Python; today we coded using Python. Site Reliability Engineers (SRE) at Google...

Nights are getting later and the struggle to wake up early is real. 

This morning, I woke up at 5:50 am Pacific time to participate in a scheduled conference call with Microsoft and the other YouthSpark Challenge for Change Winners at 6:00am.

I am 1 of the 5 winner of the Global Microsoft YouthSpark Challenge for Change (read about my project Science for Success here). As a winner, along with receiving funding for my project, I will be traveling with Microsoft to the Amazon to learn more about the Microsoft Corporation and its technology.

In the conference call, we discussed the work we will be doing at the Microsoft Office in Quito - the capital of Ecuador. The trip is also volunteer based and I am looking forward to engaging with the local people in the more indigenous regions of the 'Amazon' in Ecuador.

My blog for the trip with Microsoft to Ecuador: www.scienceforsuccess.blogspot.com

Back to Google and....
Python; today we coded using Python. 
The syntax and command lines for Python differ from Java and other code languages. There was much covered today in the sessions. We will continue tomorrow. By the end of the Python sessions, we should be able to:

• Switch back and forth between a .py file and the python interpreter comfortably
• Understand strings, lists, for loops and if statements
• Understand while loops, dictionaries and functions
• Take a problem, design a solution, and code up that solution!

I am most looking forward to the last objective!

"Python - powered by snacks from the micro-kitchen"

Eating lunch outside switched things up a bit today; there was 'front swing' seating by the lake.

Before returning to Python in the afternoon, a team of Site Reliability Engineers (SRE) at Google spoke with our group. The team was very lively and described their jobs in a humorous way that was very engaging.
The Senior Engineer detailed how he became a 'real Googler.' Apparently it is an inside joke that a Googler is not a 'real Googler' until you've cost more than your year's salary in damage in site views to the company. Damage is due to a major error or coding mishap that basically wrecks the Google site (until the mistake is fixed). Once a Googler becomes a 'real Googler' the event is celebrated.
At Google even 'real Googler' level mishaps are not considered failures, but understood as misguided exploration.
Exploration is encouraged and 'failures' are just part of the path of improvement leading to success.

Thank you Senior Engineer Andrew for the free shirt!

Front:

Back:

More Python tomorrow- hooray!

Today was "Day 1" at the Googleplex.

I woke up listening to Eminem - pumped for Google! After eating breakfast, we boarded a coach bus to the Googleplex. Arriving on the Google campus was magical.

My fellow CSSIers and I got a tour of the Google campus. Unfortunately, no photos were permitted inside of the buildings.
Google's buildings have eco-friendly themed insides. On every floor, there is an easily accessible micro-kitchen. The micro-kitchens house extremely healthy (and some unhealthy) snacks and food. Everything is free to all Googlers!
The outsides of Google's buildings are very modern. The lawns hold many fun things: sculptures (as shown below), volleyball courts, a T-rex statue, swimming pools, and bicycles.
Google offers its employees many perks which include permitting them to bring their dogs to work. There is something at Google called TGIF which is a live broadcast held every Thursday night in which the company addresses all Googlers (it's odd that it does not occur on Fridays).

Here are some pictures from our outdoor Googley exploring:

At the conclusion of the tour, we began our learning in coding sessions.  
Our sessions today were: Intro to the Web and HTML and CSS. Using HTML we wrote a tight code for a personal website and, using CSS, we designed our pages to be awesome!
Our work day was long, fast-paced, and intense.

On our breaks we visited the micro-kitchen - very delicious! (All food at Google is free - yum!)

It was amazing how much we accomplished just for "Day 1!"

Currently, I am at office hours with the other CSSIers. Code hard, play hard.  JavaScript tomorrow :)