Tantalizing Travels – Part 2
Author © Scott D. Zachary
I had persevered for nearly four months, and it was beginning to appear that my dream of getting a job overseas might not come true. I chose June 7th as the drop-dead date for my overseas quest—two weeks away. Thus, I began looking for a fallback alternative. After having primed myself with the vision of tantalizing travels, I would not settle for something less than that.
The next morning, I drove down to the bicycle store in Russellville. I asked the wiry, flauntingly eccentric owner of the little hole-in-the-wall shop what advice he could offer me about my 2,500-mile sight-seeing bicycle trip to Seattle. He pointed me to stacks of used bicycle magazines. The scribbled sign read: “Dollar a Piece.” I bought 30 of them. Sitting on the front porch swing at Aunt Marvelene’s, I scoured them for useful tidbits.
I had already planned to sell my only valuable possession in this world—my car—to repay Aunt Marvelene for the thousands of dollars that I racked up on her phone bills. I figured that I wouldn’t need a car in whatever foreign country I happened to land; they’d provide me a company car.
I needed a different default adventure now that wouldn’t necessitate owning a car. If the possibility in South Africa didn’t come through, I’d sell my car, repay Aunt Marvelene, and buy a thousand-dollar touring bicycle along with the appropriate gear to ride 2,500 miles to Seattle. (In all my gyrations, I had stirred up a possible job there with Seattle Labs, the company that provided Nite Lite’s computer operating system. They said the position wouldn’t become available until the fall timeframe.) I charted my bicycle course through a good smattering of the national parks out west en route to Seattle. I envisioned that pedaling the Rocky Mountains would once again transform me into a piece of steel.
My sparkle was beginning to veer. One last time in the wee hours of May 28th, I faxed my resume with a customized cover letter and all seven letters of recommendation to Sandton, South Africa, a suburb of Johannesburg. I called Sterling the next night, and he was keenly interested in my talents.
“Here it is in a nutshell, Scott,” Sterling explained. “We are an industrial engineering firm with clients scattered across South Africa. Most of our clients are mining companies, such as DeBeers Consortium, Associated Manganese, and Karee Copper Mines. We also support other companies, including the largest cement company in South Africa—Blue Circle Cement. An important tool that we market along with our consulting services is maintenance management software. Are you familiar with that?”
“No, but I learn extremely fast, Sterling.”
“I see from your resume that you already know the Pick programming language. That’s a big plus. Our current maintenance system, called ‘Write Plan,’ is programmed in that language. ‘Part A’ of my strategy would be to have you support our clients who use that system throughout South Africa. ‘Part B’ is to have you help in the development of our new maintenance system called ‘Master Plan.’ We’re creating the new system for Blue Circle Cement. I have say-so over Part A, but I will have to get Blue Circle’s approval to get you on Part B. It’s both A and B, or nothing. I’ll work out the details and get back with you in a week or so. What are your salary requirements?”
“Seventy K.”
“That’s acceptable—if we can swing the deal with Blue Circle.”
“Sterling, in which language are they developing the new maintenance management system?”
“It’s being developed using Unify Corporation’s Accell toolset on the Unify 2000, Sybase, and Oracle databases.”
“I’ll see if I can get some documentation on it and start preparing. Where is Unify located?”
“I think they’re in Sacramento, Scott.”
“I’ll give you my best. Thanks, Sterling!”
“I’ll be in touch.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I dialed information and obtained Unify Corporation’s phone number as this story transpired in the days before you could snatch a company’s phone number from the internet. I called and spoke with the receptionist who transferred me to a lady named Teri.
“Hi, Teri. My name is Scott Zachary. I will be going to Johannesburg, South Africa, to maintain a maintenance management system written in a language with which I’m already intimate. My new company will likely include me on a team to develop another maintenance system that they’re writing in Accell, which I don’t know. How much does the whole set of documentation for Accell and the Unify Database cost?”
“Four hundred and ninety-five dollars.”
“I’ve already spent most of my money on phone calls in the process of landing this job. How much does your primary Accell reference manual cost?”
“Forty dollars.”
“Would you please send me that book COD, and be sure that it doesn’t get here until Friday when I get paid?”
