The days are tough for the new team, outside of the Training that Richard provides they spend the rest of their days on calls to India...Richard chuckles as he sees them switching on the subtitles so they can understand the tough Indian accents...
Richard keeps things light hearted in the office, throwing paper planes and stress balls around to keep the team in a fun mood and to distract them a little from the day to day, the team around him engage and make this a fun part of the day
Another night out is organised, this time the team is going to a craft beer pub called Piw Paw, this time...it will be the whole team, not just the new members, a large group assembles on the metro to head down, much excited talking and banter proceeds, this is going to be a great night!
As the team heads from the central metro up to the bar the heavens open and it begins to pour with rain! Richard didn't bring an umbrella...but then this girl steps in and offers to share hers...
Her name is Asia (pronounced Asha), she is 29, about 5 foot 8, long blonde/brown hair, Deep brown eyes and a trim figure, she is a member of the new team being trained. Richard greatly appreciates the help, they make it to the bar...
They find some large tables downstairs where the 40 odd group can all sit together, the setting is kind of a dark cavern, with bottlecaps decorating the walls, the floors are black. The selection of craft beers is immense, most likely around 100 varieties and varying in type, flavour and strength...some real gems there from all over Europe!
The seating is general split with the old CL team on one table, the new CI team on another, there are also some other guests from the UK who are stationed in Poland for a few months, Diogo and Ashley...a few outsiders from other teams also tag along...so it is a big night! There is a lot of talking, group photo's and great integration!
The night goes by without incident, it is fun and goes on into the early hours!
A few days later there is another gathering, this time we go to a more local craft beer bar called Muranow, this is a smaller place, with normally about 15 different beers on tap, the range changing regularly, this time it is a much smaller gathering, mainly the new members but also a couple of the old crew.
Richard and Asia end up in a corner of a table together and the conversation is very focused, she likes to talk about her achievements, before this role she was doing a PHD in Geology...or something similar and was actually stationed out in a remote area called Spitsburgen up in Norway doing scientific study on glaciers.
Richard has a science background and finds this all quite interesting, they are talking for hours and there is good eye contact and stimulating conversation.
Asia leaves around 10, Rich's friend Szymon, a slightly muscular Pole with dark hair and Blue eyes starts to say that he should go for it, she is clearly interested, others in the group remaining chime in to say the same...
Rich has always been a bit hesitant about dating someone in the office, but he is very attracted to this girl...and it seems she feels the same way...