Atlanta - baseball and Bricolage
..I am back
somehow still jetlagged (i need to sleep)
so i made it to Atlanta and our international leadership conference
I am now a better leader... or so my mini diploma says...
we arrived on tuesday and after a quick chat with Immigration i made it over the border, sleep in our eyes and a rattle in our legs me and my colleague made our way to MARTA(kind of a train system or as they call it "transport" - it felt like we landed on Tatooine, the air was so dry and hot), after 45 minutes we arrived at one of the many mall that make any of my business trips to Atlanta worthwhile... to cut it short i spent about 400 dollars in shopping and arrived at the hotel for check in ATL time 8pm... all of my other colleagues had arrived and were living it large in the bar... I decided to meet them as you need to fight jet lag as much as you can... so i just went up to my room to drop the shopping and have a quick shower... total darkness...I wake up at 3 am ATL time sitting in the armchair in my room; no idea who i was, where and why.....
On Wednesday first conference day... and guess what we were ushered into the audithorium tot he sound of??
Yes you guessed it: "Eye of the tiger" (my company has made research and it seems it is one of the most inspirational songs...EVER....)
So we spent the day discussing wherre we were as a company and where we are going... I had to ask if they thought there would be enough space, but they did not understand....after lunch we had a seminar...
HOW TO KEEP THE CHILD IN YOU ALIVE
Let's for a second focus on this...
.. Nerdy skinny guy (the speaker) walks on stage and pretend to make a call with a fisher price phone (you know the type that makes funny noises when you press a button)..corporate I earn much more that you will ever do guy from the audience asks:"hey dude, where did you get the cool Nokia from???"...
...halfway through the seminar i reach boredom factor 8947625 and very loudly meaow... I am called to the stage... he asks: "do you have a child in you?" i answer:"do I look pregnant????"...general merryment from the rest of the delegates...
I am held to example on how i have kept the happiness and "stupidity" of childhood alive in me and how everyone should try to act more foolishly and have fun...
I think "they are payiong this guy at least $3000 for this seminar...I am definitely in the wrong job"
...in a fleeble attempt to make the audience take part the speaker makes everyone say BRICOLAGE... more than once... because it is a funny word.....
...........................
Having survived the seminar we headed back to our rooms, I went with an escort to make sure i did not pass out..again... put on our corporate T-Shirt, jeans, trainers, cap (all corporate and everyone had the same mind you)
and made our way to Turner Field... took control of our suite and enjoyed Braves Vs NY Mets... I never liked nor disliked baseball, but i really had a good time.. we made hot dogs and had pizza with champagne( i know, but it was nice)..the Mets won and everyine was sad except us... shame of shame we were drunk....(free beer and free champagne and you expect us not to drink???? Doh!!!!
the next day is a blur.. I never struggled soo much to stay awake at a meeting...4 coffes and a bout of intestinal tragedy later my presentation resounded like pink cherry slush ... luckily everyone in the room was almost as damaged as me so they found my presentation intersting, insightful and full of new ideas...( I have received emails today congratulating me..)
made to the hilton bar where we awaited check in time drinking more... I loove bloody Mary in America..
so on friday i made it back.. have not slept since... all in all a great trip, altough i do not appreciate corporativism i always have a great time in the US the people are amazing... and do allow me this:
A note to all of the men and women i saw and met in ATL airport bound to IRAQ
on tv you seem like you really are not real, but you are and so soooo yung...
my heart goes out to you in way too corny and painful to put into words
.....
sorry but it always traumatise me to see them there going maybe to death...and for what??
anyway I am back at work and i cannot keep my eyes open
somehow still jetlagged (i need to sleep)
so i made it to Atlanta and our international leadership conference
I am now a better leader... or so my mini diploma says...
we arrived on tuesday and after a quick chat with Immigration i made it over the border, sleep in our eyes and a rattle in our legs me and my colleague made our way to MARTA(kind of a train system or as they call it "transport" - it felt like we landed on Tatooine, the air was so dry and hot), after 45 minutes we arrived at one of the many mall that make any of my business trips to Atlanta worthwhile... to cut it short i spent about 400 dollars in shopping and arrived at the hotel for check in ATL time 8pm... all of my other colleagues had arrived and were living it large in the bar... I decided to meet them as you need to fight jet lag as much as you can... so i just went up to my room to drop the shopping and have a quick shower... total darkness...I wake up at 3 am ATL time sitting in the armchair in my room; no idea who i was, where and why.....
On Wednesday first conference day... and guess what we were ushered into the audithorium tot he sound of??
Yes you guessed it: "Eye of the tiger" (my company has made research and it seems it is one of the most inspirational songs...EVER....)
So we spent the day discussing wherre we were as a company and where we are going... I had to ask if they thought there would be enough space, but they did not understand....after lunch we had a seminar...
HOW TO KEEP THE CHILD IN YOU ALIVE
Let's for a second focus on this...
.. Nerdy skinny guy (the speaker) walks on stage and pretend to make a call with a fisher price phone (you know the type that makes funny noises when you press a button)..corporate I earn much more that you will ever do guy from the audience asks:"hey dude, where did you get the cool Nokia from???"...
...halfway through the seminar i reach boredom factor 8947625 and very loudly meaow... I am called to the stage... he asks: "do you have a child in you?" i answer:"do I look pregnant????"...general merryment from the rest of the delegates...
I am held to example on how i have kept the happiness and "stupidity" of childhood alive in me and how everyone should try to act more foolishly and have fun...
I think "they are payiong this guy at least $3000 for this seminar...I am definitely in the wrong job"
...in a fleeble attempt to make the audience take part the speaker makes everyone say BRICOLAGE... more than once... because it is a funny word.....
...........................
Having survived the seminar we headed back to our rooms, I went with an escort to make sure i did not pass out..again... put on our corporate T-Shirt, jeans, trainers, cap (all corporate and everyone had the same mind you)
and made our way to Turner Field... took control of our suite and enjoyed Braves Vs NY Mets... I never liked nor disliked baseball, but i really had a good time.. we made hot dogs and had pizza with champagne( i know, but it was nice)..the Mets won and everyine was sad except us... shame of shame we were drunk....(free beer and free champagne and you expect us not to drink???? Doh!!!!
the next day is a blur.. I never struggled soo much to stay awake at a meeting...4 coffes and a bout of intestinal tragedy later my presentation resounded like pink cherry slush ... luckily everyone in the room was almost as damaged as me so they found my presentation intersting, insightful and full of new ideas...( I have received emails today congratulating me..)
made to the hilton bar where we awaited check in time drinking more... I loove bloody Mary in America..
so on friday i made it back.. have not slept since... all in all a great trip, altough i do not appreciate corporativism i always have a great time in the US the people are amazing... and do allow me this:
A note to all of the men and women i saw and met in ATL airport bound to IRAQ
on tv you seem like you really are not real, but you are and so soooo yung...
my heart goes out to you in way too corny and painful to put into words
.....
sorry but it always traumatise me to see them there going maybe to death...and for what??
anyway I am back at work and i cannot keep my eyes open