tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7284309.post-1087808112576351572004-06-21T01:28:00.000-07:002004-06-21T01:55:12.576-07:00So I've been in Redmond for 3 days now and I have to say, it is gorgeous. It has been clear blue sky's and 85 degree weather ever since I arrived. The drive up here was also quite interesting, Oregon has some of the most beautiful scenery and interesting people. Did you know that for the past 50 years there has been a law in Oregon that requires all gas stations to have someone pump your gas for you? I sure didn't until I pulled off to fill up and a man approached me and asked if I was getting gas. I said yes and began to put my card into the machine. Then the man stopped me and alerted me that I am not allowed by state law to operate a gas pump. I talked with him for awhile and found out that the law had started out as a way to ensure safer gas stations but is now kept simply because of the jobs it created. As you might know there is not much to do as far as work in Oregon and therefore forcing the gas companies to employ more citizens is always a good thing. <br /> <br />Moving further north I have found great people, scenery and culture. Seattle and the surrounding area has really surprised me so far, I absolutely love it here. My friend Mike and I were driving back from the downtown area today crossing lake Washington and talked yet again about how we still could not believe we had made it. We continued to praise the beautiful lake and its deep blue color, the snow topped volcanoes in the background and abundance of green all around. This place is gorgeous! Towards the end of the bridge we gave each other a high five just as we passed what we thought was Bill Gates's lake front house. We are both so thrilled to be up here; a little freaked out but thrilled nonetheless. <br /> <br />It is now just one day before I start work. On Tuesday there will be a New Employee Orientation(NEO) where we will be briefed on all that is to come in the months ahead. This year my roommate has told me that there are over 1000 interns. This is up from around 700 just last year. If you think about it that's just crazy! I mean over 1000 others like myself working for the summer from universities all around the world. I so can't wait for my first day and I will surely do a post after it is all done, wish me luck =).Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329493210385728012noreply@blogger.com