The front door clicked shut and we heard familiar footsteps on the stairs. This week, our team was briefly complete for the first time since summer break. Editor CF joined us for a cup of coffee, or in her case a glass of water. At the beginning of the summer, she developed severe pancreatitis and spent two weeks in hospital. She is now recovering at home while waiting to have (hopefully) minor surgery. She’ll be fine, she assured the team on Monday. But it will be a while before she has her energy back and can return to her usual activities.
It was her first time sitting down with our three new colleagues, who joined us in August. But there was no trace of awkwardness; it feels like they’ve been around for much longer.
Dutch
We speak Dutch at the office. This is a first for junior journalist SW, who was born and raised in Germany. Towards the end of 2022, when he was a student columnist writing for Observant in English, he heard about the temporary job that would be opening up in our team. He didn’t hesitate to apply despite the Dutch language requirement. The job interview in early June was conducted entirely in Dutch. And once hired, he let us know he’d like to write in Dutch as well.
Speak German
Everyone in journalism knows it’s not easy to write in a language other than your own, let alone a language you’ve been learning for just ten months. But he never gives up, even when sweat is beading on his forehead. Around five PM, his eyes sometimes look tired from a full day of speaking, thinking, and writing in Dutch. It’s a good thing he has fellow junior journalist LvdL. She often invites him along for a short walk or a coffee break. During these short breaks, they speak German, which LvdL speaks fluently as well.
As junior journalists, they still have a lot to learn about the job. But they’ve already mastered the skill of being a good colleague.