Company Picnic
They're really starting to become like family. Not in the "I've known you for years" sense, but in the caring sense. Like how Alex, Dave and Pei welcome me to the lunch line. Alex always asks if I still want to be an engineer and mentions that it's hard being a woman in engineering (which is a true statement) and then Dave and Pei start coming to my defense. (One of Pei's arguements was that "we like our little Melanie.") How Pei chides Dave to make sure I know that he thinks I'm doing a good job. How I know about them and their kids and grandkids (some of which who are older than me!) How Glen gives me things to think about and introduces me to people who give me tours. How Phil spends hours of time helping me with software. How Cristina and I eat cupcakes in our cubicle. It's the sort of thing that's only for a short while but I'm grateful. And come fall, I'll be so happy to see my RPI friends again. But for now, I spend 40 hours a week with these people.