From One American Hug to Three Belgian Kisses

After an indescribably wonderful trip to AMERICA, I made it safe and sound to the Media Plus offices in Lommel, Belgium, just outside of Brussels. I was greeted by my enthusiastic colleagues (all of whom I must do the whole three-kiss-on-the-cheek thing, so it takes about an hour to say ‘hello’ to everyone). Coming back into Belgium I realized just how much character the little country really has. Even though 95% of the time it is overcast and/or raining and/or snowing, it has a cuteness about it, especially in the small villages where I stay while I am in the office. On every corner there is a snack shop or “frituur” serving all sorts of unidentifiable fried meats and delicious pomme frits smothered in repulsive mayonnaise (mine on the side, danku!). I am surrounded by the Flemish language (a slightly varied version of Dutch), not to mention the Italian, French, Spanish, and Hungarian of my colleagues. I also realized I actually really do miss the uniqueness of everyone I work with – they are all so different. Sitting at the lunch table (where I munch on a weird Belgian sandwich that never fails to have egg and mayo, no matter what you order), I look around and am confused how a Ukrainian, Bulgarian, British, Togolese, Hungarian, Canadian, and American can have such normal, everyday conversations about common life habits and routines. I got into the groove of being 6 hours ahead but one hour behind the country I was calling (Bulgaria) and also adjusted to the different phone systems, road signs, and food labels.

My week in the office was therefore a somewhat rough transition back into reality, and I was confused as to how a place so different could eventually once again become so familiar that I actually considered it reality (if that makes sense?) One extreme high and then extreme low occurred when the thousands of copies of the Croatia report arrived to the office. It looks amazing and perfect and I felt so proud – until I turned to the front cover, where under the title “Business Analyst” reads a “Kristin Kemy”. That is all I am going to say about that.

After a long night of clubbing in Belgium on Friday, Abbie, Slavy, and I woke up an hour later for our flight to good old Bulgaria. (As Slavy joked the whole way, “party in Belgium, hangover in Bulgaria!”) Our first stop after checking into our hotel was to our favorite traditional Bulgarian restaurant, and I surprisingly felt somewhat at home once again (or maybe it was just me trying not to think about how much I still missed everyone at my real home).

I knew I was really back in Bulgaria after our taxi ride home from dinner tonight. Slavy was not with Abbie and I, and of course the drivers always try to take advantage of us English-speakers. A crazy-haired lady who looked identical to Cruella Devil yelled at me that I didn’t pay her enough after telling me three different prices that she made up in her head. I have learned numbers 1-10 in Bulgarian so I can catch these little swindling tricksters. HA. Back to a life that is never easy, but always, always interesting.

"Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik" -George Bernard Shaw

Last week, Abbie and I booked a few meetings in the southern coastal town of Dubrovnik, which is the farthest point from Zagreb. Unable to drive there and back all in one day, the company approved a flight for us to go there for a night!

A couple days before we left, I was calling resorts in Dubrovnik to set meetings with the general managers, and one offered us a free stay in their 5-star suite. He also promised us airport transport and offered to take us both out to dinner in old town. I was both shocked and impressed by his unnecessary but marvelous proposal, and looked forward to visiting Dubrovnik in complimentary style!

The drive from the airport to the hotel was enough to pin the town as one of my absolute favorites in Europe. The cab winded along the edge of the steep coastline, and all we could see was the wonderful Adriatic ocean and the Old Town of ancient Dubrovnik jutting into it from a distance. We entered a marvelous sea-front lobby with welcoming staff who guided us to our suite. We met the general manager, agreed on a time for dinner later that night, and then enjoyed the grounds of the resort and had a beer right on the beach!! The dinner later was meant to be somewhat of a business meeting, so we dressed in professional attire not quite knowing what to expect from the manager. When we met him in the lobby he was completely casual which triggered the awkwardness of the night that would partially ensue for the next three hours. However, I forgot about our real purpose of the meeting once the manager led us through the enchanting old town of Dubrovnik. You walk across a drawn bridge to enter the old town center, and once inside can only look around and up at the stunning architecture from ancient Croat times. Dubrovnik was the most heavily bombed city during the Yugoslav wars, so much of it has been renovated; however, the town still emanates a Roman and Greek vibe that cannot be ignored. We were led to a hole-in-the-wall entrance into the chosen restaurant, and Abbie and I tried not to let our mouths hang open as we gawked at the magnificent décor of the outdoor restaurant overlooking its own private harbor. We sat at a plush L-shaped couch with eloquent pillows and chose our wine, dinner, and desert for the night. I can honestly say I have never been to such a posh, lush (as Abbie would say) restaurant, and throughout the night the somewhat egotistical manager was name-dropping all of the celebrities who had dined at the tables right next to us! (Bill Gates, Beyonce, Jay-Z, etc.) We managed to talk about his hotel somewhat throughout the night, but mostly just enjoyed being treated to such an amazing evening!

