Business trips aren’t exactly glamorous when you’re an entry-level employee.  Being on the bottom of the totem pole means that I’m the first person in the office to be jet-set away to the pastoral skies of the Midwest for weeks at a time.  That’s why I was so excited when I was finally assigned to spend a few days in sunny Southern California on the company’s tab. 

 

You could be jealous that my sun-kissed fingers are typing this post after having soaked my feet in the Pacific for a couple hours.  But my heart dropped yesterday when my boss told me I had to extend my stay. The idea of spending an extra three days risking my life on L.A.’s angry highways made my blood boil. I’m tired of starchy hotel pillows, salvaging receipts, and having two cell phones and a blackberry figuratively leashed around me and literally weighing down my purse.

 

However, there are a few things I’ve learned along the way that infuse business trips with at least a little bit of pleasure:

Do Your Facebook Homework: If it weren’t for Facebook, I never would’ve known that I have a friend who lives two blocks from Long Beach and another acquaintance who, after becoming a top ten candidate for the Real World, is in SoCal on MTV’s bill.  With everyone all spread out, it’s hard to keep track of where your friends from college have ended up. That’s why Facebook isn’t just good for stalkers, it also helps people who are looking to replace their coworkers once business hours are over. 

Eat and Be Well: After coming back from my business trip to Texas with a saggy taco-belly, I realized that just because I was near the Tex-Mex border, didn’t mean that I had to eat a burrito every chance I got.  The same goes for pizza in Chicago, cheese in Wisconsin, and beef in Nebraska.  Most hotels have rickety treadmills that serve as some sort of an excuse for a gym. Now I use them.

Be a Tourist:  Business trips, for better or for worse, are a chance to see and learn about places that I normally would never go out of my way to visit or know anything about.  The main attraction in Austin, Minnesota was the Spam Museum.  I jogged alongside the Mississippi and watched the sun rise every morning when I was stuck in Davenport, Iowa. Even if you feel like you’re in the armpit of America, chances are there’s something worth seeing for either its aesthetic, comedic, or entertainment value.   

 

Pack Wisely: If I had thought it would sway his decision to keep me here longer, I would’ve mentioned to my boss that I don’t have enough clean underwear to last me three extra days. He may not care, but it presents a rather pressing inconvenience for me. From now on I’m packing extra undergarments and external apparel. Obviously I won't be reimbursed for today's urgent shopping spree at Victoria's Secret.