Life as an employee

Jan 7th-
I started work on Monday this week. The lab is really nice and the people all knew I was coming.. I got a lot of "So you're the American." Come to think of it, I don't know what that means exactly... I'm seated next to these 3 young-ish girls. One is from Denmark, one Norway and the other from Poland. They are pretty much all permanently here now, with jobs, babies or boyfriends that keep them here. As a group they are real friendly and I'm glad I'm sitting by some younger people.

The lab itself if really nice. Its not an experimental lab like the one I worked in in Taiwan so its really just an office building, but they do study building properties there like optimal lighting and indoor environment and air quality, so you know it has to be a good place to work. I'm in a big open room with desks along the sides separated out by large bookshelves and tables in the middle for collaborating. The room is about 2-3 stories tall, like school gym size, and there are skylights all over. No one is behind a cubicle but we all have our own space and its just really open and comfortable. Anyhow that's probably too much detail, but I find it to be such a nice work space I thought I'd describe it a bit. Being energy efficient in Denmark the overhead lights go off when it senses an adequate level of natural light. On days like today, when the sun was going in and out behind clouds, it was like a rave it there.. haha pretty funny.

For my research assignment I am going to be looking at non-destructive testing techniques that can be used to determine the strength of existing masonry buildings like those built in Copenhagen.. AND. that's all I'm going to say about anything technical!

Hmm I can't think of what else would be interesting about my job. (I'm writing this because blogger won't let me upload any pictures today for some reason) It really sucks to work in Europe when they have 7.5 hour days which includes lunches that I should mention are catered meals everyday.. OH and on Friday there are brunches too.. and lunch.. so yes that is a show up, eat, work for an hour, and then eat again.. all paid for. Why don't we all work in Europe again? I mean there are just 4 weeks paid-and-mandatory vacation.. wait why am I even joking about this?!!!