One more week. Going to make it.
Jennah and Chris sent confirmation of my flight back for Christmas! I am super excited! It's going to be glorious. I cannot wait to see everyone.
This week looks like SOPs hell mixed with a little meeting apprehension. I am trying to think of the most genial way to explain to some one that I can't stand that I do not want them to open their mouth in the next management meeting... I mean that is not so much to ask, right? It is obvious that the chances that my tactics will be successful are slim but, that has never stopped me before.
Note* I am going to learn how to play an instrument well when I get back. I have always wanted to learn to play the violin. I mean a PhD should leave plenty of time to learn right? If I always wait for the time that I have the time it will likely never be done, so here's to making time.
After 55 days this is what I know:
1. What the eff was I thinking?!
2. I am so thankful for opportunities that we have in the States
3. I miss driving SO much
4. I miss pouring into relationships that are long-term, it is hard to get excited about building great friendships with those that I know I will know only a year. Now that is not stopping me but, it is setting it up to be more sorrowful when I leave.
5. I know those that really care about me whether I am near or far through emails and skype
6. I can open a bottle with another bottle
7. Cream Soda over here is a lie
8. Everything is dusty in the dry season
9. Inconsistent power and Internet makes me want to scream
10. This place really is beautiful and I need to soak up every moment
I am going to get through this week and then Kahler and I will steer this ship down the path that rocks. I am off to read SOPs on diagnostic PCR and repository management software called LIMS, I know, it's ok to be jealous. Have a super week!
I have been confused before but, I think where I am now could not be any more fuzzy.
Jake, it is interesting that the more you learn about the work environment, the more you see that it is really chaos. Sounds like the blind men and the elephant. My perception of your environment is that all the staffers, director included, have a niche but no view of the project in its entirety - no real understanding of the elephant.
ReplyDeleteWhen I learned that you were going to teach, I asked you "what about the slow ones?". So now you find yourself in the position that apparently, God wants you to learn about how to deal with the slow ones. My experience is that if God wants me to learn something, I keep ending up in the same darn environment until I learn it. I believe there is a reason for that. It is a lousy system, in my opinion. I don't think that pointing out the fact that certain staffers are idiots is necessary. Those who know they are idiots don't need to be told and those who don't know, wouldn't get it.
I admire your desire to do the violin thing. A very admirable goal. My advice: don't worry about it until after GRE.
Repeat after me: "numbers and equations are my friends numbers and equations are my friends numbers..."
Please be sure to publish your schedule as soon as it is firm.
Word of the day: Hang in there. It will be worth it.
Love
Uncle Bill
My goal at work is to outlast 'em. The morally bankrupt, intellectually challenged will eventually get promoted to another division (see "The Peter Principle")and become someone else's problem. After the brief euphoric party, you have a very narrow window of opportunity to seize the golden ring until the next inept nephew or son-in-law gets moved to his level of incompetance...and so it goes. If you are not in- or have no desire to be in- the 'inner circle' (circle of trust), then you will always be overhead...and your constant goal is to outlast 'em until the stock holders say E N O U G H !! A shortfall for this philosphy is that you can get painted into a corner...if it is a nice corner, then stay and enjoy the view...being young helps, it makes the old incompetent management quite nervous and you young folks 'code talk' in technology that terrifies the inept. Good management does exist and is to be enjoyed thoroughly...and when you leave the clinic in July, there will be many who say; We wish you'd stay....and you will know it is true, because they CANNOT leave and are subject to the next demon spawn manager.
ReplyDeleteI remeber some very sage advice you gave me a couple years ago when having to face a similar situation. You asked me to carefully examine how it would look the next day, how God was glorified by my words/attitude/intent; basically you asked: "What is your motivation?" and I really have learned to hate that question because I have to ask it to myself about 45 times a day now...thank you very much.
Whatever angers you controls you... and we often despise in others what we do not like about ourselves....whoever came up with that? and why?
Let the words of your mouth and thoughts of your heart make the Lord smile and the devil wish you had slept in.
You know the right thing(s) to do/say...the want to is the tough part.
and just outlast 'em!
love you a bunch,
pappy
Viola, Cello or violin? let me know soon
I'm excited about what you and Kahler will be able to accomplish, in the labs and in the lives of your staff and acquaintances, as you move forward. Your perseverance and heart will be great assets....can a heart be an asset?...oh well, you know what I mean.....CHARGE....with love. :] Lady
ReplyDeleteHaha. "What the eff was I thinking?!" is at the top of my list as well... Cream Soda is a lie?! Say it ain't so!! That's a sin...I'm just sayin'. Hahahaha...."Look what I can do..." "But..." "No, no...he's got a point..." Bah-haha! Do it to it, yo!
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