I'm trying to do my day-to-day tasks while filing/throwing away everything that I should have filed/thrown away in the past 3 years, but didn't!! and, whose fault is THAT? mine and mine alone, really!) ...also, I'm trying to write out the programmable admin tasks for April and May, so that things are at least half-controlled once I leave (not really "required", but I know it's expected!)...there's a major training in April and, things should have been ready by April 5th, so now I'm trying to have everything set up by March 30th...that will give the other admin about 17 days before she actually has to take 100% charge of the training logistics (believe me, that is supposed to be an "extra 10% activity", which somehow ends up being a full time job for at least 2 weeks!)...I'm also in charge of a pilot test for the new purchasing process, which started this monday....so I'll also have to leave instructions for that...so far, I've managed to list (most) of the tasks for April...but, this is the "programmable" ones, meaning the ones I KNOW when/how will hit me...there are also the many odds and ends that I take care of....needless to say, I'm feeling the stress!!!...(the only good thing about that is it DEFINETELY offsets any sadness I might feel about leaving...it actually makes me want to run away!!LOL!)

well, it's official, I am starting my new job on April 2nd...yay!!!...Part of me is really excited...of course, part of me is sad to be leaving my "children"...
one of my bosses made me cry yesterday (the one that has helped me with Ale's school)...he made sad puppy eyes at me when he said "I'm so happy for you"...

I'm also a bit mad at the other admin, because she is indignant that "they don't care" ("they" being our bosses)...and, I know that is not the case...but, I cannot tell her because obviously I cannot tell her about the 1001 ways in which they have proven their appreciation to me (plus, that would probably just make matters worse!)...oh, I need to let that go, I cannot really do anything about it...

So, I have two weeks to clean my desk and finish any pending tasks...also to bring the other admin up to speed on my tasks/responsibilities...OUCH!...she's going nuts as it is with all the travel arrangements not only for our unit (22 people) but for 2 sets of consultant teams (6 and 4 people, respectively), plus all the travel arrangements for people that are coming for interviews... It would be simple enough if people would make up their minds as to what they want....she hasn't been in the best of moods lately and, I guess the perspective of dealing with all the admin stuff on her own is not too appealing...

well, we had our bi-monthly meeting yesterday and, sure enough, they casually mentioned that the rules of the game will soon be changing when it comes to our monthly bonus (based on X index on performance, which has been constantly achieved for the last 3-5 years, and which has meant a monthly bonus of $120 for all employees...the bonus will soon be based on Y index, which is consistently lower than target...those $120 could very easily go down to $30 or less per month!)...I mean, it makes sense, the idea is to make everyone work towards improving Y index, but...O U C H!

They didn't announce a date for it, so it might still be a couple of months away, but, at least WE get a heads up....other areas will be hit without warning!

between re-locating my files to fit the stuff for the office supply pilot test, and trying to catch up on 1 week of backlogged work at the same time, and running around to get all the info/tests I needed to deliver to the emb assy, I'm going nuts!...now, the space allocated for the office supplies is really not enough, so I have to re-locate my training materials (of which I shouldn't have as many as I do, but, one of our managers left recently and he found about 10 manuals and other odds and ends in his desk when cleaning up...all of which landed magically on my already cluttered desk!!)...the good news is: I already found the perfect filing cabinet for my materials...except currently it's full of old materials (we use to print a copy of everything for the trainers...we then decided it was way too much effort and now we upload it and have them download it into their laptops...and each downloads whatever modules s/he's teaching!)...we also have a longer session(2 days vs 1/2 day) to review all materials with them, to decide which materials need changing BEFORE they are printed!...
AND, I have to schedule the trainings for this year in my calendar and a reminder to send the purchase order to the printers 3 weeks in advance! (If I do leave, I would then just forward these "appointments" to the person in charge of trainings and then s/he can do it or, forward it to the next victim, er, admin assistant to take my place)...well, gotta go!

...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!

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!)

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!

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! ....

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!

it went as expected...it's not a difficult test for me and, I've done it before!...the great news is there were only 4 of us and noone from the Embas-sy, so that means there's no "inside" competition!!!....they should be calling us for interviews either by the end of this week or early next week...
we'll see how this goes!

...through numerous initiatives and fierce competition, the company employees were able to raise over $16K for the Telethon...the owner matched our $$$ 2X1...so total from the company will be almost $50K...of course, thanks to the PR fairies, the employees' donation was the first one of the event, so it got a special mention in the press!...

Still, it IS a good cause and, they HAVE built new centers not only in the capital city but also in some of the other major cities....

at the Embassy (again!)...they throw out all candidate's files after 6 months...

this is for an admin assistant position...

Let's hope noone from the Embassy is applying for this position, as they (logically) tend to give priority to their own people!....

