Break for the Light - Yeah, open office plans suck. My last employer operated like that. I eventually was able to work from home, but had to train in the office for various months first. Due to space issues, I was initially in a small conference room, which was nice, but then they stuck me in a loud, annoying area close to the kitchen. It was so distracting. And, the times when I did have to come in to work at the office, they stuck me wherever there was an empty desk. I had no choice of my surroundings.

I’m glad you are in an area with some more peace and quiet now. I don’t know how companies think people can be productive in an open plan office.