I was on a work call today, and we were talking about how a particular item was 'grandfathered' into the project. Afterwards, my colleague from Germany pinged me:
A: I understood the topics and how we must keep the old things, but I do not understand the use of this word?
H: Grandfathered? It's an English term, for if something is currently against the rules, but previously it was allowed under the rules at the time. Therefore we allow it now, it is 'grandfathered' in.
A: Hmm......ok.
H: So you don't 'Grossvater' or 'Opa' anything?
A: No.
H: So what if something is an exception to the rule? It is not correct according to the rules, but because of certain reasons, we allow it. How do you call this in German?
A: (silence)
H: (imagining a German staring at the screen with a befuddled look.) A, you don't have this in German do you? An exception to the rules that is allowed?
A: No H, I don't think we have a word for that...
Yet another example of where the language reflects the culture.
Showing posts with label office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label office. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Business travel in Europe, in the tiny town of B
I get the feeling sometimes, that when I mention being on work travel to Germany or Paris, that people back home in the US have a vision of a fancy 5 star hotel, with pool and doorman and elegant spoken English by the friendly desk clerk. Really, however, it's a totally different experience as many of company J's preferred hotels are located near the offices that tend to be tucked away in Industrial Parks....so maybe to compare it to say, Newark, New Jersey would be a closer comparison.
I was reminded of that this week, when my German work colleague was in contact. The hotels around benevolent company J's headquarters in Germany are so small that they cannot be booked using our online travel application; but as it's hit or miss whether you'll get anyone who speaks English, most of them do not. So when our work colleagues travel, they will find a German speaker to arrange their reservation. (That being said, the staff at these small hotels are extremely forgiving with 'less than adequate German', so as long as you can muddle along with the basics and have no special requests, you're usually ok.)
My German colleague (who is married to a non-German and lives here in the UK) was tasked with making the hotel reservations for a boss a few levels up, a sophisticated yet pleasant enough fellow, one of those persons who is probably used to five star travel. Here was our conversation:
Colleague A: Hey H, 'Normal Hotel' (the favourite of company J visitors, it is close to the office, very modern inside and has menus in multiple languages) is booked up, do you know hotels X or Y?
Heather: Yes, both. X is the tiny one near Normal Hotel, Y is the one near the Pizza place, where the owner wears a dirndl*.
A: Aaah right, so then X probably make sense.
H: You might want to pre-warn him--X looks like your grandma's living room...old lady lace decor, and oodles of glass dolls and clowns all around the place.
A: Oh man.
H: It's a little freaky when you come back of an evening out and you are reaching around for the light, and when you turn it on there are 20 pairs of glassy eyes staring at you...but the main deal breaker for me is that they only have dial-up network access, no wifi.
A: Maybe Y is better....
H: Yes, dirndl lady is pleasant, but if he arrives on Monday they do not open until 18.00. And again, no wifi there either.
A: Mann, mann, mann. Maybe I should tell him they were both booked up and just put him in the Hilton in Cologne instead...
*Dirndl Lady is a real anomoly for the area of DE between Cologne and D'dorf...normally we only see Dirndls for Karneval or maybe the town's anniversary, but never for 'daily wear'.
I was reminded of that this week, when my German work colleague was in contact. The hotels around benevolent company J's headquarters in Germany are so small that they cannot be booked using our online travel application; but as it's hit or miss whether you'll get anyone who speaks English, most of them do not. So when our work colleagues travel, they will find a German speaker to arrange their reservation. (That being said, the staff at these small hotels are extremely forgiving with 'less than adequate German', so as long as you can muddle along with the basics and have no special requests, you're usually ok.)
My German colleague (who is married to a non-German and lives here in the UK) was tasked with making the hotel reservations for a boss a few levels up, a sophisticated yet pleasant enough fellow, one of those persons who is probably used to five star travel. Here was our conversation:
Colleague A: Hey H, 'Normal Hotel' (the favourite of company J visitors, it is close to the office, very modern inside and has menus in multiple languages) is booked up, do you know hotels X or Y?
Heather: Yes, both. X is the tiny one near Normal Hotel, Y is the one near the Pizza place, where the owner wears a dirndl*.
A: Aaah right, so then X probably make sense.
H: You might want to pre-warn him--X looks like your grandma's living room...old lady lace decor, and oodles of glass dolls and clowns all around the place.
A: Oh man.
H: It's a little freaky when you come back of an evening out and you are reaching around for the light, and when you turn it on there are 20 pairs of glassy eyes staring at you...but the main deal breaker for me is that they only have dial-up network access, no wifi.
A: Maybe Y is better....
H: Yes, dirndl lady is pleasant, but if he arrives on Monday they do not open until 18.00. And again, no wifi there either.
A: Mann, mann, mann. Maybe I should tell him they were both booked up and just put him in the Hilton in Cologne instead...
*Dirndl Lady is a real anomoly for the area of DE between Cologne and D'dorf...normally we only see Dirndls for Karneval or maybe the town's anniversary, but never for 'daily wear'.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
back in the saddle
I am very blessed to be able to spend most of my time working from home. However, I acknowlege, appreciate and validate that blessing by periodically coming to the office when requested by my employer. As I only go into the office 2 days on average per month, when I go in, I make the best of it and I go in with bells on.
Starting tomorrow, I need to go in for the entire week. Periodically, I spend a week in Germany in the office, but it's been at least 18 months since I last spent a week in my local UK office.
