Some like it HOT!!!

 

This week was my fourth and final week within the Corporate Communications department and it was sad to see it come to an end as I have met so many lovely people during my time within the Opus Building.
 
The week consisted of wrapping up the Bingo event by sending out Thank You letters for all the donations that we had received from local companies. Sorting out the library of magazines and annual reports as we got more through the post. I continued with the Success Stories and I got a few responses this week which was fantastic and at least made me feel like I was making progress on this project. I took back the Environmental activity task however I just had to fill in a form and submit it, and I haven’t had any response back. I continued with my research into the company store about the usage.
 
I was given some new projects too including the WG event, where I brainstormed some ideas and got an idea of prices, the two options are now paint ball or a cooking class, I think they will put it to a vote once it has been approved. BNAmericas subscription, this was a confusing project to find out where Wood Group subscription was at, who was subscribed and then coordinated with the lady at BNAmericas to then decide that it would be best if she could manage the account as it was getting very confusing to monitor what was happening. I researched a PA system for the department. Having done some analysis regarding PRWire I typed up a guide about how to use the site to analyze the data for future users. I also started writing HTML coding for the website, it was okay to do I was updating addresses for users who do not have Flash enabled.
I attended some events with the department including the Update Breakfast which was really informative but casual at the same time as we all sat with donuts and coffee at 8am talking about what was happening in the Management Services department and an introduction to new people in the department which yes, did involve me making a speech about the Saltire Foundation. It was good to do a bit of networking here especially aw it was quite laid back.
On Wednesday we had a field trip to Houston Natural History Museum with the other interns too, we invited another intern from Exeter University, Sophia, along with us too. So the party of seven went for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory where we all ate far too much! However it was amazing food, especially the cheesecake as you can imagine from the name of the restaurant. There menu was around 21 pages long. We then traveled to the museum where we had planed to go to three exhibitions. The reason for the visit was to see the WIESS Energy Hall which explained about the different types of energy which is relevant to our placement here with the Wood Group. We then went on to my favorite part which was the Butterfly exhibition where you walk around in a giant greenhouse where there were thousands of butterflies’s all over the place, they were so beautiful.  We then went to a visiting exhibition about Texas and its history; this was an interesting insight into the Lone Star State.
My thank you lunch was lovely, we paired up with the finance department who were having a thank you lunch for Sophia too, we went to a hibachi restaurant which I had never been to before. It was such a great experience. We started with sushi which I loved, I was a little nervous to begin with as I had never tired the delicacy. Then I ordered shrimp hibachi which was lovely although strange that it was all served at different times following it all being cooked in front of you. Egg fried rice, then shrimp, then vegetables. The man kept behind small pieces of chicken which he tossed into the air and threw in the direction of our mouths, we had to try and catch it. This was defiantly not something I had ever experienced at a restaurant before.(pictured below before butterfly exhibition; from left to right; Kraig, Lizzie, myself (Nicola), Jack and Sophia)

 
As I came to leave the office on Friday I felt myself welling up as I couldn’t believe it was time for me to move department already. I said my good byes and promised to keep in touch. Reflecting on my four weeks in the corporate communication department I have come to learn that everyone here is so friendly and welcoming and they seem to really care for you even though they haven’t know you for long. The culture is totally different and not what I had expected at all, it is more casual and laid back than what I have been exposed to in the UK. The work its self gave me a good grasp about the whole organization and has provided me with many fantastic contacts. I have been involved in so many projects that have been very varied, allowing me to develop many skills and build on my knowledge base.
 
This week outside of work yet again it has been a busy week! Monday night we went to our first Baseball game since arriving, it was the Houston Astros vs. the Cincinnati Reds. We were sat in the highest platform of the stadium; it was like a birds eye view. We went to the cinema again this time to see Captain America which was okay, a little cheesier than I had expected but it provided a good few laughs.
Friday night Chris Scott one of the Interns based in Fort Worth, Texas visited we went to a few bars for drinks in the city center it was really lovely and apart from the heat it didn’t really feel like America somehow. Saturday we visited NASA following lying out in the sun. This was a good tour but it was so HOT as we waited in the line for the tram tour! I really couldnt live in this climate. At night we went out on Washington Avenue to a club called 8 it was a really good night, although I don’t think its right to still be roasting outside when you leave the club, I suppose it’s a Scottish thing though.
 
I’m looking forward to meeting new people during my time in my next department. Business Development here I come…

 

Posted 09-Aug-2011 3:07 by Nicola Thomson
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Comments

Katie Michels wrote re: Some like it HOT!!!
on 09-Aug-2011 16:32

Nicola, great reading! Sounds like you have been very busy in your 4 weeks at Corporate Communications! I'm looking forward to hearing how Business Development goes.

I'm also now officially craving Cheesecake Factory.  Any way you can bring it back to Scotland? :)

Nicola Thomson wrote re: Some like it HOT!!!
on 09-Aug-2011 17:22

I think that bringing cheesecake home may be a little messy! However perhaps a great way to raise more money. A bake off? everyone loves cheescake...right?

Anyway, Business Development proving good, plenty to be getting on with.

:)

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