Life is too short for regrets. That's why while I don't regret (I think) going to Hong Kong on holiday, I am sorry for many of the things that happened while I was there. Some were my fault, some were not my fault, and some were nobody's fault- just things that happen as we age and drift away. It was shitty timing, but the only time that was available. I'm still processing what happened, and will share personal realisations if/when I am able. Meanwhile it (well, I have, I suppose) has put me into a dark place, and I am working my way back to the light.

However, personal things aside, it was a lot of fun. I tried chicken feet- a lot like chicken wings, actually, but more little bones, and less reward. I also had crispy fried eel, and squid-ink pasta. My favourite food (aside from the mango drinks!) was this dumpling. Inside, it wasn't just regular dumpling material- there was actual soup *inside* the dumpling! Amazing. I was scared that I wouldn't be able to find my way around, but it was really easy. All the signs were in English as well as Chinese, the subway system was a breeze compared to other cities... Hong Kong was just like any other major city, except that I was taller than a lot of the people, and there were a couple new smells.

One of the things I realised while I was in Hong Kong is that the world is not such a big place after all. I mean, where else is there for me to go? (yeah, I know there are hundreds of places). Seriously, though- I have lived most of my life on the eastern coast of the United States, uprooted myself and moved to England this year, and now have traveled halfway around the world. I have 'dug my hole to China', and I have seen what is on the other side of the planet. I think one of the reasons I like traveling so much is not finding out how other people are different, but how we are all the same.

More musings and ramblings (and even a picture or two) to follow in the next few days. I just wanted to let anyone who reads this (Bueller, Bueller?) know that I haven't fallen off the face of the planet, drowned in a typhoon, or otherwise disappeared.

Rising importance?

I had to go to London (again) yesterday for work- this time it was a UK ticketing system users conference. Actually, it's a whole Customer Relationship Management package (tickets, fundraising, marketing...). But anyway. I knew I'd know some of the people there because I'd have met them in Tucson (and it was great fun to see them again). But there was one person there who I did not expect to recognise me. It was the CEO (an American from Dallas) of the company that makes the software! The five of us from work who went to London were standing around at the coffee area pre-presentation, when the Marketing Director (who also went to Tucson) said "look, there's the CEO of the company. I bet he'll remember you." I was like "no, he'll see me, but remember you." Turns out that not only did the CEO remember my face, he remembered my name as well. I had to introduce him around to the group and everything. I was impressed that he remembered me.

The other thing that's happened is that I've got an entire agenda item to myself at the monthly all-staff meeting (usually 25-30 people in attendance- mostly department heads and senior staff) at the end of this week. I had mentioned something to the Chief Executive last week to the effect of "I've noticed a lot of people not respecting others lately, would you mind putting it on the agenda for the meeting?" in the hopes that she would say a little something. Not only did she put it on the agenda, she asked me if *I* would mind speaking about it, and doing a little reminder of the Core Values of the organisation besides! Eek! No, I don't have a problem speaking in front of people, but I've been there literally six months, and I can see other people taking it as me being cheeky, or a suckup or something :-P No way I could refuse, though, you know?

Tough Week

I'm so glad my week is finally over. I think this has been my toughest week mentally since I arrived, probably because it's all work-related. Wednesday was the massive recruitment day that I was involved in, which meant I wasn't in my office at all. It was also the day where my Deputy Manager was interviewing for the position in another department. Just after lunch, in between the interviews (role-plays to judge how good with customers people were), the Marketing Director asks if she could have a quick word with me... yup, Deputy Manager got the job. We didn't have time to chat much then, because I had to go back to interviews. After the next one was over, My Boss pulls me aside, and we have a quick chat. And again in between the next set of interviews. This in-and-out-of-the-room talks with people thing in between interviews happened four or five times. The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn't talk to anyone not involved about it, so I had to keep secret the reason I was popping in and out so often. That was difficult, because one of the people on my interview panel asked if I was okay. and then after the day was over, I had to go to a party. I had promised ages ago that I was going to go to the End-of-Dark Period party, so I went, even though I didn't feel like it. I got dressed for it and everything... and wound up having a decent time, though there were pictures that were taken, and circulated, and seen by the Chief Exec. But nobody can say that I have ever let anything get in the way of my work... (oh, did I mention that I was flirting with a guy who works in Customer Services?)


Thursday in London was really nice. We (My Boss, all of the Customer Services Managers- including the Guy- and myself) visited two facilities- the Barbican (an interesting facility. Click here for more information: http://www.barbican.org.uk/about-barbican/history) . We also went to the Southbank Centre (http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/) and toured the Royal Festival Hall, as well as all of the lobby spaces, dressing rooms, backstage areas... It was really amazing for me to be able to see the home of the London Philharmonic; I think I was thinking of them as a foreign group, you know? But they weren't because I was in their home! (If that makes any sense. It does to me, but...). It was also good for me to hang out with my fellow coworkers and share a glass of wine (or three!) over dinner, and then go back to Southbank and see a show (Carmen Jones). And fun too, to spend time with the Guy, because he, another girl and I were definitely the young people in the group and we just generally got along really well. Oh, and did I mention I think I had my six-month review (the formal one) on the Tube as we were going from one place to another? Really hilarious. This is what it was:

Boss: you're doing a fantastic job. Are you happy here?
Me: Yes
Boss: Any problems?
Me: are you serious?
Boss: Do you want any training?
Me: I think we have more pressing concerns to deal with first.
Boss: (lets out a hearty laugh)


Friday, however, was the worst day ever. I woke up with a nasty head because I'd had three glasses of wine at dinner in London. I wasn't ever drunk, but wine hurts me. And because I was now back in the office, I had two days of crap to catch up on in addition to the whole thing with the Deputy Manager (did I mention that I'm still without the position vacated by Supervisor Who Turned Psycho? Things are happening there, but I won't explain until I have more developments). I sat down to have a chat with the Marketing Director and HR about transition and timeline, and about trying to keep it (that the Deputy got the job) secret for a while and things. Then I reported back to my Boss on what was discussed, and we wound up getting in a pretty heated conversation, in the middle of the foyer, with raised voices and lots of arm waving. He didn't agree with what I'd talked about to Marketing and HR, and I didn't agree with what he wanted about the situation. I was caught in the middle. At that point, I was so tired about being pulled out for conversations every five minutes and people telling me one thing but telling my Boss another. I finally turned around and started to walk away from my Boss in the middle of a conversation because I was about to cry, that's how frustrated I was. I didn't know about conversations he'd had with others, so it was difficult for me to push what he wanted me to, etc. But I think things are okay, because I saw him briefly today, and he gave me a kiss and asked if I was okay, and that he had his mobile on him if I needed anything.

I know I can make it through this transition period, because I've done it zillions of times before in my previous work life. And now I've got the support of people behind me, and it's not a sink or swim situation, and I know it will be resolved. My Boss is just horribly afraid that I will fall apart, because that's what happened to the old Box Office Manager when the shit hit the fan. I wonder what a whole year without drama would be like? Would I be able to deal with it, or would I manufacture drama/make little things bigger than they appear?