Today I was demoted from the 20th to the 10th floor, looks like they figured out that I wasn't the biggest fan of their corporate environment, oops....just kidding! I had my first day in my specific department called the Integrated Development Program (IDP). I met my new boss who seems really nice. Then, my supervisor sat with me and Japanese coworker (of course I get the one girl who doesn't speak any English, even though the application requested fluency) and walked us through the different projects using pictures. It was actually a lot more effective than the wordy PowerPoint presentations they normally give here, because he was forced to explain everything to us without reading the slides verbatim. Someone really needs to bring the 6-6-6 PowerPoint rule to this country (No more than six text slides in a row, with no more than six bullets per slide, with no more than six words per bullet). Remember that and you're golden for any presentation you will ever have to give.
This took all of two hours and then we spent the rest of the work day just sitting around. They had nothing for us to do, no matter how many times we asked in different languages if they needed help. So I twiddled my thumbs and observed the office setting here. Remember when I was talking about efficiency? Yeah, I don't think they have been introduced to that concept here in Bangladesh. People get up from their desks and chit-chat every five seconds. Sure it's fun and there are lots of laughs, but when exactly does work get done? Let me elaborate for you:
So I've been placed in a four person cubicle. There are two super long desks on opposite ends of the wall and two persons share a desk. Technically I don't have a desk so I'll just be moving from location to location depending on who is working in what field that week, but that's beside the point. So I am near two girls who are both older than me by at least six or seven years. They literally spent an hour talking to me, asking me all these questions. Of course most people are curious here so I answered by giving as little information as possible, making them believe I was extremely shy. This is all out of good nature of course, but one cannot apply anything but extreme caution when out of their element. Their boss (aka my head boss) walked by and saw all three of us talking. Instead of getting mad or telling us to get back to work he came in the cubicle and joined us. This all happened around tea time (yeah they serve tea to everyone in my office twice a day), so there we all sat, my two coworkers, head boss, and I sipping tea and conversing like we were anywhere but in an office.
My inner voice was having a heart attack, yelling at me to get back to work. Good job parents and family, looks like you have cultivated a good work ethic in me. I don't think I could have felt any more fidgety and nervous than I did at that moment. I kept waiting for someone to walk by and scold me for being a distraction. I think two things will happen by the end of these two month: I will be ruined to work for any other company in any other country or this office will be transformed to run as an office should.
Okay enough complaining about the office because the two ladies I sat with were extremely friendly. They have basically adopted me into their workroom clique and have personally taken it upon themselves to make sure that I am eating my lunch, have enough water, ect. They are like my pretend older sisters in an office setting. It's kind of fun, especially since they are helping me learn a lot of new words. Also, one of them makes funny faces every time she walks by my cubicle to make me laugh. I think I'll like it here.
Anyways before I leave I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day!
Love and miss you all,
Carolyn
This took all of two hours and then we spent the rest of the work day just sitting around. They had nothing for us to do, no matter how many times we asked in different languages if they needed help. So I twiddled my thumbs and observed the office setting here. Remember when I was talking about efficiency? Yeah, I don't think they have been introduced to that concept here in Bangladesh. People get up from their desks and chit-chat every five seconds. Sure it's fun and there are lots of laughs, but when exactly does work get done? Let me elaborate for you:
So I've been placed in a four person cubicle. There are two super long desks on opposite ends of the wall and two persons share a desk. Technically I don't have a desk so I'll just be moving from location to location depending on who is working in what field that week, but that's beside the point. So I am near two girls who are both older than me by at least six or seven years. They literally spent an hour talking to me, asking me all these questions. Of course most people are curious here so I answered by giving as little information as possible, making them believe I was extremely shy. This is all out of good nature of course, but one cannot apply anything but extreme caution when out of their element. Their boss (aka my head boss) walked by and saw all three of us talking. Instead of getting mad or telling us to get back to work he came in the cubicle and joined us. This all happened around tea time (yeah they serve tea to everyone in my office twice a day), so there we all sat, my two coworkers, head boss, and I sipping tea and conversing like we were anywhere but in an office.
My inner voice was having a heart attack, yelling at me to get back to work. Good job parents and family, looks like you have cultivated a good work ethic in me. I don't think I could have felt any more fidgety and nervous than I did at that moment. I kept waiting for someone to walk by and scold me for being a distraction. I think two things will happen by the end of these two month: I will be ruined to work for any other company in any other country or this office will be transformed to run as an office should.
Okay enough complaining about the office because the two ladies I sat with were extremely friendly. They have basically adopted me into their workroom clique and have personally taken it upon themselves to make sure that I am eating my lunch, have enough water, ect. They are like my pretend older sisters in an office setting. It's kind of fun, especially since they are helping me learn a lot of new words. Also, one of them makes funny faces every time she walks by my cubicle to make me laugh. I think I'll like it here.
Anyways before I leave I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day!
Love and miss you all,
Carolyn
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