Goodbye (Part I)

Well, it has begun.

As the inevitable change reaches our lives again and even the small city of Strasbourg, the time comes for us to say goodbye to many of our colleagues. With the project live since October and stabilization essentially complete, we will see all of the Application Engineers return to the US or new jobs in Europe. So although we know we will see each other again, we also know that we will no longer have a dinner at Matteo's, a bitch session in the smoke hut, or coffee in Building 900.

(That's probably a good thing though, since we suspect there was a Six Sigma project to find a cheaper coffee supplier, and the quality is just not what it used to be.)

Goodbye: Bruno Mercier

Bruno Mercier, who was basically Gaby's bitch for a year, is my fellow vegetarian cohort. Yes, it was a bit more militant on the organic whole food "everyone will die prematurely of diabetes" thing than I was (I still am known to enjoy a refined white flour processed food or two), he actually personally represented a goal that I would wish to someday obtain. In other words Patrick, I might go whole food vegan for just some fun. And he was the only understood me when the cafeteria's menu was the choice of baby cow head or snail pizza with a frog leg appetizer.

As far as work, Bruno had the unenviable task (along with Holger and Emmanuelle) of having to support a design that was decided before his first child was born, and all he could basically say was "Go talk to the crazy Mexican woman who's out smoking". His knowledge of QM or WM was probably not used to its fullest, but he was invaluable in a bridge (or Maginot Line) between Gaby and QC. I mean, let's be honest, without Bruno, Gaby would have taken down Building 100 with her four inch pumps two weeks after arrival. (Wow, I'm going to get in so much trouble with Gaby, it's not even funny.)

Goodbye: Lucia Nogueda

There is so much to say about Lucia, but the most important is that if you ever have a chance to meet her, you must. Where I was exhausted when my niece visited for two weeks, she had hers for months. She has the patience of Job (the biblical one), and a profound intelligence that puts people simply at ease.

As I reviewed pictures for the composite I was reminded of so many stories, but I think I will remember most the 2 hour bike ride with Patrick into work in the pouring rain, and when we rode home one night in about the same time. Unforgettable of course would be the (pre)wedding in Italy. Not only were Patrick and I honored to attend, I still remember the meal as perhaps the best I have ever had.

I regret that you will be leaving us and staying in Germany, but I figure one of us has to fly across the pond at some point.

Goodbye: Daniella

OK, first question.... are you still in trouble for not being back from Germany that one Friday night months ago? OK, that won't be the main thing I remember of you - OK, maybe it will.

Regardless, I hope you had a great time in France, because we certainly enjoyed getting to know you - even though you gave your Aunt a fright for not showing up in Strasbourg like you were suppose to - OK, I'm letting that go.

You did teach me one very important lesson, which was that I am not "of bar drinking until 4 o'clock in the morning" age anymore. Not because I actually did that . . . OK, there was that one time at Gaby's when Patrick was out of town and I was still illegal to operate a motor vehicle the next morning, but I'm told there aren't any pictures to prove it . . . where was I? Ah, so even though I never went out with you guys until 3 in the morning, Patrick did - and I was lucky one who experienced his hangover . . . anyway, I'm a lightweight.

I hope we are given the chance to cross paths again in 20 years, because we would love to see how your life evolved. You seem to be capable of anything. Now go give Lucia a hug for putting her through that nightmare of being MIA for 12 hours.

Goodbye: Cindy Eaton

Cindy is from Lilly's plant in Lafayette, who was sent to Fegersheim on a short term assignment to help out with training. So she was on the GBIP project, but we just adopted her instead.

The first couple of weeks were a little tough, I think, because she was living in the white collar prison hotel (otherwise known as the Citadine), and then moved to a hotel, because at least it had air conditioning. So basically no kitchen, but under 95 degree ambient temperature - I suppose you need to weigh the pro's and con's. Regardless that meant she had to feel the full brunt of Alsatian cooking all at once. Weber didn't help either, since he seemed to order pig knuckles and God knows what else.

After she got her house, I think she settled in much better; so she totally gets the award for bridging the most cultural distance - Strasbourg is a lot farther away from Tippe than it is from Indy.

Goodbye: Holger Roeder

Like Lucia, the patience of Job.

