I had two hours before the interview so I decided to have a quick look around the town after ironing my clothes with the hotel provided iron. I could have even washed my hair as the hairdryer is also provided. Before leaving I found the lunch area, with little snacks and drinks all day long. I grabbed some water and ran to explore the city. It took me a while to explain to the polite black guy at the entrance that I wanted to walk to the St. Anthon’s waterfalls. He knew nothing about them but managed to send me to the Mississippi river.

During my trip I was trying to picture what you would be like. Living in the same hotel-guess not higher then me as that would be the roof, so are you going to be horribly empty posh? I was really considering if I did want the job in that case as I need people with heart around me. I was questioning why I spent my whole life studying to get that high-among the people I don’t like.

But nothing catastrophic happened. You were the most wonderful person ever. You were young and smart, sensitive and intelligent and above all extremely professional. It would be a pleasure to work with you.

After the interview I spent some time in the lunch area, meeting with couples then talking with a women and one selfish posh man - exactly the type of people to be expected here. I put on something normal, slide down with the lift-for the way down card is not required!

Knowing that I would have half day off, I needed to arrange staying in the hotel room one hour longer then regular check out time - till 1pm. A nice black guy in the reception had no problem with it and he even recommended me where to go out on such a silly day as Tuesday.

At the end of the day, I met some normal people even here. The receptionist, the guy giving me directions and the cleaning lady, Maria Guadalupe-she had a really charming sincere smile when we talked to each other in Spanish. I think I could get used to this lifestyle, especially because of the pillows and the bed. This place had the best bed I have ever slept in and the pillows were just miraculous. I guess that’s what the nearly 400 dollars a night is for.

I was coming to Minneapolis for a job interview. The biggest fear was not the interview itself but the fact I had to spend night in Hilton hotel. I could only guess what is expecting me there as places like were in my mind just for empty posh people. And suddenly here I am. Successfully found the hotel from the nearest light rail station (just two blocks) still refusing to live posh life full of caviar and taxi. Funny dressed black man opened the door for me-as expected in such a place-but I want to believe that he would have done it for me anyways. Check in-all readily available-as ISO standard requires. It took just few seconds and I was not hello Madam but welcome Joanna, I hope you will have a pleasant stay.

Floor 19, got the hotel card and found my way to the lift. Fortunately there was no one to argue with me to take care of my nothing weighing luggage as I would not like to tip for that. It took me a while to notice that 19th is the highest level – considered executive floor and the cards are only required to go to 15th and above.

Anyway, the card did not work, I though it is just luck of experience but over next few hours I saw many people having problems with their cards as well.

Finally I got into my room-not bad at all, till I started unpacking my luggage. The architect designing the rooms must have been…thinking about squirrels on the trees and not about designing the room. The support for luggage was in another room then the wardrobe. So you either had to bend down to the floor or run with each piece of your cloth next room. How clever is that?

I unpacked, checked my huge hotel desk-my office desk is not so huge, looked at the restroom-OK size and clean as expected and the view from my window- nice view, but still with many higher buildings around.

The Marquette Hotel is very classy and in a great location downtown. It was a little over of my usual travel budget but was worth it. I especially like independent accomodations i.e. not chains.