A taste of home...and returning to India -- Weeks 25 - 30

HI!!  To answer the numerous messages I've received over the past couple weeks--NO, I haven't stopped writing my blog, I just took a little hiatus.  To my cousin Cory, sorry...don't know what you've been doing for reading material, but it's back baby!  Before I share what I've been up to the past few weeks, time for the call outs...

Call-Outs
Oct. 27 - My mom's birthday...Happy Birthday Mom!  Love you!

 

October - After 42 years in Africa, my Aunt Sheila returned back to the states for a VERY well deserved "retirement".  I had the opportunity to go out and visit her in Africa a couple years ago, and am SO glad I did before she retired.  I think that experience in Africa, and my aunt living there for 40+ years, played into my decision to come to India.  I knew it was going to be tough, and it was going to be a challenge to move to a foreign county where I didn't know anyone, but I figured if my aunt could do it for 42 years, I could do it for 18 months!  And although my trip was a couple years ago, I'll definitely remember it forever...sharing juts a couple of pics.  Welcome "home" Aunt Sheila!

 

 

 

Nov. 13 - Happy Diwali to all my Indian friends and co-workers!  Diwali is known as the "festival of lights" and is one of the most important festivals of the year and can compared to our 4th of July and Christmas combined--with gifts exchanged and LOTS of firecrackers going off. 

 

I'm attaching a few pics I took at my apartment complex--gives you a good idea of my complex and all the lights.  I took most of the pics from my apartment, but did go down to meet a friend who was on the street...I lasted maybe 5 minutes before I that uneasy feeling set in in my stomach--you know, right before something bad is about to happen.  So I headed back inside and on my way a firecracker rocket flew right over my head--only missed me by a couple feet!  I try to act all casual, as there were tons of people on the street, including really little kids lighting off firecrackers, but I couldn't get inside fast enough.  Once I got inside, I couldn't help but wonder "how many people visit a hospital on Diwali for some sort of burn related injury??" (that thought is thanks to my mom who was a nurse for 35 yrs)

I REALLY feel bad for the people who have to clean this up tomorrow...there was not a patch of ground that wasn't covered in used firecrackers. 



 



Back in the US of A
Just after my last post I made a small trip (20 hours) back to the states--Seattle--for a few work meetings and trainings...and some much needed "US time".  I can easily fill this post, and probably a few others, just telling you how great it was being back and visiting with friends.  If you read my blog, chances are you've already seen my pics from Seattle, but thought I'd share a few...

Instead of sharing all the stories and reliving how great it was to connect with my friends and old co-workers, I thought I'd share some the things I missed the most and/or had taken for granted prior to coming to India...

• One of life's necessities...water! - I don't people who live in countries where clean drinking water is availble simply by turning on the tap in their sink realize how lucky they are.  It's funny, the first couple days I was back in Seattle and was brushing my teeth, I was looking around for bottled water!  Finally by the 3rd or 4th day I was getting used to drinking water from the tap again ;-).
• Enjoying a salad, or other raw veggies/fruits - Tied to clean water, but it's amazing how many times I've ordered and eaten a salad in the states and never thought, or worried, whether the veggies were washed thoroughly.  My first night back in Seattle I go to a brewing company for dinner w/ my cousin and Cara and I order a big fat salad...and Oktoberfest beer.
• Traffic lights and stop signs - This one surprised me even...considering I've had my share of traffic tickets in the past.  But the simple fact that there is order and rules to driving in the states is now something I can greatly appreciate.  Every day I'm in the car here I have a new respect for my driver for his patience...India definitely would be a place for anyone with even a mild case of road rage.  I had said that I'd stop trying to figure out driving here in India, but I still find myself frustrated with the manner in how they drive...for example, I've seen numerous drivers, including mine, who turn onto a crowded road, but never look to see if a car, or pedestrians, are coming--it's funny actually, my driver will turn onto a crowded look and not look, but only after we turn onto the road (and cut off a car or two) does he look in his side mirrors.  I just don't get that, and thought about saying something to him, but I wouldn't want him to come into my work and tell me how to do my job ;-).
• Another necessity of life...air! - Clean air...oh man, I can't tell you how good it smelled when I landed in Seattle.  I know that's a strange thing to think, but to breathe in and not smell car fumes or other not so pleasant smells, was better than the smell of Taco Bell after a night of drinking!  Seriously, the fact that I could go for a run or drive with the windows breathing in the fresh air, is something I will never take for granted again.  In fact, if I were asked to do a commercial promoting car emission testing, I would gladly do it with a big smile on my face.  So next time you have to go and get your car tested in order to pass an emissions check, you should be glad that we are trying to be aware of our environment and air pollution (done preaching).
• Lines...yes, you read that correctly, lines - I'm not known for my patience, but having been here now for 7 months, I can honestly say that I was more than happy to wait in any line in the states...for the simple fact that I know people will actually stay in a line.  I don't know if people are worried that they're going to run out of chicken at a KFC, or that someone is going to take their seat on the airplace, but the concept of waiting in a line here in India doesn't exist.  It's more like a free-for-all.  I don't think I realized it as much as I did after returning from the states and waiting at a cashier's counter...keep in mind no one else was standing in front of it at the time I walked up...and then a group of 5 or 6 people comes in and literally walks right up and tries to shoulder me out.  Well, not only am I not the most patient person, but I'm also not one to keep my mouth shut when something bothers me...so I put my arm out in front of all of them and say, "Excuse me--you had to see me standing here and being next at the counter...what's up with that?"  I said it just like that and they just looked at me and took a step back...I must've been wearing my muscle tee.
• Electricity - yes, of course I have electricity here in India, but the uncertainty of when (not if) the power will go off...and for how long, is something that I definitely took for granted living in the states.  It was only during bad storms that I even thought about the possibility of losing power, but here it doesn't necessarily have to do with the weather.  Sometimes when the power goes out here, I have the strangest thoughts...like a room full of monkeys riding bikes generating power...and a banana dangling out in front of them, and when the power goes out, that means the one generating power for my area got a hold of the banana and is taking a break eating it ;-).  AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST...
• My friends! - I've never taken my friends for granted, but having been away for 6 months has made me realize how much I do miss them...and all the activities I did with them.  Unfortunately I didn't get to see my family this trip back to the states, but my next trip back will definitely be spent with them.  And although I didn't get to see all my friends in Seattle, I was very grateful for the time I did have with those I did see and am already looking forward to celebrating with all of you when I return.

