Routine

Difficult to write much on this blog.

I'm into a bit of a routine ... a not-job hunting routine.

OK, I went to an openBC event and sent a few follow up emails.

But otherwise I haven't done much job hunting. I have just joined the Colando club but I'm not really sure what that's about. Seems a lightweight LinkedIn/OpenBC for Muencheners. Might find out.

As well as the going-to-a-job-routine I've started going to the gym.

I found a very nice one in one of the main areas of Munich, about 20 minutes walk from my hotel.

I chose it mainly because it takes monthly payment. I won't mention how much I pay because I'd have to admit to myself how much I paid.

But it is very big, it has lots of training equipment, two punch bags (two!), sauna etc.

First time I used the gym I basically trained as hard as possible. Then, to reduce the chance of post-training muscle ache, I went to the sauna.

Once I found, it which isn't easy these days when I'm not wearing contact lenses or glasses. Before going in I read the instructions on the wall outside, which were written in German and English. But they were pretty standard sauna guidelines.

The sauna was very hot and I'm a bit out of practice.

Eventually I noticed that the other people in the sauna (it's not packed as hardly anyone goes to the gym) were completely naked, not even covering themselves with towels. One of them clearly needed to lose weight as he had man-breasts ... oh hang on, those were women's breasts.

Then it seemed there were more breasts but my double vision had kicked in so I'm not sure how many women were actually in the sauna.

So, I find myself, a Englishman, in a sauna, with totally naked Germans, men and women.

!

And I'm wearing shorts.

!!


In England you cover yourself up in communal saunas or they call the police. So, I'd brought over the baggy shorts I used to wear in my local gym's sauna in England.

But instead I suffered the embarrassment of being clothed in a room full of naked people. Very wierd.

After the sauna, I showered, in the usual way (i.e. naked), in the men's changing room. When I finished I turned round to find a cleaning woman brushing excess water from the shower area.

Don't these people have any sense of decency?

The next day I went to the shops and brought a big towel.

I'm also thinking of asking the gym for a discount: well it's not like I can see anything.

Netverking

So on Thursday I went to the openBC networking event in Munich.

The invitation said that it was dress-down and I consider it good manners to do what's asked on the invitation. Anyway, I can be pretty smart in (some) casual clothes.

Nevertheless, despite the informality it's important to create a good impression. So, I decided not to drink anything.

After about 45 minutes at the event, I hadn't really spoken to anyone.

Eventually I realised the problem. I hadn't had anything to drink.

One bier later and everything improved. I started talking to people, even in German (!) and exchanged cards.

Buoyed by this I had another bier.

Then I made a radical, but sensible move.

I went home.

These days I'm not a big drinker: so it could all have gone terribly wrong.

This afternoon I emailed everyone from whom I had received business cards.

Keeping it open

Like most rational people in this world I prefer using openBC.

Although I haven't used it that much.

But on Thursday they're holding a networking event in Munich. Which is home to openBC (I think) and currently home to me (pretty certain about that bit).

So, yesterday and today I went through the list of attendees, seeing if there was anyone I should definitely look out for.

I found a couple of people from interesting companies.

It's actually quite an informal event (they say on their blurb) so no hard sell.

Actually I'm a bit short on business cards and haven't found any company who can create them here. No doubt they exist, I'll just have to look harder.