“Sure, Scott, and I’ll see what other books I can scrounge up that are laying around the office.”
“Thanks, Teri, you’re an angel!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I walked into my office on Friday morning greeted by a large box on my desk that Teri at Unify had sent next-day air. The enclosed card read:
Dear Scott,
I managed to find copies of all of our technical documentation lying around the office. Good luck in South Africa!
Teri
PS: I collect bells. Would you please send me one from South Africa?
There were twenty thick technical reference volumes in that box. The invoice read: “NO CHARGE.” I immediately began to devour the vast amount of knowledge in these books. Fortunately, I had gotten my replacement John up to speed in taking care of Nite Lite’s system. This enabled me to average at least sixteen hours a day intensively memorizing and assimilating the Accell software development toolset and all its plethora of nuances.
One week from the time Teri’s box landed on my desk, Sterling called. “Sorry, Scott, Blue Circle said they don’t want some ‘hotshot American’ coming down here to show them how to do it.”
“Sterling,” I said, “last Friday I received twenty volumes of technical documentation from Unify on their tools and database. Since then, I have studied around the clock and absorbed all of them. It wouldn’t take me long to be one hundred percent productive in it. How about if you bring me over to take care of your Pick system—Write Plan, pay me whatever you can afford, and once I’ve proven myself, maybe the folks at Blue Circle will change their tune.”
“Wow, Scott! You sound like the kind of guy who makes things happen.”
“I always give it my best.”
“I’ll review our budget and see if we can afford you. No promises. Talk to you Monday.”
“Thanks, Sterling!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Hello, Teri, this is Scott Zachary.”
“Hi, Scott. I’ve been wondering about you.”
“Thank you, thank you for your generous gift of all these reference books!”
“You’re most welcome, Scott.”
“Unfortunately, it looks as though I might not be working on the Accell project after all. Blue Circle said they don’t want a ‘hotshot American’ showing them up.”
“That’s disheartening.”
“That’s for sure, especially since I’ve already devoured all the manuals you sent. I’m ready to do some serious development in Accell now. I can hit the ground running.”
“Really? Would you be interested in a consulting position with Unify, traveling to sites around the world?”
“Yes, of course!”
“Do you know the UNIX operating system and the C programming language?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I’ll talk to my boss, Brent Zundell, the Director of Operations. Fax me your resume, Scott.”
“Yes, ma’am. You’ll have it shortly.”
“What would be the best time to call you?”
“Any time is fine with me. Thanks, Teri!”
After that call, I immediately slathered my resume with UNIX and C, and I faxed it to her. I had only dabbled with UNIX as a computer operator at the Pentagon 13 years earlier, but never as a programmer. And I knew how to spell “C.” I figured that I could teach myself both of them in a couple of weeks of full-bore cramming if need be.
“Need be” came the next evening thunderously. Teri called about five o’clock on Saturday and told me her boss would be driving from Los Angeles to Sacramento Sunday afternoon. He wanted to give me a technical interview, emphasizing UNIX and C! He would be asking me some questions on Accell and the Unify Database, but wouldn’t expect too much on those.
Uh-oh! I called John as soon as I got off the phone with Teri and desperately asked if he had any books on UNIX and the C programming language. He did have a book called C for Dummies. That was appropriate, considering that I had claimed extensive experience in it. I asked John to meet me at the Nite Lite office with that book as fast as he could get there.
From about seven o’clock that Saturday evening until five o’clock Sunday morning, I crammed the C programming language into my frenzied little brain and created extensive cheat sheets detailing the answers to every minute question Brent could conceivably ask. Generally speaking, once you’ve learned more than a dozen programming languages as I had, learning another one is straightforward. Although, most programmers don’t do it in ten hours!
I took a two-hour nap before I called the bookstore in Russellville, Arkansas, to find out what time they opened. The fellow told me that he had come in early to stock shelves and wouldn’t be opening the store until noon. I pleaded my emergency case, and he said he would let me in if I didn’t take more than ten or fifteen minutes. Forty-five minutes each way, and I was now cramming the UNIX operating system into my frenzied—and exhausted—little brain.
