(no subject)

[floatingleaf]

So, that workplace holiday lunch I mentioned? A very lavish affair. Despite my angsting over the location - or maybe because of it, lol - I got there quite early and found the restaurant after just a few minutes of driving around (the entrance was at the back of the building, and there was another restaurant/cafe at the front - which possibly explains why I couldn't find it before). So I had ample time to grab a cup of tea and a bagel + some fruit before the meeting started. There was still room for me at the table where most of my teammates were sitting, and several people complimented me on my outfit (nothing fancy, but I guess I'd never worn it to work before). The meeting dragged on a bit, as usual, but finally lunchtime arrived.:) For starters, we had mozzarella marinara, bruschetta and a delicious Cesar salad. For the main course, you could pick and choose between chicken, fish, ravioli and pasta with vegetables - everything perfectly seasoned, aromatic and absolutely mouth-watering, I might add (too bad I can't remember the Italian names... lol). There was spinach and capers and fresh basil and Kalamata olives and very ripe tomatoes and blue cheese and balsamic vinegar. In one word, poetic.:) For desserts, there was a lush apple tart with vanilla ice-cream on top. And some sort of peppermint-flavored pastries, which I skipped, because I am not too crazy about peppermint. But anyway - I tried to show heroic restraint by taking only a little bit of everything... still, my stomach felt slightly overwhelmed at the end.;) The only thing missing was a glass of good wine to help with digestion - but since we were theoretically "at work", alcohol was off limits.:)

There was also a lottery with prizes, as usual. And I won a Kodak digital video camera. I kid you not. I am still a little stunned, because the funny thing is, as soon as they mentioned the camera, I somehow KNEW I was going to win it. Not because I wanted to - quite the contrary, I am still not sure what to do with it and will probably give it away - but I just had this FEELING that the number drawn from the basket will be mine. So when they did read the number, and it indeed matched, I was in a state of shock for a few seconds. Not because I won a fancy camera, but BECAUSE I AM FUCKING PSYCHIC. O_O :D

Anyway... good times were had, and after the lottery we were all sent home (or to the nearby shopping mall) with a blessing and a nice thermal jacket for everyone (an excellent idea, since it's often damn cold in our office - especially when they go overboard with the A/C during the summer). AND we also have another, smaller holiday lunch - just for our department - at the office next week.

My point is, I really love my workplace and the people and the family atmosphere of it all. The sense of community among my coworkers is very strong, and I feel part of that community - which isn't something I could ever say before. And I don't think it's just because I've been working there longer than anywhere else (just passed the four-year mark at the end of November). For example, the other workplace where I spent over two years never gave me that feeling - I was always just a silent observer, awkward, uneasy and pretty much excluded from any sort of camaraderie going on among other people. I thought that was just me - but apparently not, since now I am doing fine. Of course I am still very quiet most of the time, because that's how I am, and my coworkers are aware of it and sometimes tease me about it - but I know it's friendly teasing and it doesn't bother me anymore. I know they're not judging me or expecting me to be someone else. There is no mean gossip going around, but there is a lot of silliness and easy banter and willingness to share the workload as well as the fun. I feel like I BELONG there. And I'm definitely not the only one. For example, hardly anyone ever quits, even though most people keep complaining about the low pay. I have a feeling they'd rather be here, bitching about the meager paycheck, than making big bucks at a place that would give them plenty of other reasons to complain. At any rate, that is definitely the case for me.;)

Comments

[floatingleaf.livejournal.com]

I know extremely well what you're talking about. For most people, feeling out of place is something unusual that provokes reflection; for me, it's NOT feeling out of place that's so rare I need to ruminate upon it.;)

[dissonant-dream.livejournal.com]

Yes. That's it. ;) I love that people get me here. :)