It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog, and I’m kicking myself a bit for that. The point of this little window into my life was to allow my friends and family to keep up with my adventures. And I’ve certainly had quite a few since my last post! Now I’m starting the task of bringing this blog up to speed, so that when I blast you all with reminders to check my blog, you’ll actually have new stuff to read 🙂
First of all, most of you know by now that while I was in Athens (the trip that prompted me to start this blog), I was offered a job. In Paris.
And I said yes.
So now I’m in the process of planning this major life change. I have left my previous job and am starting with my new company, Sky Consulting, in just a few days. In fact, I just got back from a quick trip to Paris to meet the rest of the team (additional blog post and pics to follow). And while this may all sound positive and exciting (because it IS), there are also times when I’m beginning to feel nervous and overwhelmed. But let’s just focus on the positive and exciting, shall we?
I know that a lot of people have/will have several questions about the new job and how exactly I, little Nikki from measly Rochester, New Hampshire, landed such a fabulous gig. So let the storytelling commence:
There I was in Athens, Greece, attending a market research conference held by an international research organization called ESOMAR, when I was told that today we would all be participating in a “country luncheon.” (Essentially, there are tables at lunch with countries listed on them, and you are to sit and meet others from your home country.) “Perfect,” I think to myself, because I actually don’t know anyone else attending this conference.
Not five minutes after sitting down am I introduced to an Irish gentleman, who either cannot find his table or has no other compatriots to dine with (it was definitely the latter, but isn’t it fun to pick on the Irish?!). He turns out to be great company, and we end up attending most of the rest of the afternoon lectures together.
That evening, there was a big dinner event that was highly anticipated by all! And buses were lined up outside the hotel where the conference was being held, waiting and ready to bring us to dinner. I located the two friends I had made so far (the Irish guy and a sweet girl from Turkey), and the three of us prepared to board. And then our dreams were shattered. Well, for the two of us ladies, anyway. Apparently, as “Young Professionals,” we were required to pay extra for this dinner, which neither of us were notified of, and therefore had not paid. Shucks.
We mope back into the lobby, where a dinner organizer excitedly offers to help. Hurrah! Except… she only has one extra dinner ticket. So we flip a coin. And… ! I am not on the winning end of that little gamble. 🙂
Having resigned myself to a night without the excitement of the gala (but knowing there would be plenty to do in Athens), I made my way to the door. I’m abruptly stopped by a most polite Russian delegate to the conference who heard my plight, and offered me his dinner ticket because something had come up for him and he could not attend. Lo and behold, I can, in fact, attend this dinner!
My Turkish friend and I rode the bus together to the dinner, and proceeded to look for the Irish component to our trio. We searched through the crowd of hundreds for nearly an hour with no luck, and decided to seat ourselves as dinner was about to begin. One last turn to look towards the door, and I stumbled… directly into our Irish buddy. Who is preparing to seat himself at the table behind ours. He invites me to sit and meet the amazing French researchers he’s just been introduced to… I oblige… and within an hour or so I am talking job opportunities with the person who is now my boss.
Fate, oui?
And the job itself is quite the dream. Here are some of the things I’ll be doing:
Living in Paris. Traveling the world. Continuing to moderate (conduct interviews for the less market research savvy) in English and eventually in French. Living in Paris. Networking on behalf of my company. Attending conferences and events all over the world. And oh yeah, living in Paris! I’m sure there’s much more that I’ll be doing as I integrate with the team at my new company, but those are the highlights.
I’ve got a lot left to accomplish before I go, and I’ll be doing my best to keep everyone updated. Next up: NYC summary, Paris trip summary, and anything in between.
Ciao! xo
