One Week
Nov 25th, 2007 by Edward Pollard
Tonight represented something resembling getting back to normal. While we spent the day unpacking and reorganizing, come evening we had time to run out for some groceries and - shock and awe - actually cook dinner. Jen made her extra special totally unique absolutely fantastic spaghetti sauce and we crashed in front of the newly reconnected television to catch up on Heroes. We watched four episodes in a row.
This was, of course, the end of week one working at Bioware Corp.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the costs of moving here and the sacrifices both of us have made to make it happen. This apartment is so much smaller than what I’m used to, and I constantly worry that the dogs don’t have enough space to be comfortable what with there being no enclosed space for them to run in. I suspect I might be using that as an excuse to cover my own apprehensions of this living situation.
It really isn’t so bad - as I write this I can hear Jen cleaning the kitchen, which is kind of warm in some weird way - but our inability to enter the Edmonton housing market weighs heavily on me. Houses here are ridiculously expensive, and it is beyond my understanding how people can start out in a market like this. I hope to sell our Lethbridge house soon - and then at least we have some money in the bank for a down payment - but I imagine us 3 years ago and where we were and living in Edmonton was an impossibility.
So how will we get ahead?
This though is perhaps just a layer on the apprehension I have around Bioware Corp. I come to Bioware with a wide away of skills, but no experience in the game industry, nor in any industry actually focused on, well, you know, delivering products. Bioware is a company filled with talented individuals who do what needs to be done to get the project successfully closed, which is a huge - and there really is no adjective that can capture the magnitude of this - shift from my previous employer. I am thrilled at the opportunity that this represents for me, but it is a lot easier to see the things I’m giving up then to know where this opportunity could take me. Lethbridge was comfort. Lethbridge was safe. Lethbridge was easy, and known, and had zero risk.
I’m not scared, but I am feeling risky, and I am feeling unsafe. And these are new things for me.
I’m not sure how to process it.
All I can say is that it’s great you posted this so that in one month you can come back, read it, and have a good laugh. It takes a while to adjust, especially after such a bit change, but you’re really better off.
Stay focussed on what you’re good at, be thankful that you’re no longer in a stifling environment.
I agree with Jon, it’s going to be a bit of a shock - I don’ know how long it will last - but you’ll get used to it and you’ll be fine. Also keep in mind who you are and what you are good at - that is what they brought you into the position for.
It might take some time to find your feet and direction, but you’ll find it and fly. I’m sure everyone who has had a major shift has felt that way, I know I did.
As for the market - I know what you mean, but when you get the house sold, you should have enough to at least start into an ownership situation here. It might take a while, but it’ll be worth it.
Since everyone else has said all the encouraging things, I will ask you the very important question at hand: are you as disappointed with Heroes lately as I am? The past two episodes have been a BIT better, but overall, snorefest.
I dunno Jane. I’ve not been terribly impressed with it since the last 4 or 5 episodes of Season 1. Season 2 felt better for a while simply due to the mystery of it all, which when I think about it is really what has made that show work the whole time.