The ground level - in and out

[Elyris]

Morning

Guess what? The grandparents are coming over to continue the futile fumbling with the curtain rod (because god forbi if we don't see each other at least twice every week) .... jeez, I need a break.

[Elyris]

Helllooooooooo ........


Well - that' looks deserted.

[Elyris]

Well - after I didn't say Merry Christmas I'll say

Happy New Year

[Elyris]

Morning

[Elyris]

Morning

[flighter]

Good morning everyone!
And... happy new 2018!

[Kiyevanie]

Good afternoon

A Happy New Year to everyone!

[Elyris]

Good Afternoon

I know it's just the secondday of work this year, but oh boy could I just stay home already again ... it's painfully slow. Not that I like pressure, work-overload and hectic, but to sit around having nothing to do and literally not being able to do anything but waiting for the 8,45 hours to go over .... it's not a pleasant feeling.

Something to start the afternoon:

[Elyris]

Morning

[Kiyevanie]

Morning
I like that song!

Work start: I'm trying to slowly get back into a work-related schedule again and fail totally. The night before I just couldn't fall asleep in time, this night I slept but was deep in the claws of a nightmare when the alarm went off... meh. Actually I'm kinda glad that it's still quiet over here - can work from home (no need to head to the office if there ain't anybody else) and that means I at least get caught up with my laundry.

[flighter]

Work from home is very convenient but requires a high level of discipline. If I don't have it, then all the temptations take over

As for the work discipline, like I said once or twice already, I am not worried for how things work in Germany. My former boss ordered a machine and paid for it in August. The delivery/pickup from the factory was scheduled for, I think, 8th of December that year, with the timeframe for pickup of only 2 hours. When our truck came to Ammerbuch (near Stuttgart), machine was packed, documents ready. After 5 minutes of work, the truck was on the move again. It's not a surprise that the tiny company from rural Germany grew that big that today they produce and deliver, on average, between 2 and 4 machines every single day, each worth between 25 to over 80,000 EUR.

Once, on Monday morning, a critically important machine part failed. The DHL could deliver it to us, but not in less than 4 to 5 days. That same evening I was on the plane to Frankfurt. Tuesday, 6AM, on the ICE to Stuttgart. Before noon, I picked the part, returned to Frankfurt. Next morning, I was on the plane back to Nigeria. On that Wednesday evening, machine was once again up and running. But, to achieve that, some careful planning on my end was required, and, even more important, the airlines, train companies and my supplier had to do what they promised, and exactly ON TIME.

A year later, I requested a proposal from company located near Rome, Italy. Proposal not for a pack pf printer paper, but for a machine worth some EUR 25k. Till today the proposal didn't arrive. Only after 2 phone calls we discovered that they do not have that particular mode in stock (but they have a similar one). So why wasting my and their time, it would be a good business practice to communicate with the client no matter what.

Oh, and a funny anecdote:

Year later, me and my coworker were flying through Munich airport. Early morning, around 6AM... Bars at the airport just opening, my friend wanted coffee. The only bar that was open at tha time, we saw a bar tender so he asked for coffee, without specifying which kind of coffee he wants. Man was very grumpy, and kinda angrily asked WHICH KIND OF COFFEE. So I decided to remain calm and since my English was better than friend's, I asked what the issue is, politely. Then the man explained which types of coffee they have. He was still upset over I have no idea what. Maybe for having to wake up at 4 to be at work at 5:30 or something, but that is not our fault, isn't it? Eh, the point is, that was my ONLY experience (in Germany) with that kind of attitude toward customer. But, judging by the name plate tht man had, he was from Greece, not local. Everyone else, from the bartenders, to sales girls, to police etc... was quite nice. When we first ask if they speak English (since we don't speak German), they would either switch to English or first answer "a little bit" (and these would usually speak the best English, hahaha).

Next time I will blab about my experience in France

[Elyris]

Afternoon

I get up at 4am and never get nearly enouhg sleep (actually the night from Monday ot Tuesday this body refused to fall asleep at all ... great ).

Eh ... I guess, it's also because you're looking 'normal' enough. Although it could've been worse, I often found myself if not directly offensive at least grumpy handled or side-eyed (which is the most often next to directly being stared at). I can tell you that the short trip to England many years ago (from school, so meh), to the Netherands and to Toronto left me feeling a bit awkward, because no one stared or behaved weird .... and I thought this is how it would feel to be white (at least most of the time).

[Elyris]

Morning

TGIF

[Kiyevanie]

Morning

Well, service in Germany can indeed be both: Very friendly and open, but the grumpy ones are there as well - it's a thing of luck. But yeah, especially those middle-sized engineering companies take a lot of pride in their punctuality and reliability.
For the trains and planes: Consider yourself lucky - I've already spent a lot of times on stations waiting for a train that didn't come or just with massive delay.

For you Elyris, I see the problem. It might be less in one of the bigger, more international cities, like Berlin or Frankfurt where the crowd on the street just has more "colour", for all kind of reasons, but in your region you indeed stick out. And looking/being different always sucks - not so much for yourself, but cause reactions from other people.

[flighter]

What Kiy just said... smaller communities, less people, more crap... But then, it all depends. In Africa, I have never experienced open racism. Maybe some dislike for Europeans (like me) but that is all...

[Elyris]

Afternoon.

Weekend weekend weekend .....

Well - that is that. But yeah - germans can be reliable like that, but it can also lead to being overly stiff and not considering themselves or other people as living beings with the needs of those. In other words: You basically can overdo anything.

[Elyris]

Afternoon (half of the weekend already over -__- )

[Kiyevanie]

Afternoon

[Kiyevanie]

Morning

[Elyris]

Morning


Why is it Sunday already ? :'(

[Elyris]

Morning

[flighter]

Good morning!

[Kiyevanie]

Morning

Ugh. Monday.

[Elyris]

Afternoon

Is it possible to have nothing 'positive' left inside you?

[flighter]

Afternoon

Is it possible to have nothing 'positive' left inside you?

No, it is not possible.