Moving in to Denmark - First day of work

It's been a while since I last blog. I'll try to do it more often now, since I have the time, and also that I want to brush up my writing skills. Anyway, to cut the story short, I took the job offer from Microsoft in Denmark (MDCC). So after a month notice with AsiaPac, I took a short break to visit my parents in Indonesia, before flying off to Denmark (7th Dec 2007, Friday night). And here I am, writing my first post at my temporary housing in Copenhagen.

The relocation process was smooth, with minor hiccups. For a start, I've had 5 pieces of luggage totalling up to 90+ kgs, which in the end only 1 piece of 32 kg can be checked in to the plane (I had to re-pack my luggage at Changi Airport). In the end, my fiance had to bring home most of the things (sorry Tris..) It was a lesson learnt for me (sorry again Tris..). Microsoft do provide air and sea container for relocation purposes. I've had my air container packed the day before my flight and I should have put more of those stuff on the air container instead of carrying on my own as luggages. I planned to use the sea container at later time when Tris joins me to Denmark, which will be after our wedding next year.

The short time of the connecting flight from London to Copenhagen caused my luggage to be delayed. In fact, I almost late myself (I got lost at Heathrow airpoirt) Not only that, the day after I arrived (8th Dec 2007, Saturday monring), I had to pick up the luggage at the airport myself (9th Dec 2007, Sunday noon), due to custom checks. They said I brought to much medicine in my luggage. After explaining what's the medicine for, they let me go with my luggage intact, with a warning not to bring so much medicine to Denmark the next time I come.

The temporary housing is great. Infact, it is too great for a single person I would say. It has 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, a family room (dining + tv) and a bathroom. The only thing that's not so good is that it is on the 6th floor, with no lift/elevator. So imagine, if I had bring all the 6 pieces of luggage, I will have to carry all of them by myself to the 6th floor. Anyway, even that 1 piece of 32 kg already given me a lot of problem. Talking about coincidence, or what Reformed Christian said, God's providence, I've met another Indonesian, staying at the same flat with me, at the 2nd floor. Anyway, the temporary housing benefit includes water, electricity, cable tv, and internet. So basically, in my first two months, my expenses should be only on transport (All zones - 1200 DKK pm) and meal (dinner and weekends). I'll put some pictures of my temporary housing, when I got more time to download it from my N73.

My first day in Microsoft was great. I'm glad I decided to go to office instead of meeting my relocation agent on my first weekday in Denmark. The people are nice, the environment is great, and the office was cool. If you've seen Herman Miller chair, you've got to see my office table. It can goes up and down with some kind of hydrolic mechanism. The other very good thing that I got today is the corporate SIM card and mobile phone. I got to call anywhere for just a nominal fee (tax purposes) monthly (business and personal). So it means, I can call Tris everyday now. Another good thing, MS currently having a trial run on shuttle bus from Skodsborg station. That means, it cut short my travelling time to office. I think the amount of time I took to travel to my current office is less than the amount of time I took from Choa Chu Kang (my previous, previous flat in Singapore) to Henderson Road (my previous company in Singapore).

The only bad thing about Denmark is that at this point of time, it is bloody cold to walk around the street. But you'll be fine if you stay in office or house, since the heating system is great (and expensinve).

 

Currently feeling: melancholy

Posted by jonsan21 at 07:35 PM on December 10, 2007 in Personal. | 1 notes

2 weeks and counting..

Well, it's been a full two weeks since my arrival in Copenhagen. Life has been great. Had a Christmas Party last Friday, not really happening though, partly because I don't speak Danish.

Work has been quite slow, possibly because everyone is in holiday mood - well I am. We will have 24 - 26 Dec and 31 Dec - 1 jan as public holiday in Denmark. Basically, December is a very short month.

The mobil-phone benefit that MS gave is awesome. Not only that they gave me a new PDA-phone, but also they paid off ALL the calls (personal and business) that we made using it - well I had to pay a miniscule amount of tax for that. But hey, it really makes Singapore a little bit closer .

I had a Glogg (traditional Danish drink) yesterday in the office on one of the company Christmas events. The drink, err, sucks  I couldn't even finish a small glass of it.

Today we had a big Team breakfast. Most of the NAV team member were there. The developer team presents their milestones accomplishments. Seems like there's still a lot of red colored mark in the scorecard though  It doesn't affect me, as yet...

I've started my house search, Sine,one of my new colleague, who is 1-week more senior than me, helped a lot in the Danish translation. Hopefully can really get a good place with a good price.

I've made some new friends from Muli (an Indonesian, who lives with his family in the same building, 3 storey below me) I think I'll be joining them for regular badminton sessions starting next week. He also introduced me to some other Indonesians who were working in the same company as him (MAERSK). They are like the only Indonesians that I've known so far. Yesterday, I've just found out that among 800+ employees in Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen (MDCC), I'm the only Indonesian!! I wonder whether I'm the first one as well. That should add the 44 different nationalities working here to 45

I've also made some Filipino friends from FIBC, an English speaking church I attended last sunday. We cooked (well they cooked and I ate) Philipine food 'Sinigang', it's basically a pork stew. They also taught me how to cook rice without rice cooker.

Everything has been great so far. The only thing that's missing here is Tris...

Currently feeling: sleepy

Posted by jonsan21 at 01:09 PM on December 21, 2007 in Personal, Work. | leave a note

Klampenborg

I've just signed a lease contract for my permanent housing. It's a 2 room en suite, located at a basement in a villa at Klampenborg. It's 30 mins by public transport to Central Copenhagen as well as my office at MDCC, and it's about 15 mins bus ride to DTU in Lyngby, in case next time if I want to enroll to part-time Master courses. The beach and natural reserve / park is also in walking distance.

The place itself looks very nice. I will have a private bathroom, separate kitchen, and my own living room besides the bedroom, with a queen size bed. The total area is around 42 sqm and the rent includes all other fees / bill (fully furnished + electricity, heating, water, etc.)

The landlord also seems like very nice people. They're willing to wait till 1 Feb for me to move in. All in all, I thank God for the providence to find this lovely place.

Below are some pictures I took of the place. For more pictures, go to the gallery.

living room with a dining table for six, a huge sofa, a coffee table and tv (not shown)

Bedroom, with queen size bed, closet and bed side table

Kitchen, with electric stove and oven, refrigerator / freezer and washing machine (not shown)

Currently feeling: satisfied

Posted by jonsan21 at 11:17 PM on December 28, 2007 in Personal. | 2 notes