New Amenity at the Taj

Stocked minibar, bottled water, awesome little loofah pads, and hmmmm...I don't recall an open box of condoms on top of the safe last time. Can't imagine I would have a use for these ; )

Safe Arrival

After 26 hours traveling, including an hour delay in Amsterdam, feeling nauseous, and an hour of circling before we could land, I arrived safely in Mumbai early Saturday morning. Unlike last time I came with one suitcase and my laptop bag, breezed through immigration, and helped one confused fellow American find the exit at the airport. After calling home, e-mailing the folks at work, showering and downing a couple of Tylenol PM, I basically hit the bed and passed out.



I am again on the 17th floor at the Taj Land's End, but on the opposite side of the hall. As you can see from the pictures above, I have an ocean view as opposed to the inlet view this time. While I am enjoying the ocean view, it does come with one negative: beeping cars. Unlike at home, using your car's horn in Mumbai is not a sign of anger or frustration and the driver being honked at is not likely to flip you off. It is more of a respectful, "Hello. I am behind you and am trying to pass. Would you kindly get out the way?" During all the time spent in a car last time and how crazy the traffic is, I never saw an accident or anyone with Road Rage.

The picture above is also part of my view: The former SeaRock Hotel. From what I understand, the hotel was bombed. Don't worry. It wasn't recent. The only residents now appear to be birds and security.

I keep thinking that if this was at home, by now the building would have been demolished and a shiny new one built in it's place. By any standard, this is prime real estate. If nothing else, if I were a member of the Tata board (owner's of the Taj Hotels), I would recommend buying it, knocking it down and cleaning it up for a more open view of the ocean. Maybe that is just me. In my opinion, there is no better view than an open view of the ocean or, in our case at home, one of the Great Lakes. For anyone making the argument that small inland lakes have nice views too, sorry, but growing up so close to the Saginaw Bay has spoiled me.

It is now Sunday afternoon. I stayed in yesterday and worked a bit. One person at Vista (the restaurant we eat at a lot as they are open for breakfast and when we get back late) recognized me from last time when I went to lunch. This morning, one of the greeters (I am bad getting names) smiled and said, "Mrs. Nutt, you're back." I thought that was pretty cool even though Mrs. Nutt is my mom.

Valerie from South Africa is here. She called last night about dinner and this morning about breakfast, but I had already eaten both times. Frederic was to meet her for breakfast. Today, I will most likely work again as I have some outstanding issues that I want to clear up before going to the office tomorrow. This time around, I may not have time to write much as this PCE run (the reason I am here) is compressed and I will be working next weekend.

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year?

I must come clean. When it comes to Christmas, I am a hardcore junkie. My tree is always up and decorated the day after Thanksgiving, I start Christmas shopping at the beginning of November (Yes, Carmen, there are times I do enjoy shopping), and, as I write this, my Christmas cards and address book are waiting on the kitchen table. There is Hunter's stocking hung with care...

And there is his look-a-like ornament hanging on the tree.

It is not the most traditional or mature tree you will ever see. Note Dumbo and Grumpy (that is actually what I look like in the morning before my first jumbo sized Diet Pepsi of the day). Most of my ornaments are Disney, Looney Toons, and other cartoon characters. For the folks who only know me from Mumbai (and maybe Dorinco), I am the most immature 44 year old you will ever meet. For the people in the Midland CAEC, you probably would have expected something a little less grown-up.

The angel on my tree redeems me a bit. She is a Celtic angel that I have named Maureen (after the Irish actress Maureen O'Hara). I found Maureen three years ago at a Christmas shop in the Midland Mall. I'd been looking for a few years to replace my old angel. Maureen was about the most beautiful one that I have ever seen, not to mention the fact she is Irish.

Alas, there have been issues. Maureen, or Drunken Mo as she has come to be known, has had issues actually staying upright on the tree. The first year, after trying for about 30 minutes to get her to stay on top of the tree, I called it good and she remained tilted at a 45 degree angle for the season. The next year I bought a new tree (yes for all my love of Christmas, I have an artificial tree). For the first two years, I still had issues with Mo, but they were not quite as bad. Over the last year, something miraculous happened. It only took two attempts to get her on the tree, fairly straight and without almost knocking the tree over. Yes Maureen appears to have been in rehab!

Or it could just be the fact that she wasn't in the same container as this guy for the prior 11 months! Is Santa drinking a Kingfisher?

So why in the hell is someone who loves Christmas so much going back to Mumbai in December? Any snag in the weather could potentially threaten getting home in time for Christmas...OK so that may be over dramatic as I am leaving on the 20th. However, the closer the day of departure gets, the more I have wanted to not go.

I thought I could use Andrew's e-mail about being financially responsible as a logical way to rationally explain to my supervisor. So while I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago I called Barb. "The flight is more expensive", "The room rate at the Taj is more", "It will mean a lot of overtime" and, because of the flight schedule, "I will only be there until the 19th". In all honesty, even though it is not my money, I have been feeling awfully guilty about the amount on money being spent to send me there. It was then explained that this had all been taken into consideration and the cost leaders were OK with the expense even if I wasn't.

