| Day 1 |


Started work for GE Energy today as a member of the combustion technology group. I learned so much today that I just can't explain (partly because most of it is technical and you just wouldn't be near interested). Well, I got there at 7:15am like I was supposed to. My assigned "buddy" was there to meet me. He's pretty cool. He's laid back and just goes with the flow. He gave me a cool little sheet that had all of my info on it. It made me look all beast with a special title and all. Then we just waited around for the rest of the co-ops to show up. We all went in this tiny conference room where this stupid woman started freaking out. She was supposed to be giving us an orientation where we learn a few things and get our badges. Well, she flipped when she saw all of the co-ops there. She's like "WHAT! You guys are all supposed to be here tomorrow at 8:00! Not today!" We were all like...."umm.. obviously we aren't because we ALL showed up this morning." So she was all pissy and took forever getting everything together because she just wasn't ready for us. So then we left the "orientation" with nothing to prove that we went (no badge) and had to call our "buddies" down to "escort" (rescue) us from the security area. My buddy apparently left town after he met me (haha) and I had a co-worker of his come down to save me.

He gave me a big tour of the manufacturing area. Good grief. We saw a "somewhat big" gas turbine engine.... yea. Talk about 125 tons of monster..ness. It was pretty cool. We saw lots of different sized engines being put together and it was very interesting.

Then we went to my building and he showed me around the labs there. (I will be spending all of my time in this building). He took me to my own little desk (cubicle), which is actually about 3 times bigger than I expected. I have a lot of privacy in this cubicle. Of course they didn't have my freakin computer or phone ready for me yet. I am supposed to get my own laptop, but it hasn't arrived at the plant yet. That really made the rest of my day pointless because all of the other co-ops were setting up all of their software and multiple accounts and e-mail the whole day while I just sat and read my "Gas Turbine Combustion" book. Yes, that book I never read. So, hopefully I get my computer tomorrow so that I don't fall too far behind.

You know what's great. Unlimited supply of free coffee :-) haha.

Oh, and I think all of the other co-ops are just as nervous and confused as I am. That made me feel a lot better today.