“When the student is ready the teach will appear ” are not my words but it is the phrase that comes to my mind for describing today’s experience. “I am stiff as a fridge!”, accompanied with a chuckle, has always been a kind of common reoccurring phrase I have used to describe the state of my body. And even though this might have been true for a long, long time, deep down I never really accepted that as a truth that could not be changed some day. I have done som half-assed attempts a few times but as you might already have guess I never really succeeded. This time I think I think I have a better shot.

As of tomorrow, every morning I am going to welcome that bright light that always wakes me up too early.

Six months ago I left Madrid and all the outstanding people I got the opportunity to know there, to continue my travel on this journey. It was really an easy move since I could continue at same work but in a new location since we were opening a new office here. It was the right moment, it was like the gut feeling already had decided. Once here the first thing we did was to go to the beach. We sat down on one of the close by terraces, sipped some white wine. Smiling, talked calmly, long breaks in between while we overlooked the sea. I remember thinking about how funny things can turn out. I was more than satisfied.

Not long thereafter, due to changes of responsibility at work, I also got the opportunity to go back to Madrid now and then. In practice this turned out as having me working in Madrid every second or third week. Even though it has been a lot of effort I am immensely thankful for this since it has made the transition of moving less painful. Just like the move I did three years ago, when I went home to Sweden almost once a month due to various occasions. And it has most certainly led some more eventual chapters in my life. On the other hand, nothing worth having comes for free.

It takes time to get to know a new city. It takes time to really get to know people below the surface. And it most certainly takes time to travel. To not say energy. And even though I have lived here for six months now I realize that I have still not let go of my earlier city completely. Physically I might have been leaving here for some time now but in my mind I still have not let go. Sometimes what one needs is a wake-up call.

I prefer to live like I learn, so maybe it is about time I do so.
“Ichi-go ichi-e“, as expressed on the original language.

In the context of a workplace (mine is no different) people usually “solve” this by sending out angry emails every now and then. Sending out “encouraging” emails to people to do the “right thing” has already proven ineffective numerous times. As a (rather funny) reference I’ll recommend you to read 1 girl, 12 cups for inspiration. Furthermore, all these emails usually seem to jump to the conclusion that people do this clearly very evil thing on purpose.

So if you agree on that this is a problem, now, where do we take it from here? I have made the assumption that everyone really want a clean and tidy kitchen. That said, I would like to state the problem with the following question:
How can make sure we have a nice and clean kitchen where people don’t forget to put their used plates and cutlery in the washing machine and leave dirty tables after themselves?

Being an engineer and occasional user of the previous mentioned facility it hurts me badly to have such a broken system! And when the tendencies have started it usually goes downhill.

Empirical studies done so far has shown that the following approaches does not work:

• Send emails to email list with reminders to clean up after themselves.
• Send emails to email list to clean up after themselves with attached photos of the mess.
• Put up notes in the kitchen encouraging people to clean up after themselves.
• Put up a note stating “Your mother does not work here”, implying that your mother cleans for you.
• Put up a note stating “Your mother does not work here”, implying that your mother cleans for you, and the mother is actually the boss and do cleans the daughters stuff.
• Roster system for cleaning (see link reference above).
• Collective punishment, e.g. temporary close down access to the facilities for everyone.

Since this problem has obviously been discussed on several occasions there has obviously been some suggestions done on how this could be handled more efficiently (I took the liberty of making these anonymous in respect of my colleagues, feel free to take credit if you want to):

• Public shaming off the individuals found guilty of charge.
• Adhesive picture of a lovely kitten in the sink reminding that he might die if we leave our dirty dishes there.
• Someone was against using animals in pictures and therefore suggested a danger sign, big and fluorescent yellow.

Personally I have also suggested:

• Implement a real-time “intelligent kitchen” solution that notifies the offender with screaming sirens, rotating warning lights, and locking down all entrances until the problem is properly resolved. I realize that this solution has a few flawed security holes (e.g. emergency situations) and would probably require currently non-existing technology, so we probably might need to wait until next year or so before this can be implemented.
• Stop using the kitchen in favor of going to a place more sanitary, with drawback of losing valuable work time due to traveling to an off-site cafeteria/bar. This also has the disadvantage of missing out the informal “water cooler chats”.

I would like to continue this obviously very flourishing conversation to a broader audience. Not only because I’m also aware that this problem existed long before I was probably born but because the outcome could hopefully benefit more people than just me. Let the ideas flow like a nyan cat in space!