My lunch is packed and in the fridge.
My pc, notebook, office key and badge are all packed in the backpack, as are my cereal and office snacks.
It takes me about 25-28 minutes to walk to the office.
The weather report has been reviewed and my clothes are selected and set aside.
My main alarm and backup are set.
Now, all I need is for Monday morning to begin...
Starting tomorrow, I need to go in for the entire week. Periodically, I spend a week in Germany in the office, but it's been at least 18 months since I last spent a week in my local UK office.
My lunch is packed and in the fridge.
My pc, notebook, office key and badge are all packed in the backpack, as are my cereal and office snacks.
It takes me about 25-28 minutes to walk to the office.
The weather report has been reviewed and my clothes are selected and set aside.
My main alarm and backup are set.
Now, all I need is for Monday morning to begin...
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Just for the record
I love that Germany and the UK often have differing public holidays. I get a lot done when Germany is off. Since they have off today and most are taking tomorrow as a bridge day, they will come into a pile of emails from me on Monday while we have the UK public holiday. Then they'll be sure to return the favor and send me a pile. :-)
Thankfully, the weather has been picking up this week, so we'll see how it holds for the weekend (fingers crossed!) and then Monday. :-)
Thankfully, the weather has been picking up this week, so we'll see how it holds for the weekend (fingers crossed!) and then Monday. :-)
Friday, May 08, 2009
The poster child for death warmed over
Either corporate cost cutting found its latest victim in the filter coffee, or the facilities staff is proving their true worth by dragging their feet on the refill ordering, to prove their point that people should be nicer and load the dishwasher to keep on their good side. (And honestly--if a coffee drinker was a chief culprit, I wouldn't be surprised by such actions here.) As we know, there's not a huge following of 'real' coffee drinkers in the office here, so not really sure that this is a money saving mechanism, so really hoping its the latter.
Today was day 3 without filter coffee. As we know--I find the taste of instant coffee to be lacking--in effect it's the equivalent of licking tree bark. Yes, really. The first day it was perhaps seen as a little blip of a delay....day two and the grumples are coming out...day 3 is showing what people are made of.
One person (obviously a male) left the filter basket on the counter with a filter in it. I imagine he does that at home and the coffee fairy magically fixes everything which is wrong with his world.
I ran into someone who (sheepishly) had a french press in hand. (That will be my tactic starting Monday. Three days of this was sufficient to highlight this point to me.)
Because we're all attempting to make do with the substandard instant and feeling the hurt--that ran out at 10.30. One coffee drinker then had a meltdown in the kitchen, that it isn't fair that tea drinkers get fresh milk, which is expensive, while coffee is not being provided.
A few more days of this and I'll be off caffeine, as I'm seriously low right now as I've gone to extremely limited consumption rather than suffer the indignity of licking tree bark.
I like coffee in the morning. It makes the world a more pleasant place. Thankfully I am at home and looking forward to French pressed happiness tomorrow.
Today was day 3 without filter coffee. As we know--I find the taste of instant coffee to be lacking--in effect it's the equivalent of licking tree bark. Yes, really. The first day it was perhaps seen as a little blip of a delay....day two and the grumples are coming out...day 3 is showing what people are made of.
One person (obviously a male) left the filter basket on the counter with a filter in it. I imagine he does that at home and the coffee fairy magically fixes everything which is wrong with his world.
I ran into someone who (sheepishly) had a french press in hand. (That will be my tactic starting Monday. Three days of this was sufficient to highlight this point to me.)
Because we're all attempting to make do with the substandard instant and feeling the hurt--that ran out at 10.30. One coffee drinker then had a meltdown in the kitchen, that it isn't fair that tea drinkers get fresh milk, which is expensive, while coffee is not being provided.
A few more days of this and I'll be off caffeine, as I'm seriously low right now as I've gone to extremely limited consumption rather than suffer the indignity of licking tree bark.
I like coffee in the morning. It makes the world a more pleasant place. Thankfully I am at home and looking forward to French pressed happiness tomorrow.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
A cultural comparison: the office kitchen in USA, Germany and the UK
It's been a few years since I've worked in the US, although I still go back to Benevolent company J's headquarters at least once a year. I find office kitchens in the US to be very basic. There's usually a microwave and maybe a refrigerator (with a sign saying 'all food left here Friday night will be thrown out by the cleaning crew), and perhaps a drip coffee maker or an automatic machine which will dispense something powdered at the touch of a button. Usually coffee and tea are free, but they aren't much to brag about and the optional extras are sugar and those tiny plastic containers of creamer which don't require refrigeration.
Because there is a microwave, some people will bring lunch, although I don't think it's such a popular American custom. If people do bring food, it tends to be a packaged microwave meal, or perhaps a hot breakfast food like oatmeal or an afternoon snack of microwave popcorn.
For the most part US office kitchens are clean and there's not so many issues there mainly because they are mostly used for morning beverages, and often there's a very limited skeleton collection of guest mugs and spoons. Often you cannot find forks, plates or knives, unless there are some plastic ones left over from someone's birthday cake celebration.
Without a doubt, however, the biggest office kitchen issue while I worked in the US was the mircrowaving of 'smelly' food. Because so few people microwaved anything further than a Chicken Parm Lean Cuisine, and because America is often not so diverse in some places, when someone would microwave something strong-smelling, it tended to be noticed and would cause a negative reaction. Specifically, Asian specialities including fish and Indian dishes (I lived in California where these foods were popular) would often cause an uproar among non-Asian or non-Indian populations who were not used to the smell.