Taking an opportunity like this, where I knew I would be away for 18 months, is one that I'll look back on and be so happy I did...not just for the experience and new people/friends I meet and places I visit, but also for giving me a different perspective on my life back in the states.  I'll end this section saying that returning for a visit was great, and I'd be lying if I said that the thought of not getting back on a plane didn't cross my mind, but I do realize just how much more I can learn and experience from being over here.

The Return--India bound...again
The return flight...in economy...wasn't as bad as I had expected.  And I know how spoiled that makes me sound, but it's only because I had gotten so used to flying business class on international flights in my old position.  And for those of you who have never been lucky enough to fly business, you can compare it to sitting in a loge / box at a ball game for a whole season and then the next year you're sitting in the nose-bleeds...and have to wait in the line at the bathroom!  It's amazing how quickly a 15 hour flight goes by after you take 2 Dramanine.  Before I knew it I was back in India...

And let's just say that my return wasn't as smooth as I would have liked...no, I didn't get strip searched at the airport, although that would've probably been the highlight.  Here are some of the lowlights of my return-

• My driver wasn't there to pick me...even though he knew for over 2 weeks my return date and time.  And our flight even arrived 20 minutes late!  So I'm standing at the baggage belt trying to keep my voice down while talking to my driver on the phone--trying to understand why he's not at the airport to pick me up, which he starts on some rant about his brother not waking him up...at that point I cut him off and just tell him to get there as quickly as possible.  I only had to wait 20 minutes for him, but not really what I felt like doing after spending 20+ hours traveling.
• After I get in the car and we head out of the parking area, we stop at the pay booth to pay--after my driver and the booth attendant are saying things back and forth for about 5 minutes, I finally say "what is going on? just pay and let's go!".  Apparently the booth "wasn't working".  I said why didn't you just back up and we couldn't gone and paid at another...I didn't get a response, but by that time there was already a line of cars behind us, so we couldn't back up, and we couldn't move forward--so we were stuck.  Although there were a couple extra booth attendants and a cop directing cars out of the lot, NO ONE was doing anything about this line of cars behind our car...so I get out of the car and start motioning for the cars to back up so we could get out.  Of course that only elicited a lot of stares and more honking of their horns.  I finally go up to the attendant at our booth and say if he doesn't open this bar, I'll go lift it myself...but picture me saying this very loud and slow, with LOTS of hand/arm gestures, because he doesn't understand English.  Finally I walk towards the bar and am about to try to lift in manually when the attendant comes out raises it.  I beyond upset...and thought all that could've been avoided if they just had someone to manually raise it in the first place, let the cars in line out AND then shut off their booth lights to indicate that booth isn't open.
• I get back to my apartment complex/community, only to find that there's some BIG festival/party going on, with tons of people and very loud/screeching music.  Of course all of this was taking place at the club house, which is located right next to my building.  It was already 10pm at night and I just wanted to a nice, quiet return.  I tell myself that it's got to end soon and just head up to my apartment.
• When I reach my apartment, I actually do feel a sense of relief, and joy, to be back at my place, but that was short lived...  I opened the door and find my electricity is out...and not just the main power, but also the back up generator, which meant NO lights were working.  I tried calling the complex manager, but the guy that answers can't speak English and doesn't understand what I'm saying.  At this point, I just wanted to drive back to the airport and hop the next plane back to the states...or anywhere but India.  I call my landlord and tell him I have no electricity and can't reach anyone that speaks English.  Luckily he's a nice guy and very helpful, so he says he'll call someone, but at that point I was already walking to the security booth at the entrance of our complex.  They say that they'll have someone come up in 5 minutes...and being the mood I was in, I respond "Is that 5 minutes real time or 5 minutes India time?".  Realizing they were actually helping, I apologize and explain why I was so frustrated. I'm sure they didn't care in the least, but they actually got on their walkie-talkie and say something and then turn and say that someone will be outside my building by the time I walk back...and they were! 
• After the get my electricity back on, I feel like I'm in a much better space and figure I'll log onto my computer and let the fam know that I arrived back in India safely.  In case you can't guess, my internet wasn't working.  I had switched internet providers while I was away and my landlord assured me that it was working.  So yes, he got another call from me and I'm sure he was also thinking "I wish this guy would've stayed in the states!".  He tells me he'll come over tomorrow with a rep from the internet company to have a look.  It was at that point that I decided that I should just go to bed because obviously some force wasn't going to make it easy for me to return...and so I shower and get into my bed that's as hard as a brick and go to bed.

