What happens at the Zoo... ends up on the M.A. blog!

Good morning friends...

This morning is so rainy and dreary, but I hope everyone had a nice weekend while it was hot and sticky out.

So I am going to make this weeks' question a 2-part question.

What is one thing you would improve about SHM's orientation process?
What are some of the most interesting fun facts you learned about your co-workers?

You like cupcakes? Let's be friends.

Hellohello everyone, first and foremost thanks for a great first week at SHM! This being my second co-op experience (last fall I worked for ACE Insurance as a Reinsurance Contract Analyst...snore) I can definitely say I am very excited to work with a group of passionate, interesting and professional folks such as yourselves.

Honestly I didn't know what to expect when I accepted the position- but everything so far has pleasantly surprised me. No complaints about office lunches, office outings to the Zoo or pizza parties either!

In these next six months I really hope to learn more about the Society, the field of marketing (I'm currently studying Economics at Drexel so it's a bit beyond my comfort zone) and improve my networking skills overall.

Anything else you'd like to know, just ask! (...But maybe make sure I've had my morning coffee first) Until then, grab and enjoy a cupcake in the Hub from Flying Monkey!

Here's to many more days in paradise!

These are my two favorite things. Scrabble and Simba ((my 4 pound toy maltese))

What did I think? Well, I will answer that question by telling you what I know. I know that I spent my second day of work at the zoo getting my face painted ((like a butterfly)) with my fellow MA's. I know my friends spent the second day of work bored/hungry/etc. I also know that it is day 5 and I can recite fun and interesting facts about the majority of the department. I know my friends are scarcely familiar with their bosses. Need I say more?

I have many hopes for the next six months of my life. To begin, I hope I can get my lazy behind to the gym every day, make a point to prepare dinner at least 4 days per week, and I hope the new season of Glee is mind blowing ((fingers crossed)). Other than that, I hope to leave SHM having solidified my interest in marketing, gained an understanding of how a company like SHM operates, and hopefully have a list of likes and dislikes to help hone in on what my future career might look like. In the process hopefully I can make some friends and get some business cards because ultimately this experience is about networking.

That is all!

What I think and what I want!

It went by fast! It's Friday and I'm really happy. This first week at SHM fully exceeded my expectations. I knew that this was a fun office, but what I didn't expect was how much effort everyone puts into making it such a great place to go to work everyday. I've had an amazing time at the zoo, in our personal 101 classes, and at the kickball game. My friends back at school are so jealous. Towards the end of the week though, I am so restless to dive in and become a part of this team. I'm really excited.

I am looking forward to taking away a great deal from this experience. I want to learn more about myself and what I feel I am good at. I'm hoping that maybe I'll be more positive about what I want to concentrate in during school. Meredith described to us how she became noticeably more mature throughout her coop and I am looking to grow, as well. I want to become a well rounded individual that has a lot to offer those around him. By the end of these six months, I expect to learn at least one thing from every person in this office. Not only that, but I want to step outside my comfort zone and try things I've never thought I'd be doing before. I think everyone here should be that type of support group for one another to help them step outside their comfort zone and experience what life, and its opportunities, has to offer.

Thoughts and Goals

Over the course of my first week here, I realized how much I am going to enjoy my co-op with SHM. I never thought that a working environment like this existed. I still can't get over how awesome the people are here. I really like the family atmosphere of the company. A place where strangers do not exist.



During the next six months I would like to get a good feel for what it is like in the marketing industry, as well as understanding the working environment. I look forward to making a friends with the people here. There are many skills that I would like to work on such as time management, prioritizing, leadership, and efficiency.



With that a side, the weekend is here! My goal for this weekend is Powellton, Cheese steaks, and watching Boardwalk Empire and the new season of Eastbound and Down.

First week at SHM!

When I first walked into this office for my interview, right away I thought of IKEA! I love the furniture and decorations.


I really enjoyed my first week here at SHM, especially the zoo trip on second day of work! The employers here are very friendly and I find the QI team to be humorous and laid back.


Six months from now I know I'll gain a lot of experience from SHM by doing research for projects, creating news letters and using new programs on the computer. Also listening in on teleconferences will definitely help me learn about some latest health care related issues, which will benefit me in my future clinical courses at a hospital.

Welcome!

Welcome to Collective Reality, and congratulations on completing week one of co-op!

What did you think?
What do you hope to learn in the next six months?

Last Lecture

Happy 2 days until my birthday!

Anyways....

This is a week of mixed emotions for all of us. The current MAs are leaving us to move on to 6 months of school, and new ones come in less than a week from today.

Since it's your last week, take some time to say your goodbyes in this weeks' post. Think of it as your "Last Lecture." This is meant to be your final thoughts on your co-op experience. What thoughts would you like to leave behind - to those who are still here? To those starting shortly after you? To those to come a year from now?

Give this some time, and some thought. These are your final thoughts so they should be well thought out and demonstrate internal reflection.

Here is my post from when I was an MA and did my last lecture. You can use it as an example of what I'm looking for from all of you this week:

http://collectivereality.blogspot.com/2009/03/as-we-go-on-we-remember-all-times-we.html

I think SHM is great. I like the people and their teaching methods. I think the layout of the building is great. The interior decorating gives off an air of the office being a fun, inventive place to work. Very bright and colorful.

The coolest place I've been to eat was for my birthday last night. Zhara. Middle eastern food. I ate glands of a cow. It tasted like chicken.

Side note. I missed gossip girl and I'm really mad

Late post because I'm lame.