Then, handwritten passive-agressive notes would appear commenting upon this use, causing HR to have to get involved. Usually 'Cultural diversity - foods of the world!' would then become a 'Lunch and Learn' session and an official memo would come out from HR celebrating our differences, and would everyone please be sure to wipe down the microwave after using it.
When I came to Germany, I arrived with the above background in my pocket, so I microwaved my Indian food with trepidation, lest a cause a German to meltdown. However, I needn't have feared. The Germans are the most curious lot when it comes to food. I'd say 80% of the time, someone would comment positively as we overlapped in the kitchen, and never once was it negatively commented upon. Further, it would usually play out like this:
Random German: Ah! Smells...interesting!
Heather: Yes! It's homemade.
RG: Really? (peers at it) Spinach and...and...?
Heather: (Gives detailed instructions)
RG: (Listens closely) Well! Enjoy!
Further, the Germans are an industrious lot. Even though we have cleaning staff at Benevolent company J, that wouldn't stop a German from scrubbing down the countertop, simply because it looked like it needed doing while waiting for the kettle to boil. When things would happen to go off, it was quickly settled. For example, we had a bit of a problem that people were taking the last of the coffee and not making new. Sure as God made little green apples, an offical memo from management went up and the problem stopped. Why? Because someone official told them what to do. Problem solved. The same thing happened with people stacking dishes on the counter instead of putting them into the dishwasher. Once the official memo goes up, problem is magically solved.
The funny thing about the German kitchens though, was the little tiny refrigerators and the fact that so many people brought lunches. Granted, I spent part of the time in an office with no cafeteria so the refrigerator usage was definitely higher, but it was a little crazy at times. In multiple office locations, we only had the 'typical' German freezer (aka one the size of a US college dorm fridge) and it would be packed solid. You'd have to jockey things around to fit yours in, which was ok. But interestingly, if someone's food went bad, like they forgot about it or went on travel--and it went moldy, no one would do anything. So they would touch your items to fit in theirs, but they wouldn't throw out moldy chicken sharing the space. Go figure.
In the UK, I've been interested to see how things would play out here. On a good note, I make the office coffee at 07.20 and the pot lasts until about 10.20 since 98% of the office are tea or instant coffee drinkers. We do, however, have a plethora of management produced signs, but they don't have the same effect as in Germany. It started with a "Your mum does not work here, please clean up after yourself' note--how standard.
That didn't secure the desired effect, so a second kitchen note went up earlier this week: "If you want your plates, bowls, cups, etc. to be washed, put them in the dishwasher. Any item left in the sink will be thrown out." Sure enough, when I walked in late lunchtime, there were dishes in the trashbin. Someone comes in to make his tea and makes the comment 'Oh, looks like (Facilities guy) is throwing the toys from the pram again. He then proceeds to take the dishes from the trashbin and to load them into the dishwasher.
A. I was surprised that there was actually follow through here on the sign threat.
B. I was more surprised that Fellow A actually picked all the dishes out of the trash.
I cannot see either of the above two actions ever happening in the US or Germany. Although that is perhaps because the US has no kitchen dishes and Germany has a sign warning people to use the dishwasher therefore they do. :-)
Because there is a microwave, some people will bring lunch, although I don't think it's such a popular American custom. If people do bring food, it tends to be a packaged microwave meal, or perhaps a hot breakfast food like oatmeal or an afternoon snack of microwave popcorn.
For the most part US office kitchens are clean and there's not so many issues there mainly because they are mostly used for morning beverages, and often there's a very limited skeleton collection of guest mugs and spoons. Often you cannot find forks, plates or knives, unless there are some plastic ones left over from someone's birthday cake celebration.
Without a doubt, however, the biggest office kitchen issue while I worked in the US was the mircrowaving of 'smelly' food. Because so few people microwaved anything further than a Chicken Parm Lean Cuisine, and because America is often not so diverse in some places, when someone would microwave something strong-smelling, it tended to be noticed and would cause a negative reaction. Specifically, Asian specialities including fish and Indian dishes (I lived in California where these foods were popular) would often cause an uproar among non-Asian or non-Indian populations who were not used to the smell.
Then, handwritten passive-agressive notes would appear commenting upon this use, causing HR to have to get involved. Usually 'Cultural diversity - foods of the world!' would then become a 'Lunch and Learn' session and an official memo would come out from HR celebrating our differences, and would everyone please be sure to wipe down the microwave after using it.
When I came to Germany, I arrived with the above background in my pocket, so I microwaved my Indian food with trepidation, lest a cause a German to meltdown. However, I needn't have feared. The Germans are the most curious lot when it comes to food. I'd say 80% of the time, someone would comment positively as we overlapped in the kitchen, and never once was it negatively commented upon. Further, it would usually play out like this:
Random German: Ah! Smells...interesting!
Heather: Yes! It's homemade.
RG: Really? (peers at it) Spinach and...and...?
Heather: (Gives detailed instructions)
RG: (Listens closely) Well! Enjoy!
