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-



My "man have I been slacking" blog -- Week 13, 14 & 15

Hi all! Yes, I have been slacking in my blogging duties, but I'm going to use work as an excuse, as the past couple weeks have been very busy with universities being back in session already here in India and me/my team getting prepped for the start of the recruiting season.  Plus, I honestly don't know what happens to the time between Fri evening and Mon morning--I think it's called a weekend!  Those so called "weekends" seem to be flying by, and it would be one thing if I could say I was doing something really exciting, but watching your towels dry on the clothes line doesn't constitute exciting to me (maybe for the folks living in Arkansas).

Ok, call outs--
July 19th - CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin Anthony and his new bride, Nadene, who tied the knot. Wish I could've been there!!

July 14-21 - I missed my family vacation this week -- they rented a house in the Outer Banks, NC and had a great time...I was part of it, kind of.

The past 3 weeks--
College campuses in India...and bathrooms -
Like I said, my excuse for not blogging sooner is because of the craziness at work and the start of recruiting season.  This past week I had the opportunity to travel to 2 college campuses in India (NIT-Trichy and NIT-Warangal) to conduct presentations and interviews...and it was an experience.

It's tough to compare the campuses to those in the states because I think even the most poorly funded college/university, may have nicer facilities than these campuses, which is very sad considering the amazing students that I met.  The students were great--and I don't think I've ever presented in front of such a polite and well dressed group of students.

Getting around to the different campuses is going to prove interesting--as my very first trip I took a flight to Chenai (1.5 hours) and then we had to drive 6 hours to the campus because there is only 1 flight/day to where we were going.  And the roads aren't exactly "well-maintained"...and I really do think that India has something with speed bumps--like I think the person who invented speed bumps might be from India and he said he'd give money back to the country if they put a speed bump along the road every 10 feet, or in spots where it makes no sense to put a speed bump ;-).  Those of you who know me, know that me and long distances in cars doesn't go well. I don't know if I'll ever get used what I see on a daily basis on the roads...

 

Very typical of what you'd see...car seat? Yeah right!!

 Family of 4--not quite sure how the girl in the back is staying on.

My favorite to date...you wonder what that is in between the 2 guys?? It's a goat--a LIVE goat!! They even posed for me when I snapped the pic.

You know I couldn't go a whole blog with out talking about a bathroom, or including a picture of one. Well, if you recall from one of my first blogs where I mentioned I had heard of places that don't have 'western toilets', but only a hole in the ground, or a ceramic circle on the floor with a hole in it...well, I experienced my first non-toilet bathroom.  Unfortunately it was at one of the schools and I really needed a toilet if you catch my drift.  I also found that most of the bathrooms I used didn't have toilet paper, in fact, they had nothing that could be used as a substitute for t.p., so I'm just really glad that I was traveling everywhere with travel-size flushable wipes (awesome invention).

 Looks like a pretty standard shower, right? Well, that's the view from the toilet--no separate area...the shower, shitter and sink all in the same little space.

India's National past time -- Cricket -
It's almost impossible to not be able to find a cricket match on tv at ANY hour of the day/night.  Cricket is to India like baseball/football is to America, or like soccer is to Brazil...or like rice growing is to China--you get the point.  Well, one of my goals that I set for myself when I came out here was that I was going to learn how to play cricket.  If you ever watched it on tv, it's not super exciting and it looks like a guy running back and forth while a bunch of other guys stand around waiting for the ball to be hit to him. Yes, that sounds just like baseball, but at least in baseball the person is running in a diamond and not just back and forth ;-).  Anyway, I had the chance to play cricket a couple weekends ago with some of my work colleagues and it was a good time.  I still didn't know really what the hell was going on, but my co-workers were really good sports about it--and didn't make fun of me too much for holding the cricket stick like a baseball bat.  I can tell you that the next 3 days I could hardly lift my arms b/c I was so sore.  Looking forward to playing again...and learning a bit more about the rules.