View on the way into Dubrovnik

The next day was the most hectic so far, with five meetings in a row followed by a flight back home and more prep work throughout the evening for the following day. All went very well, and the prep paid off as we made another sale the next day! We met with the oldest shipyard in the WORLD. There are five main shipyards in Croatia that are all currently owned by the government. Before Croatia can become a part of the European Union, all of these state-owned companies need to privatized due to European regulations, so this is one of the last steps that need to be taken for the country to be an EU member state (Croatia and Turkey are the two main countries in the pre-accession process, and Croatia should be a member within the next year or two). The shipyard that we met with was the only one that had not had a private bidder (aka a private company that makes an offer to buy the shipyard from the state), so this was a great angle to play on to convince the director he needed more exposure to ensure the company was purchased by a private investor. After an amazing meeting, we sold the director who was extremely proud of the shipyard’s history and family ownership. Following the meeting, it just so happened that the Serbian company that had already purchased one of the other shipyards was at this shipyard, wanting to inquire about a possible privatization offer! The director therefore took Abbie and I out to a gourmet meal with the 8 other Serbian businessmen who were interested in purchasing the company. After three hours of wining, dining, and observing the unofficial multi-million dollar deal unfolding between a Serbian company and a Croatian company, Abbie and I headed home. This is just one example of the business situations I have been fortunate enough to experience in just three short months on the field, and I have learned and seen more than I ever thought imaginable on such a grandiose, international level.

Our big meeting at the Shipyard!

Last weekend Abbie and I, along with some other teams, flew to Brussels for training on Monday and Tuesday. There was a big group of us – teams from Kosovo, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Finland, Mexico, Belgium, and Malaysia were all there, and it was so wonderful to see some of my fellow trainees! We all stayed in the Brussels company house – a four-story mansion located on the edge of a nice park in Brussels. The Brussels office is right next door, so we had training and meals there during an intense two days of project presentations, role-plays, and lectures. I really love regional trainings – they are a chance to not only see people I have missed since I have been in Croatia, but also to meet new people within the company. For example, the team from Mexico was there, three girls from Czech (Adela), France (Laure), and Mexico (Karla), and I hung out with them a lot throughout the week. The different people I have met in this job is probably the best and most unforeseen perk – I have become so much more aware of and open to people of completely different backgrounds. Everyone has a different story to tell, a different personality, and a different outlook on the world, and I absolutely love learning from every single person I meet.

Adela, Karla, and I in Brussels

Wednesday through Friday Abbie and I worked from the Belgium office to set up more appointments for Croatia this week, as we are being sent back to ensure that all the work that needs to be done is completed. While I love Croatia and do not mind coming back, I am very ready for a brand new project! My coach told me that I will most likely stay in this region, so I will find out soon what country that will be! Until then I am bound to Croatia, the land of nice people, pristine coastlines, and excellent cappuccinos…

Just when you start to feel comfortable...

It’s 8am, and I’m sitting in the Brussels airport sipping a little taste of home: a venti caramel macchiato. My life packed away is sitting right next to me, which is making people a little mad considering the luggage I have takes the space of probably 3 people. I’m flying on Croatian airlines in about 3 hours to my next residence.

It’s difficult for me to fully grasp what has been happening in my life. Something doesn’t even seem real about what I’m doing. Yesterday was just a normal day at work when my coach informed me I would be leaving the Belgian house for Croatia the next morning at 6am. The news didn’t even faze me; I knew they would send me on my way with little forewarning. But when I really think about it, I realize how much I love the spontaneity of my life right now. My roommates and I reflected on the past 2 weeks we have spent together last night, and often commented on how those 2 weeks seemed like they lasted 2 years instead. Why? Because we woke up each day having NO idea what was is store for us – what we would learn, discover, laugh about, who we would meet, where we would be sleeping that night…erasing the routine of everyday life halts time in a good way, and I have undoubtedly taken advantage of this discovery.

