the money counter

Some of my most faithful readers have been anxiously awaiting word on my first day at the bank. A few words in summary: "It went very well," and "counting, counting, counting". I arrived at work at 10 a.m., my usual start time is 8:30 a.m., signed employment documents, got a cursory tour of the building, and got started counting business deposits. As a check on all large cash deposits the bank has a person manually count the money, and that person is me. Today many germ-infested thousands whipped through my fingers. I work at a small corner desk behind the tellers in the main lobby of the bank. Three other women man the desks, and my main interaction is with them. They all speak English, but we try to use as much Faroese as I can handle. Today I did not understand (in Faroese) the instructions to put the deposit slips and cash inside the red envelopes, but I did understand (in Faroese) that only deposits made after-hours are recorded in the ledger. Approximately 40 people work in the building, and I was able to interact with many of them over lunch and coffee break. The bank has a wonderful food service as part of its employment benefits, and it is tempting to eat cake, chocolates and lattes three times a day. I finish work at 4:10 p.m., and today Ben picked me up and took me home to a celebration dinner of potato chips and dip. I was exhilirated this morning by my first measurable tasks in months. By the afternoon I had a headache from the Faroese radio playing in the lobby and a sore back, but I remain optimistic. My work contract is for two months, and I imagine for a few weeks I will continue to be on counting duty. But as my Faroese improves and I become more familiar with the work environment, I hope to move up to electronic transfers and other transactions. My duties are routine, but they represent my education and growth in a cross-cultural work environment. In the meantime, I appreciate that in Faroese culture it is appropriate to sit through an entire meal at a table of coworkers without saying a word. -a