The Next Step

Where to begin, good grief! Well, I'll start with the now. This afternoon has been spent at work, taking my first client at my new place of work. They're looking to put together a tour of the virtual metaverse that has grown on the internet since the Millenia.

So, I'm making some inquiries with a few tour operators, getting back into the familiar routine of planning a trip for STA Travel.

Yep, that's right, it was an extended leave after all. I once again find myself in the employ of STA Travel; though this time it comes with a bit of a twist.

I have been hired to work in the e-commerce division of STA Travel, working on the virtual platform the recently built on Second Life (SL), which is a rapidly expanding free form virtual world. The word game no longer applies to this program, though its format from anyone who has played a RPG from Legend of Zelda onwards.

For me, this is a dream job. I'm getting to be a part of the latest technological trend and try and do something that hasn't been done before. The potential of SL is staggering, I feel that it will create major changes to almost every facet of current civilization. For me, I get to help create how it will impact travel, what more could I ask for?

My days have been mostly spent figuring out what my job actually is, getting things organized, making the necessary contacts with others either involved with the project or at STA Travel. I've been familiarizing myself with the island group on which I work, learning how to use some of its functions and not destroy anything vital. I am the only travel agent in history who has to worry about inadvertantly destroying the office and having to explain that to upper management. Such is the virtual world, eh?

Mostly, I'm trying to figure out the order of steps necessary to get my job off the ground. Figuring out what needs to be done now, and what should wait till next month, or be filed under future plans. Also, I'm learning what I can and cannot do. Imagine the dojo scene from The Matrix to a lesser extent.

All in all, I'm having a lot of fun though. I find the work exciting, and I've met a lot of great people through the job. It's creative and challenging, and something that my resume is perfect for. In truth, I believe that my travels will be invaluable to this job, as part of it is realizing what the client on the other end of the computer really needs. I was that client, I am that client. I just have the fantastic luck of being on the other side of the desk.

I do get to wear the cowboy hat at work though!