This is the cricket field on Microsoft's campus.
The next Arnold Palmer -
While we're on the topic of sports, I thought I'd share a couple pics of the golf course/country club I joined 2 weekends ago.  It's called Boulder Hills Country Club and is the nicest course in Hyderabad (there's only 2).  It is a nice course--very difficult, and I'll definitely be asking my dad to send me some used golf balls from his course.  In addition, they have a really nice pool and gym that I can use free as a member...and 35% off all food/drink in the restaurant/bar, which means that instead of beers being $1, they're only .65 -- yeah!!!  I'm always saying that there's no place in India/Hyderabad that I can go where there aren't crowds, or people, well, I should've visited the golf course before making that statement. With a population of 6.8 million people in Hyderabad, I found a place that has a total membership of 215 people--NICE!!  It is so nice to go out on the cart and have the whole course to myself on Sunday mornings.

 Those buildings in the background of the course is my apt. complex, so not too far from the course at all!

PLENTY of rocks/boulders for a ball to bounce off of...by the end of my time here, I'll have figured out how to use the rocks to my benefit ;-).

Ever wonder what you'd do if you were trapped in an elevator? -
Well, I have often wondered that and it wasn't until this past week that I discovered that answer.  We have been having some really rainy weather and some pretty big storms, as it is monsoon season here in India.  I've gotten used to the scheduled power outtages that occur every day between 10-11:30am and 3-4:30pm, so now I don't get upset if I'm watching a movie and power goes out at 10:01.  I'm just happy that I know the schedule and the power outtages are one thing in India that happen on time w/o fail.  Well, knowing how frequently the power goes out, I had asked when I first moved into this building, "what about the elevators--does the power go out in the elevators as well?".  I was told that they have a separate backup generator, so that's not an issue.

I'm forewarning all of you back in the states--don't take it personally when you tell me something and I question it, or don't believe you at all...the one thing that I've learned so far, don't believe almost anything that you hear b/c chances are they don't know and so they make something up OR they just don't understand you and shake their head.  Sidetracked...ok, back to the story, which I'm guessing you figured out by the title of this section.  Yes, I got stuck in the elevator!  There are 2 elevators in the building and before this happened, I had never seen either of them out of order or effected by power outtages.  This day happened to be particularly bad weather and LOTS of rain and high winds. So I get in the elevator on the basement level and I live on the 9th floor and the elevator starts up and then just after passing the 3rd floor, it stops.  I thought that someone was getting on at the 4th floor, but it didn't move. I wait a minute and nothing happens, so I start pressing buttons and nothing lights up and it's just dead silent, so I figure the power for the elevators died and it's only going to be a minute or two before the generator kicks in and I start moving again--nope. 

There's no phone in the elevator, which probably wouldn't have mattered b/c it would've been my luck that whoever was on the other end of the phone didn't speak English anyway.  There was an emergency switch, which when flicked on a really loud bell sounds.  Well, I flick it on and after about 5 seconds of hearing that bell, I shut it off.  Next I look around for the hatch to get out of the elevator and find it smack dab in the middle of the ceiling of the elevator.  I consider for maybe 1.5 seconds about trying to stand on one of the railings in the elevator and push the hatch open and then try to reach for opening and pull myself up.  Like I said, that only flashed through my head for about 1.5 seconds...then I looked at the hatch again and a couple thoughts went through my head:
1) I wish I would've taken the damn stairs
2) Even if I did get the hatch open and manage to grab one of the sides of the openings, I honestly don't think I could've pulled myself up (I've got terrible upper body strength--remember my story about playing cricket and being sore for three days...that was just from swinging a fucking stick!)
3) I looked more closely at the hatch/opening and had serious doubts about whether I'd be able to fit my ass through there...and all I pictured was Whinnie the Pool stuck in the tree hole reaching for honey
4) If I would take the damn stairs more, I probably wouldn't have to worry about #2 or #3

So I did what I think any one of you would've done in this situation, I found a comfortable corner of the elevator, pulled out my Kindle (reading Game of Thrones by the way--great series) and started reading.  Occassionally I would walk over to the emergency switch and flick it back and forth trying to signal S.O.S. in morse code, which I have no frickin idea how to do, so then I started trying to play Happy Birthday using the emergency bell.  About 16 minutes later (not that I was keeping track), the power went back on and I got off at the 9th floor and that was that. Yeah, I know, a smart person probably would've pressed 4 or 5 and gotten off as soon as possible, but all that thinking about climbing out of the hatch drained my energy ;-).  I did take the stairs down the next day and asked security what happened and was told that the backup generator went down b/c a tree fell on it and temporarily disabled it.  No worries--I'm safe and sound, and I think I could've survived at least for a few hours in there b/c I had a bottle of water, a bag of Skittles and a Snicker's bar (hmmm, the type of food that I had on me could also played into why I ruled out #2 and #3 above).  I can look back now and laugh, but now whenever there is heavy rain, you better believe I'll be taking the stairs...or at least taking the stairs part way up and the elevator the rest of way ;-).

