Second Week in Seattle

Hi all!

Hello again from Seattle! I realize that I have not been diligent of the late in keeping up with the blog; there has just been so much going on. That said, I promise to do a better job with the updates, and this posts marks and describes the end of my second full week in Seattle (May 28 - June 3). Compared to my first week, when a firehouse of information continued to hit me and stretch me, this past week I felt a lot more confident in my work. My pod mates and I just finished our first big milestone (writing our "short-pager" - an overview of our project that we're now waiting to get "signed off" on). 

To explain more of what I'm doing at Microsoft, this summer I'm part of Microsoft's Explorer internship program, which is targeted at freshmen and sophomores in college. The twelve-week program groups interns in teams or "pods" of three that work together on one project and rotate through the main software development roles: PM (project manager), SDE/Dev (Software Development Engineer), SDET/Test (Software Development Engineer in Test). For my pod's project, the first four weeks, we're all acting as PMs and are working to design, scope, and spec out our project. The next four weeks, we'll spend as Devs, planning the code architecture of our project and coding the project up. Then, the last four weeks, we'll act as Tests, testing our project through manual and automated tests. I've really been enjoying the PM role and meeting with various Microsoft employees to talk about our project.

This past week, I also became more plugged into the local church I was introduced to by Uncle Peter and Auntie Marilyn the week before. With one of my roommates Grace, I checked out a few fellowship groups for young adults and was really encouraged by the open, genuine community and honest desire to become more Christ-like that I saw in so many of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Again, I was met with an outpouring of Christ's love from all sides - with many brothers and sisters giving me rides to and from fellowship and church and even one kind sister who picked up me and my friends from the movie theater at 1am in the morning.

Fueling my need for speed in a U. Wash. race car @ Science Expo

The Knights of Veritas @ Science Expo

On the weekend, I went to Seattle Center again where there was a huge Science Expo going on that day. My friends and I saw a lot of cool robotic displays and even played around with U. of Washington's competition race car, among many other things. One of our favorite parts of the Science Expo was the great weather: one of my roommates and I just lay in the grass field and sunbathed for a while. We also really enjoyed the catchy science soundtrack that played throughout the day (there were songs about having a mom as a scientist and what a paleontologist does that were pretty infectious I must say). 

Visiting the oldest Starbucks @ Pike's Place

Dawning some Starbucks swag while waiting for our drinks!

One of the perks of being a Microsoft intern is that we each get a discount card that works at a variety of restaurants and attractions. So, last weekend we ate at a mid-priced American and Seafood restaurant (Cellar's Restaurant and Lounge) for half-price. Afterwards, we parted ways; I headed to with another Microsoft intern friend, I watched Idina Menzel perform live at the Paramount Theatre (a really pretty theatre) while my two roommates went to another concert. Watching Idina Menzel was really amazing, she's really funny in concert and it was just a cool opportunity to be able to see her live and tie together her rich history as an actress, singer, and performer. But before the concert, we had a few extra minutes to spare, so we visited the oldest Starbucks in Pike's Place Market and even got some hot cocoa before the show started.

Outside Paramount theatre ready to watch Idina Menzel live!

Inside Paramount theatre (it's gorgeous!)

Idina Menzel opening the show

Leaving a beautiful Seattle after concert

On Sunday, I went to church again with Grace and we ate out afterwards with some of the church members. In the afternoon, I met up with Michelle - one of my college friends who was in town this weekend - and we visited Gas Works park - a small park with old gas pipes - in downtown Seattle. After playing on the jungle gym of pipes for a while, we had the chance to observe real LARPers - live action role players - in action. There were probably about 20 LARPers dawning full medieval knight armor lined up for battle, and when they sounded the gong to begin fighting, they really did duke it out! Several LARPers fell in defeat.

Gas Works Park

Michelle and I climbing the pipes 

LARPers lining up for battle

Engaging full on

After Gas Works, we headed over to Alki Beach in West Seattle. There, we walked along the shore of the Puget Sound (Seattle's large body of water that opens into the Pacific Ocean) and rented one of those family bikes for an hour and had a blast ringing our bike's bell and pedaling incessantly (it was a one-speed double surrey bike for four people). To top of the weekend's adventure, we ate at Taphouse Grill with Microsoft's saving card with a Buy One Get One Free Entree discount.

Sunny skies on Alki Beach

Cycling around on the Alki Beach boardwalk

Pedaling away on our one-speeder

Stay tuned for a post about my past two weeks, during which I went on kayaking with other Microsoft interns, to the zoo for Microsoft appreciation day, and to a church retreat with a college fellowship! I hope you and your family are safe and well; let me know how you are!

Best,

Ruth