Things did get better the next day, but then again, they couldn't have gotten much worse.  Luckily I had a trip to Goa to look forward to in 2 days, which meant that I unpacked, did some wash and then repacked and headed back to the airport in a matter of 48 hours. 

Goa -- my escape in India
Luckily I had this trip to Goa on the calendar, and even though it was for a work conference, it was the one place in India I've found to escape the big cities and all the people.  Our HR Learning Week was scheduled for the week following my return and all the HR folks in India attended. Just before I left for the states I got to meet up with my friend Kecia in Goa for a quick visit...and although I was only there for a day, that's all it took for me to realize that I loved it there.  The conference was good, but it was a packed schedule and left very little time to actually enjoy being in Goa.  But I took advantage of every free slot we had by spending it in the pool or down at the beach.  Again, I'm sure many of you saw the pics I posted from Goa on my Facebook page, but attaching a few here as well-

Spending a week with some of my colleages in Goa was a nice way to ease me back into my life in India, and I found out that they like to party and dance just as much, if not more, than folks in the states ;-). 

 

Back to the same ole', same ole'

After Goa, it didn't take long to fall back into a routine and get back into the swing of things at work.  Within a week of being back in the office, it felt like it was ages ago that I was in Seattle.  I did come to the realization that it's good, and sometimes really needed, to get away from time to time...so I've already booked a trip to Singapore to spend Thanksgiving with friends and also check out a new city.  That means my next post you'll hear all about my trip and Thanksgiving in Singapore...consider this a teaser to get you to read my next post.

 

Deep-ak Thoughts by Keith

• There's no place like home!  And although I had only been in Seattle for about 4.5 years before moving to India, I definitely consider it home and realized how much I missed it and am looking forward to returning. 
• Don't take our everyday luxuries, and necessities, for granted.  Funny that Thanksgiving is just around the corner...so as you're having Thanksgiving dinner with friends or family and maybe going around the table saying what you're thankful for, if you can't think of anything, feel free to say "traffic lights" or "car emission testing"...it's ok if you use some of mine ;-)

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

 



 

Striking a balance in India -- Week 23-24

Well, 5 1/2 months into my assignment here in India and have been exposed to A LOT of new experiences, but it really wasn't until this past month that I've been able to start enjoying some of the things that I enjoyed back in the states.  This post is more about things I've been enjoying outside of work...so yes, I've started to strike a better work/life balance.

But first--time for SHOUT OUTS -
Sept. 23rd - Happy Birthday to my big sis...HAPPY B-DAY COLL!  Love ya and wish I could be celebrating with you.

Golfing -
The weather here in Hyderabad has finally broken and it hasn't been raining as much, which means that I've been playing more golf.  The course I play at is pretty decent, and very difficult in my opinion--lots of boulders and narrow fairways...luckily there aren't many water hazards, but still losing my share of balls. 