I am really going to miss my fellow trainees – we have had some unmatchable memories together. Last night we played the “highs and lows” game (naming our highs and lows of the past 2 weeks – my favorite game I think ever) and we chatted about the hilarity of our time in Belgium and Holland over my wonderful good-bye dinner of pesto pasta, salad, cheese, and whisky. Finding out our country placement, racing home to change, and popping champagne on the tiny streets of Overpelt, Belgium won my vote as the biggest high. And low? Maybe walking into our hippie, smoky Amsterdam hostel located in a basement and named “Bob’s” on Friday night. We were still in our suits and had just driven 2 hours straight from the office, and all chatter ceased as well clacked down the steps. The permanently-stoned receptionist just stared at us for about 2 minutes until Cherise whipped out her Dutch and asked for a room, which we shared with about 10 other people. I had to resort to sleeping with all my clothes covering the dingy comforter, and shamefully used the inside of my running shorts as a washcloth. All part of the Amsterdam experience though, right? We did have an amazing time; it’s pretty difficult to not enjoy a town with as much character as Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House, the Red Light district, the Holland world cup game, the beautiful canals and boathouses – all blend together to form a distinct, kooky, historical beauty well-deserving of the heavy tourism it attracts. After a couple days in Amsterdam, we headed to my roommates house in Lelystad, Holland, about 50 minutes outside the city. Her wonderful family welcomed all of us with open arms, providing us with huge comfy beds and a new unbelievable meal every hour. Her family is Javanese and Surinamese, but have lived in the Netherlands for 20 years now. Fried rice, noodles, chicken and egg soup, spicy liver (sounds gross but actually delectable), home-cooked prawn chips, chicken – the cuisine kept coming and we kept eating. Her mother also cooked us traditional Dutch food like friktots, frikadel, croquettes, and in between eating we walked throughout the small city or just watched some of the exciting world cup games with her extended family. If I ever have the chance to welcome 7 foreigners into my home and treat them the way her family treated us, I will – such a commendable and kind thing to do, and I will never forget it!

So I have to bring you back to the present because it is time for me to check in – I think I’m ready? I hope? I’m flying over to Eastern Europe, where Pedro will pick me up from the airport and bring me to our hotel. Here goes nothing…

Ja ne govoriti Engleski jezik

For those of you who don’t know Croatian, that mean’s “I don’t speak English”…yup, that’s about all I know. I’ll get to why in a second. Well, I know that and the name of the capital where I will live: Zagreb.

Tuesday morning we all received our evaluations, and every one of us passed (which is VERY rare)! We were all excited about that, so you can imagine our anticipation when our HR manager said we would be finding out our country placement that afternoon as well. I literally couldn’t sit still – you know the feeling on Christmas morning when you’re about to open that HUGE package you’ve been waiting to open for 25 days? Multiply that excitement times 100, and then you can start to imagine how I felt. I was called into the conference room, and my sales coach asked me where I would like to go, what I had learned, my skills, etc. I said I would like to go to South America so I could use my Spanish, or I would love to stay in Europe. She responded, “well you get to do both”, which I was confused about until she explained I was being sent to CROATIA with a native-Spanish speaker as my partner! (so I can still practice Spanish)

My roommates are in some insane places too: 1 in Botswana (luckyyy gets to go to the world cup), 1 in Panama, 1 in Malaysia, 2 in Bulgaria, and 1 in Romania. I am happy that 3 are in Eastern Europe; we have already started planning weekend trips to visit each other!

I am working for The European Times, which is my favorite BMG publication! You can check it out at http://www.european-times.com/. My partner, Pedro, is already in Croatia; I have spoken with him twice through Skype and he seems AWESOME. Exactly the kind of person I want to work with – he’s Colombian, studied in the UK and Italy (and lived in Madrid!), really funny and nice, but hard-working as well. He has already been so encouraging, and I know he will be very supportive and understanding of my inexperience. He also said he’s excited to help me perfect my Spanish.

My hotel and car service is all set up; now all I have to do is individually make at least 5 but preferably 10 appointments with the CEO of various companies in Zagreb. Pedro sent me a list of companies in the financial sector and the production sector, as he has already met with the Minister of Finance and the Deputy to the Minister of Economy to receive support for our Croatia publication of the European Times. So for a little while yesterday and all day today I called company after company to try and set up meetings with the President or CEO of that company. Plain truth: cold calling is pretty tough. Cold calling a Croatian bank named Trcin Vrijednosnice and asking for Zvonimir Maric is tougher. (which is why I definitely got a few “Ja ne govoriti Engleski jezik”’s) It’s funny, every time I would say thank you they would respond with “nothing” and every time I would ask them to spell something out, every single person would use country names to explain what letter they were saying! Regardless, I did end up setting 3 appointments yay! Only 2 more and they will book my ticket to Croatia. They never said this was going to be easy, but I do love the utter craziness of what I am doing. I love sitting across from Lydia as she struggles with Botswana addresses, and next to Elliot screaming “HABLA INGLES?!” to every Panamanian he encounters over the phone. Keeping a sense of humor throughout this entire process is undoubtedly necessary, and I think I will be able to take this job on with a couple of laughs.

