Spending Friday night listening to the latest Incubus album while folding laundry and writing an entry about it afterwards.
My favorites are
Track 1 If Not Now, When?
Track 3 Friends and Lovers
Track 8 In The Company of Wolves
Have a listen!
I can't download music onto my company laptop so I've been very dependent on youtube. I like finding videos that play all the songs in an album at once so I don't have to look for different songs which is really useful.
Anyway...the days this month have been going by extremely fast! Besides my birthday being next Friday (yay for turning 23!), there are a lot more things to look forward to. There have been a lot of exciting things happening. PEPTEC-1 started this past Monday, which is the "real" part of technical school. PEPTEC-0 was just the introductory 2 weeks that transitioned us into PEPTEC-1. This whole week was an intense 5 days of constant studying and daily tests!
One thing I've learned while being here is to stay strong and not be discouraged easily because more opportunities will come. For example, some tests were easy but others were extremely hard and dwelling on the past mistakes and bad marks got me nowhere. I've learned to only look forward because you have no time to look back! You'll be missing all the good things that are happening in the present if you keep overthinking and regretting. I feel like I'm learning a lot not just about my job but also a lot about myself here. I am constantly challenged and I like it because I discover new things about myself. Bring it on!
For dinner today I went to Billy Sim's BBQ. I'm learning to love BBQ! Ribs and a brisket sandwich slathered in bbq sauce was what I got and they were really delicious. Before I came to Texas/Oklahoma, the word BBQ only triggered a typical occasion where there is a grill with hamburgers and hot dogs. I was so far off! BBQ is so good. Ribs and toast and brisket and pickles...eating lots of new things here and acquiring a new favorite taste :)
I'm up at 1:30am because I am trying to practice for my wellsite rotations tomorrow. It's a type of project where I have 4 hour rotations each being winchman, operator, and engineer of a wellsite job. Then an additional 4 hours after working 12 hours to compile data and analyze it. We actually get to log the wireline tools and retreive data downhole. It will be a 16 hour shift, from 10pm Saturday night until 2pm Sunday. Eeek! What a real job would be like. I haven't pulled an all nighter in forever it will be pretty tough but I'm sure I'll learn a lot!
Also today was probably the hottest day I've ever had to work outside. Wearing proper PPE is definitely important but our coveralls get so hot.... Hardhat, safety glasses, boots, coveralls with everything having to be zippered up and buttoned makes the suit an instant self-sauna. It was close to 110 degrees and please don't forget to factor in humidity. But I am proud to wear Schlumberger blue!!! I've seen 2 people already pass out from heat...scary! It's very important to stay hydrated. It made me wonder what Louisiana will be like once I start working there haha. Hopefully my body will be able to adapt quickly to the heat.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
PEPTEC
I've finished my first week of wireline technical school called PEPTEC. It stands for People and Technology. I've been hearing that Schlumberger loves to use acronyms. No kidding! Everything is abbreviated here. It will take some time to actually know what all these mean. I am slowly catching on...
PEPTEC has been totally different from my last 2 weeks of training, which ended last Sunday. Everyone in my training class left except for the wireline people. Saying bye to all my friends in other segments was sad but also exciting because most of them were off to their locations to start their life on the rig! And good thing I like to keep in touch with people as much as I can.
It reminds me of college but a little more intense because there is so much material in a short amount of time and then the frequent tests that I must pass to stay in school! I'm not the world's best test taker so I will admit it gets me nervous every time. But then again I tend to worry a lot more than I need to (note to self: please work on that!!!)
Wireline school will have me here until the first week of October- I will be living in Jenks, OK until then! Btw I learned last night it's pronounced "jinx" and not like how it's spelled. Picking up bits of Oklahoma! Awesome.
Sundays have been my only free days of the week these past few weeks. But I think that's actually going to change because we'll be following another schedule that depends on our instructor, who by the way is amazing! He is funny but also serious when he needs to be. Learning about wireline tools and techniques are really interesting and I love the hands-on aspect. Everything moves really fast so I've been focused on absorbing all the information being given to me!
PEPTEC has been totally different from my last 2 weeks of training, which ended last Sunday. Everyone in my training class left except for the wireline people. Saying bye to all my friends in other segments was sad but also exciting because most of them were off to their locations to start their life on the rig! And good thing I like to keep in touch with people as much as I can.
It reminds me of college but a little more intense because there is so much material in a short amount of time and then the frequent tests that I must pass to stay in school! I'm not the world's best test taker so I will admit it gets me nervous every time. But then again I tend to worry a lot more than I need to (note to self: please work on that!!!)
Wireline school will have me here until the first week of October- I will be living in Jenks, OK until then! Btw I learned last night it's pronounced "jinx" and not like how it's spelled. Picking up bits of Oklahoma! Awesome.
