current location: emporia, va

Another day at work, and more experiences to reflect upon. The following might read more as a rambling stream of consciousness than a coherent entry. I hope you'll be entertained by my journey of professional development this summer. :D

I still like the people (always a plus), maybe one quibble.. just one minor quibble... There are so many Tech people in the firm! *cue physical agony* A majority of the people in the firm are awash in red and orange, and there's precious few Wahoos around. That silliness aside, my team, and I feel that the firm as a whole, is pretty relaxed. We have some friendly banter when we're sitting around the table, and my partner doesn't seem to mind when someone's phone inadvertently goes off (the most telling sign, in my opinion). I like this kind of atmosphere, it's conducive to question asking and heavens know I've been pounding everyone with questions every day. He also doesn't seem to mind that I bring small snacks and munch on them. I'm not sure I'd be able to make it through the day if he did though (I'm one of those that eats a lot of small meals).

I'm doing mostly audit work this summer, and I have to say I really like it. Those of you considering accounting, but don't want to be stuck behind a desk, want to talk to people, and like to verify if work's being done correctly, then audit may be the path for you (my one week experiences summed up in a verrry small nutshell). However, accounting in general is so stereotyped that I'm going to have to dedicate an entry to that later this summer.
Thus far my work has consisted of running random tests of disbursements, checking VRS and 941s, and verifying revenues. My current impression is that audit consists of constant work, which is certainly a welcome respite from the two/three week pressure cookers in the comm school. Groups usually need to deliver on a proposal, starting from brainstorm and development all the way through to finish. When it works out, like my amazing group last semester, it's wonderful. When it doesn't, like my group from hell first semester, it really... really... really sucks.

current location regardless, where would i rather be?

Well, not exactly a matter of hating work, or even disliking it, but who doesn't like spending time at home? Food's cooked for you, great furniture and clean surroundings, home is almost like an alien planet sometimes.

I've finally had the privilege to realize what a blessing it is to have family in state this summer. My dad spends some time in Virginia every year, and this year it happened to coincide with summer time. He's helped me move out and in, and I've had the luxury of going home every two weeks thus far. I'll probably consider this pattern all through summer. Gosh, in staters have it nice!

On the other hand, I finally switched from T-Mobile to AT&T last weekend. Love my new phone, love the service. I thoroughly detest T-Mobile right now, absolutely horrid service, especially in C'ville. Then again, most major providers seem to have a difficult time in C'ville. However! I can't stand it that I can't call out, even when I have full bars, or I'll have no bars and will be standing in the middle of the Lawn, furiously shaking my phone because I need to contact someone. My phone being as aesthetically pleasing as a block of turd didn't help things either. (Yeah, you might detect a little bit of bitterness. I've had this phone and service for about 2.5 years now, lots of time for resentment to build up).

Got on my dad's family plan on Saturday, along with a free LG Shine. I'm currently in the rapturous "oh em gee I have a new toy!" phase. I also discovered how to send ringtones and pictures to myself so I don't have to get ripped off buying them through the phone, so now I can't wait for someone to call and text me.

But more on the topic on C'ville and UVA, those of you wondering which provider you should get should probably go for Verizon or AT&T. The majority of my friends have either of the two and they seem to get the best service.

another day at work.

Tomorrow concludes my first week of work at my accounting firm. Verdict? I need more time in order to form a more cohesive opinion, but I do like my colleagues quite a bit. They're funny, easy to talk to, and very willing to show a new person the ropes. This part of my education in the comm school is being realized in full in the real world -- group work. I'm on a team of four - one junior accountant, one senior, one manager, and one partner. This will be the group I work with for the entire summer, and a group that some of the members have worked with for four or five years.

What's unique about this firm is that there's quite a lot of travel. This has definitely been an eye opening experience for me as I've been centrally based in one location all my life. This particular firm also works with many local government and public school clients, and does anything from tax to audit to consulting (I'm sad to say I missed the tax season though, so I won't have an opportunity to experience that).

We're currently in the middle of doing preliminary work for audits (busy season for governments is October and November, when all the papers need to be filed). I've been commuting to Louisa county this week (still living in C'ville!), working with the county government, social services, and public schools. I've run tests of random disbursements, VRS, 941, and tracing receipts. I'm traveling to Greensville next week, and I'm pretty excited about what else I will do.

What's not unique to this firm, but is common only amongst the middle to smaller sized businesses (aka not Big 4) is the opportunity for career advancement and opportunity to take on a lot of responsibility. The lead partner of my team made partner before he was 30! O_O I know, quite unheard of unless you start your own business. Speaking with my colleagues, they feel that they had the opportunity to really make a difference with their work and to take on responsibility that would come much more slowly at a big firm. -- This is one of the biggest things I'm struggling with this summer, go for a big firm or a regional firm? It's something I'm going to have to figure out in three months - when recruiting begins for accounting firms!

woof woof!

I'm currently crashing at my friend's place before my lease begins at another friend's place. A mutual friend has been here for most of the time I've been here, and her dog is here as well. So there's two crazy pooches running around that my friends dissolve into big baby voices whenever they see the canines. Not a dog person myself, I don't understand it. One of them is a pit bull, and the other is.. a.. Jack Russell (?). 

Before anyone gets excited though, students aren't allowed to have pets in dorms. We're only allowed to have non lethal fish (so for all you piranha lovers.. got to leave them at home). If you can't live without your dog or cat, you'll have to live off Grounds. Bear in mind you'll also have to pay an extra pet fee each month for your apartment. My friend lives off Grounds, in a beautifully decorated apartment. I really like living here, and will love my next place as well as my other friend has been so kind to leave me a 47 inch flat screen TV in his room. Whee! =D

mmm.. such is life.

I'm currently curled up up a couch, freshly washed laundry waiting in the dryer, back from a day of work, just finished spaghetti I made yesterday (broccoli, green beans, onions, mushrooms, meat, super vegatable primavera Ragu, and Japanese soba noodles), watching CSI: Miami, and the night is young. Ahh, such is life. =D

I've held internships/jobs in Cville every summer since I've been here, and this year is no different. Being as I'm an accounting and management concentrator in the commerce school, I applied for accounting internships this year. I decided to work at a big Virginia accounting firm on Route 29, I'd quantify it as a mid sized firm. I actually just came back from my first day of work in Louisa county. My firm services about 75% of Virginia, and during the audit season, travels all around Virginia. I'm travelling to Louisa this week, and Greensville next week. I like the people, they're really friendly, and I'm still trying to figure out what exact type of accounting I want to go into when I graduate. I hope to eventually go for forensic/litigation accounting, but who knows?

Mm, I have to say that out of all the CSI series, CSI: Miami is my favorite (agree, disagree?). I seemed to have caught a really early episode though. The guy who plays Horatio almost has a mohawk, and Emily Proctor has really long hair. Kind of odd O_O. Emily Proctor is also an alumni of my sorority (haha, definitely gave away that information about  me)! =)

Okay, I just saw the musical version of Wendy's new coffee toffee twisty whatever thing, and it's kind of scary..