2nd Anniversary

Two years down the line since I first arrived here. Clean shaven & in a tie. How things have changed, I wear more jeans than semi-formal and my hair is prime for short locks (coming soon). Then I was polite and formal and green. Now I'm a mix of easy going and well known. (I could run for councillor...)



Highlight
Completed the management training program and got posted to entry level techie. Good since it gives me mileage for future career moves. But I'm left behind by the guys who went technical straight. I'll need a few years before I'm up to scratch, but at that time will I still be management oriented? I actually like the technical path - more flexible, new things to learn, more stability, less stress (but less pay?) etc.

Lessons learned:
From last time's anniversary, it seems I got the email thing down, but clashed with my current boss yesterday. We haven't been on friendly terms since (formal emails and requests) but this too will pass.
More guys have moved on, and new ones come in, which is a friendly reminder that I should plan my exit (advice from a HR Manager - always have your exit date in your head; what do I need to have attained by then?) A bright note was that I sent to a colleague a job application for an international posting I came across in the East African and she got it!!! That was just way too cool!

Current situation
MT was a dream job. Tech is a bit different. It started out polite, went crazy. But in the past month, it's mellowed out as the new guys got the hang of things and my weekends became free once again. Not much outlook on promotion, it's just gonna be 2 more years of sloughing it out to be the best. That is quite a journey. But I'm grateful to be here, and wouldn't want to change it for now, despite the usual feelings when things go haywire.

Parting shot:
"The crowning fortune of a man is to be born to some pursuit which finds him employment and happiness, whether it be to make baskets, or broad swords, or canals, or statues, or songs" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Random thoughts

If I went ALL the way to Kisumu City,
Up to the shores of Lake Victoria,
To gaze at the beauty of the sunset,
That reminded me of you

And happened to see in the vicinity,
A bunch of hyacinth for your aquaria,
So fresh and green and wet,
I picked them just for you
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What would you say to me?