Well I have been working in an office since February. I have had not much trouble adjusting from a workshop. Tidier standard of day to day clothes, tidier hair/facial hair. Standard things that help you in every day life as you look more respectible full time.
However I have not adjusted well to working/time off. Now maybe it’s just over here in Europe/Ireland, but I dislike certain things.
I’ve always been a man for give and take. You scratch my back, I scratch yours. But here it seems they want a full body massage with no offer of one for me. Most recent case, I got a phone call Wednesday afternoon from my Doctor. He was concerned about recent test results and wanted me to go back Friday morning to get more blood tests. I informed my boss and it ended up with me having to work til 6.30pm Wednesday and Thursday (usual finishing time of 5pm) so that I could visit the Doctor on Friday morning.
I raised the point about sick days, but apparently I don’t look sick and am not actually sick until the Doctor proves I am… Guilty until proved innocent? I don’t know, but personally this is a bit off the mark.
Now I’m always at work early (have to get public transport) and leave just after 5 each day. Only usually take about 30-45mins for lunch instead of an hour. Haven’t had to work late but was willing to do it when needed. So would have thought having a couple hours off in the morning would not have bothered, as often towards end of quarter you have to work a few more hours, so it would work itself out.
Maybe it’s jsut after working in the workshops, or maybe more to do with the Kiwi attitude. That as long as you don’t abuse it, there is a mutual agreement that if you let me do this, I’ll help you when you need it.
So, those who do or have worked in an office, am I completely mistaken, and this is normal office life? Or are these people just the dicks I think they are?
Either way, bring back the workshop!
One good thing about being a Kiwi overseas is the conversations in bars. Generally speaking after the first few setences, the question “What part of Australia are you from” followed by “Oh shit sorry man, let me buy you a drink” Now I do not quetion the free drink, but I also do not get offended mistaking my accent for Australian when barely anyone is actually exposed to an NZ accent.
The Irish tend to be more apologetic as they hate being mistaken for English. You get the odd person who goes ‘Meh it’s all the same’ which is actually a lot more irritating. I usually responsed with something like ‘All the same huh? I dare you to go call a Pakistani an Indian and then tell him they’re all the same.’
Not really anything new or exciting in this blog. Just I have been coming back to this site and expecting a new exciting POTD or QOTD or bizarre blog on some random topic that has comments flying off on random tangents. But unless for some reason new content is not appearing on my page, that has not been happening.
So I’ve been in Ireland coming up 8months now. Played a lengthy season of hockey and got myself a job as a sales rep. I have almost secured an extended visa, don’t know when I’ll come home. Maybe 1 more year. Don’t like living in the housing over here. Apartment kind of places where you have a small back section but no grass, garage, driveway.. It’s horribly cramped. No sitting around chilling on the lawn with stereo out the window, bbq cranked up, beater and shorts on with BYC. Oh no, it’s lets play footy then go to the pub and drink there. NO. Damnit.
So now that I’ve realised I can finally slack off and post on stuff during work hours, I might! 8ball gets through the work forum ban/blog ban. Sweet!
Been a long while since I’ve posted, but I have been visiting. Quite often type a reply then flag it and read the next column. Having some fun getting used to the new layout.
Anyway, to explain the title of my post. About 2 weeks ago I got an email about a hockey club in Ireland looking for players. So I emailed them. After 2 or 3 emails they decided they’d like me to go over and play for them. They’re paying my flight over, finding me work and a place to stay. I leave on the 31st of August. Not sure for how long. It’s happened so quickly I haven’t really had much time to plan anything. Just trying to get everything sorted and sell my gear to raise funds!
Gone from setting myself up in a good paying job and saving money to packing up and disappearing overseas with future unknown, just the way I like it. Bring on Ireland!
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