 The infamous elevator.

And proof that it does rain here.

Random Scary Pic... -
...on the side of a Pepsi machine in the Delhi airport.  I want to know who on the marketing team for Pepsi thought that this was a good picture to put on the side of a Pepsi machine.  Well, I guess it did serve the purpose of me noticing it!

Great Finds
- SoyMilk of every variety and flavor

- Key combo I've found so far...Strawbery Soy Milk and Special K berries!
Deep-ak Thoughts by Keith
- "Why walk when you can drive/ride?" -- whoever coined this phrase has never been stuck in an elevator...come to think of it, maybe it's not a common phrase and just something I always said.
- Is morse code the same regardless of language??

Thanks for reading all and hope all is well! 
K-

Delhi & Bangalore -- Weeks 11 & 12

Happy belated 4th of July to everyone!  I hope you all enjoyed a day or two off...while I was working here in India ;-). 

And...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to two of my nephews--

Dawson - July 3rd

Trent - July 12th

CONGRATULATIONS to Chad and Michelle for getting hitched on June 30th! --

And lastly, my Uncle Connie had a major surgery this week (July 5th) and I've heard that he pulled through it and doing well--get better soon Uncle Connie!!

Work...and more work!

This blog post is not going to be very exciting...in fact, you might as well stop reading it now because besides me ranting about India's airports again, and reminding everyone that Taco Bell is da bomb, there's not going to be much in this post.  Sorry if I let you down, but I can't just make up stuff...well, I guess I could, but that would defeat the purpose of sharing my experiences through my eyes with you. 

I traveled to both Delhi and Bangalore the past 2 weeks for work.  We have offices in both locations, and I actually have 3 people who report to me sitting in Bangalore, so I'll most likely go out once a month to check in with them.  And NO, it's not only because there's a Taco Bell there...but that's definitely a perk!

As I mentioned above, I continue to get VERY frustrated with the aiprot system in India and when I was returning from the Delhi--I probably should've been arrented with as much cursing as I was doing to security.  Quick eplanation--I had printed out my boarding pass online so that I can save time having to wait in the ticket line.  Well, I apparently Delhi requires you to get your web boarding pass stamped by a ticket agent--how f'ed up is that??  I told the security agent that the whole point of printing out a web boarding pass was to bypass the ticket counter.  He just kept saying "Sorry sir, but that is the rule." I was FURIOUS...I reached into the xray machine and pulled out my laptop and bag and then proceeded to walk straight through those ropes that are set up to form lines.  I just kept swinging my arms up and unlatcing everyone as I walked back to the ticket counter.  Looking back, not the smartest thing I've done, but damn did it feel good!!

I was in Bangalore for the 4th of July, but as I said, I didn't get off work ;-).  I did treat myself to Taco Bell that night to celebrate the 4th.

KEY FINDS--

I'm sure you can find these in the states as well, but one day I was shopping and came across them and HAD to buy a bag.  They are amazing! --

MISSING--

Last blog I added a section called "Key Finds", well this week I'm adding a section calling out things I miss back in the states:

- Ability to drink water out of the tap

- Not having to worry about the power going out for an hour or two at a time EVERY day

- I actually miss driving...and specifically, I miss listening to my country music.  My current car doesn't even have a radio ;-).

- A dryer...my towels that I've washed/hang to dry are feeling more like sandpaper than cotton.  The fact that they don't have dryers in India, well, I don't think I'll ever get used to that. 

- ALL my friends and family...and Chewy!

 My brother and sister-n-law were watching Chewy one weekend and Loren apparently didn't leave his side...even when he was sleeping!

Deep-ak Thoughts by Keith--

Whoever calculated, and then came up with the fact that we spend almost 50% of our lives waiting in lines, obviously wasn't talking about India.  I bet the farm that Indian's would spend almost 85% of their lives waiting in lines. 

Have a good couple weeks...until next time, take care!

K-