I thought I'd share some of my recent experiences on the links--

• There are always at least 3-4 holes where I feel like Tiger Woods--meaning that I have a small group of Indians watch me tee off and then follow me along that hole watching me play out.  I have to give it to those pro's--I can't imagine having hundreds of people watching and not choke.  My friends--Tommy, Nate, Stefan, Jeff, Matt and Derma (pictured below from one of our past 'guy weekends' in Pittsburgh...Nate must've been passed out in the limo or taking the pic--my guess is passed out) can attest that I don't play well under pressure...awww hell, who am I kidding, I don't play well period...which brings me to my next point

• One of my goals when I came out here and found out there was a golf course only 3.5 miles from my place, and just across the street from my office, was to improve my game.  It would be great to return to the states being able to score consistently in the low 70's--and at that point I can stop saying, "You know, I don't really care what my score is, I just enjoy being outside and driving around in a cart", which we all know is something that us "average to below average players" say to keep us going back round after round ;-).
• The past few times I've played, I have gone out alone and been the ONLY one on the course...or at least I haven't come across any other players in front of, or behind me, which is heaven.  It means that I'm getting to hit a couple balls on each hole.  It's also given me some time to think about the game of golf--I think a rule change they should make for the game is that each player gets 3 hits...kind of like baseball with 3 strikes.  If that were to happen, my last round of 9, I would've shot a 41...instead of a 50.  So if anyone comes to visit me in HYD and we go golfing, just be prepared to play India rules (aka my rules)
• I mentioned that the golf course is the one place in India that I think I can go and be alone, which is completely opposite in the states.  I also thought it funny that the other day, I didn't see any people on the course for the first 5 holes, but I saw 3 peacocks, 2 roosters, 2 goats and 1 cow...on the course!  That's India and ya gotta love it!
• I know at some point, everyone has had to skip a hole because work was being done on it...but I don't think anyone can say they've had to skip a hole before because of this scene...there was no sign at the tee box that the hole was being worked on, or closed.  Luckily for all these workers that were literally pulling up the fairway, when I teed off I missed the fairway slightly--ok, this was one of the holes I lost my ball...who knows though, maybe I hit straight down the fairway out of my sight and one of these workers decided to keep it because it was the best tee shot they had every scene!!

• And last, and probably funniest, point I'll make on golfing here in India is that I've probably played at least 10 rounds of golf so far since I've been here...and it wasn't until the very last time I played that I was finishing up on the 18th hole and hit a great lobe shot onto the green and putted out for par.  I was feeling pretty damned good after parring the last hole b/c there's another saying that sucky players always say, or think--"it doesn't really matter how I play the whole round, as long as I play well on the very last hole...because playing well on that last hole gives you hope and makes you come back for more!" Anyway, as I was heading toward the club house, one of the golf course attendants drives beside me in his cart and says "you know that is the 14th green you hit onto and putted out?  The 18th green is over that pond."  All I could say was, "Oh, thanks."  I HAD PLAYED 10 rounds of golf and been hitting onto the 14th green all 10 rounds!!  And because there were never any other players on the course, I didn't know any better.  Actually, the first round I played, I remember seeing a water hazard on the score card for the 18th hole, which meant that pulled out one of my shitty golf balls that I didn't care if I lost in the water (another point us 'average joe's' do), but when I got close to the green, I told myself, "Oh, the water hazard must've dried up."  So I didn't think anything strange about it--forget the fact that it had been raining at least once a day, I'm not too proud to admit that one, but if I'm sharing all my experiences with you--that means the good, bad and dumb ass moments.

Running -
Also this past week I've started walking/running every morning and evening--my driver comes to my place in the morning and I give him my computer bag and backpack with my clothes and just tell him to head to the golf course and wait for me there.  Then I run (ok, more like a light jog right now) to the course, which is 3.5 miles one way from my place.  It's actually a pretty nice run and I found a short cut...not one that involves me climbing hills and scurrying under fences, but one that is off the main roads.  It's not so much the run/exercise that I look forward to every morning and evening, but it's the people and kids that I see along the way that I look forward to seeing.  The way they look at me is still a bit like I'm some freak in a circus, but I've gotten used to the stares and instead I just look and observe...

• I see kids standing on big rocks getting washed while their mother pours buckets of water over them and soaps them up,
• I see mothers and fathers sweeping out their homes, which are man-made tents with dirt floors, but they're taking pride in their home,
• I see families sitting together for breakfast in the morning, with the kids dressed in their school uniforms and the moms brushing out their daughters hair,
• I see kids playing tag, cricket and other games in the evening,
• I see infants playing with rocks and sticks pretending that the rocks are cars as they push them along and the sticks are swords,
• Basically, I see some amazing people every morning and evening on my walk/run to/from work who seem SO happy with what they have...and I feel a little ashamed that during my first run past all their homes, I thought "oh, that's so sad that they have to live like that."  Yet, after going by their homes now for the past week, I think "oh, they seem so happy and it seems like such a tight knit community."  See my DEEPAK Thoughts by Keith for the slogan this captures...

