The Trip (Short Version)

• Decided not to stop at Starbucks on the way to the airport, thus allowing me the perfect timing to make my plane.
• Learned how bags get checked to your final destination if you travel via connecting flights.
• Arrived at North Carolina and made it to the hotel with enough time to check-in, change, and go straight to the reception social event.
• Met lots of potential candidates at the reception and realized that there was less than a handful of people from California, many were local people from that surrounding area, and that many people have graduated with their masters.
• Studied the white papers, got my clothes ready, and went to bed.
• Overslept my alarms and woke up late. Got ready, packed, and checked out of the hotel all in 15 minutes.
• Didn’t miss anything but breakfast, attended the presentations.
• Had an interview with Tom (Regional Systems Engineer Manager). On a scale of 1-10: 9.5
• Had lunch, and prepared for the sales simulation and studied the white papers.
• Sales simulation with Patrick (SE Manager). On a scale of 1-10: 7.75
• Hung out with potential candidates and got ready for the group events.
• Group event with a panel of 5 judges. On a scale of 1-10: 6.5
• Took the shuttle from the hotel to the airport, changed out of my clothes, figured out my plane was delayed till tomorrow.
• Called the travel agency, had my flight re-routed. Ran across the airport to find the right terminal, got the shaft going through security, ran ½ a mile to get to my gate in time to board the plane as the 2nd to last person.
• Connecting flight from Memphis to LAX I had a 2+ hours conversation with a lady sitting next to me named Darian.
• Withstood the loud engine of the flight from LAX to SLO sitting in the front row.
• Returned home – I made it, my bag made it, my car made it, Apollo made it.

The "Full Version" is available for your reading pleasure in the post below, accompanied with pictures.