After a slightly inauspicious start, my first day at Microsoft was really good. I was late getting to work because the person from AIESEC Istanbul who was supposed to take me slept in and didn't come to pick me up until over an hour after he was supposed to. Then neither he, nor our cab driver knew exactly where Microsoft was located! Fortunately, we finally arrived and my boss was very understanding - she knew it wasn't my fault.

Today was mostly about orientation. First we had to pass through a metal detector and check in with photo ID. I got a security card that I will have to use about 20 times a day to pass through different sets of doors etc. The bathroom doors are also locked and you need to know the code to enter them. Suffice it to say that I feel very safe in the building! I met my boss in person and she was very welcoming. There were even flowers on my desk for me!

My laptop wasn't quite ready so after talking with my boss for a bit I went upstairs to see the IT guy, who is (somewhat ironically) not actually from Microsoft - they outsource some of their IT operations to Siemens apparently! He was also very helpful and gave me a "welcome present" in the form of a wireless mouse. My email account and system username was all ready for me as well.

Besides touring the building and meeting a ton of people, I participated in 2 conference calls and reviewed a bunch of materials to orient myself as to what I will be working on. I'm still not clear on exactly what it is I need to do in the next little while in terms of the bulk of my job description, but I'm getting a good idea of the scope of it, what CPE does, and how. I know for sure that it will be a good job with real responsibilities.

I went for lunch with 2 AIESECers, Matthias and Emel (Matthias is also an intern while Emel is a 'real' employee). Emel recognized me from when I was in Turkey the last time - we were at the same conference. I found out that Microsoft will provide a card to use for buying food that should cover at least all my lunches while at work and probably more. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to/from work on the public transit. They are surprisingly pretty relaxed there, more so than I expected. Many people were wearing jeans and they are not really concerned about when you come to work etc. Holidays should not be much of a problem either as long as they don't interfere with important dates etc.

Alright, I'm going to stop there - I haven't seen the confidentiality agreement yet! :) Tomorrow I have a teleconference with an external consultant to learn more about the project, and then in the evening I will have 2 parties - Microsoft is having a New Year's Party and then later the interns will have a goodbye party for one of my roommates. Oh, and life in the dorm has improved as I was able to move "downstairs" last night so I have a bit more privacy. I also discovered I can get the internet (kind of) from my bed. Sweet! Also my contact at AIESEC Istanbul told me that a woman (she's a lawyer) called them wondering if they had a native English speaker in town who might be interested in helping her to improve her English, which might involve payment of some kind or at least nice dinners out. And it never hurts to know a lawyer! I am the only native speaking intern in the city these days. So we will see what that is about. Overall it was an interesting and productive day!

Picking up my second life again

So it's been a while since I last blogged. I guess I don't feel very inspired to blog while I'm at home. Actually I'm lazy to blog all the time but just more so when I'm in my natural environment. But as I am "picking up my second life" again, or, embarking on a new adventure in Istanbul, I felt it was time to take up my blogging pen once more.

I was rather overwhelmed when I arrived a few nights ago. I am sharing a dorm room with about 12 or so other interns! We have a big common area with bunk beds and then a kitchen and bathroom/shower facilities for ourselves.

It was even more overwhelming than it might have been because I apparently walked in on a meeting that they were having about the New Year's Eve party they were planning - so all 13 of them were huddled around the table. They weren't expecting me at all but were instantly very welcoming! I didn't even start introductions at that time because I knew I wouldn't remember the names. Fortunately I have learned everyone's name by now!

My roommates are really great. Although I was hoping for more private accommodations, there are definitely benefits to this arrangement. Someone is always around when I need help or have questions, and it is fun to have people around to share with. My first night I arrived around 10:00pm local time after about 30 hours of travelling so I basically found my bunk and went right to sleep!

My first full day in Istanbul was mostly spent shopping with 2 of my Chinese roommates, Sandra and Simon. I saw some places that were familiar from my last visit here and picked up everything I needed (I forgot to bring a towel - so stupid) except for I need a photo taken so I can get an ID card for the dorm - but it doesn't seem to be a problem without. They have security here that checks everyone that comes in. In this building are a bunch of other students, both Turkish and international students.

On New Year's Eve we had a party in our room - although it seems to be a bit like a party around here most of the time :) Right now I have a top bunk, but I should get to move "downstairs" once 1 or 2 of my roommates leave for home. That will be better (although sad to see them go!) because I will have sheets surrounding the outside of the bed for a modicum of privacy. It seems quite a few of them stay for a short time only, several weeks or so, so it will be new people coming all the time. Should be interesting! There are also 2 Serbs here, one of whom I believe I met very briefly when I was in Serbia - Bojan - AIESEC is a small world! I will try to add some photos of the party and our other activities in the next few days.

Our dormitory is right by the Bosphorus Strait - I can hear the ships blasting sometimes and seagulls. We are right close to the Galata bridge that I remember from my last visit here. I found a borek place right near our dorm and had borek for the first time since I've been here today - it was delicious! (For those of you who have the misfortune of not knowing what it is, borek or burek is a pastry-type dish usually with cheese which is found in the former Yugoslavia and Turkey). It's not the same as in Serbia or Croatia - I think it is flakier there - but it was still good.

I have been spending the time so far settling in, finding things I need (you can't just go to Zellers or Walmart here for example - you must wander around the streets and find an appropriate small shop) and getting to know my roommates. Yesterday some of us took a ferry across the straight and had dinner at a nice little restaurant. And unfortunately today one of them left to return to Russia :( It was nice to know him for a few days though, we will miss his jokes here!

Alright I'd better wrap this entry up. Those of you that know me well know that my journey in AIESEC has not always been an easy one (part of the reason for the name of this blog, actually). However, I am thankful for the challenges I have faced because I believe they have made me a much stronger, more compassionate, and richer person. I know now that perseverance really does pay off. Although I didn't reach every goal I set for myself in exactly the manner that I envisioned, I've reached my ultimate destination via an unexpected path, and I wouldn't change it for anything. Tomorrow I will begin an internship with Microsoft and I'm excited to find out what this new challenge will bring. :)