La Tchatchkerie

So the boss expressed some concerns about my comprehension, but I think he only said it because he had to say something for the trial period review. If it were a real issue he would have either extended my trial period another month or just fired me then and there. Now, as a full-time employee, if the company does drop me, they'll have a few months salary to pay me. I am hitting quota almost everyday with some very minor issues. These are not minor to the boss who wants me to be self-sufficient. My impression was that I would have six months to get their system down and gain autonomy. Plus the database is crap and the IT team is creating a new one that should be functional this Summer, or so they say. After one month I am hitting and surpassing the daily quota. Yes, misspelling company names is bad, and, yes, the article itself misspelled the name and I should have caught that, BUT it was my 30th article of the day. I am of the opinion, as is the rest of the production gang, that a full time proof-reader should be hired to catch mistakes like spelling Marriott with one t. It would be a difficult job because the volume would be intense, but production would probably increase and we'd be able to slay the backlog. A part of me almost wants to volunteer.

There are moments when I have to tell myself that I am not in this company in the capacity of manager. I just need to come in, do as much as I can and call it good.

The limits of job satisfaction are beginning to manifest themselves. It's not just money. There will be raises in the future. It's not the work itself, which is really interesting most days (except for quarter and annual reports). It's the knowledge that I was brought on as an analyst to help this company become more efficient and there are management and structural issues and attitudes that need to change or absolutely nothing else will.

Thank goodness for the other employees there who are wonderful and made me feel welcome from the start. Still in the game, but keeping options open. It's a good enough gig for now. 

I really pushed my quota this week. I guess they prefer my translations to my abstracts because that's the bulk of what I did this week. I did 27 today. The last two days I did 29 pieces in all. After two weeks I have to say there is a phrase that I am already tired of and that is 'turnover on year.' But, other than that, all is well. I still heart all my colleagues, though more and more I have the impression that the project manager is just totally unpleasant until after lunch and that the poor managing director has too many plates to spin. I go in and do my very best and that's that.

I did find an awesome crêperie a block away from work and have eaten there the last three days.

Day 1 - ham/gruyere/mushroom/eggs galette salée (like a crêpe only made of buckwheat and not sweet)
Day 2 - tomato/goat cheese galette salée
Day 3 - an omelette sandwich with chorizo and gruyere in a WHOLE BAGUETTE - IT WAS AMAAAAAAAAAZING, but I'll be full all weekend

I'll have to stop doing that, but it's really good and I have tickets restaurants! I have to use them! And the people running the place are so nice! I like giving them money!

I have almost finished Rod Kedward's La Vie en Bleu and I can say that this book has really taught me a lot about why France is in the shit storm it is today. I definitely know a lot more about its recent history at least. Maybe this would be the moment to go through the various measures proposed this week by the French government. The word décalé does not even begin to cover it. I expect this level of complete disregard of the average citizen's daily reality from, say, the US government because the US is more populous and, therefore, a harder place in which to receive direct feedback. You'd think. France is roughly the size of Texas and has roughly 60 million people in it. There is no reason why Sarkozy should be so completely out of touch with what the French people (and me, d'ailleurs) need or what many in this country think of him and his policies. It's all over TV and the Socialist Party surely brings up these issues daily. Wait, there is ONE reason, and that would be that he doesn't care. Here, he gets direct feedback, like the man at the Agricultural Fair in Paris who told him, "Don't touch me, you'll get me dirty!" to which the President of France replied, "Fuck off, asshole!" Really. For reals. La classe...A politician, a head of State, who says *that* with a camera in his face obviously does not give two shits about the daily reality of the average citizen. So start privatizing health care, get rid of transportation help to large families who can barely afford to eat, get rid of a bunch of teachers (France doesn't have a future anyway, right, Sarko?), start listing witnesses' sexuality and union affiliations when they talk to the police (which the police union president, who I quite like actually, is against himself), try children under 12 as adults...why not? It is my belief that, of this dump o' policies, they will retract the biggest scariest ones (like getting rid of hospitals or trying 10 year-olds as adults) to keep the first concrete steps toward privatizing health care or a database on who you sleep with or if you're union. The government is betting that the French people will be so relieved that hospitals stay open, they'll forget that they have to have private insurance to get glasses until they need new ones. It has begun. I think I preferred Sarkozy when he was fucking off on a yacht or barbecuing at Kennebunkport. I preferred him when he thought his job was just to marry former top model, Skeletor. Now, he's actually doing stuff and France is gonna start feeling it. I guess I should plan on some telecommuting this summer when the strikes start again.

