Anyway, today is Friday the 13th (Feb 13th, 2009). I usually don't think much about "Friday the 13ths" as nothing usually happens, but this Friday the 13th was strange, not the scary or supernatural kind of strange, but just not very normal. I am going to split my Friday the 13th experience into three parts (ie 3 different postings) just for the ease of reading.
I am the Liaison Officer (HBIC) of 3 kids who are currently on a student internship program. All our final year kids go for internships and we are responsible for them, should they fuck up... otherwise, we are just responsible for visiting their supervisors at the beginning and at the end of their internships and filling out a report. They are near the end of their internships and so, today, I went to visit the supervisors of one of them. Because my place of work is in the complete opposite direction of this HUGE country, I chose to go straight to the internship office, which means that the day already started unusually by us (Jessica and I) not having to wake up that early, getting a chance to go for breakfast and then my sending her to work as the internship office was just round the corner from her office.
These kids are all doing their internships at the same financial institution. I was (and still am) not familiar with this financial institution even though I am told that this is one of Europe's larger and more prestigious financial institutions. (Yes, I have become like an American and am not aware of things that go on outside of the North America.) So, here goes the beginning of part one of a strange day...
PROFESSIONALISM AT IT'S FINEST
I walk in this office about 20 mins early. I acknowledge the fact that I was early to the receptionist. She was about to find out if the person I was supposed to meet was available when she suddenly realized it didn't matter as there were no rooms available. So, she told me about that, went ahead and told the supervisor (let's call him Mike) that I was already there but there were no rooms available. Mike apologized and said that he couldn't make it before 10:30am due to a previous commitment. I was fine with waiting those 20mins... or so I thought.
A couple of minutes later, the receptionist's phone rang. I really wasn't paying attention to her phone call as I was reading up on something I had due as I waited. When she put down the phone (which I was not entirely aware of), she started talking to me. I heard her voice very clearly and looked up from what I was reading, half suspecting she was speaking to me, but not certain as the statement that came across didn't seem to be meant for me. She had said:"These bosses always think they know everything". Keep in mind that I am a visitor to this office and I have never previously met this receptionist person.
I looked up, saw her looking at me and went: " What?"
And she repeated her first statement: "These bosses always think they know everything."
I just smiled.
She went on:"My boss thinks she knows my job better than me."
I continued smiling while looking at her, not knowing how to reply.
On she went:"If I get a chance, I will tell her to let me do my job."
I was shocked. I kinda had to make sure I was in the office I was supposed to be visiting and I really didn't know this person.
She continued:"She just keeps talking and talking and telling me what to do, like she knows how to do this better than me. She should come do this herself then. I will get a chance to tell her soon."
Honestly, I have never been so speechless in my life. I really had no idea how to react to her comments. Smiling had ceased 'cos it seemed like it was neither appropriate nor inappropriate to smile. The situation seemed too severe (she wanted to tell her boss off) to smile, but really not even of any consequence to the rest of the breathing world since she was just a receptionist and most people would know how to do her job, maybe not as well as her (I am laughing at this last statement, laughing real hard), but at least on par.
I said:"I'm sorry." Yes, that was the only thing I could think off to say. No, I have not lost my ability to talk back, but on rare occasions (Yes, Chuck, you were instrumental in the last time I was speechless), I do get... lost.
She then went on to talk about her family and I was pleasantly interrupted by Mike showing up.
Please be reminded that I was a visitor at this prestigious European financial institution.
(to be continued with Part 2)
No comments:
Post a Comment