Tuesday, January 20, 2009

By George, I Think She's Got It

I have been at my new job in Chicago for over a month now (almost two months, which is so weird to say because the time literally flew by).

I'm not gonna lie, this whole new job thing was a huge adjustment. Despite the fact that I grew up in Illinois, moving back and adjusting to the new(ish) lifestyle here has been hard. I still don't have a clue where I'm going...ever (north, south, east, west, WHAT?!). The L confuses me to no end, and I make a silent prayer every night that I will wake up and the straight lines of the NYC subway will have replaced those loops and turns. And sometimes, I even miss hearing the incessant police car sirens (I can't believe I just said that).

And adjusting to a new company is difficult. You have to learn the lingo and jargon. You have to memorize names and complicated webs of who manages who. And worst of all, you have to make all new friends.

Friends. Ugh. I forgot how much work is involved in this task. I mean, at my old job, I think it took me a good 6 months to make actual work friends. And while it did take me a while, I did manage to finagle myself a great core group. We ate lunch together almost everyday (except during Biggest Loser at work when I practically starved myself so I could win a spa trip...which I didn't end up winning womp womp). We would whine and complain about work. We would share useless information with each other throughout the day (and inapporiate work humor of course).

I still miss my old work friends every day. Especially since I've been eating alone at my desk everyday since I started this job back in December. But I knew I had to muddle through and make some new friends.

And by George, I think I did it.

Last week, while at the event I put on in Atlanta, I had to spend a considerable amount of time sitting at a registration desk. Mainly the desk was open for anyone who had a question during the event (you know - room issues, food issues, lost alarm clock issues), but the desk was only open during breaks so during the "off" time when I wasn't running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I got to spend some time hanging out with my co-workers who were also working the event. I also got to try out Wii Fit, which told me that I am off balance and that I need to go the gym. Tell me something I don't know Wii Fit! 

I met two people who I really hit it off with - and they share my love for cheesy reality TV (like The Bachelor). That's when you know it's true friendship by the way, when they love the same TV as you. 

And while I still haven't sat down and had lunch with either of the girls I met at the event, I do know that I'm on my way to having real work friends again.

I also learned of a clique within our company. A new friend and I have nicknamed them the High School Musical clique since they are all relatively young and of course they also love to break out into song intermittently throughout the day so the nickname was obvious. They love to eat lunch together in our little cafeteria (if you can call it that) and go to meetings in a foursome pod. 

So far I've gotten along with a majority of the HSMusical clique, but I think for now I'm going to stick with establishing my new friendships with my reality TV bff's. Because if you can't form a solid relationship around your shared love of Rock of Love Bus then what can you form a relationship around? 

*Sidenote: Thanks to everyone who voted for us in the 20sb awards! Working Girl is the new "Best Career/Occupation Blog" of the 20sb! We are thrilled to say we are among the winners, because some of our serious blog crushes are on that list of winners (you know - the kind of blogs you are scared to comment on because they are like the cool, popular senior girl in high school that you worship from afar). So thank you readers!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's great! I'm glad you're meeting some new people and with that, growing more comfortable in the environment. It's hard to be comfortable in a new place without anyone to joke with and share stories with. I think you're well on your way towards making the new place home!

Anonymous said...

I find that Sesame Street is a reference material for figuring out how to make friends.

CoogieCruz said...

I am here via Twenty Something Bloggers and I really like this site. The layout is cute and I also like it because it's different.

I'll be stopping by!

Manderz said...

I feel you on making work friends. I just did the new job/new city thing and not having any friends is no fun. Good luck on keeping the friendships going. :-)

Lindsay said...

That TV thing is so true! It's the cornerstone of any worthwhile work friendship.

Fidget Midget said...

I had a really difficult time making new friends at work because I was so much younger than the rest of the people there. Oh, how I love the generation gap! (sarcasm)

Western Mass Mama said...

This was inspirational to me. I am relocating soon and will have to find a job, start it AND make all new friends in a new place. I am half-excited and half-dreading this. But reading your experience makes me feel a little calmer. Thanks! And I love this site - it's great.

Anonymous said...

Awesome that your making new friends! Love the blog, you are hilarious!

erin - heart in ireland said...

YAY! Work friends make the day more fun - except when you go out and are seriously hungover the next day.

Maybe suggest having lunch to discuss the latest episode of the Bachelor and start your own little reality tv group :)

E said...

Hopefully the new work friends will pan out :) Once you form a bond over Rock of Love I think your safe! lol

Anonymous said...

I DVR The Bachelor every week! We're TV soulmates!

S. said...

They really break out into song in the middle of the work day? That's awesome. I want to work there!

I'm glad everything is going well for in the new (old) environment!

Jennifer said...

I've always had a hard time making work friends too for some reason. People tend to be cliquey, and after 1 year, I am just now starting to find friends.

Just M said...

This might scare you away from eating at your desk:

The average desk is 400 times more contaminated than a lavatory seat, a new study has found.

Experts believe the tendency for workers to eat lunch at their desk is the reason for the massive rise in office germs.

The dirtiest spot on the desktop is the phone, the researchers found, where about 25,127 microbes live per square inch. Experts believe this is because handsets are often passed between people.

The next filthiest area is the desk surface, where 20,961 invisible microbes can be found living and breathing on every square inch.

By comparison, the average lavatory seat contains just 49 germs per square inch.

Jenny Grace said...

Congrats on the award!

ceemee said...

Great that you're making work friends! They are hard to come by because there is still some sort of competition among colleagues.
Congratulations for an award-winning blog! You deserve it!