Cultural observation #1: Everything slows way down during the summer. Some stores and cafés even close for a whole month. Most everyone takes 4 weeks of vacation. My office is no different. Lots slower. We even got to go home 1 hour earlier everyday for 3 months. Honestly, even the clients take vacations from treatment.

Cultural observation #2: We get a bit bored towards the end of the summer. Looking forward to the fall when it will be business as usual. Eager to work, eager to be effective and produce. Because of this we end up planning a whole lot of events, training, visits, and meetings that all takes place in September.

http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/gallery/681/busy_receptionist.jpg 

September is a big month. My team will have a kick-off to review the spring, set goals for fall, brainstorm, and get re-introduced to our boss that have been on paternity leave since January. We are having an Opening celebration and will be inviting close to 100 people including media to celebrate this new treatment team. There is a two day education and we are getting new clients. The work-groups and committees starts back up too.

It is a big month. I am excited but just a bit overwhelmed when I think about all the planning and execution that has to be done. I find it a bit amazing when some people just want a kick-off for the team and don´t really realize the work and details that are entailed in making it happen. Then it is not enough to do it in our own facility but it has to be done off site and include meals. On top of it I am asked if we can´t do some sort of fun activity too and not just work.

Then I scratch my head and realize how much I love my job. I get to be a part of all this. I get to do so many different things that I enjoy. It is really amazing. I have some great coworkers and I get stretched in so many ways!

(pic from http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/gallery/681/busy_receptionist.jpg)