2020-05-19 17:14:45
Article #61 My Friend in the Next Office
Sometimes she asks my advice now about her work or about a problem and I ask her
advice. Sometimes she comes in to my office and says " I'm really angry, can I whine to
you?" Then she talks about a problem and I listen, and then she returns cheerfully to her
office. Sometimes I go into her office and say. " I'm upset about something that
happened; can I come in for a minute?" Then I grumble to her and she listens, and then I
go back cheerfully to my office. Each of us feels better when we have shared our
problems. Then they are no longer problems.
My Friend In the Next Office
When I started my job a year ago at the university, I did not know my way around. I did
not know where to find anything. I had a million questions. But Dianne in the next office
took me on a tour showing me the places to eat, the library, the lecture rooms, where to
get a picture ID card, how to get from one building to another. When I had a question I
asked Dianne: how to use the telephone, where to make copies, where to print with my
computer, the location of my mailbox.
She teaches as I do. We both spend a lot of time helping students and answering their
questions. She giggles a lot; I hear her laugh with her students.
Dianne is shy in a group of people. She is quiet and does not start a conversation.
Everyone around her talks and she listens. On Friday afternoons, she makes popcorn for
everyone. We all sit in the staff room and eat microwaved popcorn and drink tea and talk.
We start to relax for the weekend and talk about our plans.
She is a good friend; she helps my students when I am not there; she wishes me good
luck when I go to a lecture. I am very glad that she can be my friend in the office beside
mine.
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