4 months later (with 200 3-letter abbreviations more in my head)

So, time to write again, feels good! Quick summary of the last 4 months: Work has been great for me, I know a lot more about the telco industry (surprise…) and my boss is satisfied. So all in all, alles gut!

Currently I am in Budapest, Hungary. Nice city, really nice people and brilliant soups… in addition to that, a lot cheaper then Sweden so I get to feel a little rich. =) Language though, harder then chinese. Ordering a cab, not easy! But I will have 6 months to learn… 

“Warming up in Hungary” 

I will be here for one week as part of a “warm up process” for my stationing here for 6 months which will commence by mid-may. This brings up the topic of being flexible as a trainee. About a week and half ago, 20th March, I had a good-bye lunch with my colleagues as I was moving to Hungary by April 1st. 2 hours later, I was given an offer to stay and take part in a 6 week project. The project is a within a really, really exciting area and it gives me good exposure against top-level management. Hence, there was “no saying no” and 3 hours after the good-bye lunch I was going around telling all my colleagues I would stay a little longer. In retrospect, I am happy I got the chance and pleased that I took it and wasn’t too set on moving on a particular date.

My first day in Pannon; Taking part in the yearly soccer tournament 

My first day in Budapest, Sunday, was spent taking part in the Pannon Yearly Soccer Tournament, big business in Pannon. The office is packed with prizes and trophies from different tournaments and years. Anyways, played in the same team as the CEO, CFO & CMO for Pannon. Pretty nice way to get acquainted with the company on the first day by sweating it out on the soccer field with these guys! And all credit to them for the soccer skills, we made it through to the quarter finals. Apparently a big shock to everyone in Pannon. As for me, I scored 3 times out of which one was in my own goal… Nice start!

My second day, today, has been spent working and calling Sweden as well as getting over a slight headache after yesterdays beers with my boss here who is the Chief Strategy Officer at Pannon. A really nice relaxed guy whom I think I will get a long great with and whom I think will be able to teach me a lot about the telecom industry. The projects I will work on seem really interesting as well!

That was it for this time, expect a new addition in about a week in which I will update you on the spring weather in Sweden and what my party weekend in Budapest was like…

/Niklas