This is a list of ten things I have learned working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I'd like to share them:
o1) Nobody really cares who you are or where you're from, as long as you have an ID to leave at the reception desk. Because of course terrorists don't carry around their ID's with them.
o2) Bureaucracy is the best invention since sliced bread. All innovative ideas and proyects that are subject to it take so long to develop, you end up giving up on them. If that's not the best way to keep your people under control, then I don't know what is.
o3) Diplomats are the funniest people I've ever met. They dress like they're attending the Vienna Congress back in 1814, they use rhetoric a lot in their conversations, and while it seems like they have a trillion things to do, in reality it takes them ages to finish one single proyect.
o4) We all have a Miranda from The Devil Wears Prada inside, just waiting for the chance to come out and unleash her rage. Fortunately, there usually is some tortured assistant around to attack.
o5) There's a gene us people that study or studied IR share that prevents us from being computer friendly. That's why, despite the fact that it's the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the area that's most active is the IT department (information techonologies area, you know, the computer nerds that solve all your problems). Those poor souls run around the building all day, because there is ALWAYS someone that thinks his/her computer is five seconds away from exploding.
o6) It is really unmotivating to see your tax money spent on tons of white sheets, CD's, pens, etc. that are used for everything but work and a huge internet bill that is mostly made up of facebook checking.
o7) If you have an assistant, use him/her all the time! Even if you can do many things yourself, like placing a phone call, writing an official document, or searching the web for a book, tell your assistant to do it for you. After all, what would work be without the joys of having someone to boss around?
o8) Loud music blasting from your computer helps you work harder. So screw the other people around you, if they don't like your music tastes they should buy ear plugs.
o9) After a while of working at the Ministry and hearing all about the international news on a daily basis, sad, lame jokes about international events start filtering into your daily conversations.
i.e.
M: Yesterday the Minister started yelling at me from across the room during the meeting.
C: Really? In front of everyone?
M: Yeah. I felt like Bush when that arab journalist threw a shoe at him. Everyone was just staring at me, trying hard not to burst out laughing at my bright red cheeks.
o10) After a couple of weeks of working for a man that is physically unable to stop talking, you master the attention glance -staring straight at him, blinking every now and then, looking like you're taking in all that he's saying, when in reality your mind is back in your warm bed and you're thinking about your plans for the day.
1 shout outs:
jajajajajaja this is the "por que medicina" for R.I. I find it very funny and extremly out of place in my life.... curious isnt it? you, me, all of our friends are starting to talk an own privat language that only oursleves and people working/studing with us can really get. weird thing is, I still dont feel that weird invisible wall that stands
between me and the people who actually does talk the same language desapearing, makes me feel kinda lonely from time to time. But here's the thing, friendship and love are universal languages, and I still feel I get you, us the same old gang better than anyone else even though we are all starting to use more and more our personal internal jokes and languages between us (which we know the other doesnt really get). Anyway I had fun reading it. I love your blog, im starting to thing I just migth open one of my own.... (its me, Araceli I just dont know how to publish this on any other way)
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