Beaching -
Besides my trip back to Seattle next week, one of the other trips I've been looking most forward to was my trip to Goa, which is a coastal state in India that is known for it's beaches.  In fact, when I ask people from India to tell me 3 places that I have to visit while in India, EVERY single one of them has mentioned Goa in that list...and I can see why after visiting--it was beautiful.  I love the sun, water and beaches, but it was getting see my friend from Maryland, Kecia, that I really was looking forward to the most.  We met back in 2002 in Georgetown at a conference/training for newbies starting to work in higher education admissions--

I posted all my pics from Goa on Facebook, so check them out, but also wanted to call out the place that we stayed was far and away one of coolest places I've stayed in all my travels--amazing house and super friendly staff, it was called Vivenda Dos Palhacos and here is the website if you want to check it out..and click on the "Getting Here" tab if you want to get a better idea of Goa and the number of beaches--I will definitely be returning!  http://www.vivendagoa.com/

RANDOM ADD-IN's -
Email from my mom
Those of you who know my mom won't be surprised by what I'm going to share, and for those of you who don't know my mom, well, this is why everyone loves her...Mom, sometimes I wonder what's going on in your head as you're writing an email like this because I just laugh thinking of you trying to put Chewy's voice to it --

Do you recognize me? Grandpa and Grandma took me to get a bath and a haircut....how do you like it? I'm tuckered out from such a busy morning but I wanted to send you a picture of me so you won't forget me. I like it with Grandma and Grandpa but it is not the same as with you. Miss you lots. They tell me you are going to fly home next week, hope you have a safe trip(that is something I don't miss...flying) but I will miss seeing you. Will you say hi(woof) to all my friends at the playground and all our friends in Seattle. Please send me a picture of you, so I can put it by my(yes,my very own mattress)bedside. Have a safe trip and have a great visit!!! Lots of doggie kisses, Chewy

I can't make this stuff up...this is what she wrote and then attached this pic of Chewy (my dog...although I'm a little worried that "grandma and grandpa" are starting to forget that).  Sorry mom--had to share it ;-).

Teri Meri Kahaani
While I was working out at the gym the other week, this video came on the tv and I just couldn't stop watching it...so there I stood holding onto dumbbells staring at one of the infamous Bollywood dance/song scenes -- definitely worth a watch: http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/more/videos/view/showing/movie-promos/sort/What's%20New/id/1441706

And the day after I saw the video, I was at the mall and walking by this music/video store and saw this huge poster.  At that point I knew it was meant for me to share in my blog...that I thought it funny that it looks like they totally airbrushed Tom Cruise's face on the guy in this poster.

DEEPAK Thoughts by Keith -
- "You can't judge a book by its cover", is a saying that I truly do believe, and never more so than after my first run through the area I mentioned above where people were living in tents constructed of tarps, boards and any other materials that would provide shelter.  My first reaction was, 'how sad...I feel sorry for them.' Yet day after day I would run by their "homes" and see how happy they were and realized it's not the physical walls that makes a happy home, but the people/family you're surrounded by in that home.

This is my last post before returning to Seattle for a couple weeks (Sept. 27-Oct. 11) for some work meetings and trainings...and long overdue catching up with friends, so won't be posting for probably about 3-4 weeks, but no worries--next post will have lots of pics I'm sure of my time in Seattle!!

Sadness & Seeing India -- Weeks 18-22

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking in India...it has been a while since my last post, and I hope I haven't lost any loyal followers.

SHOUT OUTs
Sept. 4th - Parent's anniversary and bro's bday...
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad -- love you! (mom & dad with all their grandkids)

Happy Birthday Pauly--enjoy your last year in your 30's little bro!

SADNESS -
One of the toughest things about being all the way over here in India is missing out the birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, etc.  I was hoping to not have too many reports of friends moving out of Seattle while I was over here, but these last couple weeks brought news of 3 friends moving on from MSFT and leaving Seattle.  Funny enough, all 3 of them are moving to CA, and although I couldn't see them off, I wish them all the luck with their new ventures...Good luck Amy, Kofi and Paul!

To the rest of my friends in Seattle...no one else is allowed to move! I'm afraid I'm going to come back to Seattle and not have any of my friends still there.

(Me, Kofi & Amy)

(Paul w/ Kara & Ellen)

In addition to friends moving away from Seattle, the Wolverines also lost their home opener to Alabama...the only good thing about that was that I wasn't in the states to get shit from all the Michigan haters (Vanags, Wooley, Little Keith, Al, Phil/Allison, Mark, the list goes on and on).  But I hear they came back with a win over Air Force--it's ok UofM, you're allowed 1 loss!

