Goodbyes and hellos

On Sept 4 I start a new job. It's not a huge change as I already know half the people in my new group. The subject matter is completely new though, and I'm a bit intimidated. There will be some travel, international travel, and I'm a bit scared about that. With the crises going on in the Middle East, I'm a little nervous about travelling to Egypt, in particular. I hope that aspect of the job has wrapped up for now and I'll be able to restrict my travelling to North America and Europe. For the next 12 months it appears thats where I'll be focussing.

I've just been up to my new office, setting up my cube. I'm pretty excited about the change I'm finding. I'm happy, there's a spring in my step. Looking forward to new challenges, intellectual discussions, and challenging my egg-headed-cranium. I hope I dont get too petrified about the travel.

I'm saying goodbye to a file and a job that has been nothing but misery for 14 months. I've tried to make it work, but it's been too much of a challenge. I was put in an acting managerial position but not given the opportunity to be fully staffed. When the remaining staff left, I was on my own. When I indicated to my boss that I was leaving, then suddenly the crisis became a crisis.. because it was now HIS crisis. Why was this not a crisis when it was MY crisis?

I'm tired of working in an environment in which I'm not given an opportunity to speak, provide input, have open discussions, and criticized for everything I do. I'm tired of having a boss who has an anger management problem. I'm used to being able to become a real expert in a particular subject, being recognized for it, and being able to provide advice and recommendations. I certainly don't expect management to take every recommendation and run with it, but the opposite extreme, where I have to be mute and servile, just doesn't work for me.

I hope that changes.

On to new things.