Back to work

[Shelby07]

After being retired for a few years I've decided to return to work. I'll be working for a company that requires a lot of travel to India. Leaving tomorrow and should be back before Christmas. Hope everybody has a great holiday season.

Wish me luck!

[Silencei2]

Good Luck and safe travels!!!

[ashauler]

Congrats on the job Mark.....I hope you enjoy the travel. I'm thankful that you weren't in India a few days ago. Keep your eyes open and be as safe as you can bro!! Check in once in a while and let us know you're o.k.

[here'sjohnny]

Congrats man, and happy travels!

[craig]

Call-centers?

Congrats on the new job; I don't think you'll want to drive in India; and I hope you don't mind eating (good) vegetarian food!

Have fun!

[Shelby07]

No driving -- I'll have a driver. There are some interesting youtube clips of driving in India. The job is managing the India operation of a US Pharma Co in Haridwar - about 900 miles from Mumbai so I won't be anywhere near there. I'll have people with me all the time and be in fairly safe areas. We're still defining the responsibilities, so it's going to be interesting.

I'm so tired of sitting on my ass all day... It's going to be good to get back to work!

[basil]

Good deal Mark - I know you've looked forward to this and am glad it's off the ground. Like others have said, travel safe and log on here to let us know how things are going for you!

[cigarsarge]

Damn good news...I know you will like it.

[slcraiders]

Nice! Good luck Mark.

Here is an Indian catch phrase for you (trust me, I hear it a few times a month). Whenever you finish a task or if someone asks if something has been done, reply by saying "I have done the needful."

Pop in and let us know how it is going...

[heftysmokes]

Good to hear, Mark. Enjoy the new gig, be safe!

[WOXOF]

Great news Mark! I hope you have fun doing the needful.

[ashauler]

Great news Mark! I hope you have fun doing the needful.

That sounds dirty.

[CAJUNBLAZE]

Good luck and be safe!

Rich

[logan37]

Good for you Shelby. Congrats and safe travels.

[sammis]

Good luck and Safe Travels to you!

[Shelby07]

I'm back!

What a great and strange experience. A 3 week trip turned into 10+ weeks, and if Pauline didn't have a prior commitment to take some friends to Ireland at the end of this month, I'd still be there.

I am working in a town which is about 200 km to the northeast of Delhi. It is 7 hours away by car or train. Anyone who has been to Delhi, Mumbai, Agra or any other business or tourist area in India can not imagine what the culture in the village areas is like or how it affects your definition of what is "normal." The area I was in is very primitive compared to what we are used to in the US, but the people there are extremely resourceful. Being in a car is just plain scary at first, but after a while you get used to it. They are supposed to drive on the left side of the road, but that is more of a guideline than a rule. People do whatever they need to do in order to get around the bicycles, motorbikes, oxcarts, oxen, cows, monkeys, dogs, rickshaws. other cars, trucks and buses that crowd the roads. The culture and the many religions and casts were puzzling to me as I have never been exposed to anything like it. Stories in the newspapers include things like people being trampled in the sugarcane fields by elephants or being attacked by big cats and monkeys. These are almost weekly occurrences there. After a while, you are just not surprised by anything you see and your mind gets to the point where it accepts just about anything as ordinary.

I got back on Thursday afternoon. The entire trip to Denver took 35 hours, with 18 of them in the air, 7 in a car and the rest of the time waiting. It is very hard to explain, but I am finding that my mind is still being influenced by the culture there. It will take some time to decompress and get back to normal (whatever normal is.)

All in all, it was a very interesting experience and strange as it may sound, I am somewhat anxious to get back. The work is interesting and challenging, as is the local culture and people.

[craig]

You're alive!

Sounds like the India that I've been told about.

Never been myself, but many of my now-retired co-workers were from there. (Indians are big on statistics.)

One of the wonders of the modern age is that it is only 35 hours from rural India to urban Colorado. 3.5 months is probably a more comfortable journey length for the human mind.

Glad to hear that you survived the roads!

[cigarsarge]

Sounds like you are having the experence of a life time...

[ashauler]

Welcome back.

[ggiese]

Our company has a fair piece of operations in Mumbai, Gurgaon and Delhi (as well as other cities in India) I have been threatened on several occasions that I'm going - I've managed to dodge the bullet each time. A number of my coworkers have gone and returned with stories similar to yours, Mark.

While I'm avoiding the trip at all costs (primarily because 17 hours of traveling will totally screw up my work), I am very curious. I routinely interact with our partners in India - and am fascinated by their mindset. Is is clearly different than ours.

Good on you!!!