Five years ago today I started work at Pixar. I can’t believe it’s been half a decade already.
Actually, I’m not sure it was exactly five years ago. The INS refused me entry into the country the first time around, turning me around before I even got on the plane; so I can’t remember if the 21st was my supposed, or actual start date. The immigration lawyers blamed me for volunteering my cover letter to the custom officers – apparently the language on it wasn’t strong enough to show that I wasn’t filling a temporary position (which was a criterion of the TN visa I was under). A week later I went back to the airport by which point some magical smoothing by lawyers had occurred. This time around the same cranky customs officer just stamped my passport, and away to California I went.
Yeah, I started before my 21st birthday. My first beer bash and my employer was serving alcohol to an underage minor. (Drinking age is 18 in BC.) Not the most auspicious of beginnings, but still – it’s mostly been a good trip over the years, even if it’s taken me down the coast and up again, almost back to where I began. Even when I’m whining – in person, or here – or irritated at some political bullshit at work, or despite being stressed out of my mind on occasion, I still have to admit: in the end, I like my job, and have enjoyed it over the last five years. And yes: being less curmudgeonly wasn’t on this year’s resolution list, so you can take this statement at more or less face value.
Since it’s also the eve of the Chinese New Year I thought I’d have something deeper to say, but I’m drawing a blank, so I’ll just leave it at “xian nian kuai le”!