GETTING AROUND INDIA -
I don't like to use work as an excuse for falling behind on my blog, or for not staying as in touch as I'd like, but this last month was particularly busy for me as I was traveling to several different cities/college campuses around India.  Definitely one of the perks of my job is seeing the country and meeting some great students.

Cummins Women College of Engineering (Pune & Mumbai) -
One of the few all women's engineering colleges in India, and the talent was impressive.

MIT (Manipal) -
The "other" MIT ;-).  This was an amazing campus and definitely the largest group of students I've ever presented to--there were @ 350-400 students that attended the presentation.  I have to admit, I did feel a bit like a rock star up there on stage with all eyes on me ;-). 

IIT Bhu (Varanasi) -
At one of the schools, IIT Bhu, it was great to have colleague and friend from Seattle come out to interview students with hopes of making some hires for Redmond roles...great seeing you Mark and good to catch up!

This is where we interviewed on campus--the Alumni Guest House...what was amazing is that where ever they were doing construction, they made these bambo scaffolding, which they hopped from one level to another--it was pretty cool to see...

.

Varansi - the city which IIT Bhu is located, is the oldest city in India, and one of the oldest cities in all civilazation. Every night they gather on the Gangi's River to pray and worship--it really was an amazing site...even if I didn't understand a word they were singing or saying, to see all those people in one place (night after night), was pretty cool. They boats tied together and people just walked from boat to boat and popped a squat where ever they wanted, regardless of who's boat it was.

This is just little kid that I couldn't stop watching in the airport--I think because he reminded me so much of a dark Dane ;-) (my nephew). He was so cute and just kind of sauntered around like he didn't have a care in the world. He easily could've fit in my suitcase...but there were way too many people around--kidding!!

IIT Kharagpur -
This was a fun campus visit--we didn't start interviewing for interns until @ 7:30pm and ran interviews until 2:30am...needless to say, I was a bit slap happy by the time we were wrapping, hence my idea to have all our intern hires put on their Microsoft t-shirt to pose...such a good feeling to see their smiles after hearing the news they were receiving offers to intern next summer at Microsoft!



So as I said above, we were interviewing until 2:30am, so I didn't get back to where we were staying and check in to my room until 3am.  Luckily I had picked up my room key earlier that day, because when I arrived in the hotel, the front desk clerk and the security guard were both asleep on the couches in the lobby...NOT KIDDING--I walked into the lobby later than my colleagues because I needed to wrap a few things up at the campus and all the lights were off and I used my phone as a flashlight and saw no one behind the desk or anywhere in the entrance.  Then I heard something next to the registration desk that sounded like snoring, and sure enough, both the front desk worker and security gaurd were sound asleep and both snoring.  They didn't hear me come in, or clear my throat, so I took it upon myself to try to find my room because I hadn't been to it yet...it took me a few minutes to find the elevator, and then I realized I was in the wrong wing.  Normally I would've been a little upset, but all I could do was laugh that I was walking around this dark hotel at 3am and using my phone as a flashlight.  When I finally found my room, I was so happy...and I didn't even care when I pulled back the comforter on one of the beds to find the below picture.  There were two twin beds in the room, and the other one had sheets on them, and I didn't even dare pull the sheets up to see what that matress and pillow looked like.  I was so frickin' tired that I didn't even care and just threw a t-shirt around the pillow and went to bed.

On my way out of Kharagpur, I happened to see this Hi-Tech Cyber Cafe and I actually asked my driver to turn around so I could take a picture ;-).  Unfortunately it's tough to make out all the details on the signs, but let's just say, that this is irony at it's best...I actually walked into the cafe as well--and the power was out!  ha, ha--very Hi-Tech.

FIRST DINNER PARTY -
I've been here now for almost 5 months and was invited to my first dinner party last night...and had a great time. When I first moved out here, I was reading books about how common it was to be invited over to people's homes for dinner...and how it was very impolite to refuse the offer.  Well, I haven't had to worry about refusing any offers because before this past week, I hadn't been invited ;-).  Who knows, maybe I give off the vibe "don't invite me to dinner", but I didn't realize how much I missed just going over to someone's house and hanging out and having a home cooked meal.  I met some great people and had a lot of fun.

