Traveling Observations

So I have been in Dallas for over 2 weeks now and the project is well underway. Unfortunately, due to client confidentiality, I can’t give many details. However, I will say that it has been an interesting experience so far. Here are some things I have noticed so far:

• People in Texas are pretty friendly. Both in the office and in downtown, everyone I have met is cheery. Friends of friends are excited to meet you and show you around their town.
• I have figured out who the people are that I think I would have been friends with in my normal life as opposed to those I am only friends with because I work with them. You get sick of the work ones pretty quick.
• Working out is a must when you have to eat out every meal of the day (essentially).
  You have to get up 45 minutes earlier if you want to go to the Starbucks down the road before work.
• One person can spoil it for the bunch…if one person is doing a poor job, everyone suffers.

This weekend I am going to San Francisco for my first and last four day weekend. We originally decided to do four day weeks because of the long travel distance between DC and Dallas. However, we quickly realized this wasn’t feasible when we have yet to show any results from our work.

I am so excited to see my college and high school friends that will show me around the city and go out on the town. This will be my first time to California…I can’t wait!

CPA Progress

So I took the first section of the CPA exam on Monday, April 14th. I may or may not have passed (I hope I did, obviously). The thing is, even if I had studied more, I probably wouldn’t have studied the things that I wasn’t sure of. The questions were tough!

Here are some pointers for when you take your first (or 2nd, 3rd or 4th part of the exam)

• Study…a lot. You have to dedicate at least a few full weekends to studying. I know it sounds awful, but just suck it up and put in at least 8 productive hours on Saturday and Sunday for 2 weekends.
• Do the practice questions. Some of the questions from the practice exams are almost exactly the same as the real exam.
• Don’t get too worked up. If you are nervous in the exam, you won’t be able to focus. Just tell yourself you’re going to pass and everything will be fine.

I won’t lie to you – your social life is going to suffer while you’re studying for the CPA. Don’t take the exams in the summer - it is too tempting to go to happy hour. When the weather is dreary and cold, sit down with your books and get it done.

Dallas! Or shall I say Fort Worth...

So things really move quick around here. Friday morning I was sitting in my cube in the office thinking I would be there for at least another 2 or 3 weeks. I had only been there for 2 weeks already and it actually wasn't so bad. I was working on some interesting proposal work and helping out a counseling internal initiative. The next thing I know, I'm booking a flight to Dallas and will be traveling there for the next 3 months straight (at least). So, how did this all transpire you ask? I'll try to explain to you what I know, after all this is the business world in action, which is why you need to be flexible.

Apparently the leaders in my office had been down in Texas and there was already a project going on there. Some of the people on the project had to roll off in order to go work on other projects that were in their line of business (not financial services, which is what mine is). The partner from my office convinced them that we should have people from the McLean office travel to work on this client because we have a financial services background. So instead of using Dallas staff, they are going to use McLean staff. I just happen to be one of the lucky ones that gets to go. I don't know if I should really be considered lucky though. I don't think that the work will be exceptionally interesting, but it will give me a chance to get out of DC for awhile. I am sure I will stay in Dallas a few weekends rather than traveling back (although you are allowed to come back every weekend). After all, the flight is 3 1/2 hours and I am not absolutely in love with flying.

Other perks to traveling include airline miles, hotel points, alternative weekend travel (once a month you can go wherever you want and bring a guest!) and all meals paid for. So, even if the work isn't great, at least I'll accumulate some free vacations, get to see friends and family and probably gain 10 pounds...sweet.