Breaking Through

I am now in my final month here in BBP CEE; the time has really flown by. In this time, I have gathered basic requirements for several projects including Classified Marketplace, Webshop and Deep Linking.  I have also been working on getting together one comprehensive priority list for Central Web Development; this has been the most challenging task as it involves coordinating with seven different countries that have different needs and expectations.   I think work has been going well, though there is much to finish before I leave. 

The workplace is more comfortable to me now.  Unlike the first day when it was so unbearably quiet, I feel now that I can ask work-related questions across the desk.  We also have our times of 'chit chat', usually first thing in the morning and then sometimes after lunch.  It is nice to have this type of interaction because it makes the office feel friendlier.  It will be interesting to know whether Karmo (my boss) keeps up the 'chit chat' after I leave.

As for the rest of the group outside of my immediate team, they are mostly Äripäev (which is owned by Bonnier but there is a difference here between Bonnier and Äripäev) and most of them actually say 'Tere' to me now and a few of them even talk to me sometimes.  But, they do not ask me to lunch or have any real interaction with me...the same people seem to go to lunch with the same people every day. This is very unusual to me, but I guess that is just the way they do things here.  I am just glad I have 'broken through' with some people enough to where they at least talk to me, though some still don't say hello unless I say it first.   I know this sounds very strange to people from the U.S. or other places that have a more 'open' culture, but it is just the way it is here.  

Believe it or not, I will miss Estonia in many ways...even with its little quirks that I don't always understand.  I have now come to think that I have been lucky to have an assignment in a place that is so different from home because it gave me a chance to stretch my comfort zone (even though I admit it has been a challenge at times).   

And on a personal note, I just want to say for the record that the Orlando Magic made the NBA (U.S. basketball) finals for the first time since 1995.  Go Magic!