Further, the Germans are an industrious lot. Even though we have cleaning staff at Benevolent company J, that wouldn't stop a German from scrubbing down the countertop, simply because it looked like it needed doing while waiting for the kettle to boil. When things would happen to go off, it was quickly settled. For example, we had a bit of a problem that people were taking the last of the coffee and not making new. Sure as God made little green apples, an offical memo from management went up and the problem stopped. Why? Because someone official told them what to do. Problem solved. The same thing happened with people stacking dishes on the counter instead of putting them into the dishwasher. Once the official memo goes up, problem is magically solved.
The funny thing about the German kitchens though, was the little tiny refrigerators and the fact that so many people brought lunches. Granted, I spent part of the time in an office with no cafeteria so the refrigerator usage was definitely higher, but it was a little crazy at times. In multiple office locations, we only had the 'typical' German freezer (aka one the size of a US college dorm fridge) and it would be packed solid. You'd have to jockey things around to fit yours in, which was ok. But interestingly, if someone's food went bad, like they forgot about it or went on travel--and it went moldy, no one would do anything. So they would touch your items to fit in theirs, but they wouldn't throw out moldy chicken sharing the space. Go figure.
In the UK, I've been interested to see how things would play out here. On a good note, I make the office coffee at 07.20 and the pot lasts until about 10.20 since 98% of the office are tea or instant coffee drinkers. We do, however, have a plethora of management produced signs, but they don't have the same effect as in Germany. It started with a "Your mum does not work here, please clean up after yourself' note--how standard.
That didn't secure the desired effect, so a second kitchen note went up earlier this week: "If you want your plates, bowls, cups, etc. to be washed, put them in the dishwasher. Any item left in the sink will be thrown out." Sure enough, when I walked in late lunchtime, there were dishes in the trashbin. Someone comes in to make his tea and makes the comment 'Oh, looks like (Facilities guy) is throwing the toys from the pram again. He then proceeds to take the dishes from the trashbin and to load them into the dishwasher.
A. I was surprised that there was actually follow through here on the sign threat.
B. I was more surprised that Fellow A actually picked all the dishes out of the trash.
I cannot see either of the above two actions ever happening in the US or Germany. Although that is perhaps because the US has no kitchen dishes and Germany has a sign warning people to use the dishwasher therefore they do. :-)
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
How to humor me
While on the drive South today I stopped for a coffee from a little stand along the highway. My expectations were rather low, for a coffee stand which is brought along behind a car which seemed to be in the 'wrong' directions for the commute. Imagine my surprise to see a 60+ gentleman in a full white outfit including the hat, who asked 'what would you like today, Sweetheart?' upon my walking up. Obviously he loves what he does--as I was getting back in the car and on the cell phone while still parked, I caught him waving to some cars and trucks who beeped to him. Genuinely being called Sweetheart and served real (not instant) black coffee what a super start to the morning.
Part of my trip to Guildford this week was to visit the Portsmouth area office for a day as it was only an hour or so from here. During the past six years, I've probably visited 30 or so offices of Benevolent Company J. It can be quite interesting, because on one hand Company J is a large American company, but on the other hand, it's interesting to see how various offices in different countries conduct business, crafting solutions to similar problems through local protocols.
I've visited a few offices where parking is at a premium or non-existent. Mainly there are workaround such as parking at another location or catching a ride from another colleague. Here in Southeastern England, I got a named visitor parking spot for the day, the first time I've ever seen such a solution at one of our offices. The front desk controls reservations so my colleague managed to get me on the list for one of the four visitor spots:
I was here doing some work for this main colleague today, along with a newer, local fill-in colleague for a second piece.
Colleague 1: Do you think you can work with this like Heather has it, Colleague 2?
Colleague 2: I think so. Although it would be better if it included x and y. Although if that's too hard to do, that's ok...
Colleague 1: Say it if you want it while "the Wizard" is here with us today.
Heather (muttering): I am 'The Wizard'??
Colleague 1: (under her breath) of course, you make the magic happen!
Colleague 1: Yes, Colleague 2, 'the Wiz' will try to sort that for you, but you won't get won't you won't ask for, so speak up.
I had such a great time in the South being humored with such special nicknames and rock star parking that I'll go back on Thursday as I need a place to sit that day. If I manage to remember the right highway point, I'll try to stop off at the same place for coffee too.
Part of my trip to Guildford this week was to visit the Portsmouth area office for a day as it was only an hour or so from here. During the past six years, I've probably visited 30 or so offices of Benevolent Company J. It can be quite interesting, because on one hand Company J is a large American company, but on the other hand, it's interesting to see how various offices in different countries conduct business, crafting solutions to similar problems through local protocols.
I've visited a few offices where parking is at a premium or non-existent. Mainly there are workaround such as parking at another location or catching a ride from another colleague. Here in Southeastern England, I got a named visitor parking spot for the day, the first time I've ever seen such a solution at one of our offices. The front desk controls reservations so my colleague managed to get me on the list for one of the four visitor spots:
I was here doing some work for this main colleague today, along with a newer, local fill-in colleague for a second piece.
Colleague 1: Do you think you can work with this like Heather has it, Colleague 2?
Colleague 2: I think so. Although it would be better if it included x and y. Although if that's too hard to do, that's ok...
Colleague 1: Say it if you want it while "the Wizard" is here with us today.
Heather (muttering): I am 'The Wizard'??
Colleague 1: (under her breath) of course, you make the magic happen!
Colleague 1: Yes, Colleague 2, 'the Wiz' will try to sort that for you, but you won't get won't you won't ask for, so speak up.
