All work and no play makes…

Last week was spent in the cold and slightly rainy city of Amsterdam. Neither rain or cold mattered considering the amount of time spent out of the office was numbered in minutes rather over the course of 3 days. This is not a complaint actually it is my largest satisfaction at the moment. To be given a role with a measure of autonomy, leadership, and responsibility also comes with an increased work load, yet rarely has so much additional work been so welcomed. Granted all three not only come with work but also individual personalities and well their own schticks, but I am learning a day at a time how to work with them. A couple of amusing moments did happen while in the crazy city and an entry would not be an entry if it did not provide at least some entertainment value.

Leaving the office late in the evening my boss and I were looking for dinner at the tender hour of 10:30pm. Even in Europe the number of possible locales were limited, so we settled on a reasonable pub, and promptly ordered good ol’ pub burgers and wings. We were promptly joined by a gaggle of British couples who had just flown in and judging by breath and actions had a couple of pints on the plane. They took over our table due to space constraints and promptly spilled their beer straight onto my pants. Note to self, when drinking black pants hide all manner of liquid spills. But no matter a quick apology on their part and no harm, no foul. A couple of the other Brits were sitting on their own and jokingly spilling beer on each other, unfortunately a Dutch native was walking by and was on the receiving end of some beer on the leg. Normally a non-inebriated individual might apologize, offer to buy a drink for the victim, but no telling that to a British national. No apology so of course the Dutch took offense and began yelling. Warning bells approaching, but quickly the Dutch calmed down, turned around walked back to his table picked up a fresh full pint of Amsterdam’s finest and promptly poured it over the head of the Brit. Now all 12 British partygoers are up in arms of the great offense and the non-proportional response, while other Dutch come to the victim’s aid. Lots of shouting by both men and women, before all finally end up leaving. All the while my boss and I are calmly eating our burgers and enjoying the show. Let it not be said that American’s can’t stay independent at times during a European conflict.

Other observations were of a more artistic variety. Europeans clearly have a finer sense of design than many of us stateside. They believe in enhanced privacy which includes full side walls and door for every bathroom, but I was mesmerized when my urinal had a fly in it (yes you read that right urinal not soup). I was even more surprised when I realized all the urinals had a fly in them, well at least a sticker with a picture of a fly. It turns out that that location happens to be the mathematical ideal location to direction a stream of liquid to minimize any splash back or alternate negative altercations. I guess when everyone wears a suit instead of business casual this becomes of higher importance.

So life in the big city continues to progress as I safely arrived back in the states to a monotone, ‘welcome back home, remember to pay your taxes in the next two months’ from the customs passport officer.