Hello!

Another week gone by and things are starting to heat up! As I have been getting to grips with the intricacies of the pharma industry these past couple of weeks, I have been given only a modest workload. It was never gonna last.

It is true to say I like to be kept busy and am happiest when I've got some work to get stuck into. Well, in my current situation,  Quintiles are keeping me delirious with joy! I have the luxury of two projects to work on. In the Red corner is the Systems team, working on internal websites called Sharepoint sites. In the Blue corner I'm working on a new role in the business - Study Launch Manager - to oversee the start-up of clinical trials. Both projects are taking me out of my comfort zone - which means I am learning a bucket-load!

This week I have been making an effort to ask more questions, which is actually quite scary in a teleconference environment. I usually feel confident over the telephone or face-to-face, having worked in environments requiring such skills. However, when sitting in a boardroom format with people in different time zones and locations, some visible to you, others not, it is easier said than done. You get nervous someone else will talk when you start, that you will be too loud/quiet, people won't understand your accent. Worst of all - your question may make you look like a complete idiot! I have decided to overcome my fear of TCs by asking to do a presentation during one. That should do it, right?

I have had a growing list of tasks this week, with the rival 'gangs' (project teams) vying for my time. Mr Popular as always...... In all seriousness, I'm starting to feel an inkling of pressure as I have more than enough work to fill up my days. My work is varied and includes making calls, organising and attending meetings, working on presentations and more technical computer aspects.

I really can't describe the satisfaction you get as an intern when you have that brief feeling of doing something well. You feel like you belong, you are good enough and you can certainly do this in the future.  When I think about how much I've learned in two and a half weeks, I don't think I've learnt as much at uni in three years!

On the personal side, we've met loads more interns who are mostly local, and they have shown us around the area. Plans for the coming weeks include hitting the beach and NYC!

I will leave you with an odd thought - Americans eat biscuits with their chicken. Weird, huh?

John x