Two weeks at my new job

I've been at my new job for two weeks now and I'm still quite nervous every morning. I still need to get used to the procedures and regulations and find my own role. Given the dynamics of my function, there is not really and introduction program. But in a new situation like this I find it very nice to have some structure and be able to create a framework within all activities take place. I am still very insecure about my job and whether I am able to get the hang of it.

While surfing the internet regarding experiences with the same situation I often read that the working atmosphere and the company's culture are a major cause of the insecurity and doubts whether this is thé job for people, but in my case it is the content of the job. Experience was asked in the vacancy and the is something I just don't have yet since I only graduated in the end of August. However, they didn't put their faith in me for nothing (Or was I just really convincing and showing a strong personality during the job interview?).

Missing this experience makes it for me really difficult to have a framework concerning the work. I simply don't have any references yet to process all the information I get. This is my baseline measurement. However, I am expected to create my own vision concerning the work. Of course this often is the case with a very first job and do I need to develop this in due time. Fortunately the company's culture is very good, I am involved in meetings, lunches and I feel very welcome. But can I get the hang of this job? And most of all, will I enjoy this job for some unknown period in the future?

Ciao!

Ixis

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Everyday funniness

Love Paris

Eiffel Tower by night

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit Paris for a couple of days. I've been there before but not this close to Christmas which puts in in a completely new perspective. Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France. The city of Love it's also called, for me probably because of the beautiful France language, the history of the city and the appearance of the city.

I went there with some of my family members for 2 days. As we went by bus, the driver could enlighten us with lots of facts and figures about the city and drive us to must-see places. We walked up and down the Champs Elysees and the Christmas market. It was crowded but very cosy with food, drinks and Christmas songs on each corner.

Sacre-Coeur

Arc the Triomph

But there are a lot of other beautiful places within the city, which I visited the second day. For example the painters area of Montmartre, which is also home to the Basolique du Sacre-Coeur. Montrmarte always had a history with artists and has many cafés of great artists in the area. But also the Arc the Triomph on which every city is marked in which Napoleon has ever been to, and of course the famous Eiffel Tower. A visit to the Louvre shouldn't be missing, so a quick visit was paid. 

Paris is such a large city, you could easily spent several days there. If you want to visit the entire city you need more than the two days I spent there. If you get the chance, go there and let the city inspire you!

Ciao!

Ixis

My first 2 days

My first two days in my new job are behind me. It's a friendly environment with lots of new faces and information which all needs to sink in. It's just adjusting these first few days, weeks even maybe. I hope to master the work quite soon but I have to give myself some time to get familiar with everything. I'm just a perfectionist and want to know everything and everyone of the very first day. I'm quite insecure about the stuff am I supposed to do. But hopefully everything will work out just fine. I'm scared!!!

Ciao!

Ixis

goodbye Grandpa

It's been a while since my last blogpost, but my last few days were quite hectic. 2 days before my job interview I got the news that my grandfather was admitted to the hospital. That's never good news, but my grandfather has a history of heart disease for which he has been admitted earlier. But he is a strong man and always faught his way back and overcame his hospital stay. Up untill the last time he was admitted. 

Saturday November 12th my mom told me that grandpa had been admitted to the hospital. Nothing too serious yet, he was retaining fluids coming from his weaker heart. Sunday I went to see him, telling him about my job interview the next day. He even was giving me advice about what to do, and how to look the sweet man. Even in the hospital bed he was thinking about others and about his grand daughter looking good the next day. He was up and awake and I had good hopes for him to come home. 

As you know I got the job and the first thing I wanted to do was tell my grandfather. However, he was on the coronary care unit where no phones are allowed. My aunt went to see him monday evening and told him. The night from monday to tuesday back luck stroke. I don't really know what happened but it was not good news. Apparently CPR had to be performed. As the days progressed my grandfather got worse. I saw him again on wednesday but my grandfathers condition got worse. He was tired from the medication he got for the kidneys as the heart could not do the work properly anymore, but he was still quite bright asking about my new job. 

The next friday I visited him again but I really saw him getting worse. I still didn't want to leave my hope as he was way worse 2,5 years back and still faught his way back. But I saw him getting more tired, more absent and everything. That weekend everything deteriorated very fast as sunday my parents told me that the drugs were stopped to see how strong his own heart would be as the drugs couldn't make him better anymore. The whole family was by his side the next few days. Even grandma who didn't want to come to the hospital. Sunday he was really restless and probably in pain. It was so tuff to watch. You really feel powerless at such time. 

Monday I had a second interview at my new job to discuss the contract and I was invited to participate in a meeting for a project I'm going to do. After that I went to the hospital where my  grandfather was more peaceful as he got more morphine. We knew it was just waiting for him to choose his moment to pass away, which he did in the night from monday to tuesday. 

After that the days were filled with organizing the funeral which was quite hectic. I'm so glad that I didn't have to start with my new job yet and that I had the time to be part of everything concerning the funeral. It really was a family activity which gave me a lot of support. Due to these circumstances my aunt (who was supposed to go to Paris last weekend) asked me to go with my niece. Of course I would! So I went this weekend to lovely Paris! 

After these hectic 2 weeks I had a few days to recover before I start my new job tomorrow. Kind of exiting, but I know now once again that family and love are more important things to worry about that worrying whether I'm good enough for the job. They did choose me for a reason after all.

I love you grandfather, I'm grateful for the times we spent together and I will never forget you. For always in my heart!

Ciao!

Ixis

Hired!!!

I'm hired!! Yesterday I had my very first job interview for my very first job after student life, and I'm hired! I'm soo happy, since it's a job in an organization in which I really wanted to work. It's the company for which I performed my master thesis. I can already start in 2,5 weeks so it's just great!

Ciao!

Ixis