So things went accordingly as planned
where I first submitted and presented my final year project, then went to
United States for work and travel, finished the working part and started
traveling around US for 22 days, finished the traveling part and returned to
Malaysia just in time for my convocation, had a sentimental morning on my
convocation and then found a job in this telecommunication company. But what I
do not expect is, I was then informed by my supervisor on my very first day that
I will be sent to Indonesia to support a project and have some on-job training
at the same time. I know although it was part of the job agreement as mentioned
during the interview, but being sent out after just 2 weeks joining the
industry for the first time without any previous experience? Even myself can’t
believe it is happening. Honestly, I was quite excited about this business trip
but at the same time kinda worried too. The same mixed emotion before I
departed to USA few months ago.
Okay, let’s get back to the work and
travel experience in USA, I think every past participants will have no
objection if I conclude it as 1 of the most wonderful and unique experience
that you can ever get in your lifetime. We had so much fun over there despite
different cultural background and several controversies. The working place of
mine is a superbly small town name Keystone located at the edge of South Dakota,
a huge state which is relatively unknown to most people compared to California,
New York, Texas or Florida. Most of the people couldn’t imagine how small it
can be so every time I have to emphasize this fact that it only has a
population of 331 according to their 2010 census. Well, one of the regretful
things that I didn’t do in Keystone was to take a picture with their population
signboard because while we were there, we always opt to do it next time but by
the time we realized that we have yet to do so, everyday was already on their
way leaving the town one by one.
So the whole area along with other
nearby towns such as Hill City and Custer are surrounded by the National Forest
name Black Hill as the area got its name due to its dark appearance when viewed
from far. But despite the small population of Keystone, it is hugely packed with
tourists and bikers during summer because of the famous attraction located just
3 miles away, Mount Rushmore and the Sturgis Rally Festival held every August. Basically
Mount Rushmore is 1 of the most famous memorial in US where 4 of their former
presidents’ faces were craved on a mountain and Sturgis Rally is one of the
largest events for bikers where people came from all around the States to
gather in this Black Hill areas and have a series of activities throughout the
week such as bike races and touring around Black Hills.
We always tell our hotel guests that we
are the closest town to Mount Rushmore as it is just 3 miles away but we never
have an idea how far is 3 miles actually because we were exposed to the concept
of kilometers for so many years. Furthermore, we thought it couldn’t be that
far since we can see the faces everyday from our little town. So 1 of the fun
thing that we did was on the last week of our Keystone day, a few of us biked
up 3 miles to the memorial and then further extended our route to the
Washington's graphite profile area. We never expect it would be so tough because it was a
15 degree inclination all the way up to the faces and it was tiring because we
went up there with our bicycles. But it was rewarding because speeding down the
hill for 3 miles with full speed was totally hilarious and exciting.
~~~
Shall continue more on the daily in Keystone, working part and traveling part over the next posts. I hope I have the will to keep up this effort. =)
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