...because of my performance during the workshop, the Director of logistics has requested my resume and asked my boss (VP) whether he had ever thought of recommending me for a higher position in the company...

Oh, well, it is nice to be wanted!

I like to keep a stock of toys for b-days Ale might get invited to....but, lately she's had lots...and all boys!...so, I have about 4-6 toys for girls which I CAN'T use!...so I need to buy some toys for boys...(I ran out of the "unisex" ones a long time ago!...mostly puzzles, building blocks, coloring books...)

((sigh)) time to go downtown again!

The workshop was very interesting...for one thing, I realized just how much effort is put into the procure to payment process at the company....and I also learned just how badly I mess things up for other people when I try to speed up things for my unit...oops!....

At the very beginning of the workshop my boss (VP) told the whole group that hierarchies (sp?) had to be put aside for this workshop and not to dismiss anyone´s input...(this was directed to our Logistics Director, who, naturally, is the designated leader of this project, because she tends to do that...she´ll only listen to people with titles of Director or above!)...anyway...we went through the workshop and, when we finally agreed on what the new process would be, we were supposed to present our case to a senior panel (CFO, VP of contrallory and VP of strategic development)...Most of us volunteered to present, and I ended up in charge of explaining our Current Si tuation map....as I was taught at school: forget the fancy language, keep it flowing, make occasional eye-contact and try to read body language to see if you should explain or if your audience is "buying"....it went pretty well...my bosses (Director and Manager) even congratulated me...that was nice!...I also presented the Expected Benefit on the final day of the workshop and, again, they said very impressed...now, for some strange reason, the part I DIDN´t like was when A (manager) said to me that they were amazed at the value that i had added to the workshop and the clarity of thought that I exhibited....so, I´ve been working with them for the past 3 years and they never noticed that before???...I´m trying to think it´s only that our day to day doesn´t really showcase it as well as a structured workshop might!...

Oh, well, in the end, I got praised and, even if I end up leaving the company, I can see the results of this workshop and its implementation as my "legacy" to the company! (they asked me to run a pilot test in our area, starting March 1st!)

just jotting it down so I don´t forget!

the good news is: I'm the chosen candidate for the open position!!! yay!....


the bad news is: they take my current salary, without the $120/month bonus, as the basis for their salary negotioation!!... me no like!

Oh, well, I guess I have to wait until I hear from them again - if I ever make it out of the Ac celerated Improve ment W orkshop...we seem to be working from 8 through 6:30 every day...and, just to give you an idea, our morning break today was at 11:50am....and lunch was served at 1:00pm!)...more on that tomorrow, as it has been a very interesting experience and definetely worth blogging about!

Ale told me yesterday that she wants her first job to be at a pupuseria...nanny has taught her how to make pupusas and, today Ale taught ME! (no, I had never done it before!)...she then asked me if the people that make pupusas make good money...I told her not the employees, but, maybe the restaurant owners...there´s a lady here that´s famous because she started selling on the side of the road and now has 3 or large restaurants, and they´re ALWAYS packed!

my boss got a phone call, as did one of my good friends (with whom I've also worked!)...YAY!!

I'm supposed to be attending a workshop for that accelerated improvement thing next week, and, they just sent an email informing that lunch will be provided...yay!..that'll save me about $1.50-$5.00!...let[s say $1.50, which is the minimum I would save, bringing my lunch from home every day but buying $0.30 beverages!)...Now, the reason I'm writing free in quotations is this:

"modo que evitemos largas interrupciones y podamos aprovechar mejor el tiempo como equipo. La hora del almuerzo y los breaks siempre será flexible dependiendo del progreso alcanzado y la opinión del grupo"

(so as to avoid long interruptions and so we can make better use of our time as a team. Lunch and break schedules will be flexible depending on our progress for the day and the group's opinion)

I think I better pack some migraine pills!

I meant to post about it yesterday, but, by the time I was done with the interview and the English class at our "adopted" school it was already 1:45pm and, I was supposed to leave the office at 2:00 to go to the Decameron for the training logistics thing...

