I think I nearly have everything set up on my PC now to be able to do some real work. I am encouraged that everything is coming together, but frustrated that I find something else missing for each step I take forwards!
My boss was able to spend a few minutes with me this morning, explaining my first project, and he is realistic about the potential learning curve that I need to ascend before I will be really valuable. However, I am excited that the work is well within my sphere of experience, just that my specific knowledge of the tools is a bit behind the times. He is only in tomorrow and then will be out until Wednesday next week, so it would be nice to be able to make some real progress tomorrow. However with the office move coming up at the weekend, I suspect he is going to be pretty busy packing his stuff into boxes!
I went to view my first apartment today. It would be fine, and I have expressed an interest in renting it. It’s available from 1 August, so it will mean me staying a couple of extra days in the place in Kloten (where I am now) Such is the fierce competition for apartments, that the owner could easily decide not to rent it to me because I don’t speak German, or for some other reason. I got a really nice reference letter typed up from one of the Vice Presidents of Credit Suisse (an English bloke who has been here 7 years and still doesn’t speak the language!) so hopefully that will give me a bit of an advantage. Certainly the owner’s eyes lit up when I mentioned Credit Suisse! The apartment is VERY handy for work – both the new and old places, and is also near shopping centres, trains etc. It has a bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen, so would be a bit of a squash when I have visitors, but would be fine for just me (most of the time). The price of the apartment includes a bi-weekly clean, and they also provide clean bed linen. I forgot to check about laundry facilities – most apartment blocks have communal washers and dryers here.
The Swiss clockwork transport system broke down today on the way home – we sat for an extra 15 minutes in the main Zurich station. A man came on the tannoy every few minutes, but the announcement was only in German. Some people got off the train, but most stayed on, so I did the same. No other way to get to Kloten, as far as I know! I was planning to go for my work permit tomorrow evening, but the travel delay today has made me nervous. I think I will go first thing in the morning instead and let my boss know that I will be a bit late in. It will probably fit in well with my workload anyway, as hopefully my remaining bits of PC admin will have come through. I will also offer to work later to make it up.
Was looking at possibilities to travel home for the weekend of 13th or 20th July. Flights are pretty expensive for both – looks like I am going to have to plan further ahead in future. Still haven’t finally got an answer about how I ask for a half days leave to get an earlier flight on a Friday evening. Think the answer is that I will just have to work an extra 4 hours or so during the week to make up for it.