Shortly after we arrived, the hotel staff started telling us that another "Deloitte family" would be arriving and living there until March. We were told they had a little girl Isabel's age so we were anxious to meet them. I started scoping out the lobby, hallways and restaurants; I figured they should be easy to pick out. Sure enough, I spotted them; just as we had been told - husband, wife and 3-year old little girl. Perfect! Their little girl was playing at the play area one Saturday morning while Isabel and I were down there. Her dad was there with her and I overheard that her name was Annabelle - even more perfect; Isabel and Annabelle. It was time to introduce myself. For whatever reason, I froze...I couldn't figure out the best way to introduce myself without coming across as potentially quite creepy. I thought of saying, "hey, where are you guys from?" - but that might be interpreted as "hey, you're not Indian...neither are we, so let's be friends." Even the premise of that doesn't make sense, given that Paul is Indian. Then I thought of saying, "hey, the staff mentioned you guys would be staying here" but I thought that might come across as creepy that the staff was talking to us about them. Lastly, I thought I could try, "hey, I hear you or your wife work at Deloitte...so do I!" That wouldn't work either; I actually didn't know which one worked at Deloitte and it would be even more creepy that we had been talking about what they do for a living. I resigned myself to saying nothing. I would have to find a better opportunity.
That Monday, as I was leaving for work, Annabelle and her dad were getting on the elevator so I seized the opportunity. I had noticed them coming home the previous week around supper time so I had guessed that they were sending Annabelle to a preschool during the day; that would be my in. Turns out, Annabelle is 3, her parents both work at Deloitte and they're from Chicago. They had been staying at the hotel for a couple months and then went home for Christmas and were back now until the end of March. Again, perfect!
The creepy, stalker part resurfaced once I got to work. I realized I hadn't asked his name, or his wife's name. Now what? I decided to email our mobility guy and describe them to him to see if he could give me their names. He did. Then I found them in our global address book and sent them a message. Nothing creepy about that. Meet someone in the elevator, don't tell her your name and next thing you know she's emailing you and your wife:)
The great news is that Griffin and Amanda turn out to be wonderful people and Annabelle and Isabel are becoming great friends.
That Monday, as I was leaving for work, Annabelle and her dad were getting on the elevator so I seized the opportunity. I had noticed them coming home the previous week around supper time so I had guessed that they were sending Annabelle to a preschool during the day; that would be my in. Turns out, Annabelle is 3, her parents both work at Deloitte and they're from Chicago. They had been staying at the hotel for a couple months and then went home for Christmas and were back now until the end of March. Again, perfect!
The creepy, stalker part resurfaced once I got to work. I realized I hadn't asked his name, or his wife's name. Now what? I decided to email our mobility guy and describe them to him to see if he could give me their names. He did. Then I found them in our global address book and sent them a message. Nothing creepy about that. Meet someone in the elevator, don't tell her your name and next thing you know she's emailing you and your wife:)
The great news is that Griffin and Amanda turn out to be wonderful people and Annabelle and Isabel are becoming great friends.
Story time with Griff
Getting out some energy!
(Note the Deloitte office in the background:))
New Friends
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