Oslo office first day

Day 2 I was looking forward to a completely new experience working out of a Mckinsey office. I woke up and was not sure which dress I should be wearing on the first day. Finally I was ready when Donna came down to my floor. We started walking towards the office and it was cold. But the sun was out that was a relief. Donna was talking about the sea view when we reached the office and we went near the ferries for a moment and came back realising that it was almost time to the office. We entered the office and I was still not sure what to expect. We went up to the office and were waiting when Camilla came up with a smile to Donna. We introduced ourselves and there my journey began.

We went to the pantry and there was some bread and other stuff. I had some bread and something else the name of which i dont remember. There were some more introductions in the pantry and it was nice. I went up to the floor where I was to work. Met Ida the other VA who was here and a few other people who were there on that floor. I didnt have a system then as Donna had the system occupied and I was supposed to use her system. So I went down and Camilla arranged me a laptop temporarily. I went upstairs with my laptop and got myself seated next to Merete. She introduced herself to me and she asked about where i was from and the Indian food which made me feel comfortable there. I started to work on my laptop and not sure where to start from and which request to work on as the job flow was a bit less on that day. Camilla came in and told that there was a job something related to consensor slides. I didnt have the slightest of idea what that was. She asked Donna and me whether any of can handle it. I told i can give it a try. She installed the software on Donna's system but was not able to install it on my system.

So we went down and I seated myself next to Camilla where the software was installed. I started testing the software with the few instructions Camilla had given. She helped me out with the working of the software and how exactly the software worked. It was nice and a new learning experience. Then we went to lunch and there was all sorts of sea foods there on the menu. I took a few on my plate and one of them happened to be pork which i quickly gave to Donna. She took it from my plate and at the end she too threw it away. On the lunch table we sat next to a few people. It was a custom there that you should always sit next to where there were people and not to go and sit alone.

We sat there and was a CSS who came and sat next to us and he was sharing his experience with us. His name was Knut who had just completed a project the day before and was a bit relaxed on that day looking forward to his next project day. He was curious as to how VGI works and I was explaining to him as to how it was working and how people were people there were rostered across different shifts. It was nice to have a chat like that with one of the CSS whom you were working for.

After my lunch I continued working on the software Turning point 2008 which was a bit obnoxious as the font sizes were jumping all over the place every time we were running the software. After I was working on it for some time the CSS who sent the request came next to me saw the slide layout and suggested a few modifications as to how exactly the layout should be. I was carrying out the changes. Then a person came to Camilla about some IT related stuff and I introduced myself to him. His name was Frode and he was an AP there. He was so happy about VGI and the work we do it was nice to hear that face to face from "the person" as I had been knowing this via email or sametime over all these years in VGI. After that I continued my work and it was about nearly 4.30 I finished my work. Me and Camilla ran some tests as to whether it was working fine and it was running ok except for a few slides where there was still jump in font sizes. I fixed it and camilla told that if there were any more changes we can fix it in the morning the day after. The day after was a big day as there was a meeting at the Grand hotel announcing the promotions

So that was my first request in Oslo office a tricky but challenging one nothing like I have done before. Then I went upstairs to check whether Ida needed any help with the binding request she was doing. Donna was already helping her and by the time I reached the printing place Donna was doing her last piece of binding work. So it was all over for that day as far as the requests were concerned. After the office it was supposed to be a farewell party for Donna at a hotel. I quickly went to my room and changed to some casual wear as I was in formals for the first day. Camilla was waiting downstairs in the bicycle and we went to a bike stand nearby and rented a bicycle. Off we went in the bicycle to the hotel where the party was.

We reached there and Anne was there already with Donna, Ida, Merete and 2 other people I had not seen at the office. They introduced themselves to me. One was Aasie and the other was Frode. Assie was at the Mckinsey office and Frode was at the Mckinsey office for 11 years before he resigned this February as he wanted to do something more challenging. Nice to see someone wanting to go out of their comfort zone and try something different. Then it was all about fun. It was some nice chat and lots of fun with people sharing all their thoughts. Anne she made a nice farewell speech to Donna.

We ordered something (I was not sure what I ordered as Anne ordered all the stuff for me). Tone joined us late. The soup came and the main course. But the chat was going on non-stop. It was nice and humorous sometimes I cant understand as it was in Norwegian. But it was fun all the way. Everyone was singing a song in the middle and it was like an antakshari or something where one set was singing one bit of song and the other set was singing the other and vice versa

As time went by we went downstairs for the dessert. It was cool but I was not sure about the name. Then I was talking to Frode about his experience in Mckinsey and why he left and all the stuff he was doing right now. It was nice. Then people started leaving one by one as it was getting late. But it was still bright outside at 9.30 pm. Me and Ida had a nice chat about her travel to India and her studies. Then Donna joined in as Annne and Frode went outside for a few moments. It was a chat about the jobs as it was an all VA team. Ida was telling about her studies and exams.

It was finally about 10.30 I guess when we finally left the place. We started paying the bills individually and I was not sure whether my credit card will work here or not. Fortunately it was working and I managed to pay the bill. Then we left the place and me and Frode and took a bike as Anne and Donna were walking. It was a fun ride and Anne was making fun of a guy who was in the balcony of a building (it would have been impossible in India). When we reached near our apartment Anne took a taxi to her place and Frode came with us to show the way back. He left giving farewell to Donna. I put the bike in the stand and walked towards the apartment with Donna.

We managed to find the apartment and reached the place around 11.00 pm.

It was a busy day all day and it was a great first day at the new office!!