I feel the interview went rather well...we laughed a lot and I think they got a good impression...
First they asked me if we could speak in English and if I were to rate my English would I say it was good?...they asked me about my past work experience, why I wanted to leave my current position...I think the clincher was when they asked me "what about creative problem-solving?" I just told them, well, modesty aside, people come to me and they say: I want to ask this from you because I know that if you don't have it, you'll know where to get it and, if you cannot get it, you'll make something up and find a way to substitute it...(which is true!)...

And, as I said, we did laugh a lot together, so they know I'm fun to be with!...I feel that I really connected with all 4 interviewers, and that I would be a great fit for this office...it's just a matter of them deciding whether I am the right candidate for the position and, of determining whether "the price is right"....considering not only salary, but also additional benefits, of course!

they mentioned that the office will be small and that somedays there will only be boring tasks...--I just spent half a week making photocopies! Every job has "its moments"--...

We'll see...I keep trusting that G-d will know what is best for me and either keep me here or send me somewhere else, accordingly! ....

it's 10:18 am and I'm supposed to leave at 10:45am for my interview!!!!!

The question took me completely by surprise!...I was just paying Ale's school and, since it was already 3:00pm, I popped in to say "Hi!" to her...and one of her classmates just shot it: Ar you poor?...No, why?...Alejandra said you were....Oh? well, we may not have money for luxuries but we sure aren't poor...

I guess I need to have a talk with Ale about this....I mean, how did she get this distorted view? we live in a small house in the wealthiest municipality in the country (true, it's not ours, it's a rental, and we share a household, but, still!)...we have a car, we have a nanny...and, while we don't have money to splurge, Ale can't exactly complain of NOT having "stuff"...as a matter of fact, she's the one that gets the most "stuff" at home...

I don't know, maybe kids have been talking about trips and cable and ipods and Xboxes???....I know for a fact that there are 3 kids in her class that have cellphones (?!...why would one give a cell phone to a 6 year old??!!)...and I know most of them have cable...Ale has also been asking whether only parents are allowed to have TV's in their rooms or whether some children have TV's of their own...Again, even if I HAD the money, I doubt it I'd want Ale to have her own "dumb box" in her room...

my sister´s best friend´s mom is here for a visit...after 26 years!...we three sat in our living room yesterday afternoon and just chatted and chatted and chatted...of love, life, death and everything in between...it´s funny because she remembers us as children, and we remember her as "a grown up" and, at this stage of our lives, we are just "women" and I guess we understand each other a lot better than we ever did!...

She brought as all presents...a nice outfit for Ale, a pencil case for her pencils, and a watch....

some outfits for sis (I still haven´t seen them) and niece and, even some for me! ...so now I have two new blouses that fit perfectly and pants, which I need to fix (not surprising, sis and I are always doing this, becuase we are short, all our pants have to be adjusted!)...they´re nice leisure clothes...which is an extra luxury for me!

...still, I´m $25 short to make it to next payday (Feb 15!)....I think I can collect that from here to Tuesday!...we´ll see!

I just read the news this morning, ES tax forms have changed!...rats! ....just when I was starting to understand the old ones!...oh, well, I hope the changes are for the best and will make things easier!... (I already printed the explanation off the local newspaper site!)...in the meantime, I cannot even start thinking about doing my taxes because the company hasn't given us our tax retention letters...

I forwarded the news to our payroll dept!...(it was during our lunch break, so it should be OK!) :P

I just got a call from the Embas-sy...I'm excited!...the only problem is I need someone to take over my English class at the school we have adopted....need to go look at the schedule...
I'm also supposed to go to the training which is at a resort 2 hours away from the city, but, as long as I'm there before 6pm, there will be no problem!...

wish me luck!

the lasagna nanny made yesterday was such a hit, there were no leftovers!!!...and, there were only enough leftovers from day before yesterday to pack 1 lunch: Ale's... that means I have to buy my lunch today....unless there's a Work Unit lunch and somebody decides to invite me, but, I'm not counting on it!...oh, well, I'll try to keep it as close to $2 as possible!