It’s been a week at the new place. Hard to believe how fast the days have gone. There have been highs and lows, as expected.

A word to those intending to change jobs any time soon: Don’t quit in the middle of the month! Unless your employers are the generous kind who gives send-off packages, wait till the end of month so you can have some money to get you through those early days at your new workplace.

For most people, it will be a month before the next pay comes in and unless you had stashed some cash away that will be one tough month. Trust me; I’m learning the hard way. My other worry is lunch. While my former workplace provided lunch, the new place doesn’t, although it provides transport. Honestly, I don’t know what’s better – the lunch or transport. All I know is that I miss the free food at the restaurant. Yes it wasn’t exactly a mouth-watering four-course meal but it was there. Reminds me of that cliché of never knowing what you’ve got till it’s gone.

Good thing is that the new place offers tea and coffee so I’ve been carrying snacks most of the time. I’ve seen the "strange” look some staff gives me when I pull out my snacks and I have to admit I feel pretty uncomfortable too. The other day, one guy asked if I was taking tea because I didn’t know where lunch is sold. I was tempted to lie that I indeed didn’t know but that would only get him to offer the directions. Ours is an open work space so anyone can walk in anytime and ask when and where you will be going for lunch. I’m running out of excuses.

The other day, I said I wasn’t hungry. Another time, I had some important work the boss had asked me to finish. Not sure what I’ll say next. The one restaurant near the office is ridiculously expensive and I’m not about to get in debt over food. Wish I had somewhere to go during the lunch break which is a whole two hours! In Kampala, there’s a solution for this issue, in the form of lunch-hour fellowships. I know many people who leave office on the pretext of "going out” for lunch only to end up in several of these churches. Don’t the scriptures say man shall not live on bread alone? Too bad there’re no such fellowships close to where I work.

Other things are not so bad however. For instance, I have my own desk and a PC, hardly news for most of you but after months of staying on my feet for a minimum of 12 hours a day, I’m glad that I finally get to sit for most of the day. Plus, we don’t work Sundays and Public Holidays so that’s something to celebrate. I’m also glad that unlike before, I have a contract. It’s temporary and my new boss said I can only be confirmed after three months, meaning I must prove myself before then. Still, I appreciate that I’m being considered for a permanent slot. I won’t be getting a six-figure salary any time soon but it’s a notch higher than the last. And for now, I’m happy with that.

To be continued...
nsophie77@yahoo.com