Week(end) nr. 2

So another week has passed in Monterrey and I have t admit that I am equally surprised and worried that time goes so fast. I like it because it means I am not bored, under stimulated or in any other way left to boredom. But I have noticed that time is scarce in a new kind of way. This week included some overtime (first time in my life) and when you come home around eight in the evening there is not much time left for other things. But I will et used to that too I guess.

CEMEX is great, really, and i am being very well received. I have had lunch with colleagues, Paco and Karla twice this week and they are super nice and about my age. Tuesday my superior Ana felt that we deserved some tacos after working late, so she took me to a great taco place in my neighbourhood. Really nice and relaxed and fun to be more personal and less job-related.

As always, Djiego our ´landlord' room-mate keeps introducing us to new fun people. This week we have had dinner with two more of his designer friends and they are all so nice and relaxed. It is so much fun to meet new people; not only for the sake of meeting, but also because they are people I would normally not meet. Very cool.

And the weekend goes by too fast. Yesterday I was at a friend Carlos´birthday party. Again, many new people and then party until late (or early). Today we had Allan, Ole and two friends of Magda was here for dinner. We made pasta with blue cheese sauce, roasted champignons and sunflower seeds with salad. As always when we (read I) cook, it is a success. Now, at five past midnight, I am too tired to go out and will actually go to bed. Wow, a weekend with only one night at the disco. Weird.

Chiao /J

Oh, by the way; all week temps have been between 25 and 30. Just thought you people in icebox-Sweden would like to know :)

Summer Sunday

Well, if you consider what we consider to be summer temps in Sweden, than the headline above might actually be true. Somewhere around 22 degrees and sun today, finally pay-off for living in a close-to-the-equator-country! I managed to get in bed late last night as well so the day started slow. But we managed to shape things up and go out into the glorious weather. Magda was on the hunt for a mirror for her room, so me, her and Diego went to the flea-market held next to the (dried out)river. Basically one football-field covered with tent and full of things (crap, debris, shit, spare parts, whatever you want to call it). It was fun but a little scary; me and magda were the only non-mexicans there and we felt like two cats who accidently jumped the fence into a dog-pound. It was however fun and we managed to find a nice mirror for darling Mags. After that we went to a restaurant named Pacifico for late lunch/early dinner. Awesome place with view towards San Pedro and the mountains, great service and tasty fish. A mi me gusta! We took our time and enjoyed the evening; almost three hours later we went home. Just finished watching Brüno with Diego (funny but what a shitty movie) and now its time for bed, there is work to be done tomorrow!

/ J

First week back

So now I´ve been back in Monterrey for nearly a week. And what a week! My internship has proven to become something really interesting and educational - no making coffee or back-office stuff; we are talking project involvement and responsibilities de luxe. I am so glad to be challenged like this and I am even starting to enjoy getting up in the mornings. Almost :).

So the new living situation is, to say the least, very pleasant. Diego and Pedro could not be nicer and more fun to be around. I´ts only been one week but the four of us (Magda, me, D&P) have already become very relaxed with each other. It is fun. Even beter are the perks of living here; as I might already have mentioned we have mandarins and grapes growing in the back yard. But the best thing is the maid who comes four times a week and does...well nearly everything. I leave my room in the morning and come home to a room cleaned, bed made, clothes put away, shirts ironed, and laundry done and nicely folded. Now that is comfort!

I have also managed to make time for party. Last night me, Magda and Diego had dinner with two of Diegos friends, then me and Magda went out to celebrate a friends birthday. It was fun, so fun indeed that I did not come home until 7:15 am. So thank you Omar for a good good night!

Today have been a splendid day; almost 20 degrees and clear skies. I went out for a small walk late afternoon ( a little tired after yesterday) and checked out my new neighbourhood. I found the weirdest houses, apparently a place where they sell statues. Below you see one example. The 'normal house is where I live. The yellow one is my new dream house though!

Well now I have to get ready - dinner tonight at a Argentinian restaurant and then... well who knows, the options are unlimited :)

Zaijian! J

CEMEX revisited

So the second day at CEMEX is over and done with. I really think that this internship is going to be a lot of fun, very challenging and ample opportunity to learn. I am working in CEMEX Global Organizational HR department, specifically with engagement and culture. Might sound a bit abstract (not far from the truth) but it is actually both interesting and quite specific. CEMEX just finished a global survey regarding how employees feel about the company from different parameters. What we do is together with Communications and Public Affairs departments analyze the results and then find what actions we can implement to strengthen/heighten/instigate employees level of engagement in the company. These action-plans will be both global and local - giving room for my other field of interest; cross cultural management. I have had very little OHR management prior to this internship, and being able to combine that with the cross-cultural aspect of how engagement levels vary from country to country, is very exciting. So exciting ndeed that I chose 'Human Behaviour in International Organizations' as my final elective this trimester. I see great potential for synergies between my elective, thesis and internship. All the better that my guidance professor loves these subjects.

This day at the office has however been quite slow. My supervisor is in a two day training seminar, so I am left to read and go through material by my self. Not much wrong with that except that most of it is only available through the intranet and I have no computer or internet connection. A slight bump in the road. But I got busy digging into the massive amount of data collected. It was surprisingly interesting.

Tonight I went out with Diego and our other roomie Pedro´s brother Juan for dinner. San Pedro offers not only a safer neighbourhood but also an ample selection of restaurants. We chose Japanese and had Teppanyaki with Tempura icecream for dessert. Tired and full I now plan to get my 8 hours of sleep. So boring but necessary!

J

A new year, a new dawn, a new life...almost.

So, finally back in Monterrey and finally back on the blog! So sorry for not writing during christmas but time really flie when yu are home and having fun. Basically this christmas was all about the cold weather (between minus 6-17) and the snow. Winter wonderland took on a new meaning for sure. All in all my visit back home offered some smaller bumps in the road, but nothing family and friends couldn´t take care of. So thanks to all of you for making my stay in Sthlm as good as it can get!

Now, travelling back to MTY was fun...not. New rules thanks to stupid plane bombers made security at Amsterdam a bitch. All passengers had to be screened again (my third time) before being allowed to board. That ment that our flight was 1 1/2 hours delayed. Then our pilot informed us that we were too heavy and had to make a stop-over in Bangor Maine (WTF??) in order to refuel. So now I´ve been to Maine. It sucks.

All of this almost made me miss my connection to MTY, but luckily I just made it. I was alos hoping for nice temperatures but nooo, Monterrey i experiencing the coldest temperatures in years; around 3-5 degrees. Freaking cold when you live in non-isolated concrete houses with only ac-heating. But, despite this I am not complaining, mostly because I´ve finally moved away from our department building from hell and to a nice house in the safe, prosperous and more affluent city of San Pedro. It is a city of its own, but part of Monterrey. Much nicer. I am also especially pleased that my new house has a mandarin and grapefruit tree in the back yard - just go out in the morning and get your fruit. The house is rented by this very nice guy Diego who shares it with a friend, Pedro. They have two spare rooms of which I have one and Magda has the other. It couldn´t be better! My house is also situated about fifteen minutes walk (if you want to risk your life crossing two highways) from my new offices at CEMEX HQ. Yes people, I got the internship and after my first day (today) I am really excited about this! I will probably have to work my ass off but damn it´s got real potential to be great fun! I will tell you more about it tomorrow, now my jetlag is kicking in and I need to go to bed :)

Nos Vemos! J