May 9, 2011

  • First Day as an Intern

    Hey luvies, 

    I started my internship with RHC today *yAy*

    I planned to reach RHC fifteen minutes early, but the fates were against me and I just barely made it on time. The buses were so crowded that three passed by before I could get on one, and after transferring to the streetcar we were rerouted due to an accident. Thankfully, we got back to the correct street before my stop or I would have been both lost and late. Thankfully I ran into a classmate and she told me she was certain my stop was after hers and thus eliminating any worry I may have felt. 

    Once I arrived at RHC I was shown to my very own cubicle, which has a computer and a lot of filing cabinets. I can hardly wait to decorate it! You should see some of the other office deco, it looks fab! I was then given a tour, and though the layout is a little confusing at first, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it. I already know the way from my “office” to the copy room very well! *L0L*

    My boss DS wasn't there when I arrived due to doing something or other, so AwE, the other employee under DS, gave me a quick tour and tried to introduce me to people. Later when DS arrived I was introduced to more people, but I only remember two people's names because Nla has an accent and I spent time with IRS. I spent most of the morning with DS learning how to do some of the things I would be in charge of except when DS, AwE, IRS, and I went grocery shopping! It turns out RHC is doing sales conferences or something, so food and drink were needed. 

    I get a one hour lunch and so I wanted to spend it outside in the awesome sun since it was so lovely out. I found a courtyard just behind the RHC building that has benches and steps, flower arbours and grass. There was some sort of school tour going on and I eavesdropped to learn that the area was the first ever public square in Toronto (then called York) and that the building directly behind RHC was the first court building. 

    When I returned from my break the IT guy R showed up. I was technically still on lunch, but since R is sooo hard to get I didn't care. R set up my computer with log-ins and the like and went over how to use the system with me. It is still a bit confusing, but I managed to figure out some things on my own. I spent most of the afternoon sorting all the emails I received since I've been on five mailing lists for the past month! I think I was added as soon as they decided to hire me *L0L* 

    DS passes on some of his emails to me to take care of, the things he taught me to do this morning. I had to send out a photo image to someone which requires finding it on one network for the isbn relating to the image, doing a search on another network to actually get the image, downloading and saving the image to my computer, then emailing it back. I also had a few book requests which requires me to search for the ISBN on the one website, enter it onto another website, adding the quantity and the mailing address, and emailing a confirmation to my boss. I also had to courier a couple things, and mail out others. I did have to ask questions that DS didn't cover in the quick morning lessons, and I hate bothering people, but that's better than doing it wrong. 

    I found out that my internship goes until the end of July and will be for "summer hours"... basically that means I get friday afternoons off starting in a couple weeks. I will be helping with an author even later this month, and in the following two months they plan to send me to those on my own *eeep* At the end of my internship I will get an honourarium which will just cover the next month's rent. 

    I was hoping I might get a job right out of my internship, but since AwE is only filling in for a mat leave, AwE would get first dibs on any opening positions. Unless I luck out and they need TWO new people, I don't really think I can count on them. That makes me a wee bit nervous since I need to get a job right away after my internship or I wont be able to afford to stay in Toronto. 

    Anyways, DS let me leave early since it was my first day, but I didn't think ten minutes made much of a difference since there wasn't much for me to do yet anyways. But while waiting for the streetcar back home, the cute guy in my class was walking past me and stopped to say hi, I didn't even see him until he called my name. I said hi and hugged him before remembering that I don't hug people in Toronto, but it was habit *L0L* 

    The return trip was uneventful thankfully and I decided to skip grocery shopping on the way back because my feet were killing me. I spent most of the day walking all over in my heeled knee boots which either have still not yet been broken in or are just going to be uncomfortable forever. 

    So now I'm to find something to eat from what is left in my cupboards! 

    SUMR