The test is next Tuesday....keep your fingers crossed!

once again we are trying to determine how productive we all are...once again I have been asked to submit how many hours I spend doing what...for this week it seemed kind of low... and I actually wrote 2 hours for photocopying...well, guess what? Yesterday I got BOMBARDED with requests for photocopying!....I spent a total of 6 hours of my day just making copies, punching holes and putting them in folders!...there goes my monthly quota! (almost!) LOL!...you never know what's going to hit you each day when you're an admin assistant!

we had a bake sale today to support the Telethon...one of the girls in our group is famous for her brownies (she sells them)...she stayed up until midnight to bake 218 brownies...all of which sold in less than 1 hour!!...we are taking orders for tomorrow...about $112 have already been pre-ordered...

HR hosted a "jeans-day" (meaning you could wear jeans today), at $2.00 per person....I'm sure they raised a lot of money, too!

well, there's a new initiative to improve the purchasing process...and I've been added to the team...my job will be mostly to test the procedures and give ideas...still, it's nice to be considered for something like this...
they sent out a survey on the existing processes today...as I told my boss (Director), I was as honest as possible but without being nasty about the problems we've encountered...

we are having a Telethon for the construction of new physical therapy centers here in ES...our company typically donates all the artist's flights, but we, as employees, also contribute...since last year the amount we brought was $10K, this year the goal is to reach $12K...so, they have organized a competition among all Vice-Presidencies, to see which one can collect the most...insider knowledge says we are in second place right now (ok, so one of our guys is dating an HR girl!)...we have collected about $800...there's a rally tomorrow and we're all hitting the malls to pester people for money, er, ask people to donate...a group is also going to the airport...what's nice is that, no matter who takes 1st place, we all win!

I'm still speechless...anyone that knows me "in the flesh" will tell you that my being speechless is not only highly improbable, but also impossible...but, I am...sort of...
This morning, my boss (VP) called me to his office and, there were a couple other people there looking like the cat that swallowed the canary...they left and my boss asked me to sit down and then said: "you may have noticed I haven't given you a Xmas present..."...I said: yes -- very matter of factly, honestly I just thought he had given them out while at the Xmas party that I didn't attend and figured he probably had forgotten it at home and I would get it next year...no biggie...he said: well, I hadn't because I was trying to find the best way to go around it and do the best possible while keeping it affordable...by this time my mind was thinking: cool! he got me a raise!...and then he said: ...I have heard from other people in the unit that you are interested in pursuing a business on the side...yes (it's no secret, really!) and then he said: and I also heard that one of the things holding you back from that was a computer...(I swear my jaw scraped the floor!)...and he continued...so, I bought one of our old laptops from the company, it's not new, but I had it cleaned and refurbished and loaded with all the software you might need....I believe I might have said something like: Ak-ak-adack before saying THANKS!...
I mean, physically it's just a computer, but, in reality, it is so much more!!!...I really can't find the words! (which is why I am here at my desk crying as I type!)...but, this one is just too big to keep to myself!
..I know I also have to give G-d a HUGE Thank You for putting people like this in my life!

...((sigh)) YES!...
they want all expenses for 2006 to be tallied in 2006 (obvious!)...so, one of our PM's sent a message to the whole unit regarding this, so now I'm SWAMPED with things that need processing for payment before tomorrow (when our PM leaves!) ...it's 4:40 and, I don't think I can finish before tomorrow noon! ...

H
: E
:: L
::: P!

...I am the "administrator" for our expat houses...that means I deal with landlords/landladies and process all payments...homeowners are supposed to bring me their receipts/invoices for processing...there's this one house that has the landlady from hell...she's very disorganized, doesn't want to pay for repairs, is late in paying security fees (eventhough we pay it every month as part of the rent!)...it is just easier for me to type/print her invoices and just ask her to come and sign them every 3 or 4 months than it is to explain to her every month that her payment hasn't been processed because she hasn't brought the invoices!...well, today she came to sign the first invoices for 2007...she gave a Xmas gift: a cheque for $30!...I didn't even look at the cheque, she said it was: "a little something", so I just thanked her and pocketed it...I certainly didn't expect ANYthing...much less $30!...I'm off to the bank to cash it...then off to yet ANOTHER bank (across the street) to put it towards a cc!...this one definetely goes towards the $20 challenge, because it was so unexpected!

***************
DONE!

I've sent so many the past three years, I'm starting to worry that they'll think I'm a terrorist just trying to get in! LOL!...I also got my docs ready to apply to an admin assist position at an International Organization...

wouldn't it be nice to start the year off with a new job??