I had such a great time in the South being humored with such special nicknames and rock star parking that I'll go back on Thursday as I need a place to sit that day. If I manage to remember the right highway point, I'll try to stop off at the same place for coffee too.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Germany from the outside
In the new office, I sit across from someone, I have no idea what he does. In fact, I have no idea what most of the people sitting around me do, and they are probably as puzzled by my activities. What we do have in common...this particular office has very close ties to the office in Germany where I was located.
This office and that office collectively supply things to big company F. Big company F's HQ is in Germany near benevolent company J's head office. This office exists to support company F's local office here. So needless to say, people in this office spend a lot of time in Germany at either company F or J. Some of them even spend Tuesday-Friday of every week there.
There is, however, a basis for shared understanding based on being a non-German having to work with Germans, which culturally transcends job details. The colleague who sits across the table from me was on a difficult phone call....
Colleague P (in English): Carsten, we need to blah blah. Carsten, you need to think about blah blah. Carsten.......
Colleague P (silent for a few minutes, head goes into hands).
Colleague P (phone on mute, to me): Aargh. This is like watching an episode of Laurel & Hardy. Instead of discussing how to fix Q, they're arguing amongst themselves as to whose fault Q is. It's like they have blinders on.
H: Are you on the phone with Germans?
Colleague P: How did you know? (rolling eyes)
(Although, of course, I realize on the other side of the call, the Germans are probably just as stymied by the non-German behavior). ;-)
This office and that office collectively supply things to big company F. Big company F's HQ is in Germany near benevolent company J's head office. This office exists to support company F's local office here. So needless to say, people in this office spend a lot of time in Germany at either company F or J. Some of them even spend Tuesday-Friday of every week there.
There is, however, a basis for shared understanding based on being a non-German having to work with Germans, which culturally transcends job details. The colleague who sits across the table from me was on a difficult phone call....
Colleague P (in English): Carsten, we need to blah blah. Carsten, you need to think about blah blah. Carsten.......
Colleague P (silent for a few minutes, head goes into hands).
Colleague P (phone on mute, to me): Aargh. This is like watching an episode of Laurel & Hardy. Instead of discussing how to fix Q, they're arguing amongst themselves as to whose fault Q is. It's like they have blinders on.
H: Are you on the phone with Germans?
Colleague P: How did you know? (rolling eyes)
(Although, of course, I realize on the other side of the call, the Germans are probably just as stymied by the non-German behavior). ;-)
Monday, February 23, 2009
My Monday
was extremely productive, i...
-received a new office pc, with all the stuff moved over from the old one and the new one is totally up and running.
-found the new office building, including the coffee machine and the bathroom.
-was placed in a desk next to a window.
-looked at my empty desk (which does not yet include a phone) and was rather pleased with the simplistic look.
-received a new company J car. it's no polo, disappointingly, but something larger which cost me 47 pounds sterling to fill up.
-opened a bank account, so benevelont company J can pay me to look at the empty desk and out the window.
-applied for a flat which i fell in love with. let's see if they can manage to take my reference in german so that i can be approved for said flat.
-received a new office pc, with all the stuff moved over from the old one and the new one is totally up and running.
-found the new office building, including the coffee machine and the bathroom.
-was placed in a desk next to a window.
-looked at my empty desk (which does not yet include a phone) and was rather pleased with the simplistic look.
-received a new company J car. it's no polo, disappointingly, but something larger which cost me 47 pounds sterling to fill up.
-opened a bank account, so benevelont company J can pay me to look at the empty desk and out the window.
-applied for a flat which i fell in love with. let's see if they can manage to take my reference in german so that i can be approved for said flat.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
the desk is packed
Since I came to Germany in 2003, this is the 4th time we've moved offices; I'm quite good at it. It's a lovely way to keep the clutter down, when you have to put all your office files and supplies in a company supplied box so that the movers will pick up your box at the appointed time and drop it at your new desk.
I've never moved in a US office, so not sure how it compares, but here it is actually very efficient (except for the part that it occurs during work hours so one loses a half or full work day--the movers are works council protected, you know, so they don't work weekends.)
Moves are arranged by the office so that multiple groups are going on the same day, I guess to fill the truck and keep the workers busy for a full day. In advance they deliver the cardboard boxes. Then, a packet of colored stickers. Each area moving has a different color and and the stickers have two boxes where you must write a letter/number combo that signifies the zone and desk area where the item should go. All things must go into a box, and the box gets a sticker.
Anything too big for a box--as long as you put a sticker on something, it goes with. Our plastic recycle bins get stickers. The coat rack, the potted plant, be sure to put on a sticker. Last time we were purple. For a few weeks, we were still peeling off purple stickers here and there.
Thankfully they move while I'm on holiday so it should be all re-assembled by the time I return, and sans stickers.
I've never moved in a US office, so not sure how it compares, but here it is actually very efficient (except for the part that it occurs during work hours so one loses a half or full work day--the movers are works council protected, you know, so they don't work weekends.)
Moves are arranged by the office so that multiple groups are going on the same day, I guess to fill the truck and keep the workers busy for a full day. In advance they deliver the cardboard boxes. Then, a packet of colored stickers. Each area moving has a different color and and the stickers have two boxes where you must write a letter/number combo that signifies the zone and desk area where the item should go. All things must go into a box, and the box gets a sticker.
Anything too big for a box--as long as you put a sticker on something, it goes with. Our plastic recycle bins get stickers. The coat rack, the potted plant, be sure to put on a sticker. Last time we were purple. For a few weeks, we were still peeling off purple stickers here and there.