Sundays have been my only free days of the week these past few weeks. But I think that's actually going to change because we'll be following another schedule that depends on our instructor, who by the way is amazing! He is funny but also serious when he needs to be. Learning about wireline tools and techniques are really interesting and I love the hands-on aspect. Everything moves really fast so I've been focused on absorbing all the information being given to me!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Certified SLB Driver
Successfully completed Light Vehicle Training today! After a week in Houston, I flew over to Tulsa, Oklahoma for driver's training for this week. Eeeee it was pretty wild! Did some things I thought I couldn't ever do...aka black ice simulation, skid control, wheel drop, ditch entry....They were so AWESOME! I had a blast. Plus it was very informative. Now I know how to be safe in case of any emergencies!
Driving the huge Ford F250 pickup truck was another experience in itself. Despite having to pull up to the closest seat setting in order to touch the brake and accelerator, I felt powerful and in control! Here's a pic of an F250. I couldn't take a picture of the one that I actually drove because I didn't have time...
Vroom vroommm drove this beast for 3 days straight!
Overall, training has been amazing. I feel so blessed for having this opportunity. Man...so many things can change in one year and I definitely would not have guessed I would be here. I am thankful that God gave me a chance to explore and learn and meet new people! My training class is nothing but friendly and funny and smart. Everyone I've met is so unique and I'm sad to think this will be all over by next weekend. BUT I am sure the things to come will be great as it has been these past days. I'm enjoying my trainee life!
Driving the huge Ford F250 pickup truck was another experience in itself. Despite having to pull up to the closest seat setting in order to touch the brake and accelerator, I felt powerful and in control! Here's a pic of an F250. I couldn't take a picture of the one that I actually drove because I didn't have time...
Vroom vroommm drove this beast for 3 days straight!
Overall, training has been amazing. I feel so blessed for having this opportunity. Man...so many things can change in one year and I definitely would not have guessed I would be here. I am thankful that God gave me a chance to explore and learn and meet new people! My training class is nothing but friendly and funny and smart. Everyone I've met is so unique and I'm sad to think this will be all over by next weekend. BUT I am sure the things to come will be great as it has been these past days. I'm enjoying my trainee life!
Monday, June 18, 2012
OFS-1 Training
Training is finally here!!!! Hello from Houston, TX!!!
It seems like just yesterday when I was stalking I mean enthusiastically researching for other people's blogs who wrote about their OFS-1 training experience with Schlumberger. I was so nervous and curious as to what exactly went down during the two weeks of training.
Today was the very first day and it went by smoothly. I woke up at 6am to get ready and went downstairs for the free breakfast the hotel provides. Then took the 7:15am shuttle to the training facility. The entire day mainly consisted of just sitting in a classroom (there are a total of 53 of us!) listening to powerpoints on various subjects. The most fun part is meeting everyone- it is so interesting meeting all these people from completely different places who are all here to work for SLB! It kind of reminded me of traveling because in Europe everyone you meet is new and the excitement of meeting fellow travelers never gets old! Darn it I forgot to write about my Europe trip that I took from 5/23-6/6 but I will try to update some other time...
Cool things I noted for the day:
-Received company laptop!!! Which I am writing from right now. A brand new dell, which I think is very nice.
-Got my measurements taken for my coveralls which I will be wearing on the job!
-Dinner at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which was rented out only for us for the night. Sweeet! Then did a scavenger hunt and more team building exercises there.
-Having my own hotel room. It's really awesome and just looking at the bed kind of makes me sleepy so I think I will get some ZzzzZzzs soon.
-Having alone time is really nice and I'm liking it. It's different from being home because I'm alone without many distractions when I'm in the room. I brought my bible and QT book "The Daily Office" by Peter Scazzero so I've had time in the morning and nights to read and pray.
My goal of being out here in with this whole new experience is to GROW!!! Mentally, physically (muscles perhaps? heh..heh..) as well as spritually.
Excited for another day tomorrow!
It seems like just yesterday when I was stalking I mean enthusiastically researching for other people's blogs who wrote about their OFS-1 training experience with Schlumberger. I was so nervous and curious as to what exactly went down during the two weeks of training.
Today was the very first day and it went by smoothly. I woke up at 6am to get ready and went downstairs for the free breakfast the hotel provides. Then took the 7:15am shuttle to the training facility. The entire day mainly consisted of just sitting in a classroom (there are a total of 53 of us!) listening to powerpoints on various subjects. The most fun part is meeting everyone- it is so interesting meeting all these people from completely different places who are all here to work for SLB! It kind of reminded me of traveling because in Europe everyone you meet is new and the excitement of meeting fellow travelers never gets old! Darn it I forgot to write about my Europe trip that I took from 5/23-6/6 but I will try to update some other time...
