First Day Back -- Professional Ethics

Yeah, today I'm back to being a suit again. I'm eating my lunch in a small cafe with wireless lan so that's Y I'm rambling while I wait for my "Chicken Caesar Salad Set" to arrive. Actually I usually dine by myself while I draft my next stories, read my book, or do any research (both for work, and for my blog - yes, I'm productive for a lazy, drunken wench), so it's not much different from my usual lunch breaks. So why is it that I eat by myself, and not with my collegues? Well, that's coz I don't have any. I have only bosses. My big boss, Principal. K, is usually out doing "working lunches" with potential clients at expensive restaurants like Maxim's, the New York Grill , or CITABRIA (all fully expensed, of course), and my other boss, Director.A, a really hardworking, Japanese guy, usually has lunch with his colleague, Director. T. There is not much mingling amongst the ranks in Japanese(?) companies so I tend to eat by myself, which is actually a welcoming break from my desk, my telephone, (which I never answer coz if its important people can IM, or call me on my mobile. I'm usually busy so my secretary takes my calls that tend to be from people trying to sell me land, to headhunt me, to sell me bibles and "jeezuz loves you" trinkets, to sell me cows- I kid U not!, and to sell me shares for pink elephants. i.e. scammers), and my *neat* pile of papers (contrary to my home environment, my desk at work -- maybe coz the office is open planning -- is meticulously organised. I even have a fixed "Filing System"!!)

This "antisocial" behaviour of mine, I discovered over the holidays, is apparently quite famous at the office especially amongst those that share the open space "hotelling" area at the office. Basically I belong to a department of only 3 people, my big boss, my little boss, and me, which means that I tend to not only eat lunch by myself, but I also sit by myself in a large area. During the holiday season I attended 5 parties where I went and introduced myself to men, and this is what happened:

"Hi, my name is DWR. Nice to meet you."

"LOL!I know you. You sit on the 5th floor in Hibiya, next to the big-wiggs by yourself, right?"

"Eh? What? I'm confused, how do you know where I work, and where I *sit*?"

"WE WORK FOR THE SAME COMPANY!"

"Oh."

(and by this time the men are turning to their neighbours who are also nodding as if they also know me.)

Shit, I work with *all* these people??

"We've seen you -- you are always surrounded by your papers, typing away at the speed of light, totally focused on your papers and the screen, and well... you look so hard at work, so none of us have been able to, you know, come around and say Hi, coz remember? Um we met through, T, about 2 years ago. I've also seen you at the company's quarterly meetings, but you always seem to be *working* on your PC, and not really paying attention to what the CEO is saying... so..."

(all of his friends are nodding frantically by now.)

Fuck, they really *do* know me!!!

Shit! My collegues think I am *soooo* unapproachable, for I'm busy *typing*?? (I'm probably blogging when I'm not busy, so I can't believe that I am that *unapproachable*?!)

I'm a suit. I'm a blank-faced suit. And I have two rules that I adhere to as a professional: 1) I don't date my collegues, and 2) I don't date my clients. I'm at the office to work, neither to socialise, nor to find a boyfriend. (And yes, I've had clients hit on me, but, sorry, I just *have* to draw the line -- I'm selling my mind, my ideas, not my pussy.) The other suits in my office are equally blind to me, and I bet you I just walked passed the men that I met at some party on my way out to lunch, but I wouldn't be able to recognise them (nor remember their names).

Additional new year's resolution:

20. Remember the faces (at least!) of your collegues so you don't keep making a fool of yourself when you meet them at parties.

21. Look up from your PC - occasionally - and if you see anyone that you know, smile, ask them over for a chat, even if you are in the middle of doing something that you are working hard at. (probably would be broken by 2-moro, but hell, I should *try* at least, right? )