Thankfully they move while I'm on holiday so it should be all re-assembled by the time I return, and sans stickers.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
busy week - packing the desk
our office is moving to a different site, 10 min away by car. it's a satellite space, so no cafeteria there, so lunches will need to be packed or bought from the outside.
good incentive to pack something healthy, as to eat otherwise will require a trip outside the building where it's always raining each day, and that sounds like too much effort.
good incentive to pack something healthy, as to eat otherwise will require a trip outside the building where it's always raining each day, and that sounds like too much effort.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
getting the scarf and gloves back out
Today I am going down to the river to do a lovely bbq of tofu dogs and whatever else D. picks up this morning. The temp is currently 16 with an expected high of 27 today. However, before I go into the city I must first pack for an equally lovely business trip to a midwest US city as I leave tomorrow morning. Here is the forecast for the coming week where I'll be, so that you can think of me while I'm not posting. Back next week Sunday.
SunApr 15
Mostly Sunny
high 9°/low 1°
MonApr 16
Sunny
11°/1°
TueApr 17
Partly Cloudy
11°/4°
WedApr 18
Partly Cloudy
7°/3°
ThuApr 19
Partly Cloudy
8°/3°
FriApr 20
Few Showers
9°/6°
SatApr 21
Showers
11°/7°
SunApr 15
Mostly Sunny
high 9°/low 1°
MonApr 16
Sunny
11°/1°
TueApr 17
Partly Cloudy
11°/4°
WedApr 18
Partly Cloudy
7°/3°
ThuApr 19
Partly Cloudy
8°/3°
FriApr 20
Few Showers
9°/6°
SatApr 21
Showers
11°/7°
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
'what is this squeeze?'
My German IT colleagues do some technical support on some orphan database. This database support involves reading and understanding commands in some other computer language than one that they know. They muddle through and get the job done with much help from google.
However, occasionally they hit a command that they don't know. And further, it seems to be based on an English word that they also don't know, so to them, it's like looking at some random letters, (like say, 'wtrenbg' or 'noxfor' to put together some random letters and give you a feel) and trying to figure out first what it means in English, and then to try to unravel what it is doing technically based on this meaning.
So here is how it goes....Heather is trying fervently to get some things banged out as she was out until noon in German class. So music was in ears to block out sound. I see my colleague wave, so earbuds come out. I missed anything prior they may have discussed, but I'm used to random English questions, as they are used to my random German questions.
IT 1: H, what is 'sqeeze'?
Heather: 'squeeze? s-q-u-ee-z-e?'
IT1: No. Quize.
Heather: huh? Quiz?
IT2: here, i ping it to you, maybe it's part of a word.-->quiesce
Heather: ah! perhaps from acquiesce? like to give in or or to agree, does that make sense for what the command does?
IT2: ah, yes....techical mumbo jumbo (that i zoned out, but apparently it made sense.)
IT1: (whose English is very good, mentally storing new word) hmm....'ack-quease'. 'ak-sqeeze'.
Heather: (thinking) what a half-baked database command.
However, occasionally they hit a command that they don't know. And further, it seems to be based on an English word that they also don't know, so to them, it's like looking at some random letters, (like say, 'wtrenbg' or 'noxfor' to put together some random letters and give you a feel) and trying to figure out first what it means in English, and then to try to unravel what it is doing technically based on this meaning.
So here is how it goes....Heather is trying fervently to get some things banged out as she was out until noon in German class. So music was in ears to block out sound. I see my colleague wave, so earbuds come out. I missed anything prior they may have discussed, but I'm used to random English questions, as they are used to my random German questions.
IT 1: H, what is 'sqeeze'?
Heather: 'squeeze? s-q-u-ee-z-e?'
IT1: No. Quize.
Heather: huh? Quiz?
IT2: here, i ping it to you, maybe it's part of a word.-->quiesce
Heather: ah! perhaps from acquiesce? like to give in or or to agree, does that make sense for what the command does?
IT2: ah, yes....techical mumbo jumbo (that i zoned out, but apparently it made sense.)
IT1: (whose English is very good, mentally storing new word) hmm....'ack-quease'. 'ak-sqeeze'.
Heather: (thinking) what a half-baked database command.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
all together now
I talk rarely about work because i spend 8+ hours there, so I see no need to further 'prolong' my work day by blogging about it. However, I know that some of my American readers like to know a little about life here, working in Germany.
There is currently a big project going on with heavy American involvement. My German colleague leading the project speaks decent business English, but has been worn out recently by having to work with the Americans, as he normally doesn't spend 80%+ of his workday with them, and he has never worked outside of Germany, so it's an effort for him to constantly be 'on'. Couple that with our Americans who have never been outside of America and can never bring in enough casual phrasing guaranteed to confuse a non-native speaker. "Let's levelset this." Um, ok.
So we're sitting three of us on a conference call here in Germany, with this worn-out German colleague in Belgium, and five Americans in the US. The purpose was to discuss a proposed agenda for a big meeting that is upcoming. The worn-out German is doing his best to lead the discussion, but the Americans are brainstorming. (*giggle*) I forget sometimes that as annoyed as the Germans can make me, the Americans can annoy/confound the Germans in an equivalent amount.
