Who's on First?

Another week of my international work experience has come and gone and it was definitely one for the memoirs…

I am getting busy and popular these days and felt like I was moving up in the world - the CMO (Chief Medical Officer) requested a meeting with yours truly this past Thursday. Woo hoo! I had to squeeze him in between my 9:30a and my 1pm meeting. Gosh - does this mean I should consider a *gasp* “crack”berry purchase? Then I decided it was probably best that I work there at least 2 more months and start really liking my job before I consider one – maybe by that point, I could figure out a way to have the company to buy one for me. My sister would be proud of my wheeling and dealing mind.

Back to the CMO meeting (or the waiting therefore)…when I showed up for my meeting at 11am, the receptionist (Connie) said the CMO was in a meeting. Okay – so I sit and wait. I stand to get some water only to find the water dispenser is empty. “I’m sorry its empty,” replied Connie as I stare at a full 5 gallon water jug collecting dust right next to the dispenser waiting to be placed. This does not surprise me since I seem to have to do everything else myself at this company. But as I go to start opening the bottle, I hear a clearing of the throat and this hot French sales guy that was also waiting in the lobby stands up and says, “Oh please, zet me try to be Jean-Claude and help you vith that.” Was that a line? … And I thought he was waiting for me to do the “bend and snap” for you Legally Blond fans out there. After handing me a cup of water we both returned to our seats as I was trying to figure out a clever way to offer him any Grey Poupon or if I had chocolate and he had peanut butter.

Okay, intermission is over and back to "the rest of the story." After waiting 35 minutes for the CMO, I go back to his office and he’s a Mac guy. Groovy. After 45 minutes of discussion and listening to my nursing staff comments and general ideas, he says that I need to go see the CEO, but to probably start with the Director of Nursing from Singpore (too bad she is already in Shanghai for a few weeks). As we walk by the Chief Propeller Head, (aka the COO and the guy that hired me) he yells out – “So how come you (meaning me) haven’t hired the Lactation Consultant yet.” My hair immediately stands back up in the defensive as I hold back tears and start to tell him no one has bothered to help me with the contract despite my asking (uh, did I have the authority to make offers – that was news to me). Then the CMO and the COO started yelling at each other about my role at the company. Huh? I try to explain to the COO – this is why I needed clarification because everyone wants me to do something different and why haven’t you bothered to call my friend Patty and hire her to help me (yes I said that all in one breath). I told them both I had another appointment and when they figured out what they wanted me to do - just let me know. The next day, both called to “see how I was doing and apologize.” Hmm…maybe a trip to Singapore and the black”crack”berry is not so far out of reach after all.