Fresh Blogs: August 2012

It's hard to believe it's been 3 weeks since I arrived here in California. I'll be honest, the first week was incredibly difficult for me and I really didn't think I'd be able to handle being away for 2 whole months. But now that I'm all settled in and into a groove, time is flying and I just know my time here will be over before I know it.

I am renting a room from friends of friends who just so happen to live in Downtown Long Beach, just 7 miles from the bakery. They are a young couple (my age) with an 11 month old daughter. I was a little hesitant at first about sharing a room with a baby, but she has been great so far and if she wakes up throughout the night, I have no clue because I sleep right through it! I decided not to rent a car while out here so I use public transportation. Public transportation in Long Beach is big and being downtown makes it very convenient as I am right next to the main bus terminal as well as a block from the closest metro station stop. I am thankful that there is a bus that pretty much takes me door to door so commuting to work everyday is easy, even if it does take me almost an hour to go 7 miles.

Here are a few hilights of the trip so far:

- Experienced my first California earthquake (M4.4) my first night in Long Beach.

- Almost got ticketed for jaywalking. Yes, I got PULLED OVER by the police while WALKING because I crossed an intersection (in a crosswalk mind you) when the sign said "don't walk." Apparently jaywalking in CA is a big no-no and carries a $250 fine. Lesson learned.

- Awesome weather, even though the locals say it's been unusually hot for the area.

- In-N-Out Burger

- Awesome Mexican food!

- My friend Daimon from back East is out here for work and has been my little tour guide. Because of him I was able to see the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica beach, Huntington beach, and Little Tokyo for my first Ramen experience.

I suppose you probably want to know how my internship is going too. I'm happy to report that things are going well! The shop is really cute and everyone seems pretty nice so far. When I arrived on my first day I figured I would just be observing and learning how they do things, but instead they threw me right into it, making cake batters, filling cake pans and assembling mini desserts. I'm sure it's how they do things but I felt as though they trusted I that knew what I was doing and that made me feel good. While the kitchen itself is more than double the size of other bakeries I've worked in, space is extremely scarce and everyone is always fighting for a clear spot to work. At times, there are as many as 10 or more people in the kitchen at once - bakers, managers, interns, owners, consultants, drivers. I am a little disappointed that the cake decorating takes place at an off-site location but I'm told that I can go over and watch the cake girls work at any time so I'm happy with that.

Well, I made it to California! And for the past 2 days I've been staying with Aunt Mary and Michael (the sweetest people ever) who live on this boat in San Pedro, right outside Long Beach.

This isn't really MY Aunt Mary, but you'd never know by the way she and Michael welcomed me. I had never met them before but they were kind enough to take me in, feed me, and show me around for a few days until my apartment was ready to move in to. I am so thankful for my dear friend Dee Dee for hooking me up with them. Aunt Mary was a HUGE help and I honestly don't know what I would have done without her.

Here are a few more pics from my short stay in San Pedro...