The presentation is done…the report is in it’s final stages and ready for professional formatting and editing…and Smarter Cities Team Perth has dispersed and are all on their way home. What an amazing experience! The presentation to the Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi, the council members, and all the stakeholder organizations yesterday went really well. Smarter Cities Team Perth provided 10 recommendations for the City that they were quite excited about and ready to start investigating for implementation right away. It was an exciting day with a formal reception and about 60 attendees there to listen to our findings. The presentation was followed up by presentation of some very cool gifts from the city to the team and lots and lots of pictures! We spent a little time with our IBM colleagues at the local Perth office and then it was off to a celebration dinner at the Gordon Street Garage. We had a blast and reminisced over our 3 week adventure and how our different “profiles” meshed and came together for such a great final product.
So how DOES that happen? How can 6 strangers come from all parts of the world and cultures…from different organizations within IBM and different job roles and with different methodologies, approaches and ways of thinking…and end up putting together something cohesive and so valuable. It’s a miracle to me. We experienced a microcosm of what we asked our hosts to do in Perth..and I can tell you first hand…it worked!
I also want to know how it happens that 3 weeks can at times seem like an eternity while at others seem like a blink of an eye. There were points when we were all homesick and ready to see our families. When the going was tough and we were going through the growing pains of understanding how each of the others thought processes worked, I really longed for home and my everyday job where I had more control of the situation. I thought we would NEVER get done with that deck and report!!! Looking back, however, it now seems like it was just yesterday when we got together for our first meeting to discuss our different profiles and have our first meal together. As I was dragging my suitcase out to the reception area this morning to be picked up for the airport, I clearly remember dragging it up those same stairs what seems like just a few days ago (albeit there was one suitcase less since I bought so many souvenirs! Ugg boots take up lots of room!)
So for all the blog readers out there, know that the challenge was a great success and that we had an amazing time. We are all on our way home if we haven’t already gotten there. We produced a quality deliverable for Perth and wish them the utmost success in moving toward their vision… we made some fantastic memories and friends along the way.
A special note for my fellow IBM SCC Perth team members…Jeff, Luciano, Li Jun, Ian, and Liz….Only you will be able to figure all these out and I’m sure it will make a lot of folks wonder about us even more than they already do 🙂 How does it happen that a person can grow so close to 5 others is such a short time and make so many memories??? I’ll miss you my friends. These are for you….
I remember ,,,, (in no particular order)
The Waga-Waga Wagon Jacobs Ladder Walks and Coffee in Kings Park
Stories about getting “mugg-ed-a” on the train Mounts Bay Apartments
Liz’s “mum-mode” and the giant handbag that could hold ANYTHING
Margaret River Wines (lots of it) “Wi-Fi is free” Scenic Routes
The absolutely critical nature of a 90 minute workout, 30 minute walks, vegetables, and “good coffee”
“Lord” Jeff Elizabeth Quay, Riverside, and Perth Link
Little Creatures Petting, Feeding…and (eeeww) Eating the Kangaroos
Muttley “A Slab” Council House (and the multi-colored lights)
Almost getting run over by a bus It’s all about…. “Move the cones”
“Everybody Out!” Can we stop for coffee (again) Dillon and lunches in our conference room
“What do you mean Camile already picked up the laundry and it won’t be back until Thursday?!!!”
The espresso machine! Wireless hub that had to go everywhere with us
“I’m a frowner” Whistler’s Chocolate Store Ugg Boots
“Henry” and the Ghost Radar (and the frightened waiter :-D)
360 degree views from the revolving restaurant
Martin, “the other” Liz, the Lord Mayor, Sue Khim, and all the other nice people at the city!
“In my humble opinion…” Recharging the wireless hubs
Vegemite, toast, and butter Perfect lighting and “the killer shot”
AFL Football Rain, more rain, and plastic ponchos Cadbury chocolate
Three layers of Government “I’m a little OCD” Dan Murphey’s and Woolworths
Fantastic restaurants The Lord Mayor’s “Bling” Capparina’s
Tiny washers and dryers The train The “Writing Assignment”
The “Big Brother House” Elder St. Car Park Landgate and SLIP
Birds that sound like “dying cats” Camille and “paydays” “It’s very simple”
Burning up in the living room and freezing in the bedroom Our “Profiles’
Giant 20 cent pieces and tiny little $2 coins Parking (or lack of it)
Construction and cranes Hillary Marina “Bus Bunching”
Giant pieces of meat and appreciate for a great meal “Meet at reception (or Waga Waga)”
Bottoms-up vs Top-Down Young knees sit in the back…old beat up ones get the front seat
Noisy heating units that keep you awake The Fishbone The Bell Tower
“It was ONLY one glass” Yoga Meditation (and “The Rules” for meditation :-D)
Cadastre and Tenure “Do NOT change the time we leave 30 min before we leave!”
Keep Left Marshmallows with the Mochas The “Librarian Look”
Rainbows and dolphins at the kickoff reception ….. and fog to sunshine at the final presentation
The drawing behind the picture in the teamroom (Cat with an eyepatch, rum and a big mac on a bridge over the mass of humanity…weird!)
Spacecubed “Sensational” “Good on You”
Freemantle “Period…Done!” “Maaaate!” “I have read….
The “DR” thing “….swim with pigs” “Does it have enough juice?”
Spit the Dummy Award “That’s a mirror” The “dolphin” story Minimal tipping
Love of Old Cars and Fast Cars Oysters WIRRBBTRarara
N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L and S-T-A-T-E Jokes that don’t quite “translate” Tony
More, Bananas, More Bananas, More Bananas…ok..Enough Bananas
Car driving on the sidewalk 2 more “sleeps” “Peace, Brother”
Yada Yada Yada, Blah Blah Blah…what he said
Liza (the statue of the woman in the river with a new outfit every day) The blue house
I’m sure I missed some, but hope this made you smile. Thanks for a great ride, my friends!!!