Since Thanksgiving I have been trying to get all the Christmas tasks done. Most of the gifts have been bought but are still unwrapped. I've loaded a ton of holiday music on my IPOD. Because I will lose two weeks with my tree, I have kept it lit up as a very large multi-color night light. I spent a few hours today picking up travel sized things as well as a box of bars to eat at the center.

Hunter begins his "vacation" at the kennel in a few days. He was less than happy when he saw the suitcase come out. At least I will arrange for group play for him. He likes that....He's a bit spoiled.

I will be leaving in four days...During close. I will only be in the office Monday, Tuesday and a half day on Wednesday. Again what was I thinking???

But this morning I did note a potential good thing....This time it is the dry season, a bit less humid and it looks like a little cooler and I am pretty sure the view will not be like this:

You'd think my own dog could have posed for a second!

Don't get me wrong. There is nothing Hunter and I enjoy more than snow (well we both enjoy the beach), but as winter lasts until shortly before summer, a couple of weeks in a tropical climate might not be so bad.

I have even taken a optimistic view (don't think I don't know a couple of people are rolling their eyes at that) for the following reasons

1. I will have a whole weekend when I get back to finish shopping and wrapping
2. I kind of enjoy being out with all the crazy people that few days before the big day
3. It is cheap to shop in Mumbai
4. Unlike Thanksgiving, which was at my house this year, my mother and/or sister just need to tell me when and where to bring the gifts (not to say that is not stressful)
5. And most importantly, it is my two week game plan to survive the month of Christmas, as Barb at Weight Watchers would call it, without gaining extra pounds.

For all those people I wont see until after the holidays (or are in Europe or going to the Darkside of the CPTC) have a great holiday season and remember it is not about how much you spend or get in exchange. It is about the people that matter in your life because, to quote Mr. Lennon and Mr. McCartney, "And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make".

Unofficially Official or Officially Unofficial

Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I get in a lot of trouble because I all too often do and/or say things without really weighing the consequences. For example sending text messages while drinking. Not a good idea especially when you read them the next morning....(Doug, the answer to the question I texted to you recently was 2 bottles is at least 1.5 too many).....

As I was leaving the service center last month I told Gilberto and Deepa that I would come back if needed, but then quickly added, "but not in December".

Deepa asked, "Because of the holidays or PCES?"

"Both", I answered.

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in my supervisor's office with another co-worker discussing a project we have been working on. I mentioned that I had not missed these meetings while I was on my "three week vacation" in India. "So you wouldn't mind going back in December?"

CRAP!

I froze. I she kidding??? She's fairly new and I still haven't figure out when she is joking and when she is serious.....

"Is that a possibility?" I ask and get a non-answer. The meeting ends and I stew over this for a week....Again for those of you who don't know, I also have issues obsessively over thinking issues (unfortunately not on my actual job - which explains why I am still in this one)....Regardless, I am a tech not FS/FL (FL meaning Free Labor) and nobody owns my time! They can't make me go.

So early last week, in full Jihad mode, I walked to her office and said, "Were you serious about me going to back to Mumbai?"

"OK this is the unofficial December schedule", she says and whips out a calendar.

I look at the schedule, "I'll do it but only if I can fly no later than December 21st".

"Great!" she says. "We just need to get approval."

CRAP!

"Keep your thoughts in your head when you are thinking!" Oh sure that part stayed in my head as I mentally kicked myself. I should mention that I am really good at beating myself up for doing stupid things.

I know I could have taken it back. Maybe I should have taken it back. But I didn't take it back.

This morning, my supervisor came into my office to tell me the Unofficially Official became a little less Unofficially Official and closer to Official. The group of trainers has been chosen and just needs the blessing of the global cost leader. The decision should be made by the end of the week. I called the travel folks and e-mailed Tulasi (an OP in Mumbai) regarding hotel accommodations. I have seats held and would actually be home on December 20 (darn I hate when the later flights are booked).

Good thing I bought that little Christmas tree to tuck away a suitcase.

A Recap of the First Week Back (9/29/07)

On Sunday, September 23 at 12:30, after an exhausting trip of I believe 20 hours (including getting off the plane in Amsterdam just as they were beginning to board for Detroit - no time to pick up chocolate), I arrived back home. It was so strange on the flight from Detroit to MBS watching the landscape below. I had come from a place where I don't think there is more than a square foot that is not built on, to flying over the wide open spaces of farmer's fields. I left the green summer on August 31st and was welcomed back with the beginning of fall colors. Walking to my mom's car in low humidity and fresh air was a pleasant change from walking outside at the hotel only to want to turn around, go back to the room and take a shower. For all the experience of going to India meant to me, home felt good.


