Oops and Cringes - Work

Life at work

My first week on the job was like I’d moved to a foreign country.  I met David, a fellow who had been doing the job but was going away to complete a PhD in a similar line of work to what I would be doing. He spent a good few hours with me explaining the work I’d be doing. I barely understood a word. 

I went to morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea in the staff tea room. I’d worked in large locations before (a school, a hospital, a CSIRO lab) so although a little daunting, I thought this was manageable. I didn’t understand the conversations around me. And this was lunch!

Agriculture is a foreign language to the uninitiated…and I was completely out of my depth.

In my job interview they’d asked about 5-year plans. I said I’d like to continue my study. I was ushered to the university, which was right next door, and enrolled to begin a Graduate Diploma in Agriculture. If I got a credit average, I could directly transfer into a Masters in Agriculture by coursework, which was deemed suitable. It sounded fine. I was hoping to learn something - anything!

I got my class list. Advanced Cropping Systems. Advanced Pasture Management. Advanced Soil Management. I wasn’t advanced! I needed basic. It wasn’t offered.

Not only that, I didn’t know the difference between a pasture and a crop. Well, sure I knew cows ate pastures and people ate crops, but if you put me in one of those green paddocks, I couldn’t tell you what it was. HELP!

What was I going to do?

I asked the fellow I was directly working with, Graeme, who seemed quiet and gentle and may not laugh at me. He didn’t laugh. His mouth had dropped too far open to laugh. He just asked how I’d got the job.

I had no idea.

I would have gone home except Mum made me promise to stay at least 12 months. She said it would take 3 months for me to settle in and feel comfortable. The first week seemed like eternity. Three months seemed like eons. How would I survive?