3 min read
So has passed another day as a Noogler. Today's great adventure was to the 10th floor for our orientation classes. So far we've been on the 4th floor but today for some reason was different.
Leaving my workstation 15 minutes before the class started, I took the Google Express, thinking it would bring me to the 10th floor. Well it didn't as there was no option for floor 10. I decided instead to go up to the closest floor and then take the stairs. Boy, was that a bad decision instead of just finding a different elevator.
Getting off the elevator, I took the stairs only to realize construction prevented me from proceeding to floor 10. I ran into a Googler also going to floor 10 who explained the way to 10 was through floor 9, across to the other side of the building, and then up the stairs. He was even nice enough to lead the way to the room through the maze of Google offices. Arriving 5 minutes late, the room was already packed with other interns with no seats to spare at tables. Instead, I took a seat at an extra chair in the back.
Afterwards, we went to get lunch before our first ever Google tech talk. This was an interesting talk on how AI can benefit from advancements in neuroscience. I saw the event and signed up for it as we were encouraged to take advantage of all the things Google has to offer including going to listen to guest speakers. Once again this required navigating the maze, this time to floor 11 -- another largely unexplored floor. Thankfully, there are plenty of 2D and 3D maps in the building in order to figure out where to go.
Later were more orientation classes on the now familiar floor 10. During this plans were made to go see a Broadway show. I agreed since I didn't have any plans tonight after all. Afterwards, I went to get a new Noogler cap since my propeller broke in my backpack on the way home earlier. I later wore this back to my apartment before dinner as I went to get a sweater since I was cold. I must have looked pretty goofy out in public wearing it but I wasn't taking another risk by putting it in my backpack.
Okay, HERE'S the view from Hemispheres finally
After dinner I studied for a couple hours at my workstation before practicing my scooter-riding skills (or lack thereof I should say) and adventuring around the building as many people had gone home for the day. Plans for Broadway fell through but it wasn't a big deal since there'll be tons of shows during the 3 months I'll be here. Only 2 more days of orientation classes to go before the real fun begins.
Sweet view from a massage chair on floor 9 before heading back (my camera lens was a bit streaky)
They lit up the Empire State Building blue tonight