Today Richard starts a summer position with the San Antonio Express-News. It’s a new job, in a new city. We’ll be thinking of him today, and wishing him well.
We’ve all started new jobs in a new city. It’s exhilarating, charged with adrenalin . . . and a bit scary. You’re starting from the ground up. The most basic elements of daily existence — What’s the best way to get to work? What radio stations are good? Where should I shop for groceries? — are brand spanking new and completely unsettled.
You’re dealing with a new workplace, with its own special rhythms. You’ve got a new boss, a new desk, and new co-workers, with new rules and expectations and policies. You don’t know anyone and you don’t have an existing social network to fall back on. But that can be a good thing, too, forcing you to be a bit more outgoing and interactive.
So you start on your first day, with your social antenna quivering and your energy level cranked up to 11. You soak up information about your new workplace and your new city like a thirsty sponge. Then you make friends, and you start to learn interesting things about your new city, and figure out where to hang out, where to eat a good meal, and (in Richard’s case, at least) where to jog. After a few weeks you’re settled in, and when friends and family visit you can show them around like a quasi-native.
It’s a hugely exciting time. Good luck, Richard!
Webner House 