Oh my gosh, I finally found a good mall, like I don’t shop that much, but I seriously had a bad case of needing to buy random punk & hot clothes.. Unfortunately my body is so tiny, so none of the hard core hot bikinis with spikes fit me (haha! Not that I would ever wear it, just nice to have it in my closet..) The tough thing was that I biked to this Mall, and I was afraid it was going to get super dark and I’d have to bike back with tons of random junk on my back, so I ended up with only 40 minutes there.

But, I got 2 awesome band T-shirts, for someone.. And, some hot-n-awesome high heel type things.. Ones I can stand up in.. More like platform style (you can tell my sense of describing fashion is superb.. Oh, oh! And, here is my thought for the day:

Yah, so after my nice day of 9 hours of work (I woke up at 6:30 and figured hitching a ride withe Sara (Thank you Sara!!) would be a nice treat rather than toughing it out on a bus) I got to bike a bit of downtown Portland.

Portland is one weird weird place. I noticed the homeless people here are another “type” compared to Seattle. I really wanted to get one guy dumpster diving (that always looked all nasty and fun to me.. :P) a McDonald’s burger & stuff but figured it was kind of sketchy. I think one of the better ones was when I went shopping with Tara over the weekend and passed some 20/30-somethings with this old grimy Pepsi cup hanging from a string attached to a stick with a funny sign. I wanted to take a photo but didn’t have change on me, so we just walked away. They told Tara they liked her stockings (the leg warmers, I swear that girl has some of the best crazy awesome Gothic-y fashion..)

Meanwhile I was so bored (well, not really bored, but I don’t know how to describe it.. I’m used to school and trying to retain Japanese vocab for the next quiz of the week). So i fantasized about all the possible cool things I could do with my time and realized some things (ok, a lot of rants & raves here):

I am really pathetic sometimes when I’m running on 6 hours of sleep, Why am I here?! (I mean, Fred Meyer is amazing, but I am a Portland n00b), Fred Meyer has “been around since 1922″, I am trying too hard, things move slower in Oregon, there are no Asians except for exchange students, “expensive” is a very subjective term (between the “expensive” FM cafe’ in the HQ and my Seattle living, it’s nice and affordable), oddly enough though, people’s idea of “cheap” clothes is my idea of horrendous, I stick out like a sore thumb from the other interns, I need to stop hanging around D&D & total nerds in Seattle (or, decide that I just should stop trying to “fit in”, makeup is cheaper here (thanks to the Fred Meyer Associates Discount!), people are super friendly (is it because I look like I’m 16?!), everyday here in Oregon I get at least 2 comments about how I look so young (good, but sometimes meh..), yes, I’m skinny, Person: “What are your hobbies, other than the Internet?” .. ME: “Oh man.. Oh man.. I got this one… uhhh shopping?! biking… oh man, I think that’s it.. Food & the Bible?!, HAHA, on that note, Seattle is full of Atheists, thus due to the Diamond-Water thing from economics there is ample supply of cheap & free Bibles versus Portland where they are all full price.. HAHA..

Oh, and I had lunch with some of the people from my department today, all really friendly. Tara, one of the copywriters was very awesome, she introduced me to some of the others around in the cubical forest that I’m not attached to. I asked them for tips of stuff to do and they had a lot of things to say. Very quirky bunch, I liked them a ton. Oh, and below was my 1st day on a bike, I was doing well until I decided to continue biking when the sun went down without my glasses on.. haha..

I also decided to take the initiative to get out of my cubby hole and interview some of the other interns about social networks. It was great to get some new, fresh voices on paper rather than reading article after article. =)

Wow.. This has definitely been one crazy week. Corporate is way different than hosting launch parties, checking in RVers, creating websites, and school.. Ok, maybe not too much, just the interesting division between departments and the cubicle, and how I get to forget about work because there’s no pop-quizzes..

It’s been pretty awesome, as far as internships, I think this is a sweet deal. Even though I’m going to come out of it either broke or hopefully break-even (because unlike most of the others I don’t have any friends or family).

Some things I’ve learned:

-Fred Meyer actually cares about the workers! I didn’t know their HR actually reads all of the lower level comments about store management! This goes for customers too!

