Nathalie | Day 18: Shared space and thoughts

We had our last big day in the Mutinerie office before the team hopped on planes to start the long trek home. Michelle and I worked on follow up for user acquisition and enjoyed the last moments in our temporary work home. The day was broken up, randomly, when an old friend from Hanoi saw on Facebook that I was in Paris. He messaged me and, a while later, showed up at the office to grab a drink. Since we last hung out he has married and had a baby. I had switched jobs, continents, and romance. There was a lot to catch up on.

Later in the evening, we joined a community event at Mutinerie. The managers had asked us to give a presentation of Vayable to their community at a periodic event they hold called “Aperopitch.” The crowds of Mutinerie workers unplugged from their headphones and emerged from behind the sea of MacBooks to face the stage. There were some funny videos and presentations from new members of the community to talk about their projects. In a co-working space full of individual people working on individual projects, it was actually a pretty lovely opportunity to check in and learn about each other’s endeavors.

We were asked to get up and give a short presentation of Vayable and, in particular, our work in Paris. My only regret is that we hadn’t done something like that at the beginning of our stay (rather than just slip into the mix quietly) because it opened up a lot of conversation. 

Who did you meet?

I met my old friend Nico! We reminisced about the good old days in Hanoi. And somehow it came up that he doesn’t drink alcohol. What a shock! That disproves my theory that I can only be friends with drinkers.

What interaction stood out most and why? 

After the presentation at Mutinerie we went along to the upper side of Canal St. Martin above the Jaures train station. There was a lovely little restaurant alongside the water. We were starving, but they were not serving food anymore, so Michelle and Gabriel went across to get McDonald’s (for shame!). The waiter scolded us–but I wasn’t sure if it was because we brought in outside food or if it was because it was McDonald’s. Probably both.

What was the biggest challenge?

Ugh. Public speaking again!

What new ideas did you have?

I hate to say it, but Chicken McNuggets are delicious. 

What did you discover about yourself?

I did my part of the presentation in French instead of English and found, miraculously, that I have less stage fright when I’m speaking in a different language. I have no idea why that is.

What’s something new you learned about the Vayable business/community?

Talking at Mutinerie made me realize that there are so different many elements of our community, which extends far beyond our users. 

How’s the team doing?

Tired, but happy. As per usual.