MY SUNDAY ADVENTURE -
This story isn't going to be nearly as funny as if you would've seen it in person...but I have to share it with you.  Today I went for a run and ran to the golf course, which is about 3.5 miles from my place. My run to the golf course was pretty uneventful, besides EVERY single person I passed staring at me...I just wish I could read their mind because the looks I get make it seem like they've never seen a white person running before.  So after I hit a bucket of balls, I started to walk back to my place and my driver had said there might be a short cut through this construction site next to the golf course.  Since I had no where to be, I thought I'd check it out and see if there really was a short cut.  Well, past experiences should have taught me better then to listen to that part of my brain that says "what's the worst that can happen??"  The walk/short cut started out fine and then I realized the construction site I was in was supposedly off-limits and I somehow walked right by the guard and didn't even notice that the whole place was fenced in until I got pretty far along.  At that point, the short cut turned out to be not such a short cut and I finally ran into another guard and he just looked at me and waved.  I walked up to him and asked him how to get out and pointed to my apartment complex, which was literally a stone throw away, but on the other side of this big fence. He pointed down this path and was telling me how to get there...I'm guessing he was telling me how to get to my complex, but he was speaking Hindi, so I couldn't understand a lick he was saying.  For all I know, he was saying "you stupid white guy, what are doing walking around in here and if you think you can get to your complex from here, well, unless you're SpiderMan, you're screwed". 

Well, I kept walking and figured I need to go under this bridge and climb up this small hill on the other side to get to the main road.  Well this is where the funny part comes in...I walk under the bridge and start crawling up this hill and come to a fence.  There happens to be a gap at the bottom of the fence that looks plenty big for me to get under.  So I throw my back pack (w/ my phone and keys in it) over the fence...and then think "oh shit, what if I can't fit through the gap", then my bag is on the other side of the fence and I can't get to it.  I'm just glad there was no one around b/c I was laughing at myself as I laid on my stomach and pulled myself through this gap in the fence and had no problem getting through--forget the fact that I was covered in burrs once I got up.  Anyway, after I scooted under the fence and climbed up another hill, I was just about home!  Like I said, I'm sure it would've been a lot funnier if you were watching me from afar trying to figure out how to get out of this fenced in area and crawling through a hole in the fence.

DEEPAK THOUGHTS BY KEITH -
Over the past month, I've seen some amazing places in India, and on the whole, it is a beautiful country, but sad to see so many areas where the people just don't seem to take care of their surroundings/environment--the amount of garbage in the streets, even on the golf course this weekend I saw 2 different people just put their cigarettes out ON THE GREEN (major fopuex).  As I was waiting for my driver to pick me up for work one morning, a little girl came out on her balcony and just threw some garbage over the railing...and 2 seconds later the mom came out and did the same thing--and they didn't even try to hide the fact that they were throwing garbage over the balcony.  Here's my deepak thought:
- What if EVERYONE in India could set aside one day out of the whole year to go out and pick up garbage for 1 hour...that would clean this whole country up maybe (but then again, where would they put all the garbage)

4 months India / 5 years Microsoft - Week 16 & 17

This week's blog post marks 4 months here in India, as well as my 5 year anniversary at Microsoft--it's amazing how time flies! Whenever things get a little rocky out here in India, or I start feeling a little home sick, I just focus on the fact that I've been given this once in a lifetime opportunity to live and work in a foreign country--while still working for an amazing company like MSFT.  I realize that I probably sound like a commercial promoting MSFT, but I can honestly say that I think Microsoft has figured out the secret of success...making it's employees feel valued.  It seems simple enough, yet somehow other companies can't seem to grasp that concept. I feel very lucky to have spent the last 5 years with such a great company--and since it already sounds like I'm a running promo for MSFT, might as well plug Windows 8 and Surface (Microsoft's new tablet--can't wait till Oct.!!).

My co-workers in India totally caught me off guard and threw me a surprise party for my 5th Anniversary--it's awesome these milestones, even though small, are still celebrate--

CONGRATULATIONS -
Saturday, August 11 - My friends Phil and Allison tied the knot in Seattle and I would've given anything to have been there to celebrate with them, but will have to settle for celebrating with them when I return.  Congrats guys--hope you had an amazing time!  Love ya!

Uncle Connie goes home...other good news is that my Uncle Connie was finally released from the hospital this past week and is recovering at home.  Love you and wishing you a speedy recovery!

Happy Belated Rakhi -- to all those that have brother/sister's...
August 2nd marks a Hindu holiday celebrating the bond between brother and sisters. I probably never would've known about this day if I hadn't received a package on Aug. 1st from my 'sisters'-- Coll, Nat, Staci, Christal, Denise and Jill.  They sent me a card with handmade bracelets/charms wishing me Happy Rakhi.  Jill, who actually married a guy from India, was the driving force behind this one...thanks Jill!

