Remember the Alamo

Well life continues here in Texas. First I guess I'll give an update about work. I really like USAA. I can really buy into their corporate values. One of their mottoes is "we do the right thing because it's the right thing to do." You can tell that corporate really believes this motto. Anyways, I'm getting to know a lot of people there and am enjoying my work. I have learned a little bit of JCL, REXX, and PL/I (all computer languages used by IBM mainframe computers). I'm finally able to work on a few real projects, which makes the work day go by quickly. USAA is very good about providing employees with opportunities to learn and grow through lecture series from IT professionals, both internal and external to USAA, and other distinguished speakers. Thursday, someone from the Southwest Research Group spoke about their efforts to make armor for vehicles used by Servicemen and women to protect them from mines and IEDs.

My social life in Texas has also been great. Several friends and I got season passes to Six Flags and we have enjoyed the roller coasters and the water park there. We have also done many other things like swimming, walking along the Riverwalk downtown, having barbecues, playing basketball and volleyball, playing really nice guitars at local guitar shops, and a lot more. I have made a lot of friends at church and with the other interns at work. Last night we had a party at "The Place" (I guess that is the official name of the house we live in) and probably had 40 people show up. We had games of pool, darts and several card games all going at the same time. Several people were kind enough to share their talent on guitar also. The night even had some intense moments of telling ghost stories.

Yesterday my roommates Byron and Ryan and I went to the Alamo. It was an interesting experience. Walking around the place, there was a feeling of reverence and quiet. I knew the basic story of the Alamo, but never really understood the significance of it. After visiting, reading, and listening to a very well spoken man lecture about it, I came to the conclusion that Alamo more than what happened just at this one post is really a story of the American spirit of resilience and an example of liberty over life. One of the plaques in the museum had the names and hometowns of all the people who died in the Alamo. All of them were from outside of Texas, some even from Europe, yet these people came to the Alamo to defend against the ideals of the Mexican Centralists. Anyways, it was an interesting experience.