Work…

Well it's been 2 weeks now since the last update & this week I was planning on writing a bit about the job, why I'm here and all that. Funnily enough it's been due to work that I haven't actually been able to write anything though. Not through over work of course :P (high five fourhourworkweek), but actually because I only just got my computer back today after it was out of action, (along with nearly all the computers in head office) since Wednesday. Just to keep with the flow of things, I'll get back to this later.

The reason I came to Denmark was for the job, with the A.P Moller Group under Maersk Line. I'm with the Strategic Projects Group continuing the work I'd been doing in the various countries I'd visited earlier in the year. Copenhagen is head office for the entire Group and its where most of the action takes place with regards to all the high level business such as strategy, product & HR. Denmark's not much bigger than back home really so Maersk, being a Danish company, is the largest company in the country. This is in front of the likes of Carlsberg & the infamous Lego which we all know and love.

The beauty of working at head office has got to be the global nature of the business. There's no customer calling for bookings, or sales reps running around on the phone which is great. Here it's all about the high level stuff, you have to keep in mind how your decisions will impact the many countries we work with & in what way. A decision that works for China may not necessarily work for Africa & vice versa. This, along with the accessibility of information, key people & Europe has got to be the beauty of working in Head Office.

As very businesslike as I might sound, don't assume too much; I have not worn a tie since I arrived (I think I'm one of 2 guys on the floor who don't wear ties) & I turn up to work in shorts, jandals & a t-shirt (again probably one of the only one's in Denmark who wear jandals every day rain or shine!). The lighter side of things certainly weighs into things though. The company has a gym, 2 squash courts, a free masseuse, discounts at nearly all Danish shops, 5 yachts (all you need is a qualified captain) as well as a month's worth of lunch, breakfast, fruit & sandwiches for around 80 NZD. One can't complain really J

The specific area of work that I'm in follows the project & its impact our decisions & processes have on the countries we work in. I'm also covering the process of contracting with a customer, as well as designing various reporting functions for moving forwards. It's been keeping me busy of late but the coming weeks will look to pick up the pace as the main Asia Europe vessels get turned on to the new processes.

This in itself has brought a pleasant surprise as I will be heading to Qingdao & Shanghai in China for the week starting 13^th August. Unfortunately this has interrupted weekend to Athens, Greece that weekend prior but I guess there will be time for that later. I think that will be it for my international travel in August as September is looming large already with a week's trip to Hyderabad, India starting of the month followed by a trip to the Munich beer festival later in the month.

So remembering back to my earlier dialogue, last week it happened that Maersk in Copenhagen was hit by a virus that quickly spread across all the computers rendering them useless. This was actually a great opportunity to get off the email and do some work with pen and paper, a forgotten art in this day and age it would seem. I will admit that I did skive off early a few of those days, but not after spending a good amount of time working the old fashioned way. One can only imagine how things got done 20 years ago! Full respect to those older generations J

Since last week I've been living outside of the flat, house sitting for a friend for 3 weeks while he and fiancé go on holiday. Rather random concept you might think but no, they have a young cat that needs looking after while their gone & I need a place that has food and a few more utilities than I currently have in my current place. The cat's only 1 year old so reminds me of home with all the animals and of Nemo only a few months back. It's been good so far, a bit further to cycle to work but the 150 sqm certainly beats my 52 sqm place!

A bit long this time but I'm sure no one will actually get far enough to reading this line, but if you have then my text diarrhea obviously makes some sense. To all reading, I hope all's well, maybe this will inspire you to write your own blog, and keep us all up to date with your ranting like me J

Peace out.