Adventures of NaDave: Dave Germany: 2 (1st day at adidas)

So I did wake up on Day 2, but I was wide awake at 2am, and still 7 hrs until I needed to be to work. Jet lag was in full effect. I needed to try and fall asleep, so I started reading the only book I had brought. 3 hrs later, I was finally sleepy, and had actually started to enjoy the book!

I awoke to my 730am alarm like a grizzly bear. But it was a new day! I showered, got dressed, and was greeted with 2 more slices of pizza. Hey, I wasn't starving, so it was great!

I walked to the adidas downtown facility, Adi-Dassler-Platz, (the old HQ) and as instructed, caught the 9am shuttle headed towards adidas World of Sports (the new HQ). We drove out of the medieval city (Herzo is over 1000 years ago!), past the Puma HQ, and finally arrived at adidas. Whoa! I was here. Like a google, apple, Nike, or IBM...this was adidas World HQ (what's neat is the adidas campus is old WW2 Base built by the USA in Herzo...and adidas has repurposed some of the buildings).

I walked past the several flagpoles with adidas, reebok, and taylor made flags flying...and into the main doors. As you would expect, sports everywhere, a giant TV board...the whole 9 yards. I told the desk I was here and Paul met me with a smile (I forgot to mention he's Canadian!). We went right in to get my picture taken and my ID card made.

He then took me to the cafeteria, called Stripes, and we had a great 90 minute meet'n greet. He had papers with what to do for HR things, maps of how to get there, a debrief on the office...adidas seemed "on top of it". Then Paul said we have a Team Engineering meeting with our Portland, USA office at 5pm today, and he'd like for me to put together a short introduction presentation. (Hey, I've only been in Germany for 18 hrs, of course I'd already like my first work assignment)

We then headed towards Engineering, which is located in the "Laces Building". And on the walk over, he told me that Pharrell Williams is on campus today, giving a speech about his new shoes at 2pm. WHAT?! That is awesome.

We then walked into Laces (opened just in 2011) and you instantly knew this is what all the corporate buzzwords mean. Collaboration, creativity, disruptive technology. 5 stories, high ceilings, greenery. Then onto the "Future Engineering Office". And then it was the carousel of introductions.

Paul then showed my desk & laptop. We logged in and I finally had an internet connection! I let the world know I was alive! (even though it was 5am EST). It made me feel great to finally reach out. But I realized I needed to have internet for when I got home, so at lunchtime, I caught the company shuttle back into town to hunt for a mobile service plan.

After looking at signs and tables all in German for different carriers, I walked up to guy at the counter (who knew little English) and got his recommendation for cell service. I walked home for lunch (2 more slices of pizza!), caught the shuttle to World of Sports again, and made it back in time for Pharrell.

There was a sea of people, and Pharrell spoke for an hour. It was awesome, but as I stood there, I looked around, and I noticed, all the people around me were all legit. They were from all around the world, and all here to develop the stuff for tomorrow. I had a brief thought of "do I belong here?"...which was quickly followed with "I better nail my presentation in 2 hrs"

I sat down at my desk, and the adrenaline kicked in. I started cranking out my first work assignment (even the keyboard was in German!). Then Paul made an announcement to the office "Pharrell wants a tour of the Engineering office, so he'll be here about 4pm." And sure enough, around 430pm, I was about 10 feet from Pharrell, and we even made eye contact a few times! So cool! After him and his entourage left, it was time for our Engineering meeting.

There were about 20 people in our room and 10 people 'skyping' from the Portland office. When my time came, I realized all my PhD training, were for moments like this. The presentation went great, and people were engaged. I answered a few questions, then finally relaxed. When the meeting ended, my first day at adidas was over! I got a ride home from an engineer in the office, and had survived.

I rushed in the door, and got ready to finally talk to Nadine & my family! When I heard their voices and saw their faces, my smile went from ear to ear. We chatted for hours. Once again, it was the final pieces of pizza for dinner. But I was finally happy.

I turned my focus to tomorrow, I would need to march around Herzo to complete HR items, and then catch a bus into Erlangen to register for my visa. I had nailed Day 2, but Day 3 would be another set of new challenges.