last day at Silicon Labs + the long road to normalcy

I mentioned in the previous post that I decided to resign from Silicon Labs. It was no easy decision because Silicon Labs is really one of the best companies ever. The only reason for my departure is the costs of moving to Boston was too high.

I'm definitely a little sad that I never had the chance to meet my co-workers in person. It was so hard to say goodbye even though I was only on the team for seven months. Hope we can reconnect after the pandemic.

Our first "normal" gathering in ages

One highlight of the weekend is that the Hsuehs invited us over for lunch. We have had to decline numerous invitations in the past because COVID-19 is no joke. But now that have all gotten the vaccine, there was no reason we couldn't get together. It's certainly nice to not have to wear a mask or social distance!

Lily and Aaron prepared a nice Korean barbecue with vegetables. All of the food was delicious. Of note is that their son Alan was also home. He was pretty busy but did take the time to enjoy lunch with us.

Our group then went to the Stanford University campus for a hike. Lily and Aaron showed us some spots that we had never been to. Because it was quite hot outside, the Hsuehs insisted we go back to their house for ice cream. As you can imagine, this was quite nice for a change!

I still don't feel comfortable enough to dine indoors or spend time with large crowds. But it's nice to see some normalcy on the horizon. Let's hope the pandemic winds down in the coming months.

Currently listening to: "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys

Memorial Day + leaving Silicon Labs

Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. I definitely had a good time even though we didn't go far.

Dad wanted to take us to Half Moon Bay on Saturday as we hadn't been there since October. However, none of us really felt like going there as it was pretty hot outside. After debating for some time, the three of us decided to turn around and go home after reaching Woodside. But that didn't matter too much because we had a good weekend otherwise.

We went hiking on Stevens Creek Trail on Sunday before going to Smart & Final for groceries. I decided to try out some José Olé burritos as the price was a too good to pass up. Despite the praise, they aren't as good as we expected. Guess you can't always trust reviews.

Mom suggested going to Cost Plus World Market because I've been wanting to go there for a while. Our last time here was over a year ago. I always love shopping here because there's so many snacks from different countries. Dad decided to take us to Daiso and Mitsuwa Marketplace in the afternoon. I was surprised to find both places so crowded. It's hard to believe there's still a pandemic going on. Can't wait for things to go back to normal soon.

Last week at Silicon Labs

The other big news is that I've made the difficult decision to resign from Silicon Labs. You may remember that I joined last November as a remote employee. However, the company is changing its remote policy and plans to require all remote employeees to relocate to their home office. Having considered different options, my family decided that the cost of moving to Boston was too high.

On that note, I've accepted a position at a San Jose-based company called Energous. It's definitely great to go back to a job that's closer to home. :-)

Currently listening to: "Aloha, E komo Mai" by Jump5

a very different Thanksgiving

As you could imagine, Thanksgiving was very different this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was our first time in six years without any gatherings. I've also been pretty busy for the past four days. Because I just started a new job in November, this was a good time to study our documentation and catch up.

Even though we're all in this together, things have been tough at times. But one nice thing is that I received a care package from Silicon Labs. It contains some coffee, a mug and all sorts of snacks. I definitely appreciate this gesture.

Of course, there are many other things to be thankful for. Although life has been tough for us, the support from my parents has been invaluable. I'm also grateful for my current job. Silicon Labs is really one of the best companies out there. Let's hope things start getting better soon!

Currently listening to: "Heroes Tonight" by Janji

first day at Silicon Labs

I'm excited to announce that I've started a new position at Silicon Labs as a senior software QA engineer. It also counts as a promotion because this is my first senior role. :-)

Silicon Labs is a leading manufacturer of semiconductors and IoT devices. For those curious, my job is to expand test automation for their wireless products. I definitely hope to put the knowledge I gained from previous jobs to good use. Also worth mentioning is that everyone is very friendly and helpful. I work from home at the moment but certainly hope to meet them in person soon enough.

But there's also a challenge: as mentioned earlier, the team is based in Boston. Although they're letting me work remotely during the pandemic, the company expects me to move to the East Coast in the future. This is going to be a huge change in my life for sure. I guess I'll worry about that when the time comes.

Currently listening to: New Super Mario Bros. overworld theme

last day at Intel + future plans

It's a bittersweet day as I was laid off from Intel due to the pandemic. However, things are OK otherwise as I already have a job offer.

End of a chapter

As mentioned earlier, our group took a major hit due to coronavirus-related cancellations. For example, the 2020 Summer Olympics have been postponed for at least a year. To cut costs, upper management had to let people go. It's quite unfortunate because I've been an Intel fan a long time.

Despite recent events, my experience at Intel has been overwhelmingly positive. One memorable moment was going to Oregon last year. It was my first time flying on a private jet and also my first business trip. Oregon is also a beautiful state. Even though I wasn't there for leisure and didn't have time to visit any attractions, the trip certainly felt like a vacation to me.

We also had a Diversity Day event last April. It was cool to meet people from different cultures. I also enjoyed trying different foods and watching the performances. Imagine my disappointment when this year's event got canceled due to the pandemic.

I'm definitely a bit sad to leave this job. But what really sucks is not being able to properly say goodbye to my co-workers. Sending a farewell email or message on Slack just isn't the same. However, my manager said she'd love to put together a team reunion once the pandemic is over. It's certainly something I'm looking forward to for sure.

A cross-country move?

The good news is that I already have a verbal offer from Silicon Labs. I'm still in the interview process, but the formal offer should come very soon. Everything certainly looks good so far.

But there are also challenges: the team is based all the way in Boston. Although this position is currently remote, I may have to relocate when the pandemic ends. On the bright side, Boston is a pretty nice place. At least that was the case when we went there 15 year ago. I'm excited to see what the future has to offer.

October 16 update: Silicon Labs has sent me a formal offer. I accepted it as this is a company I want to work for. Here's to looking forward to the next chapter.

Currently listening to: Final Fantasy VII soundtrack - "Cid's Theme" by Uematsu Nobuo