Only a few days left before I join back work after a year of taking maternity leave. It reminds me of my first day at work in the Sydney office which was not without any misadventure.
It was my first day at work (after the initial onboarding the day before). I had somehow managed to find the entrance to the building of my office. High spirited and butterflies in the belly, I strode towards the entrance, oozing confidence of a 21st-century woman. But what I didn’t anticipate was a rotating door swirling round and round, a door that brought my jubilance to a screeching halt.
The thing is I had never gotten into a rotating door before. It may sound like nothing, but combine that with my nervousness of joining a new office, I feared I might actually get squished in there. Well, if you didn’t know before, now you know that I am a total village belle. Can’t take the small-town-girl out of me. 😛
While I was contemplating the right time to get into the door, a queue had already started forming behind me. It was then someone said from behind, “ok let’s go in at 1…2… 3“. And I was in. And so embarrassed that I wanted to dig a hole and jump into it. I walked up to the elevator, pressed the button and waited; all the while staring at the floor, fervently hoping that no one from my floor saw my antics.
As soon as I entered our office floor, I was flummoxed. I did not remember where my seat was. After making at least 4 rounds of the floor, I had to stop lest someone started suspecting me to be an intruder. I decided to wait for my colleague – who too had joined a day before. Meanwhile, I thought to be a little adventurous and make some coffee. I don’t even drink coffee, but I guess one indulges in strange activities when the brain stops working.
The only coffee I had ever prepared was with instant powder and milk. So when I saw a bunch of coffee pods and a huge contraption that looked like a coffee machine, I was again lost. After doing some serious reading of the instructions on the coffee pod, I realized it needs to be pushed into the machine.
A dark hot liquid came out of the dispenser – about 3 spoonfuls. “Is that it?”, I thought. And then occurred the big question – am I supposed to drink it as it is. I stared at this liquid some more time before deciding to drink it and not play with the machine anymore. After making myself comfortable in the breakout room, I took one sip of the hot liquid.
Wuaakkkk, I almost spat out the thing that could give a strong competition to Bitter Gourd juice. My food pipe burned. My stomach somersaulted at this weird thing I was subjecting it to early in the morning.
I decided not to brave and chucked the whole thing in the bin. Not knowing what else to do, I decided to make one more round around the office to find my seat. Just then I spotted the tall handsome guy whose seat was right opposite to mine. So, I followed him, at a non-stalker distance. Thankfully he didn’t go to the loo but went straight to his desk. And that’s how I found my desk on the second day of the office – by following a handsome hunk.
It’s been over 6 years and to this day I don’t know how to make coffee at the office. Also, don’t feel bad if you can’t figure out GPS directions. I got lost in my own office.
Related – Girls’ Day Out in Sydney
It was only weeks later I was fully able to appreciate the location of my workplace. The Pyrmont Bridge provides a fabulous view of the harbor. I walked here every day during my pregnancy – till I went on maternity leave – covering a total of 2000 steps on each trip. All these pictures were taken on my walk.
And you also get to witness some beautiful sunset views.
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You can also read more about Sydney on my Travel Blog – 10 Travel Photographs from Sydney
Linking to All Seasons
Hey.. that was a fun read 🙂
Loved the pictures on your blog..
Ha ha! That was funny but hey, I am like you. I keep getting lost on other floors and it takes me time to figure out things 😛 My sense of direction needs to be improved.
Good luck on getting back to work. So good to know that you are going back 🙂
Big offices can be intimidating! Trust you to turn it into a memorable post! 🙂
Have a good time re-settling back into your work. I hope they have a good child care facility. All the best.
Good to hear from a fellow being missing the gps chip! I totally hear you girl! Pretty inconsiderate of offices to not have directions and signboards placed at requisite places, isn’t it?! Hope you slip into the office routine smoothly, cheers!
Haha right right. Mine doesn’t even have signs for where the toilets are. Ohh the trouble I had finding it initially. 🙈
What a delightfully frank read. Is your new office in the saMe place ? It must feel strange to get back to your workplace after a year ! I found it strange to get back to my kitchen after 4 months ! Good luck and keep smiling .
Yeah it’s the same place. Looking forward to be in the city again. Thank you
Oh my gosh, Raj! You had me in splits thr whole time! I’m horrible at directions too; I’ve even taken wrong turns and missed exits with Google maps!
Hahaha glad to have found another sister with bad sense of direction 😅
People at my workplace are often embarrassed to lose their cars in the parking garage – and sometimes this happens even when they’ve worked there for years! Hope you get settled back in easily!
Oh yeah happened to us in a shopping mall. Now we take pictures of the place and parking level 😀
That’s a beautiful location of your work place. And that fear of revolving doors is real. I too used to get scared initially.
Chalo I found someone with same fear 😀
Quite a first day to remember. The pictures are beautiful, as always.
Thank you
hehe… ‘lovely’ first day back. as always, pristine pics even when it is no longer gardens and nature but instead the corporate world
Thank you 😀
Wow, definitely not a small town girl’s landscape and life at the office! Hope you get adjusted soon to your old work life, and all those new things become familiar to you
.I don’t know, but there are probably are some additives to that coffee machine, like cream? What you can do is ask someone who happens to be hanging around that machine, what coffee they like, and watch what they do:)
Sooo, what kind of work do you do?
Many thanks for sharing this riveting adventure with All Seasons, and the beautiful views of the city! Have an accomplished second work week:)
Yeah I guess I should. I just make instant coffee … Much easier. 😀 I am a software engineer, I code all day. Thanks for stopping by
What a first day to have! Hope you have an easy time settling in.
Thank you
Haha I can totally relate. Not to getting lost at work. But I have gotten lost at many different places. So yeah that too. Just not at work.
I can relate to the coffee machine overwhelm. It took me 3 years to figure out the coffee machine at work. And I don’t even like the work coffee.
Me too. I actually prepare instant coffee separately as it is much more simpler 😊
Quite a memorable first day at work Raj. *chuckles*
Bet it’s going to be great going back. Enjoy!
Haha yeah. Thank you 😊