This blogging thingy is not so easy. On one hand there are so many ways one can do it (text can even be e-mailed directly to the site!), but then I feel like I'd like give the content some meaning, not just write for the sake of writing (e.g. I feel like today I can't write anything, so I'm writing these words in order to fill up some space blah blah blah...). And if I want to write something nice then it takes time which is never enough...
That's why I set up other blog "Longer Stories" where you can find some write ups that took me some time to do. So far it has compilation of my emails from Guatemala from 2001 and from Sri Lanka from 2003-04. Just now I added another post. It is an article "about my experience in India - good or bad" as the topic was given to me when I was requested to write it. It was for my company's branch newsletter and since it was issued on Aug 15 - India's Independence Day (or I-Day as acronyms-and-abbreviations-loving-nation calls it), the topic had to be as given above. After not being inspired enough to prepare it, after missing the deadline, I finally sat down in front of the PC and got it done. The title and the first line of the article "whatever you say about India, the opposite is also true" is a quote from "Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure" by Sarah Macdonald. Here is my article: http://www.gieniusz.com/2006/08/whatever-you-say-about-india-opposite.html#links.
Besides of the newsletter, there are many other ways coprorations try to integrate their employees. They sometimes make movies. Me and Agnieszka were invited to give a short speech, which would become part of such an internal movie displayed on plasma screens in many locations across India or even globally. We were sent a schedule, given information when and where we need to be, what to prepare and so on. The day before we were asked by the project coordinator to come down to her office to meet the movie-makers. We were told again what do do, what to wear (no striped clothes) and to be on time at 2 p.m. next day. We were also supposed to submit summary of our speeches. Yeah right. Of course we didn't prepare them. I was planning to do it on the day when the movie was to be shot - after all there is a plenty of time between 9.00 a.m. and 2 p.m., right? In the morning, when I was about to open Word to start making 3 bullet points for my speech, I got a call from the project coordinator: "Can you and Agnieszka come to the library now? We need to start shooting and we need to start with you". Sure. We got there. The person who was supposed to be the first on that day couldn't show up at the scheduled time, so they took us. We were not even asked about the speeches summaries. After short instruction, I was the first one to talk. Then was Agnieszka. When asked about her stay in India, she wanted to say something nice and that she enjoyed it so much that she's been here for long period of time now. So she said (more less): "I came here for couple of months, but now I am STUCK in India for 2 years" ;-)
As mentioned before, Aug 15 was IDay. In other words day off from work ;-). Since it was Tuesday we also took Monday off and went to Varanasi. Holy city of Hindus where devotees come to take a ritual bath in Ganga river, where old people come to die as it sets them free from karma, where dead bodies are cremated in public... It is also supposed to be one of the oldest human settlements - 8000 years of history or so. Seems magical and mystic? It sometimes does feel so, but first of all it is crowded with people and cows, full of touts and tourists. Nevertheless, still worth visiting and exploring!
We were back from Varanasi on Aug 15, and the next day I went to Bombay to get my visa extended.
3.30 - wake up.
4.10 - catching a taxi in an empty street.
4.40 - airport and queuing for check-in and security check.
6.05 scheduled departure - got delayed a couple of minutes but not too badly.
9.15 Mumbai - rainy and cold, catching a meter-priced rickshaw not really possible - that together made a good excuse to avoid local train and use taxi.
11.30 I get to company's office to collect papers needed for visa extention.
13.00 F.R.R.O.
15.15 procedure completed. My visa is extended... for 2 months. I have to come again and bring one more paper along with all the same documents I provided that day.
15.30 Office again - I summarize my experience and tell about the document needed. "See you in October" I say, "See you in October" is the reply and I leave.
It is 16.00 and my flight is at 19.05 - taking into account that I am hungry, that crossing Mumbai is time consuming, that due to increased security passengers are expected to report 1,5h beofre flight, it seems I need to rush. I have an expensive pizza, buy some sweet buns to take to Kolkata and arrive at the Churchgate train station - this time no excuses to take taxi. No sense neither. I line for a ticket. When Indians buy it, the cashier throws change and tickets carelessly, with no respect. When he sees my face, he asks "which station", confirms "2nd class?". I give him exact change - 8 rupees. He puts the ticket carefully and seems-like-genuinely says "thank you, it's kind of you". Trains are at the platforms. The fast ones do not stop at "Vila Parle" station, so I have to catch a slow one. Side-to-side headshake confirms (?) the train goes where I want to get. I wipe water from a seat next to the window (raining again and seems even colder than in the morning).
16.45 we leave the station. 40 minutes later I get down. Now a rickshaw to the airport. The first driver takes me and agrees for a payment according to the meter. Journey is short, I am happy. Price for the ride is 12 rupees. I was in good mood, driver was a nice guy, so I pay 20 and shake my head side-to-side communicating transaction is over and I expect no change. Driver smiles. I head to the entrance, he is back on the streets of Mumbai. Smooth check-in. Then loooooooong queue for security check. Finally I'm in, waiting for boarding. Still a lot of time, why was I rushing? My throat starts aching, I don't feel well - cold and rainy Mumbai did the job, seems I fall sick again. I buy "hot lemon tea" from Lipton stall. It turns out to be an instant tea with hot water. Whatever... tastes o.k. Typical tiny Indian cup costs 4,5 rupees. Since the lady has no 50 paise coins she gives change with... mentos - single "unit". Of course packed in foil by the producer. Someone here read (or at least shares point of view presented in): "Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid" by C. K. Prahalad. Hot liquid does good to me. I buy one more and get one more mentos. Domestic airport in Mumbai is quite o.k. Small, but modern. For each screen displaying flight schedule there are 2 screens showing Bollywood movies. I walk around to kill time. I notice Vending machine with books and magazines. I approach to check what is inside. A man whom I didn't notice gets up and asks if I want anything from the machine. He has a badge and he seems to be the operator of the vending machine. Brilliant! You can put a self-service machine but still employ a dude to operate it. Dear vendor machine owner - I admire your social sense, but don't ever expect me to invest in your stocks. I roam around again. Flight gets delayed "10 minutes" as I am assured by a nice airline worker. She is almost right, we take off at 19.30.
Two and half hour later I am back on the ground, in Kolkata. I feel dead tired and badly sick... Agnieszka is waiting for me at the airport. I'm so happy to see her - as if we haven't seen each other for a month. I go to sleep almost immediately after reaching home. In the morning I wake up feeling sick and decide to stay home. I have a training session on Friday and I don't want to get worse and at home I can prepare myself better for it. It is my first session I am conducting in TCS and I want it to be good...
Friday morning. It's the day - my first session I am conducting for TCS. "Cultural Diversity". I feel prepared, but this is a new environment for me. I hope for the best...
The session takes place in a fancy conference room. You start a projector and lights dim automaticly, windows get blinded, XXI century at your fingertips... ;-)
Most of people come on time. They are responsive and interested. I guess session was good. I was happy about it, so seemed participants.
My favourite comment from evaluation forms was that I "managed to keep attention intact in spite of only 1 tea break during 4 hours".
So far this was surly my best day at work here. Looking forward for more to come soon.
Take care guys. Till next post from me or mail from you...
P.S. Kubica was 7th in his first race. But due to his team's missmanagement he was eventually disqualified. Too bad :-(
