Update

I never thought I'd miss the Chou lab, but since working at L'Oreal, I have started to miss that place dearly. Although I had lots of questions, my PI and the grad students were always willing to help. People at work seem too tired to pay attention to you. Also, the atmosphere at the Chou lab was a lot more carefree and fun, while you always have to be careful of what you say at L'Oreal. I remember having random conversations with the grad students about partying and cockblocking. That conversation would probably never happen at work.

Is there really nothing to look forward to once you start working such that you're sighing 24/7? People at work sigh all the time. I now notice how annoying it is, since it brings people's spirits down. And, it makes you sound extremely frustrated. Also, people are always complaining about their age. 26 years old really ain't that bad. *shrugs* I'll probably feel their pain when I'm 26.

I had a good conversation today over lunch with a co-worker. She enlightened me with her experiences with finding and changing jobs, about corporate culture, and the like. I was considering concentrating in environmental science policy in Wharton (I'd like to help the world go green), but after talking with her (she double majored in environmental science and chemistry), she says there's really no job market for such a concentration. I'd likely end up working for the EPA and visiting factory plants to make sure they comply with regulations.

I also asked her a bunch of questions about L'Oreal, such as ease of changing departments within the company. People seem to switch departments often. And, it also takes 3+ years before you can work abroad. It's always been a goal of mine since high school to work in Asia, but for a U.S. corporation since there is better pay and benefits. But, now I'm thinking it's not very feasible unless I move there, become a local, and receive local wages. And, listening to stories about my aunts and uncles who work for firms in Taiwan, the corporate culture and lifestyle there doesn't sound very pleasant.