One o’clock rolled around that afternoon. I wasn’t quite ready for an in-depth quiz on UNIX; hence, I was thrilled when Brent called, apologizing for needing three more hours before our technical interview. By four o’clock, I had covered Aunt Marvelene’s dining room table with cheat sheets, meticulously organized. A gush of wind through her kitchen would’ve been a disaster!
Brent called me precisely on the hour and drilled me with questions for ninety minutes. What I didn’t know, I managed to lift from all my notes. There were only a couple of curve balls that caught me flat-footed.
“Scott, you obviously know UNIX and C well. And I must say I’m impressed with what you’ve learned about Accell and the Unify 2000 Database on your own in just one week.”
I don’t know if honesty or audacity prompted my response. “To be honest, Brent, if you had given me this quiz on UNIX and C yesterday at this time, I would have failed it miserably. Everything you’ve heard this afternoon, I learned in less than 24 hours, except for the few questions that I answered from cheat sheets here in front of me. Prior to yesterday when Teri informed me that I would be having a technical interview with you today, I had only dabbled at UNIX as a computer operator at the Pentagon back in 1979. All I knew about C before seven o’clock last night was that it’s a programming language. As for Accell and Unify 2000, I studied them from scratch for ninety intensive hours during this past week.”
“In that case, I definitely want you on our team!”
“Thanks, Brent!”
“The only hurdle that we have to jump is making sure that the Finance Department approves. I will call you tomorrow morning with an offer if they give me the green light. Is seventy thousand okay with you, Scott?”
“Sure, but I need to let you know that I also may be getting a job offer from Johannesburg, South Africa in the morning. If they call first, I will accept their offer instead.”
“I’ll move as quickly as I can, Scott. Thanks for your time.”
“Thank you, Brent!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
All the folks at Nite Lite were stymied by my wanton desire to live in South Africa. Even Aunt Marvelene, who had come to know my extreme level of determination, was a tad skeptical about my all-out effort to get a job overseas via the American Embassies. Her doubts were bolstered by my cousin Kelly saying something to the effect of “Yeah sure, lots of guys around here have tried to get a job overseas to Kuwait and other places. None of them ever did.” Kelly’s skepticism also served to bolster my determination to make it happen.
While Aunt Marvelene and I anxiously awaited the phone calls, I relished the idea that I now had two strong possibilities that could take me overseas. And both would be calling soon!
Sterling was first. “Welcome aboard, Scott!”
“Fantastic! Thank you, Sterling!”
“How long do you need to wrap things up there?”
“One week will be plenty. I’ve already trained my replacement at Nite Lite. I just need to sell my car so that I can pay Aunt Marvelene for all the phone bills that I’ve racked up to land a job overseas.”
“You won’t need your car here because we’ll provide you with a company car. However, you’ll need to learn how to drive on the wrong side of the road, if you don’t already know how.”
“That sounds like fun!”
“I’m coming back to the States for thirty days of vacation. I will have our secretary organize our flights so we’ll have matching layovers at LaGuardia. That’ll give us a chance to get to know each other over lunch. Sound good?”
“Yes, sir!”
“How will I recognize you, Scott?”
“I will be wearing my bright red Nite Lite baseball cap.”
“I’ll be traveling with my wife, Jeanne,” said Sterling. “You’ll be able to spot me by the glare on my bald head. See you next week in New York City, Scott.”
“Thanks again, Sterling!”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Brent at Unify Corporation called a few minutes after Sterling. I had to turn down my other job offer that entailed tantalizing travels. Regardless of whether or not I would manage to get on Sterling’s Accell project, I would make a point of finding an appropriate bell for Teri. Watch me.
Bear in mind that through all of these dealings, Sahib, Franklin, Sterling, Teri, and Brent never spoke with me in person; they only heard my compelling voice vibrating through the telephone lines. And indeed, my passion.
Visiting all the national parks out west on a bicycle would have to wait for another sparkle to conjure. I sold my car, repaid Aunt Marvelene for the phone bills, and asked her to take me to a men’s clothing store where I bought a whole new wardrobe. That left me enough to pay for my airline ticket to South Africa when Sterling’s credit card hit an electronic snafu, but I didn’t care—I was going overseas! Who would’ve ever thought, including me, that I would get a job in Johannesburg, South Africa, by calling the American Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia? That’s crazy!
And crazy is what I do best.