Tomorrow we are all road-tripping to Amsterdam for our last weekend together. We are staying with Cherise, one of our roommates, whose parents live right outside the city. She is Surinamese, and her parents are going to cook us yummy Surinamese food (not that I have ever had Surinamese, but sounds like it will be pretty fantastic). I’m excited to explore a new city before taking on my new life in Croatia.

Always trekking along, that’s how I like it.

“Belgium: St. Truiden to Brussels to Lommel to Overpelt back to St. Truiden back to Overpelt back to Brussels back to Overpelt…”

The roller coaster of emotions I have felt during my first week abroad greatly correlates with the spontaneous ride I have been taken on throughout Belgium.

Excitement to fear to uncertainty to anticipation to exhaustion back to bursts of excitement back to deep fear back to scary uncertainty back to happy anticipation as of right now…

Belgium is wonderful. The people, the scenery, the chocolate, the waffles…I absolutely love this country and am so glad it is where Big Media Group is headquartered. The first weekend I was here, I stayed in a nice apartment in St. Truiden, a charming, small town about an hour outside of Brussels. I was able to figure out how to head into Brussels from the train station, and met up with one of my best high school friends, Coop, and some other guys I know for a night out in Brussels. Familiar faces and boot-size mugs of beer in one of the most legendary bars in the world, Delirium café, was just what the doctor ordered.

Best thing about the past week..waffles in Brussels!

The next day, my other roommates and fellow trainees arrived from the airport. I was extremely excited to meet them, as I know often times the people can undoubtedly make or break an experience. I LOVE them. Three from America, one from Holland, one from Australia, one from Colombia, and one from Bulgaria. I have only known them for a week, but I know we will stay lifelong friends. Whether I am talking about friends and family in Spanish with my Colombian roommate, or listening to my Bulgarian roommate tell us about her childhood during a communist regime, or making fun of my Australian roommate for his love of Vegemite (gross), I feel as if I learn something new from one of them every second of the day. We often joke that Media Plus has planted webcams in our apartment and that we’re actually on a European reality show, or they are just flying us over here to harvest our organs (just kidding, Mom). But I do like that they feel just as “out-of-the-loop” as I do - we are all in this crazed, extraordinary, life-changing transition together.

Outside our apartment in St. Truiden

We moved to Overpelt on Monday, another adorable Flemish town that reminds me of somewhere Hansel and Gretel might live. I scored the bedroom suite in our new house, complete with skylights and my own little den (woohoo). There was little time to relax, however; the following will explain why...

One word for my sales training in Lommel, Belgium: INTENSE.

Wake up, turn on my swagger in a stiff suit, get picked up by our driver Renee (who I swear is in on the training evaluation of us all), chug 3 cups of coffee at the Big Media Group office, and get ready for a day of grueling sales workshops and on-the-spot call-outs. Basically, we have learned how to handle all the responsibilities we will have once we are placed in our first assignment. Our objective as sales consultants is to sell sponsorship space in whichever media outlet we are promoting at the time (BMG owns about 20 different media sources, from the European Times to British Airport Magazine) by negotiating directly with the CEO’s of the nation’s top 100 companies. How do I do that as a 21-year-old with no sales/work /real WORLD experience? Now you can see why training has been so extreme…

First, along with a partner, I will have to research anything and everything I can on the country I will be sent. I must work with the “openers” here at BMG to schedule meetings with as many government ministers as possible, and start calling the top 100 companies in the country to make appointments with their CEO’s as well. After successfully meeting with the government ministers of the country, gaining their support for our publication, and receiving their insight into which companies we should sell our publications to, I continue contacting various companies via telephone or in-person PR visits. To summarize, my work days will consist of planning, entering country information into BMG's database, calling about 20 companies/ministers per day, actually conducting about 3 meetings throughout town per day, and reporting back to my field coach and recording daily progress.

Cherish, Francisco, Elliott, me, Mwongola, and Lydia at training!

My kind of job. I am so excited to be doing something so active; I love the idea of waking up to a completely different work schedule every day. The sales trainers have definitely reiterated though that the work hours will be long and hard, especially at first, and that this position is more of a lifestyle than a career. Needless to say, I won’t ever be bored…

After training each day, my roommates and I go running on one of the many scenic trails around our apartment or house (wherever we are living that day J); I swear Belgium has more running trails and beautiful parks than buildings! You can imagine how much I love that aspect, and the fact that all my roommates are runners. (The Aussie even ran track at FSU!) We then either cook dinner all together or go out on the town, or study our sales manual to prep for the day ahead!

Just yesterday I gave my memorized hour-long sales pitch to the head of recruiting, who taped it as well. Along with my week-long evaluation and sales exam grade, she is going to use it to determine where and IF I will be placed.

The next post should be interesting…!