Something of a Rarity

Posted on 2007/07/04 23:17:02 (July 2007).

[Monday 2nd July]
...I am referring to work nights out. Whilst all is generally good with my new job, I've been there almost six months now, and can count the times I've been out for an after work drink with people here in London on the fingers of one hand. Almost all of those occasions have been down to entertaining a visiting guest from the US - I can't think of a single instance of the classic end-of-the-working-day "fancy a pint?" as I would have done with Tanaka-san or Aoki-san in Japan, or with Kev and the rest of the guys back in Pangbourne.

Actually technically this isn't true - there was at least one instance of this happening in my new job, but there hasn't been a repeat performance since.

Tonight was someone's birthday, and whilst I was only really invited by virtue of a mail sent out to a wide distribution list, I was concious of the fact that after six months I seem to hardly know anyone outside of my team, and was determined to try and get to know some more people in the office.

It was difficult at first, whilst I vaguely recognised a few faces, there wasn't anyone there that I'd ever had more than a five minute conversation with. I persisted though, and inevitably there was a certain amount of the obligatory smalltalk regarding who does what at the office, and what the weather was like etc, but at least I wasn't sitting in silence nursing a pint for any period of time. I guess things improved as the evening wore on - or perhaps following a few beers it was just my perception of it that improved!

I don't really recall it requiring this much concerted effort to develop a social life at previous jobs - even in Japan I just seemed to fall into it.

Anyway, at least I learnt a few new names tonight, so if nothing else there'll be a few more people I can say hello to at the coffee machine.

It's a start at least I am sure that language problems won't be an issue this time round! Keep at it I am sure that there are some Tanaka san in there too!

Posted by Lox at 2007/07/05 01:17:06.

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