Food...glorious food

What a week! It’s been a great first few days in the office and I’m feeling positive about what is yet to come. In terms of workload, everything has been manageable thus far - and I am very aware that we are being eased into our new jobs and I’m looking forward to being challenged! Over the past few days, the tasks I have been set have had so much variety, which is something I prefer as I like being kept on my toes. Thus far, I have had the chance to create an infographic from scratch, which was based around results from a recent student survey at RMIT. I analysed the results, selected the key data and created a two page graphic spread to outline the findings visually. Very much up my alley and I really enjoyed this task. Following this, Andrea and I collaborated to create a report to accompany the infographic. Another task was assisting Karen (the internal comms coordinator) with publishing a web news story on the RMIT website, which was great because I was able to experience using a CRM platform that I hadn’t tried in the past. And a final key highlight to mention was creating this student blog for Andrea and I to write about our experience.. A portion of the first week has also been spent just getting my head around all the in’s and out’s of RMIT in terms of their business model, organisational structure and current strategy. It’s a huge organisation with many layers and I wanted to ensure I understood how everything works!

In terms of daily life outside of work, we have been having a great time! Every night we have set out after work with a new mission or adventure and have tried to see as much as we can. We have done plenty of shopping (which is totally acceptable when you're in a new city) and eaten a good amount of traditional Spanish dishes! So far, I think our favourite food experience was yesterday (Saturday). We woke late and the day was amazing, sunny and hot, but not too humid. We decided to stroll down Passeig de Gracia until we reached the gothic quarter. After exploring the winding cobblestone side streets for an hour-or-so, we had managed to work up quite an appetite. We came across a quaint, dark restaurant in a quiet lane - away from all the tourist crowds. I have no idea what it was called, and if you asked me to take you there, I probably wouldn’t know how to find it again - but we were drawn in by the a-frame black board sitting out the front, in which the glorious word ‘PAELLA’ was written in bright white chalk. Our eyes widened with excitement. We looked at each other, and without a word, both entered the restaurant. We were seated at an oversized table in a dimly lit corner (I think they knew from our faces we were hungry and would need a big table). We ordered a seafood paella, among other Spanish tapas treats such as Jamón croquettes and some sort of mushroom dish that sounded simple on the menu, but tasted incredible. The paella was insanely good. We couldn't stop ourselves from devouring every crumb of food on that table, and left feeling quite full I must admit.

Other highlights from the weekend just past have included seeing a Flamenco show in El Born, visit Montjuïc castle via the cable car, having lunch at La Boqueria market and renting bicycles that we rode down to Barceloneta beach on. It’s been a busy week to say the least, and we’ve been able to avoid any sort of jet lag so far, simply from keeping ourselves so busy. Fingers crossed it doesn’t hit us next week!

Overall, this week has been amazing, and very much like a dream. We have made the most of every moment and are looking forward to the week ahead. Next on the agenda...find an apartment to live in!

#week1 #food