last day at Mocana

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

The week started badly as I was unexpectedly laid off from Mocana. I officially hate Mondays. :-(

You may recall that I joined last year as a software QA engineer. According to my boss, the company was shifting its focus to a new product and no longer needed my services. Although he was satisfied with my performance, this is cold comfort and doesn't really help. This is unfortunate because I really loved my job and the people there.

Looking back

While my career at Mocana didn't end the way I wanted it to, there were some great memories. The holiday cruise was definitely one of my favorite moments. The summer potluck and the Thanksgiving feast were also enjoyable. The catered lunches and snacks were pretty nice too. The best thing about working at small companies is that everyone is like family.

All that having been said, the most important thing for me right now is finding a new job. So wish me luck on my job search!

Currently listening to: "All the Small Things" by Blink-182

company holiday cruise

Today was my company's holiday cruise in San Francisco. It was so much fun!

I had to leave my house just after noon as boarding was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. Dad wanted to start out early because the route to San Francisco is often congested. The good news is that we arrived in San Francisco with plenty of time to spare. Because nobody else was there, my family went for a short stroll around the pier in the meantime. They then dropped me off at the gate as my co-workers started to arrive.

It was soon time to board the California Hornblower and get the party started. The boat then set sail 30 minutes later as dinner was served. The food wasn't that extraordinary - mainly because the prime rib was too tough - but that wasn't a big deal as the main purpose of the cruise was to enjoy the atmosphere.

There was also a DJ on board. Though not many people got up to dance, our senior executive administrator Jonell was more than happy to hit the dance floor. She was the life of the party. A lot of people later got on the observation decks to watch the sunset. This was a wonderful experience and brought back memories of the dinner cruise during our trip to Hawaii in 2002. The cruise also reminded me of the Boat Dance at Berkeley during my freshman year.

On the whole, the cruise couldn't have been better. I'd like to thank Jonell for organizing this event and am definitely looking forward to the one next year. Feel free to check out my pictures from the cruise.

Currently watching: Wonder Woman (2017)

first day at Mocana

I started working at Mocana today as a software QA engineer. Mocana is a San Francisco-based startup that provides security for IoT devices. I'm definitely loving my new job so far!

The day began with our IT guy Raymond giving me my computer and setting up my company e-mail. Some time later, my boss Wesley introduced me to the other team members before helping me become familiar with our development tools. He says some people prefer to work from home due to traffic, but I'm sure I'll get to meet everyone soon enough.

Another nice thing about Mocana is that we have catered lunches twice a week - which Amazon Lab126 didn't have. Although it was too late to order mine, our accountant Linda ordered an extra sandwich for me. That is something I greatly appreciate. Of note is that there was a protest going on outside the office during lunch. I wanted to check it out but didn't feel too comfortable going too far from the office without being more familiar with the area. One step at a time I guess!

One of the best things about small companies is that everyone is like family. The only downside is that I have a long commute. Because the company is based in San Francisco, I have to take Caltrain and then transfer to BART before finally getting off at Embarcadero station. On the other hand, our office is in a nice part of town. There are lots of things to do and no shortage of restaurants. I also have plenty of chances to meet interesting people. Life is good.

Currently listening to: "Play That Song" by Train

new job coming soon!

The job search didn't take long as I've received an accepted an offer from a company called Mocana. The company produces security software for IoT devices. This job seems like the perfect fit for me because computer security has always been one of my interests. Although the office is pretty far in San Francisco, the office is located in a nice part of town. It's a long commute, but at least I can read some books and get some rest during the train ride.

If everything goes to plan, I should start at the beginning of next month. I'm pretty excited.