Let's take a Coffee!

My first day of work is DONE! I don’t know if I have ever been so intimidated by a day before. While taking my 20 minute walk to the metro this morning (and passing by the Coloseo In all of its glory) I was just thinking to myself how I just wanted the day to be over and how I knew I had no idea what was about to happen.


Well here is what happened:

When I arrived at the beautiful building of IFAD I was quickly whisked away by human resources to sign forms and then taken to my floor. While walking around with the human resources officer I quickly realized that my middle school dream had come true…to work in a big fancy building where a whole bunch of important work goes down (don’t care so much about it now, but it made me laugh…and I mean, it does make me feel important). After going up to my floor the HR officer passed me off to an English worker named Alex. He works in the same “open space” as me. He then introduced me to a couple of people, including Ruth (my boss and a lot of other people’s boss as well) and then passed me off to another lady. The next lady took me to my desk. Then Ruth walked by and said “let’s take a coffee.” Those words sounded lovely to my ears…even though I wasn’t even sure what that meant and why we were able to do such a thing when we just arrived at work. Back downstairs we went and off to my first encounter with THE bar.

It is an Italian way of life and the fact I have the chance to work at such a place for part of my life is a huge excitement. It is a coffee bar right in our building; a fully fledged fancy coffee bar. Who knows if I will ever be able to take it on by myself, and this is why: In the mad rush of everyone ordering Ruth ordered a short coffee regular for me (saying this all quickly in Italian with questions and answers going back and forth), then we went down to the bar and told them what we ordered and all this crazy Italian talk went down so fast with all these other orders going on at the same time, then somehow I ended up with this tablespoon sized coffee cup with coffee. Smallest coffee I had ever seen. The end.

We then sat down and talked. She talked about Africa and all the projects and project evaluations that are about to take place, all the audits and financial reports and soooo much information. She has a serious job. Somewhere along the lines I heard about Gianluca, my predecessor, the one they all love. Of course it is easier to love a young Italian with a lovely smile. I am going to have to work so hard to work as hard as him and then to make them love me like they love him. He now works full time for IFAD and he comes in on the adventure soon enough.

After coffee and learning so much about Africa I felt like we were in Africa, we went back up to our floor. There I met the amazingly sweet Rahel. Rahel and I had been in contact about the internship the whole past semester; thus, meeting her was like meeting a long lost aunt or something. We had been in contact, but just hadn’t met yet, and turns out…she is super sweet.

She then proceeded to take me around to everyone’s office in the eastern and southern Africa division. Yes, I still felt like I was in Africa and yes I kept thinking about all the Theta Alpha Africa lovers out there. After the 20 meetings and remembering no one’s name we returned to my desk in the open area and came in contact with Gianluca. Rahel then said, “Let’s take a coffee.” WHAT?! I was thinking. Another?! Yes it is true that they hadn’t had one yet, but still. People have time for this! (They then said I should cherish this time because soon I will be flooded with work. )

We then when on my second adventure to the bar! This time was even crazier with more people ordering and more odd things being ordered. Rahel said there are so many different kinds of coffee orders she gets confused. Well…what about me?! I don’t know anything and there isn’t even a menu. (This time around Gianluca bought me some juice since I said no to another coffee.)

After another coffee break and another learning by listening session it was off to the desk where I spent the rest of my day reading project management reports on the whole Southern and Eastern Africa division. Wow do I know more about Africa now, and it is only the tip of the iceberg.

For lunch Gianluca was kind enough to invite me out with some of his friends (2 other young lady workers, both from different countries). We had a lovely Italian lunch out of the building. It was interesting to have a meal while speaking in English while knowing everyone at the table was from a different country. Too bad I only speak English fluently.

After lunch it was time for more reading and getting confused with the 200 acronyms they use. (I was warned about the crazy acronyms). Seeing so many acronyms makes for slow reading. Once 5 o’clock came around it was time to pack up and head home.

I skyped with mom, got confused with my weird Italian internet, got upset with my internet (hope my internet still works all day tomorrow and doesn’t end on me), made dinner, talked with Rossella (in Italian and English) about my internet, we both were confused with my internet, talked about my day with Rossella in Italian (I said no English this time) and then typed this blog into word to post online.

It’s late and most definitely time for bed now. I just knew posting this would cap off the day and sort of relieve me from this pressure cooker of information. So much newness for one day is quite unbelievable. Tomorrow is sure to be exciting. (Madagascar meeting I get to sit in and the rain that is sure to come.)