Super-Zero

So a full week of work is over and I am absolutely exhausted. The scary thing is – this was an easy week.

So Cisco Systems Inc. You have probably heard of them and never even realised it. Ever bought a Linksys wireless router? Or a Flip HD cam? BOOM! Cisco owns them all. In fact, Cisco was one of the few companies that made a name for itself by buying hundreds of smaller companies.

Diegem in Brussels is the home of one of their technical support teams as well as HR and other function, and I am here to be systematically broken down and rebuilt into some sort of networking expert, whereby I will take on a consultantish sort of role. All very clear….

What is clear is that over the next 90 days I will study more than I probably ever have before and all being well will complete five certifications - CCNA, CCNP Route, CCNP Switch, CCNP Troubleshooting and CCIE Written. And in 7 months if I ignore any hint of social life I could achieve a CCIE…but that’s optimistic at its best.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday really focused on getting to know the company, getting set up with IT and learning a bit about the structure of support and what was expected from us over the course of the program. We also got a tour of the site, the labs onsite (two floors just filled with routers and switches) and shown equipment we could use if we needed to.

Thursday and Friday were a little bit different as they focused on team building and self improvement. So we did team exercises, embarrassed ourselves in front of each other and then ran through some personality tests to get to know ourselves and each other a little better (surprisingly accurate).

Meanwhile, in the evenings I have been running through the CCENT CBT Nuggets program in the hope of getting a head start on the CCNA material which we start to cover on Tuesday. So that’s really what I’ll be doing over the next two weeks.

Other cool things about the job include the canteen (Steak everyday for €5.50), the site itself (surprisingly pretty) and having an @cisco.com email address – up there with the likes of @intel.com (which I’ve also had).

So that about it for me from today, but I’ll try a be a tad more regular over the incoming weeks!

So the water here in Brussels is a tad hard…I assume the taps have filters and the like but it doesn’t seem to aid the making of a good cup of tea. I really miss that. Additionally, I have the most random kettle in the world. Below is a picture of said kettle:

It has no auto stop function, so I can’t put it on and dander around the apartment doing other things carefree – I have to listen to it, and when it is boiling I have to go and unplug it…

Overall though, life here in Brussels isn’t that bad. I’m sleeping properly now which really helps although getting out of bed in the morning does seem to be a problem – hopefully one that will be solved with work tomorrow morning. Google Maps really has been my saviour these past few days – it know’s all the times of the metro’s and the buses and can even tell you when to jump stops – has been so useful in getting around the place.

I still have to register with my local municipality. In Brussels, instead of registering at the town hall (can you imagine the nightmare that would be with everyone that lives in Brussels) the city is split off into municipalities by their postcode group. I’m in 1200, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, so I have to register down the road. But other than that I am officially moved in.

Really glad I had this week to settle myself and get started on some of the work. Everything I’ve read so far has made sense and it looks like at CCNP or CCIE they might introduce PSK (Phase Shift Keying) and FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) as communication methods which means my dregree might actuall come in useful for the later stuff!

I also came across a comic book shop right down the road from my apartment, opposite the shopping mall here. This is a picture of Legion in French. It’s a shame that all the comics are in French, but I think they might sell Magic The Gathering cards which are in English.

I’ve also had the chance to go out with some of the guys (and girls) I’ll be working with this year, which has been great fun. Last night we went to a bar with 2500 different beers although I must admit, I was too tired to try any, but I did order a glass of Kasteel Red, which turned out to be cherry flavoured and unlike many fruit beers, not overly sweet. It was also 8% proof…

The bar itself was a lot like Katy Daily’s at home, especially in both the atmosphere, decor and music, although it was 3 floors and quite a bit larger. I only had my phone with me but I got some shots which you can check out below! The overflowing beer was the end of a keg but that glass is 2 litres…

It’s scary to think what airlines can get away with today that we have no control over. For example, the FAA recently stopped taxes on flights in America, which would mean a saving of $20-50 dollars per flight, but were these savings passed onto the consumer? No, the airlines just raised the ticket price and pocketed the difference.