Cool things I noted for the day:
-Received company laptop!!! Which I am writing from right now. A brand new dell, which I think is very nice.
-Got my measurements taken for my coveralls which I will be wearing on the job!
-Dinner at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which was rented out only for us for the night. Sweeet! Then did a scavenger hunt and more team building exercises there.
-Having my own hotel room. It's really awesome and just looking at the bed kind of makes me sleepy so I think I will get some ZzzzZzzs soon.
-Having alone time is really nice and I'm liking it. It's different from being home because I'm alone without many distractions when I'm in the room. I brought my bible and QT book "The Daily Office" by Peter Scazzero so I've had time in the morning and nights to read and pray.
My goal of being out here in with this whole new experience is to GROW!!! Mentally, physically (muscles perhaps? heh..heh..) as well as spritually.
Excited for another day tomorrow!
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Thoughts about Louisiana
The consultant I worked closely with at my current company emailed me after he found out I will be going down to Louisiana in June for my new job at Schlumberger. Here's an excerpt of his email:
"Oh, you're gonna find Louisiana very interesting. Some places are remnants of old times, but the character of the people will make you crack up laughing...and they love a good party!! Also, the seafood!! Extraordinary!. Chances are you'll be working with some people I know as I started in oil and gas in S. Texas and Louisiana. Certainly will be an adventure, cause it is not NY! :)"
This makes me feel excited and curious to what it really will be like to live in the South. Guess only time will tell. I can't believe tomorrow is my last day with this company...after this, no more working in the city. Ah!
Things to do in my 20s
I heard about the Day Zero Project and decided to start my own list of goals. This site helps you start a list and keep track of which goals you've completed. Once you make an account, you can choose from making lists like 101 Goals in 1,001 days or 52 things in 52 weeks, but you can also customize your own.
I decided to make a list for things to do in my 20s. You can choose an end date to your list and mine is July 26, 2019 which is the day before I turn 30. Currently there are 66 things on this list that I want to do.
Some of the things on my list include:
Ride a hot air balloon
Learn to identify ten different constellations
Sing karaoke at a bar
Make amends with at least one ex-friend
Move into my own apartment
Have a traditional picnic in a park
Become a recognized regular somewhere
Host a dinner party
Watch 25 documentaries on topics I know nothing about
Watch a movie at a drive-in
Ask 20 friends to suggest one book, read them all
Keep a “My Day in Six Words” journal for a year
Donate my hair to Locks of Love
I only added the last one (donate my hair) so that I could check off at least one thing on my list to motivate myself to keep going. It says my list is 1% complete with 2625 days left. This is a fun way to make your life exciting and always have something to look forward to.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Help others (with caution)
Yesterday at work I had a really weird and embarrassing thing happen to me. But first here is a little background info about myself…whenever I get emails or fb event invites for 1 minute surveys I always try and do them because it really does take a minute and the more data the surveyor gets, the better!
So these days at the office, I help the front desk take phone calls because they are understaffed. And yesterday, sometime in the afternoon, I received a phone call from a friendly male who claimed to be a senior at UPenn conducting a survey on fashion for his advertising class. I didn’t hang up and agreed to answer his questions. At first the questions were normal, such as the basic info, age range, ethnicity, etc. Then he moved onto questions like on a scale of 1-10 how important is comfortability for clothing… but shortly after that the questions focused more towards lingerie and more personal questions.
So these days at the office, I help the front desk take phone calls because they are understaffed. And yesterday, sometime in the afternoon, I received a phone call from a friendly male who claimed to be a senior at UPenn conducting a survey on fashion for his advertising class. I didn’t hang up and agreed to answer his questions. At first the questions were normal, such as the basic info, age range, ethnicity, etc. Then he moved onto questions like on a scale of 1-10 how important is comfortability for clothing… but shortly after that the questions focused more towards lingerie and more personal questions.
I’ll give him credit for having good transition questions because at the end I really had no idea why I let myself stay on the phone for so long. The question right after the comfortability one was on a scale of 1-10 how important is feeling sexy…then asked how important is it to buy sexy lingerie…it was just getting weirder so I answered quickly to get the survey over with. Eventually I hung up because he started asking inappropriate things like seducing men and exactly what age range of men, single/divorced/married. What does this have to do with fashion and/or advertising?
After hanging up I couldn't believe the questions I got asked. Got to be careful with who I choose to interact with! I give people the benefit of the doubt but from now on I have to be wary there are people out there who can be a little craycray.
After hanging up I couldn't believe the questions I got asked. Got to be careful with who I choose to interact with! I give people the benefit of the doubt but from now on I have to be wary there are people out there who can be a little craycray.
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