-Do not use the word “Clearance” in a positive sense when in a meeting– Use: “Sale”.. haha

-Fridays are crazy for the Sales & Promotion People

-Copywriters speak another language, I fear for my life when I start speaking or that one day one of them should read my slang on this blog.

-I never did this, but I’m sure I don’t want to know what would happen if someone did: Bring a Wal-mart plastic bag or Safeway..

-Fred Meyer is an early bird company.. The earlier the better (yah, I don’t know if I’ll get into it like the other interns)

-When most surf the web and try to get on Facebook they get this (Image of Kroger Security Wall)..

I get this (Facebook!)

I actually find this really funny because I can’t fathom this in a techy company or video game company, as half of the content you are searching for probably involves nude people. And, as for the tech-company, couldn’t they easily hack the system?!.. haha..

Hmm, yah, the first week I was pretty lonely, just wandering around on a rampage from the claustrophobia of the corporate world.. But, now I’m much better after catching up on sleep and getting a feel for the weirdness of Portland.

Ok, today was the real day, I got my cubicle (which I shall post photos of when I get a chance) and I got to go to meetings– it’s just like the movies with less drama (haha).. I’m currently reading up on articles about social online media.. In particular Twitter (wow, there are way to many obsessed people out there.. ok, I admit it I’m one of them..) and Facebook.. But, there seems to be way more info on Twitter.

My 2 bosses are super chill and cool. Just like my friend who works for Intel and my other friends who work for other techy companies!

Yah, so I’m here!! Now in Portland, almost about to wrap up my second day of work here at the HQ. I must say, that when I first got into the job, I had no idea what to expect… I was like: “BAH!! There goes my summer in the sun”.. But, now that I’m here I’m so glad I figured out living arrangements in Portland because I definitely think it’s worth it… They actually care and had a huge program lined up for us! (there are 21 other “2009 FM interns” and myself).

No where on the internet can I find ANYTHING about working at Fred Meyer, only a few people at the stores.. The 1st day was very cool, a little scary being that it was 7:30 in the morning and I woke up before 6am (I sleep late) and we had to talk about “Who we were.” You’ll be happy to know I didn’t wet myself [just kidding, I actually like talking in front of people when I'm in my element :).]

My practice was a FAIL but luckily when we actually had to say a quick 1 minute in front of non-interns we all did great– Good practice for our future presentation..

I found it funny how people here are very loyal to their school and if they happen to be recruited from a prior intern year.

My 2 supervisors were sweet, and HR was very helpful and enthusiastic. They gave us (the interns of 2009) cool bags, a pad, our badges, and waterbottles. We also got to check out the “Fred Meyer Campus”.

My mom and brother left.. Got pretty homesick in the dorm that night because I’m so used to rooming with video gamers who stay up until the crack of don.. (4am to be exact.. sometimes 7am, when their alarms sounds off!).. But, after watching some cheesy flicks on my laptop I felt better and I was thanking the LORD it wasn’t noisy..

Other than my woosey “homesickness” and “I miss my car” syndrom, I must say this internship seems really awesome.. Any student out there reading this who is pondering where they want to do their first internship– choose Fred Meyer!! I’ll be sure to keep you updated!

Here are some photos of my week (sorry for the strange order of posts).. It was great, hectic, but quite fun.. Went to Portland, had Japanese quizzes, homework, ate lots of tasty fast food for free compliments of my mom.. Hmm, sucked on a salt stick for the hiring process of Fred Meyer (I thought it was a needle & was like: “oh my gosh! not a blood draw!”– turns out it was just a salt stick.. haha) Um, got and got to listen to oldies today with Keith.. For example: the 60’s song: “This Magic Moment”… and “Out on the Boardwalk”.. Basically I drove him crazy.. hehe..

And, I also got to speak with all sorts of really awesome people at the HQ of Fred Meyer, as well as see some of the past intern photos.. Two girls had a photo in front of the Fred Meyer corporate jet! Funny too, because I called up my mom today & she was like, “oh, one second, I’m just paying for my food in Fred Meyer with your father..”

