It's still sunny! Today it started warming up again, too, so we are in the high 50's the rest of this week.
I have been taking orientation and tests as a new employee at Schlumberger. The biggest difference from my past experience is that Schlumberger has decided that the most dangerous thing that their employees do is drive. So we are required to take a class on driving every three years, and a driving test in a car every year. This requirement applies to everyone who will drive to a meeting or different site, or go on a trip where they rent a car. The driving rules are very strict, too. They say "Don't drink and drive" and they mean "drink anything, including coffee or pop". They say "No cell phone use" and that includes hands-free cell phones. You must park by backing into spots instead of head-in to the curb.
Today I got a complete set of clothes. That includes steel-toed shoes, pants with reflective strips, an ESD polo shirt, a coat, a reflective vest, and a hard hat. ESD means electro-static discharge. Since they work on electronic sensors, it is very important to have no sparks, even if they are too small to feel. All the reflective stuff is so that there are no accidents in the yard between forklifts and people, especially in the dark, rainy winters.
It's been a very friendly place. Thursday about 6 of us went to see the premiere of Indiana Jones. What a fun movie! You have to believe 10 impossible things in the first half hour. Saturday afternoon, HR has set up a tour of the old Hanseatic Bryggen part of town. WesternGeco/Schlumberger is also very much an international company. My orientation class had 6 hourly and 3 salaried. Of the 6 hourly, they were Norwegian (2), Polish (2), Romanian, and Australian. We 3 salaried were Russian, French, and American. Isn't that cool?
Everyone speaks English, but lots of different sorts. British English and American English are similar enough and yet different enough that we can get confused. The Norwegians switch between Norwegian and English effortlessly. They watch American TV shows and movies in English with subtitles. There is no dubbing, like in France or other countries.
Here's a really good article on Norwegian culture from Rick Steves. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/scan/0100nor_roots.htm
Coming soon - the Bergen International Festival. It actually started Wednesday, the 21st, and runs through June 4. At the same time, the Jazz Nights runs from 21 to 31 May. There are things that are really formal - music, theater, dance - and then there are fun outdoor things. Check out this video of the OiOi festival! http://www.fib.no/english.asp?session=&articleno=779&segment=7. Tonight, as I was sitting in my apartment with the outside door open, I was listening to echoing music. That must have been hoysang as shown in the video. I am going to have to buy a ticket or two! I'll keep you posted.
I have been taking orientation and tests as a new employee at Schlumberger. The biggest difference from my past experience is that Schlumberger has decided that the most dangerous thing that their employees do is drive. So we are required to take a class on driving every three years, and a driving test in a car every year. This requirement applies to everyone who will drive to a meeting or different site, or go on a trip where they rent a car. The driving rules are very strict, too. They say "Don't drink and drive" and they mean "drink anything, including coffee or pop". They say "No cell phone use" and that includes hands-free cell phones. You must park by backing into spots instead of head-in to the curb.
Today I got a complete set of clothes. That includes steel-toed shoes, pants with reflective strips, an ESD polo shirt, a coat, a reflective vest, and a hard hat. ESD means electro-static discharge. Since they work on electronic sensors, it is very important to have no sparks, even if they are too small to feel. All the reflective stuff is so that there are no accidents in the yard between forklifts and people, especially in the dark, rainy winters.
It's been a very friendly place. Thursday about 6 of us went to see the premiere of Indiana Jones. What a fun movie! You have to believe 10 impossible things in the first half hour. Saturday afternoon, HR has set up a tour of the old Hanseatic Bryggen part of town. WesternGeco/Schlumberger is also very much an international company. My orientation class had 6 hourly and 3 salaried. Of the 6 hourly, they were Norwegian (2), Polish (2), Romanian, and Australian. We 3 salaried were Russian, French, and American. Isn't that cool?
Everyone speaks English, but lots of different sorts. British English and American English are similar enough and yet different enough that we can get confused. The Norwegians switch between Norwegian and English effortlessly. They watch American TV shows and movies in English with subtitles. There is no dubbing, like in France or other countries.
Here's a really good article on Norwegian culture from Rick Steves. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/scan/0100nor_roots.htm
Coming soon - the Bergen International Festival. It actually started Wednesday, the 21st, and runs through June 4. At the same time, the Jazz Nights runs from 21 to 31 May. There are things that are really formal - music, theater, dance - and then there are fun outdoor things. Check out this video of the OiOi festival! http://www.fib.no/english.asp?session=&articleno=779&segment=7. Tonight, as I was sitting in my apartment with the outside door open, I was listening to echoing music. That must have been hoysang as shown in the video. I am going to have to buy a ticket or two! I'll keep you posted.
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