Likewise, Aer Lingus managed to screw me out of £468 through ambiguous statements and unclear regulations. I had 59kgs of baggage – I realise that’s a lot but consider that when I was packing, I had read the Aer Lingus baggage rules, which stated that if required an extra bag could be purchased for £24. This would give me 40kg of baggage and (according to their baggage rates) about £120 excess baggage (£6/kg), which as within my expenses range. However on arrival at the airport, the very unhelpful Aer Lingus attendant explained to me that £24 was for an extra bag…not an extra baggage allowance.

Thinking about this mathematically, they are charging an extra £24 for you to take less (a second bag would weigh more and take away from your actual luggage). Not only that but the excess baggage rate was £12/kg on the day apparently which wasn’t mentioned anywhere easily accessible on the website. So I have 39kgs x £12 of excess baggage. They also reminded me that had my onward journey been with a partner company I would of only been charged once and at the best rate.

So I pay the money, get my hand luggage torn apart by security and board the aircraft. I sleep until London where I leave and go and reclaim my baggage. Now, Heathrow is known for being a baggage (and general traveller) nightmare, but I have never been more impressed with this very busy airport. The girl from Brussels Airlines couldn’t believe Aer Lingus as she said that on her screen the baggage was meant to have been booked through. Not only that but they allow up to 30kgs of baggage as I was flying business class. She tripped over herself to apologise but explained that there was nothing she could do now that the bags had been collected. So I rechecked them but Brussels airlines didn’t take the piss like Aer Lingus. They charged me at a discounted rate of £10/kg (£12/kg normally), only charged me for 25kgs and were nice too!

Security at Heathrow was a breeze. My stuff was through security before I’d finished being searched and the staff even made casual conversation! The flight was even better – a welcome glass (a real glass) of orange juice (fresh squeezed by the taste), refreshing towel (material), complimentary egg and hsm pasta salad, with bread and (unfortunately blue) cheese selection, plus drinks. And a copy of the Daily Mail! Business is the way to fly.

So Brussels Airport. After a long walk to the main terminal I had an even longer wait at passport control. I managed to get my bags but no trolley to put them on (no sign of a trolley park etc) and they were a bit beaten up from the trip. One had no wheels anymore so I had to drag it to the taxi stand. The taxi driver was nice though and understood my minimalistic French, bringing me to the hotel very quickly indeed and for only 12.70!

Brussels transport system is…interesting to say the least but Google Maps seems to have a grasp on the situation and thankfully hasn’t got me wrong yet. I took two busses to get to “The W Shopping” and was able to sort out all my finances with the very helpful Rachid from ING.

Today the apartment has been confirmed, I have they keys in my pocket and in an hour or so I shall be on my way to my new place. I was even able to make small talk with my landlord in French. I really do like speaking it and thankfully most people over here like you better when you try!

So £718 in baggage, a few dented cases and thanks to Google Maps I am here and unscathed bar some aches. And, as of this post, officially living in Brussels. Pictures to follow!

So, after one and half years of torment my braces were finally removed yesterday to tumultuous applause (inside my head). It’s a interesting feeling to not have pieces of metal attached to my mouth and it actually makes my teeth feel about three times larger than they actually are, but it is refreshing to be able to smile and not feel like a total mong.

The retainer is an interesting piece of kit. It comes in the form of a piece of plastic moulded to the exact shape of my teeth, designed to hold them in place untill they steady themselves (6 months). Tonight, however I ran out of the house in a hurry and forgot to replace it, having removed it for a cup of tea. I could not believe the difference a few hours wihtout it on made to my teeth. It was atually difficult verging on painful to get it back on, so I think I shall be very careful about future removals.

Apart from that the moving out process begins now. Everything is being packed and lists have been made…all hands on deck.

Location:Listooder Rd,,United Kingdom