After 5.5 years in one and the same My First Workplace, how do you start anew? I've figured getting to and from the office, but then... My roommate understands what is most crucial - he cleans a cup and escorts me to the coffee machine. Freshly ground espresso - I can safely stay in Glasgow.
The official 'induction' on the second day is not much more extensive than the informal one on on the first day: I appear to already have learnt all that's in the list. Well, except for where to actually find the people involved - three Victorian houses merged together in a Psychology department equal one big maze. (Experts say it takes about a month to get oriented.) The inductress is nevertheless almost off within a minute - but then decides to introduce me to 'other people in the project'. She stops at one. Then luckily she remembers a crucial bit: the welcome present. The Charm Alarm! The Charm Alarm! is a big pink egg resembling a hand grenade. If you pull out the plug it presumably goes WEEOWEEOWEEOWEEOWEEOWEEO at 110db. Just in case. She's quick to explain that she grew up in Glasgow and never felt the need for a Charm Alarm!
Hm.
Hm.
The lack of work-related introduction in the first two days prompts me to finish and send off the Book. (From the big book of wise Italian sayings: 'non tutto il male vien per nuocere' - not all bad things hurt. Other wise Italian sayings that my friends have unwillingly had to learn: 'this chops the bull's head off'', 'I'll stay with the monks and plough the garden', and many many others). My brain changes its tune to: I'm finished, I'm finished, I'm finished! It's just as bad at sinking in.
The Charm Alarm!
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Cecilia