Burberry and Blackberrys

Beginning a new job always lends itself to comparisons of old gigs. Thoughts of how matters were previously carried out by superiors and subordinates in relation to the present state of protocol creep in. Environments drastically mirror or are a refreshing opposite state of turmoil. By comparison, like having a different teacher each year in school, the students remain the same; coworkers (students) of each category seem to follow from job to job, while the employment oasis (school) remains constant. Some recent observations.

In the U.S., people work in one of two places: the city or suburbia (or at home, which can be either city or suburbia). Recently, after migrating back into the nucleus of the nation's capital, I became reacquainted with the typical metro DC worker. Either public or private sector, it need not matter; ethnicity or gender not an issue. Regardless, there is the double-breasted dark suit sporting individual endlessly attracted to the crack in the palm of his or her hand, known as the Blackberry, which has assumed a highly addictive form, known as the Pearl (not to be confused with the little white rock-like substance from the '70s). Then, clothe made from the fancy flannelled fabric known as Burberry. Ranging from shoes to purses to umbrellas, the black and tan flaunts the upper white-collared class of the city. We are way beyond Starbucks at this point.

Of course, I am one to properly assimilate with the current fads. Proudly flaunting my fashion sense with khakis (so to maintain a certain highly-distinguished level of professionalism) and carrying in my pocket a cellular device, known as a phone, that I only take out once I've arrived at my desk, my highly decorative polo shirt and a I put in eight hours, eat lunch and go home.