Yesterday was my first day at my new job. My first observation is that it is so much more relaxed here than my old place. My boss took an hour of her time to show me around and introduce me to everyone and to get me acquainted with the new building and the different teams involved with our project. She seems really nice and I have hopeful outlooks with my new direction here. There is a team of testers here who are all my age and some even older. They all sit together and I can hear them talking and having fun. Strangely enough since I now have a senior title, I’m grouped with all the project leads and managers and have a roomy private workstation. Feels a bit strange that I am no longer with my ‘peers.’ Anyway, I’m really excited to be finally in the business I want to be in…it’s a step closer to where I want to be. Internet is definitely my domain (no pun intended).
Anyway being new in yet another situation is helping me realize that I really have to be patient in new settings and let things unfold naturally without trying to expect too much. I’ve recently joined a home church which is like a small group based on the neighborhood that you live in. My first impression of home church was a bit disappointing mainly because I had enjoyed the church experience so much on Sundays that I was hoping for a more in depth extension of that experience. I also was looking forward to meeting some new people who I could hopefully be friends with. However, I was disappointed. I guess I was also used to the sense of familiarity that I had with my old small group. Anyway, I decided to give the home church another try and I found it better the second time around. I guess in the same way that I had to get used to these new people, they had to get used to me…my personality, my style of joking etc.
For me, first impressions mean a lot, but then I have to remind myself that some people take longer to warm up. I can’t expect things to click in right away and go my way.

Anyway…last year was the year of coming together… and this looks like the year of not necessarily breaking apart, but maybe spreading apart…and challenges and blessings in the value of close relationships despite distances.