I noticed when you google Fred Meyer HQ, unlike other companies you only get a few photos. So I’ve tagged some here.. Hopefully, in a few weeks the Googlebots will pick up my tags and catch it on their image page :).

Above: Me in Seattle (unusually nice weather)

Below: Me, back in Spokane.. (haha).

So, I’m back in ghetto, but awesome Spokane.. Some photos of my activities below (I have been a total photo fanatic, since I have to make up for a lost summer in Spokane..)

So I’ve had many expired things before.. But, I haven’t done this in a long time.. I was feeling sick & ran out of my favorite Chewable Vitamin C’s, so all I had left where these rather yucky tasting multivitamin chewables and I couldn’t find my swallow vitamin C tablets.. So it says: “take 2″. I open it, and I’m a quite expereinced pill-popper (I’m sure you like me bragging about this, so i’ll try to get to the point)..

Anyway….. I have noticed since the last time I took these pills that they have a certain funny speckle look on all of them.. I figured that was just the way they were made.. I take 2.. after the second one I realize while putting it back.. It reads: “exp. Feb 07″……
Yah.. Not cool.. So it’s been a while now and it tastes REALLY gross.. hehe.. Count on me to be clueless.. I mean seriously though.. Where did I get these?! I mean, they expired when I was a Freshman in college!– I’m a junior now..

I’m normally not this clueless in real-life, I guess with all my moving from dorms to apartments etc.. I lost track and assumed these were new!

~~lol.. yuck.. ~~Alice

So thinking back to my strange childhood, I came up with a list of sure-fire nostalgia that has affected me throughout the years.. In no particular order..

Kindergarden-> Living on a replica of a pirate ship in San Fransisco, the “Sultana”. Thomas the tank engine & Ringo Star.. scary.. Just had to listen to my roommate watching old youtubes of it! Dunkaroos (cookies you dip in chocolate cream.. MMM)

Kindergarden-> Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, and the Jetsons.. Honestly, I could never understand why they always played back to back.. I thought we would be in the Jetson’s era by now..

Babysitters->McFlurries, angering the daycare people, and “Fun pack” doodling and maze books.. Of course the annoying feeling you get when you realize that this particular babysitter only has annoying crayons.

2nd grade->Moving to 5 acres in Idaho. Being a “Brownie Scout” in Girl Scouts.. Selling lot’s of cookies to bystanders. I always wondered why the Cub scouts and Boy Scouts got to be cool animals and we were foods and flowers..

4th grade->GigaPets & Awanas.. Yah.. And Squirt guns.

5th grade->Moving to Spokane, Washington and living in an RV resort.. (I NICE ONE! .. With a pool and whatnot.. haha)

N64, Starfox, being gloriously challenged by miniscule video games and shooting people with the superior red turtle shells on Mario Kart (because spiked ones are for cheaters!)

All throughout my childhood-> Being forced to camp, hike, and do stuff..

All throughout high school->Being forced to eat and sit because of my fast metabolism.. haha..

6th grade->The sweet smell of a newly opened Pokemon trading card pack.

9th grade->shooting real guns

11th grade->The fear of Boost and a hot pocket for breakfast

College->Learning what college guys really think, ending up having all bisexual friends (hehe..), libraries, lots of energy bars, rain, and business school.. Knowing just about every bus line and the whole Seattle area.. Seriously, you could blind fold me (please be gentle and no cuffs..) and drop me off somewhere– I’m pretty sure I could get back to my apartment.. (I don’t have a nice GPS cell phone.)

Quite a place Portland is, just got back from Portland with my mom– I will definitely blog about it once I get some photos uploaded, but yahhhh, it was pretty sweet.. Very nice people too! I wish I could transport the building to Seattle or Spokane, my “homewtown”, though, because finding a cheap place to stay (that is quiet & as the craigslist people say: “BS free”) is a bit more difficult when you don’t live nearby to check out the places..

I figure I’ll pray and go from there

A lot of “signs” today too.. Like, weirrdd.. We stayed at a Motel 6 because it was the only place close to the HQ, but man, I have stayed in fancy Hotels in both Seattle and San Francisco & this was actually pretty nice– Pool & all.. Complete with a parking spot for “Police only”.. HAHA..