R . A . K . H . I
R : Relationship
A : Affection
K : Knitting together
H : Him (Brother) & Her (Sister)
I : Interminably

Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi will be celebrated on 2nd August, 2012, all over India. The Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On a full moon day in the month of Sravana (August), sisters tie thread amulets on their brothers’ wrists, praying for their longevity and happiness. Brothers, in turn are bound by the delicate threads to cherish and safeguard their sisters.

This was what I rec'd in the mail!

India -- the differences...
Maybe for one of my last blog's I'll devote a full post to calling out all the things I've noticed to be 'different' in India vs. the States, but until then, I'll continue sharing some of those differences.

I've already written quite a bit about the driving/traffic over here.  This past week though I came to a conclusion--I'm giving up on trying to figure out, or understand, how people drive here.  I thought that after being here 4 months, I would've seen some rhyme or reason to their driving style...but I think I could be here for 5 years and still not understand how there could possible be so many bad drivers in one country.  I actually was thinking of looking into a driving school here and pretending that I don't have a license and go through there driver's ed--just so I could see what they're actually being taught..."Ok, the light is red, but feel free to go through it and just honk your horn the whole time and people will stop", or "there's an old lady crossing the street carrying a basket of bricks on her head--speed up and honk your horn and make her go back to the other side." 

So, I'm giving up on trying to figure out the India driver...instead I'm going to turn my attention to the pedestrians and people on the street and try to figure out why no one uses the sidewalks and why people feel they need to walk toward the middle of the road vs. along the side.  I have a feeling I'll be giving up on this qwest shortly as well.

Visits to college campuses...
This could fall under "differences in India" because it is amazing how different the college/university campuses are here in India vs. those in the states.  Sad...and amazing.  Sad because of the conditions these schools/buildings are in...amazing because these are some of the brightest minds in world--and they've reached that level without the fancy labs, air conditioned buildings, mini-malls on campus, or any of the other perks that American students enjoy.  Thinking back at my time working at Case Western Reserve Univ., and recalling some of the complaints the students voiced about the student lounge--like not having a flat screen tv, sofas to relax on or free soda/coffee; I would have loved to share with them the following photos I took during a recent visit to Javadpur University in Kolkuta.

Unfortunately these pictures can't "show" the unbelievably HOT temperatures in the buildings or some of unbearable smells...just outside full classrooms.  I did feel terrible for the students we were interviewing, who were waiting in large area with hard seats, concrete floors that was hotter than a sauna...and if that was not bad enough, there was a terrible stench coming out of the bathroom, which was located right next to the seats.  I even asked someone in the placement office if we could get a fan and have it placed in the waiting area (which never happend) and I asked the students if they wanted to move the chairs to the other side of the room...I didn't say because of the smell coming from the bathroom b/c they might have not even noticed.  But they just looked at me, and finally one of them said "that's ok, this is the area that we can get a signal for our phones."

Area for the students waiting to interview--notice no sofas, tvs or even drinking fountains for water!

Cafeteria...no McDonald's or other food chains--just locals cooking in the kitchen.

The main hall in one of the buildings where schedules are posted and info on visiting companies. 

Random observations...

While on that same trip to Kolkuta, there were a couple of things that caught my attention, so thought I'd share--

I was on my way to my gate in the Kolkuta airport to head back to Hyderabad and as I was walking through the airport, which I should call out that most the India airports I've traveled through are just a step above the conditions I've mentioned on campuses.  Most of them have air conditioning, but no frills...every once in a while though, I'll see something that just doesn't quite fit.  For example, I'm walking through the Kolkuta aiport, which is a pretty small airport and a far cry from "up-to-date", but I come to the following spa--

A couple things struck me as funny--the first was that there was even a spa that looked this nice in airport that didn't even have electronic boards for flight information.  The second was that apparently a big sign blocking the entrance way, and a closed door with a closed sign on it behind the board, isn't enough o a clue that they're not open.  I guess they wanted to REALLY make sure people knew--so they created a web made out of packing tape blocking off the entrance.  I was walking by this spa with one of my co-workers and said "hang on, I need to get my camera out and take a picture of this. Don't you think this is funny?"  He didn't even notice the tape!!

And the last observation I thought I'd share is regarding my dirty laundry ;-).  We stayed at a really nice hotel in Kolkuta--and if I doubted the quality of the hotel, those doubts were quickly erased when I returned to my room following my visit to campus and found all of my dirty laundry, which I had left in a pile on the floor, folded nicely into a pile on a doylee with flowers placed around/on it!! I couldn't believe it myself, so of course I had to take a picture to prove I'm not making it up...

That's all folks--thanks for reading!! Be prepared for some great pictures in my next post--and I'm not talking about more pictures of run down buildings and my dirty laundry! You'll have to tune in and read my next post to find out what I'm talking about ;-).

Peace, out!! K-