...I'm having several different problems at the same time (work-related, but having to do with $$$)...one is a guy that left the company over a year ago crying for his expenses (which he SENT to me AFTER he had left!) and about his medical insurance (they sent him a reimbursement for expenses that were over a year old when he presented-- which is against policy, but, somehow the lady in insurance management got them to pay) and, because the cheque wasn't cashed on time, now he wants the insurance company to reissue the cheque...we already told him, he has to mail the old cheque...he doesn't want to do that, he thinks it's too much of a hassle and wants us to say that the cheque got lost and the company should reissue a new one...he also sent some plane tickets to be reimbursed...all this after he had already left the company (the tickets were issued for him BEFORE he left and were covered under his contact)...then I have 6 interns who are supposed to be getting reimbursed in CASH every week for their living expenses (they are from other countries)....but now audit has cancelled all cash reimbursement and they have to wait for cheques to be cut...noone told me about this and, we just found out today when they tried to cash their payment requests...this is a hassle for me because obviously they NEED their money and, I'm the "contact person"....Then I have two of the (expat) houses without internet service "for non-payment"...WHAT??...and because we DON'T cut cheques for THAT, now I have to go to accounting and beg them to let me look at the petty cash files for the last 3 weeks to get a copy of the paid out invoice....
AND the maid in one of the (expat) houses is leaving at the end of the month, so I have to find them another one...AND they are also vacating the house and looking for a new one!-- luckily they rent furnished houses, but, still!...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHHH!!!... I want to go home!!! NOW!

The question was asked by one of our PM's upon learning that our maintenance facilities are at a "Free Zone" (meaning tax free) at one meeting and then hearing that taxes are "territorial" in ES during another - related to planes...it's hard for me to explain all that in English (I barely understood it in Spanish!)...

Our answer? ...a handful of raised hands (all the locals, and a few expats - not all of them...depending on their resident status! LOL!)...

....we have to deliver 4 orders by this weekend, as all 4 companies are having their Xmas parties on Saturday....

so is my company...at a water park 45 minutes away from the city!!!...from 7 to 12...which means I'm sending Ale with my friend B, the Other Admin....

Saturday is also Ale's church pageant...at 4:30pm...so she's going with my sis...

because cousin and I have to go host a customer's children's party! ...starting at 2:30....

AND, our unit at work is going to the Padre Vito Guarato Home (yes, I wanted them to go, but, did they have to pick THIS Saturday to do it??)

Besides the physical exhaustion, the stress is killing me! ((think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts))

it's THAT time of the year again...when everybody else in our unit - except the other admin and myself- get a raise!...I guess they (VP and Director) once again couldn't come up with an idea to justify it to HR and accounting! (the "scheme" to give the others raises is that every year they get a "promotion"....they created 4 steps for each position, so they get "promoted" to the next step....same responsibilities, different salary/benefits! ....The ironic thing is that their starting salaries are double what we make!...so, with the promotions, some of them are now making 3x what we make!...and most are unmarried still, which, in ES means living with their parents and not contributing to the house even!... I know life's not fair, and noone ever said it would or should be, but...still...I'm seriously considering NOT going to the Xmas party....last year the VP even got to say he's got the best directors, the most talented PM's, the greatest analysts: together they are the greatest team in the world....(and the little elves that do the administrative work while the other admin and I do our nails I suppose, as we two were never mentioned!)...as vitriolic as this post is, imagine if I "sound" like this when I'm sober, what will happen after the official toast?...I should stick to soda, definetely...IF I go, I'd probably just stay for the "private" part of the evening (and leave once there are enough guests arriving for any one to notice me slipping out)...I generally don't let this things get me down (too much), but, at times it's difficult....

Sis was commenting that one of her friends just quoted a new computer...it cost about $350....that is more or less what I will get once I finish the latest translation...which I could have handed in last Monday if the computer at home hadn´t crashed...It is so tempting because it would come out of totally unexpected money and, in a way, it would be like the business is already starting to pay for itself...if I had more time on the computer at home, I might be able to do more about getting more translations (like polish my presentation for the Ministry of Tourism for example!)....so...I don´t know...I could start and see what happens...I also have a "tip" of someone else that needs translations...this could be the real start of the business...who knows??...I´m thinking about it...Not that I´ll don anything until that money is in my bank account anyway!

we were supposed to have a "working lunch" to discuss the new fundraising for the community development thing, so I didn't bring lunch from home, but the managers got stuck in a meeting and, couldn't make it so the lunch got rescheduled! (the meeting was supposed to end at 11, and our lunch would run from 12 to 1...their meeting lasted until 1!)

Hate it!>..note to self: bring food from home even if there is a working lunch scheduled!

Slowl but steady progress!...they want them ready by end of day today...((sigh))

I just received a request for a 27-page translation from HR!!!...that's $364.50 after taxes!!!...wooo-hooo!!! (of course, they take about a month to pay, but....still!!)