lundi 23 juillet 2012

[Delphine] First steps in Miami

As you may notice, I am now switching to English for my dear Erasmus friends ;)

July 19th 
I am planning to take the story back where I left it, which is at Miami Airport. Great similarity with David no notice: the weather is HOT! I am pretty positive that we are flirting with the 100°. And it is really humid, which makes you sweat after just a few minutes outside. Lovely!
My HR came to pick me up and even if my plane was delayed a lot, she managed to find me where I took my suitcases. In her car, we turn the AC as high as possible in order to get some well deserved fresh air and here we go!! She drives me through Miami's main streets! We go to some beautiful places, to a French corner (Trouville street, rue Notre Dame..). 



Maybe should I specify that my HR is French as well and as we speak, she mentions that she is the CEO's wife. good to know! After a while and my first sightseeing of Miami Beach, we go to the office (nice place, quite small but well organized) so that I can meet my co-workers and Flora, the intern I am replacing. I am staying at her place until I find a room of my own (deadline: July 30th because she is then moving out). My HR drives the three of us to a restaurant... where we meet my boss. 
After this, I go with Flora to T-mobile to get a phone. I have unlimited calls and texts inside the US. 
Her apartment is GREAT. I really wish I could stay but she is already replaced.. 

July 20th
Sweet jatlag, if you have avoided to wake me up at 5am when I went to bed at 11pm, I would have been so greatful.. But of course, you did not. 
For some reason, I do not feel exhausted on Friday. It could be the excitement. Today is not so much about fun. Moving to a different country means having some issues to deal with such as going to the bank. The closest one to Flora's place is Bank of America so this is where I'll go. I am officially a member of this bank. How awesome?! The lady at the entrance of the bank asks me my name and why I am here. She seemed really intrigued by my name and indeed, a few minutes after letting me wait on a couch, she comes back to me and asks me where I come from. She seems really happy to meet a French girl and tells me she can find someone who speaks French to help me open my account, which she does. She introduces me to this big Black guy who speaks an approximate but quite correct French. Turns out I don't have my passport with me so I have to go back home and come back again... One and a half hour.. That's the time he kept me at his office, asking me questions about where I live, how far it is from Paris, tells me he would love to visit the city, where I live in Miami ("omg, you don't have a car?? how did you manage to come here?  15 to 20' walking? omg!" I must admit that the heat is so huge outside that walking even 15' is a challenge.. but i managed!). After everything, he adds his personal phone number on his business card.. I'm not sure what to say about that!

July 21st
I have two visits planned in South Beach. You know, South Beach, this place you have all seen on TV, where all the huge parties are happening! Ok, to be honest, I am not convinced with what I am about to see.. But let's go!

I have no other choice than going by bus. Turns out HORRIBLE. I have three buses to take to get to the first apartment ($2 each, since I don't have the card making free transfers yet). I miss my second bus because I don't know where the bus stop is. I have no other choice than waiting for the next one to come and guess what? I have to wait 50' in the heat. Great! I'm glad I left in advance because now, I am pretty sure I'm running late for the visit.. And it is not getting better with the third bus that I have to wait 20 more minutes for. I finally get to my destination, half an hour late.. The apartment is just a joke. I have never seen something this messy in my whole life (and go for it, I am not the cleanest person in the world!). It is a shame to have a visit in this place. And please notice that in order to get to the bathroom, you have to go through the owner's room. Perfect...

I leave the place after less than 2' and go to the other apartment. I text them, no answer. I text them again 30' later and they tell me it's already rented. Gosh I love this city already..
On the way back, I am so tired of waiting for buses that after the first bus, I walk back home 1h30 straight (one single never-ending avenue as they know how to make them in the US). 
At night I keep shabbath at a lovely family. They offer me this beautiful dinner and I share my evening with them.

July 22nd
No worries, I will not write a day-to-day diary for one year!! It is just that of course, at the beginning, many things happen!
Today, I discover the other aspect of the summer in Miami: storms! They are really scary and you just can't go outside without a car. The rain is pouring, there's nothing I can do, unless trying to find an apartment on Craigslist. Flora is coming back tonight from NYC (she left on Thursday, which was kinda cool. I was alone in her room and I didn't have to bother her with my presence for those few days). 

July 23rd
First real day at work. Everybody seems really nice and helpful :) I discover the first steps for launching a survey. Let's say I learn the basics! For lunch, two ladies from my office drive me to a Mexican restaurant and buy me food. It's a great introduction in the company! Second lunch at the company's expenses. Impossible to resist!

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