A full work week

Speaking of my new job, since starting on Monday, February 8th, I have not yet worked a full 37.5 hour work week.  The first week we had off on Wednesday due to snow, the Monday of the second week was President's Day and now the office closed early yesterday due to inclement weather and they are closed again today due to snow.

So I have to give up some freedoms like making my own schedule and being my own boss, but less than three weeks into it, I don't miss the pressure that comes with owning your own business.  After working for myself for the last 5 years, it's nice to be paid even when you don't work.

The one thing that I never really got used to was being alone in the "office". I would sometimes have to turn on the TV for company when I didn't have students, or when I was at home doing administrative work.  I do miss my former "colleagues", but it's nice to have human colleagues again, and it's even nice to hear the white noise of people talking on the other side of the cubicle.

My hours are pretty sweet.  I get out of work at 4:30pm and then have the rest of the day to myself- well, I have the rest of the day to go to class at WPU Monday - Wednesday nights and teach Thursday and Friday nights.

One of the hardest things about this job has been the French part.  I work on the Air France account and we speak French within our team, the AF Account Management Team, and with the French Team.  I understand almost everything that is said, but I am having a very hard time expressing myself.  Practice makes perfect and I know that with time, patience and practice, my speaking will improve :)

Who knows, maybe next week I will be able to work a full 5-day 37.5-hour work week.

TTFN

Picture: Cleopatra driving down the parkway on her daily commute to work.  

   

A New Job - a pre-blog blog

After most of my students finished their contracted lessons and went back to their home countries, I was pretty much out of work and out of money.  It was tough in November and December of 2009, so in January 2010 I decided I was going to get a new career.  Here is the intention that I put out to the Universe-  typed as written:

I am going to find  get a job a career that I love and that pays well, by March 1st 2010 so that we can pay off all of our bills and debt by the end of 2010 and save money for when  to help facilitate our move to, our endeavors in and our life in France.  


I am happy to say that on Monday, February 8th, 2010, I got a career that fills the intention above.  I am an Account Representative at O'Sullivan Communications in West Caldwell, NJ for their Air France account and my team speaks French.       
So, I am surrounded by French about 75% of the day! 

The first week was awesome.  My spoken French was not so bad, but the second week was much harder. I realize that I am missing work specific vocabulary as well as the ability to express myself in detail or quickly.  These are things that I am going to work on over the next few weeks.  I am also going to report back with more intentions for the Universe.      

In the mean time, stay cool and I'll be here at least once a week starting tomorrow, Monday, February 22, 2010 talking about different stuff.

Picture caption: Excuse me, I want to speak French with you! 


TTFN