I started a job at a research facility for the government and there's some things I'm very unused to given my past jobs. For example, each person has their own office. So this means there's no one in the room I work in. This changes the dynamic because its much more "work" to walk down the hall and enter someone else's room. We don't have an instant messenger and usually use e-mail, but from what I've seen it's normal for people just to walk into another person's office unannounced. This is a very different feeling then my past jobs - only the senior staff would have private offices and you wouldn't just walk into the CEOs/CFOs office uninvited. I find this set up is making it harder to learn, for example if I were in a room full of people I'd overhear conversations and this would help me to understand the company.
I'm worried I won't have others to collaborate with. My role is that of developer, but I'm the only one working on my assigned project. My boss introduced me to many different people but it sort of became a blur who I should consult in which situation: one is a specialist in databases, another is really good with Python, another is into GIS etc. The computer I have is a desktop so I can't bring it with me when I'm talking to them. Learning a new job is always difficult but given the circumstances I'm worried it will be harder.
Any suggestions?
First I'd like to know what's considered "normal behaviour", in the sense I've had others just walk into my room and I'm used to leaving people alone if they're in private offices with the doors closed.
I could be working with anyone in a five story building and usually I've worked for companies where everyone's in the same suite. It's just a bizarre feeling walking far to see a coworker. I think it's socially acceptable (even recommended) for people to pop into each other's office with a slight pretext of work, but really to socialize/bounce ideas off each other. These are scientists I'm now working with and I'm used to commercial environments.