Also someone who has to support a design that was decided back when the USSR was a superpower, Holger Roeder was Jill's bitch. But you know, it just didn't have the same ring to it, as Bruno and Gaby. I think Holger was the first one to realize that Fegersheim has its own "unique" "style" of "planning", but he was also nice (or smart) enough to not call them out on it. Personally I would have blown up if I had spent so much time developing a piece of functionality to finally not use it in the end - yikes.

Holger also had an interesting background - German and married to a Frenchwoman. Personally, I didn't think that was possible. But I think that experience must have served him well in dealing with all of us.

Goodbye: Emmanuelle Frohlich

Alas I had an awesome picture of Emmanuelle, but I couldn't find it - so this will have to do - hissssss.

Emmanuelle Frohlich was the WM (Warehouse Management) Application Engineer, and not only did she have to support a design that was decided long ago - she also had to deal with a new system, the Warehouse Execution System. So basically SAP knowledge was reduced to very little, as the WES tried to integrate with SAP - yikes.

I think I would have lost my sanity long ago, so Emmanuelle gets lots of bonus points. She also gets bonus points for commuting from Luxembourg to Fegersheim every week - what a pain.

And yes, I'll find a good picture, but I think the cat thing works well too.

Goodbye: Joe Moeddel

OK, this one is a little weird on the goodbye, because he's living in our house. But just go with it...

Although he was a bit of a project on the clothing thing, and he never did understand the purpose of product and using it everyday - we did get him past sweatshirts and not dusting. So even though he will most likely revert to his barbaric ways without constant feedback, he at least showed that he was trainable. We leave it up to his future wife to make it permanent.

With everyone there were so many memories, but the ones that come to mind at this particular moment include: not respecting traffic signs, the marathon training, the fence that fought back, the trips to Egypt and Turkey and Paris and Luxembourg and (you get the idea), Hugo Boss logistic fiascos, morning coffee, the bellybutton thing (thanks Mrs. Moeddel), and 2% girl (hey, we spent a lot of time together). OK, the last one wasn't really a Strasbourg memory, but it just sums up his personality, so I threw that in. You'll have to email him for the complete story.

Although plans are not final at this point, I'm sure Joe will do great in any endeavor - well, except fashion consultant or strategic planner - but other than that, he's good to go. And yes future friends of Joe, he's not a great conversationalist, so be armed with one of those "Book of 50 Questions" just to break through the first glacier - unless you share a common interest in that Tiger football team and start with a lot in common.

Goodbye: Jill Hagan

Now with the offices empty, I am reminded on how used I got to seeing Jill every morning. And if there is one thing that reminds me all the Americans have gone home - is that Jill's desk is completely empty.

Professionally, I will always remember Jill as the Saint (or Sainte), since she had to put up with Faubert and Fegersheim's "planning" all those long months. Yes, I had to tell Faubert off several times, but Jill actually had to make eye contact with him and engage him in conversation. Anyway, I wish I will be as methodical and even when I grow up.

Personally I will remember the trips to Baden-Baden, the Wine Route, and various places along the way. But more importantly I will remember her competitive side (I still won the Phrase of the Day) - oops, sorry - and her humor that wonderfully appeared after we knew each other.

Goodbye: Chris Hagan

The man with the hardest job, and the one who did it the best.

You would think that his wife, Jill, had the hardest job (have you seen how Fegersheim plans?), but I would have to say Chris had the hardest. Although there were others who did not have a 40 hour job to keep them busy, while their spouse worked on GBIP for 60 hours; I always felt that Chris had the most difficult challenge. Not only because he was new to the career on hold thing, but also because he did not have the 5000 hobbies with accompanying sporting equipment from REI - you know who you are.

You throw in a couple of dinners with fellow GBIPers who have a natural tendency to talk about . . . well, GBIP, and an apartment that was 180 degrees different "style" than his (see Lesson 8); you can get an idea of the challenge. And for all those out there who think not working for 18 months in France would be the easiest job in the World, you would find that it is one of the great ironies of life - you can only go down the wine route so many times.

So when I think of Chris, I will remember that hideous vase with its associated lace doylies, and a mental image I have of him eating lunch with the women from Americans in Alsace (think Carmel housewives on steroids). Most importantly I will remember how much Patrick (and I) enjoyed just having a beer at a local bar with him - I figure Patrick is a pretty good judge of character.