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Well, I’m still alive.
I’m beginning to get along with the work style and atmosphere here.

AI policies: working hours are from 9:00 to 18:00 with lunch break at 13:00 OR 10:00 to 19:00 with lunch break at 14:00. This is really a respected schedule, you may leave the office but you have to announce the others by mail you’re leaving. Ludek was late the other day, and I was surprised to receive an e-mail addressed to everyone saying he’s sorry.

Eating: I’m finally becoming a normal person, eating 3 meals a day. Food is not so expensive here, I can eat with around 100.000 Lei/day good food. If you eat at home, no problems. They have everything here, you don’t even need to cook.

Priorities system: they have a cool weekly priorities system. You set up weekly priorities that are evaluated on every Monday morning. (AI meeting every Monday morning, all take part to it, you are not allowed to miss it except for good reasons).

MS Exchange server: this is a really good IS tool. We share folders, calendars, tasks. Whenever you want to see what’s going on, you just check the global calender or personal calender. You need a document? You have it all in one click on the exchange server, also from several years ago. I really love it. I’ve redirected all my mail to this address (ZenoP@ai.aiesec.org).

Office Atmosphere: believe it or not all office communication is done by e-mail. We have 2 lists: ai-office and ai-social for internal communication. If you want to take lunch earlier eg. you mail on ai-office. If you have something to share, see a movie together with others, you mail it on ai-social. All have headphones and listen to music, to it makes no sense to yell to be heard. Just send an e-mail. At most times it’s very quiet in the office, everybody is working. It’s not like home. People are REALLY working. We have also an innovation corner, where you can hang out in your free time, board room with all things, library, kitchen, everyone has his own desk (and laptop :( ).

Weather is the only problem. Sun shines very rare. Most of the time it’s clouded, and it’s raining frequently. I got silky wet when going home for lunch yesterday.

The city is pretty nice, I’ll send you some pictures when I can, the main offices of ABN-AMRO and NEDERLANDEN are here, pretty much the highest buildings in town, so you can easily find you way by taking the buildings as point of reference.

Team Dinner: the members are divided into cooking teams, and every evening, a mail is sent out inviting us to the dinner.
If enough people gather, the team leader, buys food and cooks dinner. Costs are shared at the end of the month. Yesterday I took part of such an event at Kamil’s place and also watched a polish movie (English subtitles daaah!) after the dinner. I didn’t thought that a polish movie could capture me so much. It was presenting Poland in a time when Poland disappeared from the map right after the first world war (I’m no so good with dates). It helped me better understand Poland and it’s people. It was excellent filmed, the director was Oscar awarded for his work, it had “Lord of The Rings” style landscapes, very good. I’ll bring a copy when I get home.

Right now I’m working on a new AI newsletter template, you will see it soon on Global Members :)

I’m also looking for a SIM card and also an international calling card and I’ll try to call home. I also need to acquire a MMC card reader to send you some photos :)

Last thing, I made it to the shortlist of 5 people for Global IS Manager. Wish me luck tomorrow, interview has changed to 15:00 GMT+1.

That’s about it. I’m beginning to miss all of my friends, but I think it will pass. I’ll be back with more news.

The Lion.