Swedish Exchange

Keycard to our room at the Clarion Post Hotel.  Turns out we had a great stay!

As many are now aware, I had the pleasure of spending the last weekend in Sweden.  It was as much a pleasure as it was a business trip, despite it being one hundred percent business oriented. 

Both Aja and I spent the weekend, and a couple weekdays in Gothenburg, exploring the city and seeing what life is like in the Swedish city on the sea.  As it turns out, life in Sweden is pretty damned good.   I am of the opinion that Sweden be renamed to Sweetden.

We spent our time largely in the company of a wonderful new friend, and native Swede, who went out of her way to wander around with us, answer a million questions and generally be an awesome person to hang out with.

Among the highlights of the trip;

• Brunch at a cozy little place.  I tried pickled herring and was surprised to find it to my liking.
• A home cooked meal and boardgames (again, by our fantastic new friend).
• A wonderfully clean, calm and enjoyable city on the ocean that felt very much like Vancouver in a way.
• Tons of people who, unlike the French, aren't vigorously angry to speak English (quite the opposite in almost every case actually).

Aside from our more touristic pursuits, I also spent a day with a perspective employer, as they were footing the bill to have us there in the first place.  The interviews were roundly positive and I feel that my odds of landing the job are good.

I was told to expect a decision this week, but as with many things in life, plans have changed.  I am to have yet another interview with the studio head (making this one the 4th I have had with him alone).  The earliest this new interview can be scheduled is for Monday, so more waiting is the order of the day.

While this delay wasn't the answer I was hoping for, it is still a positive sign.   If things during the onsite interviews been received poorly, HR would have simply notified me that I had not been chosen for the role.  Booking another meeting with the studio head is expensive time, so it means that there is still interest from the top down.

Additionally, I also an interview onsite with another studio in Germany on Wednesday.   I was hoping to have an offer from Sweden before now, and simply decline to attend the interviews in Germany, but that is not going to be an option.   It would be both wonderful and slightly bitter to get a job offer from Sweden in Monday, then have to fly to Germany the next day and attend a day full of interviews, as my flights are non-refundable.

Still, as problems go, that is one I would gladly welcome.