Look what my husband got me for our sixth month wedding anniversary:

Kumquats

He fits right in with everyone else:

Revised garden

Well, I still like the work. And my colleagues are really great, too. I am only frustrated that my French business lexicon is really lacking. This keeps me from being as productive as I'd like to be, but I'm working faster than I was last Thursday! Getting some vocab books to get my ass in gear. Next week, I plan on staying late most of next week so that I can take next Friday off. They're flexible like that.

One of the things that I love about getting up early to go to work (the work day starts at 8:30 am) is just Paris as it's coming to life. The people on the metro with me smell like their various colognes and shampoos and such. Walking from the station to my job, I smell the detergent that shop owners use to clean the sidewalks right in front of their stores. I really had no idea how much I missed that smell, how comforting it is and how many pleasant memories it recalls. That smell mixed with the fresh baked good scent is morning in Paris to me. Wish I could bottle it.

A brass band (+accordion) came stomping down the street after lunch. They had a backing track machine playing Romanian gypsy rhythms and tarantellas which the trumpet player wheeled along behind him. When I said, "Paging Federico Fellini..." Alex explained that this was a weekly occurrence. We went to the window to see the euphonium player jiggle a plastic cup under the nose of a passing woman. At least they played well and in tune. If you're a brass player, that's all a person can ask for, isn't it? It's not like they could really pipe down. Suddenly the afternoon seemed so festive.

Add to that one of the telecommuters who works for the company is a singer/songwriter, too! We chatted and he knows lots of open mics for me to try as well as possible gigging spots. Is this destiny? Sure, why not?

The founder of Canard PC and the editor-in-chief approved Nico's article so now he has a weekly column with the magazine. It should be in the next issue everywhere in France next Wednesday.

So far, so good.

My week got even better yesterday because I got a ticket to see the B-52s on July 18th!!!

Hooray for paychecks!

And it didn't disappoint. Everyone is so nice there. My mentor, Alex, used to live in my hometown of Austin, Texas, too! How crazy is that? The boss, Eric, is wonderful. I did some training this morning on their intranet and then was working all afternoon. Back again early tomorrow to do dailies and translations. I like these guys so much, I will not mind staying late a few days a week to help with the backlog of translation stuff -- not a problem. That's how nice it is there. If I didn't know better, I'd think I accidentally joined a cult!

The boss told me again this morning how happy he was that everyone agreed on my hire. He said that he really pulled for me in the deliberations, which I believe. It was a really nice day today. What was the nicest thing of all was leaving the house at 8 am when I'd normally be waking up. Sounds mental, I know, but feeling the fresh Spring morning air and seeing all the other working folk heading out, I realized, "Hey, I'm one of you now! I am in your midst! I am not just walking my dog!" Great feeling. I'm back!

No, the best feeling today was after I got a text message from Nico saying that the founder and owner of his favorite video game magazine wants him to write a column. That was really the best feeling. Nico has been writing a blog where he reviews cheap PC games. He's funny and he's a great writer. Apparently, I'm not the only person who thinks so. It's for real, this guy wants Nico's number and is going to call him tomorrow. What usually happens when this guy likes your work is that you end up there full-time. This would mean Nico would be out of the job he hates. Obviously nothing is sure, but we can dream!

Can our future apartment in Paris be far behind? Yes, it probably is, but still...we can dream...

I've had crisps/chips and beer now and am looking forward to bed. And then another day tomorrow!

YAY!

I accepted the analyst/editor/translator position! Paperwork will be next week. I am relieved and also very happy to have found something in a healthy work environment with a good commute and somewhat flexible hours. I hope to make a little money on the side gigging to make up for the pay. At this point, anything is better than the nothing I am currently contributing to our checking and savings account. The boss guy was really happy and said as much on the phone. I am really happy to be joining a team where everyone is glad to be at work and loves what they do.

Now if I could just get this head/neck-ache to go away...

Learn some useful French!