...but of course I'll be going back in tomorrow. At least it's only for a couple hours, or however long it takes to get this little project taken care of. That, and I'm making sure I sleep in a bit. I really could use the extra rest (not to mention a little extra time tonight so I'm not rushing to bed).
I've been constantly learning the past couple weeks. In addition to basic data entry and filing/sorting skills, I've learned how to measure sapphire wafers in post-lapping stage -- I work in quality control, which is the department in charge of measuring the wafers to be sure they meet specifications before sending them off to the pre-polishing and polishing departments -- and yesterday I learned how to use a Zeiss machine, which measures the roughness and warps on the flat side of wafers. In some ways, it's like I'm in high school Chemistry again.
I've also been learning about myself, specifically how I like to work, how I focus, and what my strengths and weaknesses are. To be honest, I feel like I just returned to school after a summer vacation that lasted for-EV-er, and I'm remembering how to do schoolwork again. But here's what I've learned: I'm very good at focusing on the task at hand (albeit very easily distracted at times); I like to work either until my task is done, or when my head hurts and I just need a break (the former is more likely than the latter, thankfully); I work hard and diligently to make sure everything is done right; I generally don't need too long of a break, just enough to recharge my batteries and then jump right back in the fray.
One thing though: I refuse to be a workaholic. I work hard and make sure just about every minute of my workday is very productive, but when I need a break I need a break. Working last Saturday was rather tough because I had been very much looking forward to a solid night's sleep and I didn't get it. Tonight is better because I only have to work a couple hours tomorrow, but I was still hoping to not have to wake up to an alarm clock for once.
Zooming out a bit, I've gotten to know several of the people around me a bit, and I'm rather amazed how they can constantly be working to the point that work is their life. Understandably, many of these people probably have families and therefore need to be working as much as they can so they can earn enough to support them, but the idea of living to work is a place I don't really want to live. I believe in working hard and pitching in whenever the company needs help (like last weekend, when the dep't was way behind on getting their tasks done), but I need to live, too. I've already got a life with my peeps from the Vineyard churches of Evanston and now the South Loop of Chicago, and I aim to keep it.
The commute is getting more tolerable. Maybe I'm just used to it now, but somehow it's less draining than it used to be. I guess I'm thankful for that.