My boss and I on the call have it on mute for side discussions when he isn't jumping in as he's trying to blow over some of the storm and herd the cats but they just bounce off track in another direction and Mr. Worn Out in Belgium is tired. At the same time we're both on the edge of getting sick as sickness has been floating around our office for two weeks with various colleagues in and out, and it was after 5 PM, so overall we were so loopy.
The Americans, bless their little hearts, aren't 'German direct' and won't give an order per se, so they are couching suggestions softly, such as 'not sure if it would work, but maybe you could blah blah' and 'well, this is what we did, perhaps that is helpful?'. And on and on, with the Germans politely acknowledging because they won't go on the offensive with such a light approach, but getting more and more stymied by what to do with this deluge of ideas when they already put their ideas on this agenda, so why are there more ideas?
We finally get through the agenda and they have even more overall helpful suggestions such as 'adding interactive components to the various sessions'. (cackle) We have 80 people coming to this shindig, and the Germans are already stressed about getting all ducks in order and in the same direction and the Americans are suggesting 'break-out sessions' and 'interaction'.
We're on mute and I make the sarcastic comment to my boss, 'if you really want to impress them, why don't you tell them, in addition to the break-out sessions we also have some icebreakers planned'.
'Some ice-what?'
'Oh nevermind, I'll tell you afterwards.'
Sure enough five minutes later, one of the Americans offered the question--so...do you have any icebreakers planned? And this was the point in the call where we finally lost it. There was dead silence on the phone line as we were on mute with laughter that could not be contained. We managed to scrape together an answer. If only they knew.
There is currently a big project going on with heavy American involvement. My German colleague leading the project speaks decent business English, but has been worn out recently by having to work with the Americans, as he normally doesn't spend 80%+ of his workday with them, and he has never worked outside of Germany, so it's an effort for him to constantly be 'on'. Couple that with our Americans who have never been outside of America and can never bring in enough casual phrasing guaranteed to confuse a non-native speaker. "Let's levelset this." Um, ok.
So we're sitting three of us on a conference call here in Germany, with this worn-out German colleague in Belgium, and five Americans in the US. The purpose was to discuss a proposed agenda for a big meeting that is upcoming. The worn-out German is doing his best to lead the discussion, but the Americans are brainstorming. (*giggle*) I forget sometimes that as annoyed as the Germans can make me, the Americans can annoy/confound the Germans in an equivalent amount.
My boss and I on the call have it on mute for side discussions when he isn't jumping in as he's trying to blow over some of the storm and herd the cats but they just bounce off track in another direction and Mr. Worn Out in Belgium is tired. At the same time we're both on the edge of getting sick as sickness has been floating around our office for two weeks with various colleagues in and out, and it was after 5 PM, so overall we were so loopy.
The Americans, bless their little hearts, aren't 'German direct' and won't give an order per se, so they are couching suggestions softly, such as 'not sure if it would work, but maybe you could blah blah' and 'well, this is what we did, perhaps that is helpful?'. And on and on, with the Germans politely acknowledging because they won't go on the offensive with such a light approach, but getting more and more stymied by what to do with this deluge of ideas when they already put their ideas on this agenda, so why are there more ideas?
We finally get through the agenda and they have even more overall helpful suggestions such as 'adding interactive components to the various sessions'. (cackle) We have 80 people coming to this shindig, and the Germans are already stressed about getting all ducks in order and in the same direction and the Americans are suggesting 'break-out sessions' and 'interaction'.
We're on mute and I make the sarcastic comment to my boss, 'if you really want to impress them, why don't you tell them, in addition to the break-out sessions we also have some icebreakers planned'.
'Some ice-what?'
'Oh nevermind, I'll tell you afterwards.'
Sure enough five minutes later, one of the Americans offered the question--so...do you have any icebreakers planned? And this was the point in the call where we finally lost it. There was dead silence on the phone line as we were on mute with laughter that could not be contained. We managed to scrape together an answer. If only they knew.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
"Don't tell them to grow up and out of it"
I work at a company where a good chunk of the business (and profits) comes from the manufacturing line. As a result many manufacturing related practices appear on the business side, such as Six Sigma, are utilized. Another facet is that people operations are very compartmentalized and modular as opposed to other companies where people changes would require a softer touch.
In my first three years with this company we moved offices four times. One time, I knew we were moving again in four months, so I did not bother to unpack. I just packed carefully so that they things I would need for four months would be at the top of the box. Once my colleague went on a three week vacation knowing that we would be moving in three months. He came back to find us long gone. He had to call someone to come fetch him at reception as he didn't know where to find us.
This time we're at it again as they juggle space to maximize usage. However, it currently looks like the threat they've had for a long time, to get us out of this office complex is finally coming true. Officially we belong to another business unit than the one we sit with, so it makes sense that we would be the easiest to pick off. Therefore, they are not so particular about where they send us, it's not like someone else wants us to bring us somewhere, just that we're being asked to leave.
Interestingly, perhaps because I'm not German and I do not plan to spend my entire life here, or maybe because my local friends/family is non-existent, I don't really see this as a bad thing. There is a lot of office stress right now, and this info has only been released in a limited circle in the hopes that the move can be alleviated and unnecessary stress avoided.
The two options currently being kicked around (where we have other offices with extra space):
1. W - to the northeast of B by 30 min, a large city of around 350 k people and its own main train station, although the office is a 10 minute busride from there. The commute from D'dorf hbf with train and bus would be 35 min.
