My Google Experience!

Four years ago, I was one unhappy computer engineer, who left everything behind to change her career. After Atlanta, grad school, Masters in Fine Arts, marrying my best friend, Florida, working for the Census, waitressing at El Toro Bravo, and working at Disney, I was looking for the next thing to do. I hit the Monster.com in search of a posting that would get my attention. A simple ad did: "Big 500 Fortune Company seeks photographer in the Tampa Bay Area".  Sure, why not? But the phone call that came after was unexpected. It so happened the big company was Google and they wanted me.

Seven months have passed, and here I am, ready to keep going, to move on. My days as a Certified Google Photographer have come to an end but the experience will stay, and what I learned will continue helping me in the future. I wanted to share them with yoou. So here there are: The Top 10 things I Learn While Being a PhotoG (Certified Google Photographer):

1) Every time you travel, you need an "I was there" photo. This is imperative. Not only you get a great keepsake but also bragging rights.

The Google Bike!

2) Office spaces are overrated. Specially if you have this view:

3) Watch for the weather. Remember that you learned that offices are overrated

4) It's ok to call in if the view from your apartment looks like this:

 5) Keep your mind open and your phone ready, because accidents can happen in front of you:

 7 cars were involved in that one! Yikes!

6) Everything can change pretty quick. You may talk to a business one day, and find it evicted the next.

  Or your camera may be working fine and then decide to stop working:

BTW, if you camera gives this error, it just died.

7) Don't be afraid to try food. You may be missing good stuff:

 Vietnamese Sandwich - Very Good!

DU'A GANG (Honey dew) Boba Slush

8) License Plates can be fun. Specially one that has come a long way:

9) Hydroponics aren't exclusive for Marijuana. They are a great way of growing your own indoor garden. I showed this photo to someone and they gave me THE LOOK, followed by: "How is the job doing? Is everything ok?"

10) Be friendly and respectful with everybody. You'll never know when you'll going to meet a celebrity:

At the end, I was getting a little cranky about having to deal with rude owners, long drives and apps problems. But I can't complain.  I got to know Tampa Bay Area better in those 7 months that in the previous 2 years I've been here. I can't deny there were bad days when not even the cool colored logo could make you feel better. But overall it was a great experience. And lets be honest... IT WAS GOOGLE. What's not to love!