Learning to use my left hand

Hello family and friends!

Krista has been doing a great job with the blog so far, and I am long overdue for a contribution, so here goes.

Coming over here has been both challenging and incredible, with the obstacles we have overcome each day making it all the more worthwhile and meaningful. The experience has been very surreal, and that feeling has not quite worn off after a week. I told Krista living here feels like using my left hand; I am not used to it, it's more difficult than it should be, and it feels funny. But it has been totally awesome. This sensation could also be tied to the fact that I injured my right palm fairly badly the night before we left. I was disassembling our road bikes and sliced it open on the crank.

To add to the oddness, my new team went to Berlin on my second day of work. I had no idea what to expect, so I went into it looking forward to hanging out with everyone and doing whatever team-building exercises the giant corporation expected.

The trip was much more like a field trip for grown ups, and was quite fun. We took the train early wednesday to Berlin and during the 6+ hour ride I mingled between cars and talked to everyone. My new team at Nike Europe is called Brand Design. It is a group of about 20 people and is essentially the in-house design firm for the company's european operations. Half are designers, and the other half are producers and content managers who help the eccentric artists get our work done.

The trip was very well planned with nice group dinners and excursions. Here are some pictures of the highlights.

a real Banksy!


My friend Dona and I on the rooftop bar in Berlin. We worked together when I first started at Nike in 2004.


Very cool art piece at postmodern gallery built in an old WWII bunker.


The holocaust Memorial. Incredible.

The Berlin Wall! This is the west German side with new graffiti, the opposite side has the graffiti intact from before the fall. This is one of the last parts still up.

Very cool experience, and a pretty easy first week. This monday I am getting down to business. My position will primarily be working on our Sportswear brand, which is a more fashion oriented label at Nike.

More soon!!

- Brian