Sunday, March 29, 2009

One month past

06.01.2009
5 weeks ago I left home, seems to be so short time, but life with full of events gives other perspective…I feel that past almost 1 year! I guess I changed or at least my thoughts :)
I’m setting my new life here in Germany. I can’t say that Bonn the best city in the world and I’ve been always dreaming to leave in, but as I like small capitals, ex capital might consider.

Why am I here? I got an internship in DHL Finance Freight headquarter office for one year! I work with Net working capital, cash management in different internal finance calculation and elaborations in all countries in Europe. I do a lot of analysis that I like very much. I found a lot of benefits to work in open space office, where during discussion you could learn a lot as well. People in my department are very divers and international, my manager from Colombia, predecessor from Mexico and the CFO from the Netherlands and I could continue the list….sometimes my task is challenging, but I like it, a lot of potential for development. Even DHL is the biggest logistic company in the world and I work with finance (quite strictly area) I feel that I have quite enough enterprises. In the begging I was afraid it but now I’d like to bring something new that pushing me study more about company, the field and specific knowledge of course. In Finance Freight department works majority man with great sense of humor. At work I feel as at comedy show. I feel that I’m quite serious at work and may be not natural :) but it’s good room for improvement.

My leaving condition is not perfect. I leave in old house together with one African France native speaker girl and with landlords. They’re a couple a men is almost 60th years old from Germany and his wife is young lady from Latino America (Spanish native speaker). She is a student. Any one excepting master of the house can’t speak English, so I almost can’t communicate with anyone we just smile to each other or in case show something by mimic as a monkey :)
My room is relatively big, I have even washing mashing in :) but as I recently found out that any longer can enter in my room when I’m out to do some washing … yep, how could you feel about it?… one cornet on the ceiling in my room seems to be quite wet. So far it doesn’t disturbing me so much; I am just not sure how healthy it’s to leave on such conditions. I decorated my room with some pictures & applications, so I like it. The most difficult issue for me in my apartment is lack of Internet connection. Yes, I have to accept that I’m FREAK of Internet!!! never thought that it’s so important in my life! Even I know that nothing happened with me and the world if I don’t check mail one or two days, but I feel dependent of internet, I guess it’s partly a horrible habit!!!
On the first week in office I haven’t had internet as well and I hold a personal record 4 days without internet and TV!!! Can you believe that I’m in Germany in one of the developed country in the world!!! :D My manager was making jokes about it one week more, especially when he printed some news for me in the morning :)
I have quite good transport connection to office and to the city center, shops, cinema, sport club and even theater… may be because before it was a district where were located embassies and lived ambassadors. Here still you could find a couple of embassies the poor countries, which couldn’t move to Berlin :)
The houses and residences around are so beautiful, quite old and not typical, that give special spirit to that part of Bonn. Every morning I enjoy the view walking to the bus stop (7-10 min). The sky and clouds are not so beautiful and big as in Estonia or Scandinavia, but I still love to admire the sky…
No matter of all that issues I’m facing but I like Bad Godesberg (the district in Bonn), even as soon as I got an opportunity to move to the city center I’ll do it!

My social life is fixing slowly. Some party, dinners, coffer, I do like it. Since next week I’m starting German lessons 2 times per week, found a sport club already I hope I’ll manage to go at least 3 times per week. Yesterday in one café I found a lot of promotions with different events in Bonn. So considering starting Tango lessons, at least try it and decide do I like it or not, even it’s a bit expensive for my budget so far, but I’d like to try and make my priority… Theaters, music concerts, opera, dance show in a plan already … so if people say that they’re bored, there’re boring! One more time come up with thought that you build your community which depending from whom you’re, how maturity you’re and what you’re looking for. I can’t say that I have new friends here already, but I feel quite comfortable, but definitely I have a very interesting people around, what I’m glad for.

One more time after life in Estonia rediscovered how to leave to my own life! To be just myself, behave and act as Inna Kostyuk, not at MC member, not as good doter or someone else, just be who I’m and love it simply.

So far I’ve visited Nadi’ka in Brussels already on Christmas… it was unexpected nice trip :) you couldn’t imagine that on the last moment I didn’t want to go to Brussels and how was difficult for me to buy a ticket, I have had a first cultural shock in Germany so far… but as usually I always like to spend some quality time with Nadya and great party as well :) I’ve been learning to cook Chinese dishes, need to practice… I’m glad that I came to Brussels :)

The New Year Eve I spent in Bonn, good dinner, nice farewells next to the river and party of course. It was a bit different but our life should be divers and colorful… so far all new thing I try to appreciate and to enjoy.

I miss my family very much; I guess I never missed them so much, even I don’t leave at home quite long time, but now its spatial feelings… I can’t describe even for myself, why do I miss them so much, if we talk almost every day and sending mails to each other often as well…or I really fell that I’m not a chilled anymore and just I responsible for my life and no one else…
And each year, day and time in the life are special….

Blogging again

I was waiting that moment when I would feel to write again :)

I started a couple of time to write a story, thought and something stopped me, so let it be :)

I can’t continue blogging without dissemble about April and my long vacation.

Why April? From the first view nothing seriously happened, it was just one more wonderful month in my life! It was a month of memorable discovering, mental changes and enjoying moments. There were:

* In life we see a lot of paradigm as “when men loves a women” song by M.Bolton. Men usually do even impossible things to follow there feeling or wishes. Sometimes it’s dangerous just observe it from the outside! I’m not so young do not know that, but still…..

* “Run to your fears” by Robert Sharma. I had a couple of situations when I run for my fears. As natural for me most power feeling connected with sport. We wend to the last conference as MC of AIESEC Estonia and on post meeting our team decided to do rolling on s professional road. First challenge was to clime on by rollers (remarked I didn’t roll since childhood, but in past I just practice a bit, so I was almost new in!) usually when you’re on a top of hill is following things are descent, but I was on rollers & almost I couldn’t manage them :) so I did it! I rush to the fear! I rush down, almost all way I could manage successful till the last tern :) yes, I fall, what is logical, but I made that professional roller circle!!!! It was unforgettable feeling of winning, I won myself and I just started to manage myself on a speed. When you afraid just do it and you will satisfy of yourself. Simple to say, but difficult to step over the comfort zone!

Love that feeling.

* Orientation on a result. In out life we have done a lot of thing, which is not so important for us. Keeping working doesn’t mean a great success or right result! Doing right things + keep balance = result & internal happiness. Thanks to my team of AIESEC Estonia 2007-2008 for that great learning.

In general my year in Estonia was not like I expected, it was even better! I visited 12 countries for one year! In some places I was twice or thrice time. I started to realize a new mentality, I definitely become more open minded then I’ve been before :) I’m sure now that I like Scandinavian way of thinking, it’s not easiest or typical way of thinking always, may be there is a zest. I could live in Scandinavia (Copenhagen or Stockholm there are my two favorite places so far). I started appreciate my personal time very much. Sometimes I love to be a lone, what never happened before :)