Wasting time in Vancouver
So, it is 5:10 pm here in Vancouver. I am officially done my 2 days in the office, but my bus to the ferry terminal does not leave for 30 minutes, so I have at least 15 or 20 minutes to kill (the bus stop is within a 2 minute walk of the office).
I have had an interesting time here. The set up is very practical. Some of the partners have regular offices like the design staff and the whole concept is very open. Except for a few partners in the corners, most walls are only 4' high. People have generally set up their computers to lower distractions, but you have the ability to see half the office without getting up out of your seat. I'm not sure if I like it or not: the daylight from the very large windows gets everywhere, but I can see how in a small office, it could get very distracting very easily. The desks and partitions are all grey, which is kinda boring, but wtih the windows and the pale yellow permanent walls, it is not a dreary as it could be.
I like the people here. They have treated me like an employee since I arrived (as opposed to a guest or outsider). I was here to learn about their energy modeling software. The two employees teaching it to me are both young women who graduated from Queen's. It is apparently a requirement!? They were quite patient with me and passed on a lot of information.
I'm sure most of you are rather bored by my office description, so congrats if you are still reading! Other than the office, the hotel here was absolutely beautiful. You know it is a good hotel when you pull up at the front door and the door man takes your bag out of the taxi, opens your taxi door, and offers to take you bags up to your room BEFORE you check in (I had to give a ticket when I checked in). A bellhop waited well I checked in then showed me up to my room where my bed was turned down with chocolates on the pillow and a card to tell me what the weather would be like the next day. I had a King sized bed, and the room came complete with 2 bathrobes (one light, one heavy), and all the other standard amenities in hotels (iron, hair dryer, coffee maker, etc). Everyone at the hotel was very courteous and helpful and did not treat me any different than someone who is used to that kind of atmosphere.
It turns out that this week was the annual international fireworks competition that takes place in Vancouver. I am not feeling great right now (head cold or something), so I did not want to go to the beach to watch, but I tried watching from the top floor of the hotel. There was another, taller building directly in the way, but it had a portion of the top cut off, so I could see the top right corner of the fireworks display. What I saw was spectacular, but I love fireworks.
Anyway, I have wasted enough time, and I am going to go wait for the bus now. See you all when I get back!
Meg
I have had an interesting time here. The set up is very practical. Some of the partners have regular offices like the design staff and the whole concept is very open. Except for a few partners in the corners, most walls are only 4' high. People have generally set up their computers to lower distractions, but you have the ability to see half the office without getting up out of your seat. I'm not sure if I like it or not: the daylight from the very large windows gets everywhere, but I can see how in a small office, it could get very distracting very easily. The desks and partitions are all grey, which is kinda boring, but wtih the windows and the pale yellow permanent walls, it is not a dreary as it could be.
I like the people here. They have treated me like an employee since I arrived (as opposed to a guest or outsider). I was here to learn about their energy modeling software. The two employees teaching it to me are both young women who graduated from Queen's. It is apparently a requirement!? They were quite patient with me and passed on a lot of information.
I'm sure most of you are rather bored by my office description, so congrats if you are still reading! Other than the office, the hotel here was absolutely beautiful. You know it is a good hotel when you pull up at the front door and the door man takes your bag out of the taxi, opens your taxi door, and offers to take you bags up to your room BEFORE you check in (I had to give a ticket when I checked in). A bellhop waited well I checked in then showed me up to my room where my bed was turned down with chocolates on the pillow and a card to tell me what the weather would be like the next day. I had a King sized bed, and the room came complete with 2 bathrobes (one light, one heavy), and all the other standard amenities in hotels (iron, hair dryer, coffee maker, etc). Everyone at the hotel was very courteous and helpful and did not treat me any different than someone who is used to that kind of atmosphere.
It turns out that this week was the annual international fireworks competition that takes place in Vancouver. I am not feeling great right now (head cold or something), so I did not want to go to the beach to watch, but I tried watching from the top floor of the hotel. There was another, taller building directly in the way, but it had a portion of the top cut off, so I could see the top right corner of the fireworks display. What I saw was spectacular, but I love fireworks.
Anyway, I have wasted enough time, and I am going to go wait for the bus now. See you all when I get back!
Meg