Blog 4: Real Day 2 at Work

Today is May 17th. I really just don't know what to do. The job is as foreign as the language. They were having me work on the business infrastructure things again today, and I have no idea how to run or manage a business! I was required to attend more meetings that were spoken in German and I try to follow along and react to social cues by laughing when the group laughs, nodding when I feel I need to, and trying to look engaged in a room full of people that are not able to engage me. 

I again talked with my interim supervisor to inform her that I feel at a loss for not having the ability to contribute to this position. I reminded her that I have only taken mechanical engineering classes and nothing remotely close to the task they have assigned me. I am a person that needs to be productive and not wasteful. I truly need to have a job that I have knowledge about, especially in a group of people that struggle to speak the same language.  She informs me that my supervisor will return Tuesday and maybe he can assist me at that point. 

I did learn that I am required to wear work shoes that the company has provided me. I will wear my normal shoes to work and change once I am in the facility. My attire is typical professional / casual work clothing. I wear slacks, and a professional blouse. Most people I see are wearing denim pants with collared casual shirts. Sometimes I will see a blazer with an oxford shirt and jeans. There are also many more men employed at Airbus than women, which I was expecting.

Earlier this morning, I had to travel across the city, about 40 minutes, to the University of Bremen. The VISA requirements and work permit that Airbus has required me to do are out of the ordinary for international study abroad students coming to Germany. I will provide a more detailed record of the process I went through later.