Hmm...I guess I would improve SHM internally by providing more ways for the staff to get to know each other. There are a couple of people that I hardly know and it would have been nice to have different opportunities to get to know the staff. I think that when you know people on a personal level, it makes it easier and more comfortable to work with them. For example, the benefair at the beach was really fun and gave me a chance to bond with some peeps. And win a free lunch reimbursement (which I'm using today btw)

As for cool places I've eaten, Fogo de Chao was AMAZING. It's really expensive, but soooo worth it. I'd suggest going there for graduation or some kind of special occasion like that. I'ts a Brazilian steakhouse where you pay a certain price per person (I think $80) and they give you a coaster that is green on one side and red on the other side. Pretty much, if your coaster is flipped to the green side, waiters swarm you with long skewers of steak and chicken and steak and steak until you flip to the red side and they leave you alone to your mountain of food. It was perfect for me because I'm a carnivore. You order sides seperately, it's not all meat. Everything was really good and that was the most full I think I've ever been. Highly recommended. For something cheaper, I heard that Osteria Pizza is really good too. I saw it on the food network and I was like...drooling.

And now I'm hungry.

Hello

Before I start, Dan, your post made me laugh out loud. Thank you for all of the great tips on places to go and eat.

What I would like to change about SHM is to have more office events outside of work...which are starting to happen. I think that people are excited to know their co-workers outside of work on a personal level through kick ball and outings after work. I know that the Blue color team is working on a few ideas, so when these events are in place I think there will be more interaction and a cohesiveness feeling throughout the office.

I have a favorite Chinese place in Chinatown if that counts :) It is called Imperial Inn and I get the Imperial treat, and it is delicious. If you like to try new things I would recommend going to BookBinders and having their amazing Tortoise soup. I am hoping to try the Melting Pot as well as this Irish restaurant called Fado, and that is in center city.

1. I would place the BST co-op under a single supervisor, who feeds them all their assignments. I'm perfectly happy to handle the amount of tasks I was given, but it often got confusing what the priorities were on them, since they were coming from Mari, Scott, Joy, Andrew, Jack, and/or Lubna while she was here. I think it would have been easier to figure out the priorities if they all came from one mouth.

2. Alright, food. Now we're talking my talk. I know my way around Philly's restaurants.

For lunch fare: Square Burger. No questions. Nice little quiet burger shack up in Franklin Square, over at 6th/Race. Great burgers, fair price, and some ridiculous lemonade (I'm so glad they finally added a large size, I used to finish mine before my burger was done on a regular basis) and if you're feeling particular disdain for your waistline that day, try out the cake shake. Vanilla milkshake, caramel swirl, and a tastycake butterscotch krimpet, all blended into a single dessert that proudly announces to the world "Eh, I'll start my diet tomorrow." I've yet to try this monstrosity myself, as I find the very idea intimidating, but I feel like I've put on a few pounds just by knowing it exists. At this time of year, when it's nice and sunny, but not too hot, it's perfect to grab a burger, some fries and a lemonade, sit right next to the fountain and hang out with some friends.Plus, you can finish up with a round of minigolf afterward, and everyone loves minigolf.


Dinner: I can heartily second Cassidy's recommendation for the sushi bar (I assume she's referring to Mizu.)  Also a fan of Rustica, for Pizza, up at Poplar and 2nd. I recommend getting a small pie though, servings are generous. Meredith's recommendation of homeslice, a few blocks up, by the Piazza, was also worth checking out. Han Dynasty, Front and Chestnut, for Chinese.

For drinks: I'm a fan of Nodding Head Brewery, 15th and Sansom. Some great microbrews (big fan of the grog and the "Ich bin ein Berliner Weisse") Some good songs in the jukebox, and unlike some other bars, it's played at a level where you can still hold a conversation, which is always nice. Plus, it's a great place to take a date if you want the M.A. girls to hound you for details.

Liking Eastbound and Down is a Sin

AKA you have problems, Meredith.

1. One thing I would really debate about changing is who gets to mess with the thermostat. IT'S A TUNDRA IN HERE. But seriously, I think I would change (and though white is my favorite color) some of the decor in the office. It looks nice, don't get me wrong, but after you get out of the hub it gets a little... boring. Beautifully constructured, but there's nothing on the walls to give any "pop" or keep up that energetic vibe the office has. I also think we should get recliners.
2. There is a sushi bar in old city that I loooooove, yet can't remember the name of. It's on 2nd and Market. Really tiny place, but the food is (in my opinion) possibily better than POD. And there's an ice cream place right down the street where they have hand-made ice cream that is sooo good (I know I got you with that one, Ashley).

ps. But seriously, it's a tundra in here. Replace the office's with igloos.

Alright folks...this week we're doing one serious question, and one fun question.

First, the serious one:

If you could improve one thing about SHM (internally or externally) what would it be and why?

And now, because I have an ongoing list in my phone of restaurants I want to try:

Where is the coolest place you've eaten in Philadelphia? What are some places you can't wait to try?

Current Countdowns (disclaimer: I love fall television, get over it):

5 days until the first Eagles regular season game!!
6 days until Kristin is 20!
6 days until Gossip Girl season 4 premieres!
9 days until I'm 23!
9 days until It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia's new season premieres!
14 days until Glee season 2 premieres!
19 days until Eastbound & Down season 2 premieres!
19 days until Dexter season 5 premieres!
29 days until the first Flyers game!
Way too many days until I graduate!!

From: Thomas

To: Everyone

Goooooooooooooooodbyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Tom. Sucker.

From,

Kristin, Kristen, Cassidy, and Lexie

(Dan was not available for comment at moment)