2. G - to the northwest and further away (one hour), a city that is actually smaller than the tiny town of B. it has no local train station and is 45 min by car from D'dorf.
Perhaps interestingly, if given a choice from the above, G is actually more interesting to me. Primarily because it is only 15 minutes from the Dutch border my trips over the border would become easier. Even further, I could actually live in the Netherlands and work in Germany instead of live and work here. It's also close to some of the off-peak airports, which means those that get the cheap flights, as from RyanAir. Hmm, perhaps THAT isn't an advantage. ;-)
In my first three years with this company we moved offices four times. One time, I knew we were moving again in four months, so I did not bother to unpack. I just packed carefully so that they things I would need for four months would be at the top of the box. Once my colleague went on a three week vacation knowing that we would be moving in three months. He came back to find us long gone. He had to call someone to come fetch him at reception as he didn't know where to find us.
This time we're at it again as they juggle space to maximize usage. However, it currently looks like the threat they've had for a long time, to get us out of this office complex is finally coming true. Officially we belong to another business unit than the one we sit with, so it makes sense that we would be the easiest to pick off. Therefore, they are not so particular about where they send us, it's not like someone else wants us to bring us somewhere, just that we're being asked to leave.
Interestingly, perhaps because I'm not German and I do not plan to spend my entire life here, or maybe because my local friends/family is non-existent, I don't really see this as a bad thing. There is a lot of office stress right now, and this info has only been released in a limited circle in the hopes that the move can be alleviated and unnecessary stress avoided.
The two options currently being kicked around (where we have other offices with extra space):
1. W - to the northeast of B by 30 min, a large city of around 350 k people and its own main train station, although the office is a 10 minute busride from there. The commute from D'dorf hbf with train and bus would be 35 min.
2. G - to the northwest and further away (one hour), a city that is actually smaller than the tiny town of B. it has no local train station and is 45 min by car from D'dorf.
Perhaps interestingly, if given a choice from the above, G is actually more interesting to me. Primarily because it is only 15 minutes from the Dutch border my trips over the border would become easier. Even further, I could actually live in the Netherlands and work in Germany instead of live and work here. It's also close to some of the off-peak airports, which means those that get the cheap flights, as from RyanAir. Hmm, perhaps THAT isn't an advantage. ;-)
Monday, February 05, 2007
say what, eh?
In the office
Heather: How do i save a voicemail?
-->(nevermind that's she's been using the same phone for three years--she's phone techonology inept.)
German: Moment
--> (efficiently whipping out the magic instructions from hiding place in the office. Nevermind that the same German has also been using said phones for three years.)
Heather waits 30 seconds.
Heather: I think I can just hang up, it will auto-save.
German2: Yes
German: Press star 7 6.
Heather: No, that's delete. That's the only one I know.
German: Star 7 6.
German2 now looks over the shoulder of German.
Heather: Nevermind, I think it timed me out anyway.
German: A-ha! Star 7 6 to un-do a delete.
Heather: Swell, the same thing to delete and un-delete. But what's a save?
German2: Just hang up. (Keep in mind German 2 has only been here six months, so he's running circles around our phone knowledge here.)
Heather: Why must this phone system be so complex. I'm glad you--a German--can't figure out the German phone.
German: This phone is not German; Nortel is American.
Heather: Nortel is not an American company.
German2: It's Swedish.
German and Heather (simultaneously): No, it's not.
German starts fervently typing. Heather knows very well that he's looking for Nortel online.
German: Ha!
Heather: OK, so what is it?
German: Toronto, Ontario. (pause) That's Canada?
Heather: Yes, that's Canada. So not America. (smirking because she's got him.)
German hating to be wrong.
German: Well, close enough, it might as well be America.
Heather: I'm not sure our neighbors to the North would exactly see it that way since they are their own country.
(Heather makes mental note. Maybe this is the equivalent of me mixing up the Germans and Dutch.)
Heather: How do i save a voicemail?
-->(nevermind that's she's been using the same phone for three years--she's phone techonology inept.)
German: Moment
--> (efficiently whipping out the magic instructions from hiding place in the office. Nevermind that the same German has also been using said phones for three years.)
Heather waits 30 seconds.
Heather: I think I can just hang up, it will auto-save.
German2: Yes
German: Press star 7 6.
Heather: No, that's delete. That's the only one I know.
German: Star 7 6.
German2 now looks over the shoulder of German.
Heather: Nevermind, I think it timed me out anyway.
German: A-ha! Star 7 6 to un-do a delete.
Heather: Swell, the same thing to delete and un-delete. But what's a save?
German2: Just hang up. (Keep in mind German 2 has only been here six months, so he's running circles around our phone knowledge here.)
Heather: Why must this phone system be so complex. I'm glad you--a German--can't figure out the German phone.
German: This phone is not German; Nortel is American.
Heather: Nortel is not an American company.
German2: It's Swedish.
German and Heather (simultaneously): No, it's not.
German starts fervently typing. Heather knows very well that he's looking for Nortel online.
German: Ha!
Heather: OK, so what is it?
German: Toronto, Ontario. (pause) That's Canada?
Heather: Yes, that's Canada. So not America. (smirking because she's got him.)
German hating to be wrong.
German: Well, close enough, it might as well be America.
Heather: I'm not sure our neighbors to the North would exactly see it that way since they are their own country.
(Heather makes mental note. Maybe this is the equivalent of me mixing up the Germans and Dutch.)
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