It was surprisingly easy to unpack my car. Aside from the futon, it was only four trips of bringing things inside. I started to sort things in my room, allotting corners for this or that. Eventually, JK came up and asked if it was yet futon time (I had told him previously that I would need his help for that). I said that I had unpacked everything else, and that if he was available then now was a good time.
It took at least 20 minutes for AK and I to stuff the queen-size futon into my tiny sedan. And then, of course, it fills the space it occupies. I thought it would be quite awful trying to remove it. JK came along. He gave two tugs, and it was totally out. Wow. We brought it up to my room (second floor). He told me that he actually had a spare futon frame (and futon) that might go well underneath it. He fetched them, and again I was wowed at the ease with which he moved them. We discussed placement, and he help me hoist my futon (queen-size) atop his futon (full) atop the frame (somewhere between full and queen-size). He then disappeared into the wild unknown and I was left to make up my room.
I decided for that for the sake of the space I had, I would put fiction books by the bed, and non-fiction by the closet (Don't worry, I will post pictures). I also tried to decide what furniture was useful/important to try to fill the space.
I went to the nearby Walmart (Dad would love this: It is less than five minutes away!). It is huge. I told AK later that it could easily eat the Walmart by Hampshire. Twice. There is a full grocery section among other things. They also have cheaper furniture options than what I could find used (craigslist) or rented (yes, somehow Walmart's prices were about the same as renting furniture for just one month!). I decided that the best options for me would be a cheap "student" desk (with bookshelves!), a "bookcase" to be used for clothing, and various modular boxes for miscellany. I also bought a trash-can and a CO detector as my room was lacking. I returned the next day to purchase a space-heater. My room was lacking in much heat as well.
I went to the local grocery store, called "Bloom." It is seriously less than a minute from my apartment. I only drove becuase it was on the way back from Walmart. It is very nice. And big. It seems they like big down here. They have these touchscreens where you are able to search for products and it gives you an interactive map and is altogether very cool. I bought some staples, you know, like a six-pack of mac and cheese.
The people are so kind. It is like the sales associates actually want me to have a nice day. Very different from the Northeast. There is a touch of hick-ness too. But is so far more endearing than upsetting or anything else. And I love the accent. It really seems as though even a stranger genuinely cares. So different from what I am used to.
It is February 23, and still DM says that he thinks that I will probably start on March 1. Nothing more. Oh! I never mentioned the interesting turn! Towards the beginning of February, I called DM (as it seems that I always need to be the one to initiate, he only returns calls or emails, and is much better with calls), to try and get more details and he said, "Yea, my secretary reminded me of a way where you could have the same start data [March 1 at this point] and get paid for the work you do for us. You just have to go online and fill out this application. It is for the Summer Internship Program, but it doesn't have to be in summer." As it turns out, I had already applied for this! I quickly told him that I had submitted an application, and his secretary supposedly checked to make sure everything is in order. Apparently, he had to ask for special permission for me to start near immediately, blah blah blah. If it works, I will be paid at a rate of $2200 a month. No complaints here. But, it would be nice to actually have a firm start date!
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