| Work and School |


As most of you know, I won't be at Virginia Tech next semester (Spring 2006). I will be down in Greenville, SC working as a full-time co-op student for GE Energy (technically, the GE EID [early identification] Program). I start work January 9th and finish up May 5th. Fortunately, I am ahead enough in my curriculum at school that I will only be missing three classes next semester. I will take these classes (Aero Materials, Aircraft Performance, and Deforms) over the summer and hopefully be back on track come next fall. I am pretty excited about the co-op, but pretty nervous. I am working at the GE Gas Turbine facility in Greenville... I don't know a thing about Gas Turbines, so I will definitley be learning a lot.

I just moved in to my apartment in Greenville yesterday and today. It took Amanda and I about 6 hours to get down there from Richmond. It wasn't too bad of a drive until we hit Charlotte, NC. That's when the traffic really picked up. I am sort of relieved to find out that the drive isn't terrible... just long. Perhaps I can make a few weekend trips back home during the semester.

Unfortunately, my apartment in Greenville costs about 3 (yes, three) times as much per month as my apartment in Blacksburg.

Why?

• Well, I have no furniture. I am renting a furniture package for the 5 months that I am there. That costs... a lot (less than transporting the little furniture that I have down there and bringing it back).
• A 5 month lease costs more
• Cable tv and high-speed internet... mmm.
• phone? yes
• I will live alone
• renting a washer and dryer for the apartment
• no utilities are covered in the rent (have to pay for water, sewage, electricity, etc)

I think I'll be comfortable :-)

I am going to start posting more regularly (hopefully every day) once I start working. I won't have much else to do in the evenings to use as an excuse for not posting.