Scary things worth sharing

Three months ago.

OMG! Getting up way too early to catch a plane to Munich. Prepared exactly enough to get through the day. I know where to go, how to get there and what we do today. But what we are doing tomorrow? I don't have a clue. Very lean and agile I would say.

When I finally arrive at the LEW office in Augsburg I enter the workshop room. There are post-its and new faces all over the place. 'Nice to finally meet you guys! I'm Ceciel. Please continue and don't mind me, i'll just listen and try to catch up'. They continue with the exercise. Hmm... now I remember. They speak German.

Luckily I had at least 2 years of German lessons from Frau van de Pas in high school. Although I was not very talented according to her and my grades, I seem to understand 80% of what my colleagues are saying. And lucky me, the topic is how to conduct an interview and that's something I can already do.

That morning, when I was in the plane, the team had an introduction on the lean startup method that we use in this project. Fortunately I have used this method before, so getting up-to-speed is doable. Still, the afternoon passes by like a hurricane. We are preparing for tomorrow, when we will go out of the building (YES) to try to prove our first hypothesis. With customers. Love it!

At the end of the day my head is spinning, and my understanding of the German language quickly drops from 80% to a miserable 50% (and I tend to be an optimistic person). German, Dutch and English words bounce through my head like crazy. I leave the office for my hotel. The streets are different. Bigger then I am used to. Nothing like the Netherlands. I check-in and manage to post-pone to crash until I have a clear vision of my bed....

I love the fact that everything is different. Maybe strange, but being here feels like surfing. I dive into an unknown wild ocean. And although it is scary, I embrace the fear and love every part of the expedition I am on. So why not share it with you? I have been working in Augsburg for a few months now, and there are definitely things worth sharing. 

To be continued...