Okay, so it doesn't sound that nice. "Engineer" isn't really a romantic title at all. But hey, it's my title and actually, the story is pretty romantic.
One day, in September 2008, I got a super opportunity handed to me at work. My manager came into my office and asked if I was interested in going to Germany on assignment for 6 months. I said yes! No thought required. My manager was surprised by my response and made it clear that I had time to consider, details were still being worked out. I was completely sure. "Just let me know when to pack my bag."
One day, in September 2008, I got a super opportunity handed to me at work. My manager came into my office and asked if I was interested in going to Germany on assignment for 6 months. I said yes! No thought required. My manager was surprised by my response and made it clear that I had time to consider, details were still being worked out. I was completely sure. "Just let me know when to pack my bag."
You see, I was bored. I guess I should not say that out loud, but the project I had been spending all my time on at work had recently been defunded. My team was being reassigned and we were bummed out. But I wasn't only bored at work. I was also in a relationship that wasn't going anywhere. He was a great guy, but our paths were not going the same direction, the same as several of my previous relationships. It was really time for a change.
After many long months of (feigned) patience, I was on my way to Greifswald, Germany. Where exactly is that? It's a small town (~60,000 inhabitants) in Northwestern Germany near the Baltic Sea. A perfect, out-of-the-way haven for folks like me looking for a way to decompress. It was lovely and right on time.
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| A late afternoon view of the Greifswald Dom and Rathaus from the Marktplatz |
I was newly single and on an adventure. I had six months to clear my palate, center myself, and find a new direction. I got to work.
Have you ever gotten an opportunity for a fresh start?
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