Day 9 was one of the most exciting days
in my career. A dream of mine came true. After years and years of
sitting in school and different offices I finally got where I wanted
to be. In a cubicle in a big city working for a corporation. It might
sound weird or boring to you, but this was my dream since I was super
young. Like 12.
It all started in elementary school in
Prague. I was in 8th or 9th grade. Our teachers
started to discuss our future and we were supposed to choose the high
school we would like to go to. For my American friends – high
schools in the Czech Republic are very specific. You either go to a
gymnasium, business academy or special qualifications schools – so
hair stylist, electrician, carpenter etc. When the teacher asked me
what I wanted to do, I said I want to be a manager. I saw myself in
an office wearing a suit. I could see skyscrapers from the office
view and it was supposed to be in the U.S. Preferably Chicago. My
teacher just smiled and recommended me to go to a Business Academy,
which I did. Best days of my life.
In order to fulfill my dream, I decided
to go to an American college in Prague against my father's will. My
Dad always wanted me to go to a Czech university. They were for free
and the education has high standards. But sometimes they are not good
enough for jobs in the U.S., so my BA. from a Czech school would be
in most cases absolutely useless here. I went to Anglo-american, then
moved to Pennsylvania, then back to Prague College … well, you know
the story. When I came back from Pennsylvania, I felt like a failure.
I intended to stay there, but I couldn't. I was disappointed. I told
myself I'll come back „home“, but this little voice in the back
of my head just shook it's head in disapproval.
I finished my BA. in Prague, got a job
in a corporation and started the corporate life. But it wasn't
enough. Plus, my manager was a royal a-hole. I had to leave. After
that, I was 10 months unemployed. I thought my life is over and I'll
never be where and what I wanted to be. I started up my own business,
quite successful in the beginning, but declining after Christmas. I
think that it was also my laziness. I just wasn't up for it enough. I
needed a stable pay and the fact that my Daddy paid for my rent just
demotivated me. So I started to go for interviews. For 3 – 4
months, everyone said „no“ to me. I didn't understand. I was
always wanted. But the crisis hit CZE hard and English just wasn't
enough. Now-a-days, they want Dutch, German, Danish, Swedish,
Romanian etc etc... I was STUCK. Until one day, I was invited to an
interview and long story short I got the job.
I worked my butt off. I loved the job.
It was stressful, non-stereotypical, adventurous and everyday there
was something else going on. The pay? Meh.. well, you gotta do what
you gotta do. So I took on other jobs – I wrote articles, I started
to get business into my company, I translated and taught English. I
slept in average for 4 hours. But I was happy.
One day I got a business offer from a
friend regarding my business. I was supposed to do it in Florida.
Sun, beaches, cocktails and business. Perfect. We started planning.
Into detail. Tons of planning, apartment arranging, car arranging,
this and that arranging. When everything was a settled and clear, I
got my air ticket, informed my supervisor I am out and about in
January and told my landlord and signed off the lease. I was excited
and ready to go back home and spend some time in the sun. Only
concern was the hurricanes. :D
5 days after my air ticket purchase my
friend of 5 years wrote me that the deal is off. And blocked me.
Everything shattered. All of it. The beaches, the work and my trust
in people. I was done. And that's how I got my job in New York. My
supervisor put it on the table. She basically saved me. Along with
another colleague of mine. I went through the interview process and
now I'm here.
Ahhh first days of work. The first day
is always the most stressful. Getting there on time, wearing the
right outfit and hoping you'll fit in. Hoping that your colleagues
will like you. You know how it goes when someone new comes in. I was
always off-standish to newbies. But my colleagues basically already
knew me, just didn't know my face. So it wasn't that „awkward“. I
arrived to the office, got introduced, got my own desk – cubicle.
My dream did come true. I have the typical American cubicle in a
beautiful office with a downtown view. I finally made it.
The best part is the walk to work. I
get off at 34th (of course) and walk two blocks up. On my
way I meet Macy's and the Empire State Building stretches in the
morning sun. I am truly downtown. It can't get more New-Yorkey than
this. The con is the amount of people. There are sooo many people
that it's not even funny. I feel like a car on a highway, switching
lanes aggresively. People don't say anything, but they give you a
look. A nasty one because I walk in their way. But there's no other
way to do it!
I sat in my cubicle, did my work. It's
very administrative and you have to think. Basically inputting
information in the system and solving clients' problems via email.
The usual office rat stuff. For lunch I had Velveeta mac and cheese
and the Boloni salad. Me and my new supervisor talked for a bit, but
I was shy. And then back to work. Nonstop. Even though the
environment isn't so stressful like in my previous job, you work
nonstop. You sit at your desk in the morning and you stop at lunch
and then again till 5 P.M. Time flies here. It warps. I am pleased.
The office is very diverse when it
comes to people. Most are Spanish speaking. But we have a Danish girl
and our boss is Dutch. Again, all of them have stories. I don't know
them, they didn't tell me anything but you can see it. All of my
colleagues are girls, except for our boss. And most of them have
children. They look very young, my age. They're very mature and
quiet. For now.
At the end of the day, I was quite
exhausted. I was still sick, which was humiliating, because when my
supervisor explained something to me, all I would do all the time was
blow my nose. Or cough. Boogers everywhere. Fuj. :D To be honest, I
got home and just fell into bed. But I was happy. Finally back to
work after almost 4 weeks of vacation. It was getting into my head. I
was going nuts. But now I'll be fine again. All I need is a routine.
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