When I went into work on Monday, my boss called me into his office and closed the door. He told me that because of my 24 years of loyal service to the company, management had decided that I did not need to finish out my notice. They would still pay me through August 6, but I did not need to go to work. He took my keys and my password, told me how much he enjoyed working with me, told meto take as long as I wanted to say my goodbyes, and wished me luck.
It really kind of shocked me. Of course the extra time to take care of the myriad of little things that keep cropping up is appreciated. And being able to spend a little extra time with my sons and grandson is great. But I can't helpthinking that there must be some ulterior motive. It may be that they felt I would somehow undermine the selection process for a new supervisor. It could be that they thought I might talk badly about the company or some individuals within the company. There is also the possibility that they are at least considering the chance that, instead of teaching English, I am going to China to work for a competitor. Or they may in fact be acting out of kindness and consideration. Either way, I have two free weeks before I need to leave.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
I'm almost ready!
Well, I guess it's safe to say that I have reached the point of no return. All the paperwork is just about complete. I have my passport. I have had my physical examination. I have turned everything in to the people in China that they required. The contracts have been signed. I have received my letter of invitation and work permit. The only thing I lack at this time is my visa, which should be here by the first of August.
I turned in my notice at my full-time job on Wednesday, July 15th. I think it caught both my boss and HR by surprise. Not that they didn't think it would ever happen (I think it was a well-known fact that I wasn't particularly happy in my current position), but just that I actually did it. My last day at Charlotte Pipe & Foundry: Plastics Division, the place where I have worked for the past 24+ years, will be Thursday, August 6.
Today was my last day at Food Lion. Leaving there was perhaps the most difficult. Other than an 18 month stint as a waiter at a buffet restaurant, I have been at this store since the summer of 2000. I met a lot of wonderful people there, both customers and coworkers, people who I will miss. My last day at my other part-time job will be Sunday, August 2. I leave for China on Tuesday, August 11.
People have been asking if I'm excited about getting ready to go to China. At this point, I'm not really feeling all that excited about it. I think this is mostly because there is so mush to do before I leave. I think at some point, though, I will be able to say that I have done everything I needed to do. Then I can relax a little and really look forward to the future. I think that is when the excitement and anticipation will start.
The purpose of this blog is to keep family and friends updated with what is going on, especially once I reach Tianjin and start teaching. It will save me from having to compose multiple emails and answer the same questions over and over again. It will also provide a forum where I can share pictures of my experiences.
I turned in my notice at my full-time job on Wednesday, July 15th. I think it caught both my boss and HR by surprise. Not that they didn't think it would ever happen (I think it was a well-known fact that I wasn't particularly happy in my current position), but just that I actually did it. My last day at Charlotte Pipe & Foundry: Plastics Division, the place where I have worked for the past 24+ years, will be Thursday, August 6.
Today was my last day at Food Lion. Leaving there was perhaps the most difficult. Other than an 18 month stint as a waiter at a buffet restaurant, I have been at this store since the summer of 2000. I met a lot of wonderful people there, both customers and coworkers, people who I will miss. My last day at my other part-time job will be Sunday, August 2. I leave for China on Tuesday, August 11.
People have been asking if I'm excited about getting ready to go to China. At this point, I'm not really feeling all that excited about it. I think this is mostly because there is so mush to do before I leave. I think at some point, though, I will be able to say that I have done everything I needed to do. Then I can relax a little and really look forward to the future. I think that is when the excitement and anticipation will start.
The purpose of this blog is to keep family and friends updated with what is going on, especially once I reach Tianjin and start teaching. It will save me from having to compose multiple emails and answer the same questions over and over again. It will also provide a forum where I can share pictures of my experiences.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)