brussels and 45 mins from The Netherlands. They own an apartment complex nearby, which is where I'll stay, along with the other newbies. I've actually been in contact with this company since last year. I really liked them, but I already had a job lined up in Greece, so when they told me of the recruitment this past weekend, I jumped!

After my training, I'll have anywhere from four to 12 weeks of on the job training, where I'll be placed with a team somewhere in the world. They have teams in most every country around the world, so the sky's the limit. After that I'll have my own team, again, in a country somewhere. I'm terribly excited.

So, you ask, what is it you'll be doing? Well, I'll be an International Project Consultant, which you're thinking doesn't explain anything, and you're probably quite right, so I'll give you an overview. I'll be creating, designing and writing reports on the country I'm stationed in for magazines and newspapers like the New York Post.


And now for something completely different. Fun times in Atlanta! After my interviews on Friday, Bonnie showed me around Atlanta. It's a beautiful city with no more than 10 square feet ever without a tree. It's so green and leafy. When we had just flown under the cloud cover to fly into Atlanta, all non-native Georgians gasped at the sight of all the trees. We could hardly see the roads and buildings there was so much foliage. One lady said longingly, it's like Northern California. We're so rain deprived here it's pathetic.

Anyway, Bonnie took me to The Varsity, a local favorite! I tried the Frosted Orange, the chili cheese fries and a chili cheese hot dog. The FO was like a dreamsicle in a cup. Absolutely amazing. It has such a fun atmosphere. And the workers wear the cut little paper hats and belt, Whata ya have? to those ordering. It's quite the place. I thought it was absolutely, insanely busy while we were there, with over 27 registers open and lines spilled out into the dining room, but Bonnie assured me it was quite slow!

After eating we went downtown to this way cute planned city-within-a-city. It reminded me of San Francisco as all the houses were smooshed together and painted pretty colors. I had my first experience at an H&M. It was a fun shopping center with local artisans setting up around the street.