Foo: You have to love PHP: empty(“0″) === TRUE :D
Me: @Foo Or just RTFM… ;) http://php.net/manual/en/function.empty.php
Foo: @Me TFM doesn’t make it any less absurd/hateable :P
Bar: @Me I’m with @Foo common sense before manuals

Although I to some extend can agree with both this small chat got me thinking about the usage of common sense as the universal fallback or solution when things goes wrong, a concept that has pondered my mind from time to time. Even though it may be considered surprising, if not just plain stupid, that empty(“0″) returns false true (thanks for the correction ;)) it is actually clearly stated in the manual of the method. Which my friend could have seen if bothered to read it. The problem I see is that when people make assumptions based on their own mental model – their “common sense”- things occasionally go wrong when things don’t comply with (again, their) reality. But instead of relying on what you believe I claim that it is better to rely on facts than on an obviously broken concept that to begin with. There is a reason why we year 2011 still have traffic lights, warning labels on coffee mugs stating “Warning! This beverage is hot!”, and some people still believe in tooth fairies and whatnot.

For those new to PHP or who has discovered “weird” things in the language I also recommend keeping PHP type comparison tables and Type Juggling close by. Even though I’m tempted to just say “use your common sense“.

That a smile affects and “tricks” the body into producing feeling-good hormones was something I already was aware of (apart from having fun usually makes someone feel good). But all the other fun and interesting facts was a surprise. If nothing else some nice trivia to remind one that not to take life too serious and try to have fun while at it.

First day of vacation. The mind is already starting to settle in. Some close friends I so much longed for. A beautiful nature surrounding the cozy house on the countryside. Almost dead silence apart from some birds singing in the night. And an open-air jacuzzi at 40 degrees Celsius accompanying a dark blue and purple sky decorated with a handful of stars.

Sometimes I don’t have to remind myself to smile. :)

Every now and then it is necessary with a change in life. It is inevitable so it is not like there is a choice really. But for some reason everyone seems so afraid of it. Resisting, struggling, even running away from themselves. So instead of fighting things you cannot control, embrace it. Live it. Go with the flow. May it be some rocks to climb here and there but on the other side there is always downhill.

After roughly two and half years in Madrid I have been on the outlook for doing some changes in my life. But I am so freaking happy about my time I have had there that I lack the words to explain it! What I appreciate most is that I managed to finish one of the goals I setup for myself after high school: learn to speak fluent Spanish. It was also one of the prerequisites I set up for myself before I should consider myself ready to move on. And during the process I had the privilege of finding the grains of gold of people who I definitely don’t want to lose connection with even if I would move to the other side of the world. Thanks for letting me into your life. I am amazed by the kindness some people can show.

Madrid will always have a certain place in my heart but even so it was not my city to stay in. I always felt like I was on the move somewhere else and it was a temporary stop along the way. When the opportunity arose I could not say no and here I am – since Friday I am now living in Barcelona. I’m actually still working in the same company but this it is kind of back to the roots of starting something new. New office with only a handful colleagues. And apart from continuing learning and developing I plan to continue to have fun while doing it. After all, isn’t that what life’s about?

I the first impressions definitely say I will. I have a good gut feeling for this one.

Jonna Lee – Human (Spotify)

Some songs are even better performed than the originals. Sometimes those grains of gold just happen to fall down on your knee. I really recommend the user Garage07 on Youtube if you want to find some good alternative music similar to the video above.

Two days until fifteen days of vacation. Fifteen days with family, books and asian sea next door. I am so looking forward to it. So much things I want to do, accomplish and get started with and so little time. It is never enough. But will it ever be?

At least I got a new bed.

For that I am thankful.

The life plan was already figured out I was determined to follow that path along – one year break from studies, working, enjoying the time with the girlfriend, friends and family, before continuing with university studies. As the year went the relationship broke, some of the so-called-friends did not turn out as close friends as I though. The longing grew bigger but so did also the determination. As the leafs once again started to fade the move went to the other side of the country, another coast. As the autumn came along seeds of doubts started to pop up. Those annoying screams at night soon became unbearable and in the end they could not be ignored anymore. The path was not aligned and rather quickly I decided this was not where I wanted to be. A sting of failure.

But i also learned that from something bad there always comes something good. Went back to my old motivation-inspiring job and as the very same grew bigger for each day things got clearer. Graphics & design became more of a hobby and instead IT became the fascinating potential and movement I wanted to take part in. The life plan felt more aligned again and the decision landed after some reflection on IT at Chalmers. This time five years straight of studies, a master’s degree, and a fulfilling life to do what I love and to suck out as much as I could while at it, was the goal aimed for. Full on.

Three years ran by so fast that the change of leafs outside the window went by more or less unnoticed. Years of wonderful moments and people that will always be close at heart. But the need for a break and change of routines was desperately obvious. As the bachelor was signed and sealed the change did feel more right this time. And when the opportunity came I was not late to take it and a month later I moved to Spain where I know lived for the past two years.

But just not yet have the leafs started to fade.