Posts tagged ‘office’
Open Sesame!
New office, new beginnings.
The corporate world in Lebanon and I don’t get along, so I decided to go full-fledged freelance and work from an office to make it legit. Ok, it’s my dad’s old office, but I’m paying all the bills, utilities, arguing with the concierge.. etc.. so temporarily mine. It’s been a great two weeks working there. The location is very central.. right in the middle of Achrafieh with all the major stores at walking distance. I love the mobility and walking around the tiny streets. There’s always something going on all around. The traffic and road noise, I’m still trying to get used to, but it’s a small price to pay for the other perks.
Quite a few of my family have worked in the office: from my dad first opening it as an engineering consulting office, to my uncle doing his final architecture project in the 80s, to my other uncle starting his computer business there, and both my brothers camping out there during finals. There’s certainly been a lot of history.
It’s a little scary being on my own this way. Sometimes I wake up and ask myself, is this a real job? When I get to the office and see the growing list of project to-dos (noushkour allah) and my stomach ties in knots, I know it is. It’s generally acknowledged that in Lebanon, the best job/pay is to be working for yourself. In the USA, the perks of working for a company are much better.. lower insurance, IRA accounts and other benefits. Here, not so much. IRA what? (I seriously asked at my last job and HR laughed)
Slowly decorating and adjusting the office. It’s currently set up as an office-office.. swivel chairs, long desks, waiting room.., but I’d like to set up a studio space to get the more creative projects done – namely my novel. Yes, yes 
I’m back to drawing!!
Mouwathafeen 2
One of the first questions I got asked when I started work was how I liked my coffee. Every morning at 8.30 on the dot, Zaher drops off coffee for every employee on the first floor. Whether you like Turkish coffee (dark and strong), mixed with powdery coffee mate, or even some Lipton tea, he’ll make it for you.
The whole concept of an “office boy” is new to me. He asked if I wanted him to prepare me some, but since I’m drinking 3-in-1 lately, found no need. All I need is hot water and a tiny sachet. It tastes like crap, but does the trick.
Zaher’s kitchenette somehow transformed into an office. He has office chairs, plenty of storage space, his own phone extension (I share mine with Zahi in my office), and has even hung a bunch of photos of himself on the cupboards. And rumor has it, he won’t allow any of the other office boys touch his equipment. Ok, that came out a little bit wrong. Tisk tisk. To clarify, every floor has it’s own office boy with the sole task of making coffee. Zaher looks so bored most of the time and he’s there from 8 to 5 just like all of us.
Don’t even think to disturb him between 1 and 2pm. That’s when he takes his nap, and trust me, you don’t want to be on the other side of the door when he wakes up. I swear, it’s like waking up a grizzly bear. He’s huge. I don’t think he likes me anymore since then. Or maybe it’s because I use 3-in-1.
Hope
A simple short film about communication. Beautiful video.