All of this was overshadowed by the fact that my Uncle Ed (my mother's youngest brother) had passed away a few days before I left Mumbai. When I got the news from my sister, the 7000 or so miles between there and home for the first time seemed more like from here to the stars. I sat on the window ledge, looked out the window at the Arabian Sea and cried until it was almost time to leave for the center. I hated not being home for my mother, but there was no way I could leave. At least I was home for the funeral on Monday.



I must admit, Ed was my favorite uncle. I would venture a guess that most of my Mitchell cousins would agree. He was the uncle who would tease you, but never in any mean spirited way. I can't imagine there was ever a kid or a dog that Ed didn't like. He was a good guy and I will miss him.


Finally made it back to work on Tuesday....or at least made it until about 11:30 when the jet lag caught up and I could barely type well enough to create the accounting segments of several materials. Sent an e-mail saying I was going home, went home and slept for about three hours...Which of course meant I was wide awake at 3AM Wednesday.

By Wednesday afternoon, I was becoming one of those people I don't like. "How cool am I that I went India and had my own driver and the hotel staff greeted me by name?" Okay maybe not that bad, but it wasn't like I could whip up a PowerPoint (though I could have and it would have been awesome as my friends at Dorinco will tell you), grab a conference room, have the entire Midland CAEC as well as friends from other groups grab a seat and recap....

One of the things I had decided before I left for India (and gained my status as a Rock Star) was that after a year away, it was time to go back to Weight Watchers. Thursday evening I started again (hopefully for the last time) and was greeted with a warm hug from Barb and a few of the staff members. Barb asked if I was in better place than when I left and I could honestly say yes.

Friday, Christina turned 31 or 32. Can't remember. Happy Birthday, POOKIE!!! (Yeah I'm going to pay for that one)

The week ended with the Third Annual AIDS Walk Michigan which is held in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, Traverse City as well as Bay City. There are several AIDS Walks in the country, but Michigan is the only state that has all of them on the same day. Quite awhile before the trip, I had volunteered to take over as the Dow representative which entailed not only organizing a walk team, but also being on the walk planning committee. I managed to get to all but the last meeting and have to thank Marc (who I was supposed to replace) and Kevin for stepping up while I was gone. It was a beautiful, crisp autumn day. Perfect for 300+ walkers, including the three freshmen from All Saints below (Kaitlyn, my niece Erica and Amanda-turned away from the camera). It was good to see a number of students as this walk is also about awareness as much as fund raising.

In the end, over $30,000 was raised which stays in the community providing services for people living with HIV/AIDS. I am also pleased to say that the team that raised the most money was the Dow team (that would be Kevin and I holding the trophy). Considering there were only 5 official team members, we did very well at over $2000. It helped that Kevin took the top individual honor as well.

Oh and on another note to my friends at Dow, as the Dow rep for this event you may see me on Dow TV (or whatever we are calling it these days) speaking about the event. Please remember that as much as I enjoy to hear myself talk, I am not a professional speaker. Let the harassment begin.

I guess this is the end of the Big Adventure. I apologize as I know my writing is a bit inconsistent and that I was not able to keep up as much as I would have liked to the last week. Thanks for all the nice comments.

OK, Julie. Time to start your magazine so we can ditch this whole corporate thing!

Lori

And Away We Go

In a little over 12 hours I will be leaving this place. These past three weeks have been such an amazing time. So many roles (teacher, student, expatriot, mini-Raj). I feel I've grown on this trip. Actually I like the person I am here much better than the one at home. Doug mentioned that I was different when he got here (not sure if that was good or bad). I am more polite, considerate, patient (Did I just hear my mother and sister falling over?). I have a better appreciation of what I have. I have a roof over my head, food on the table, family and friends who love me and that I love, and a puppy who most likely is having the time of his life and wont want to come home tomorrow. Material things don't seem quite as important. Hopefully I will hang on to this change and not get caught up with all the bullshit that, in Mr. Liveris's words, "at the end of the day" doesn't matter.

I hope I will be able to hold the bonds made with the other trainers at some level. Carmen, Marcel, Frederic and Vincent, I do hope our paths will cross again (In Europe as you would be terribly bored in Midland). Doug - You're in Midland and I see you everyday. I go all the way to India and still can't get away from you! ; )

I can not express how proud of Shami and Mandar I am. In fact I almost teared up a bit when I left yesterday (in fact as I write this I am a little misty). I have been working with them since early spring and have watched them progress into exceptional CAEC members. I have every confidence in them and am pleased I was able to come here and meet them.

Would I come back if needed? Yes. No question. I mentioned this to Gilberto and Deepa before I left yesterday as well as my supervisor at home. Of course I also mentioned I would be a less willing if it is December....HMMM.....It would be inexpensive to Christmas shop here.....

Now a recap of some surreal moments from the last three weeks:

• Goods being transported by ox and wagon on major roads
• Goods being transported by trucks that like they are 40 to 50 years old (big contrast to the semis at home)
• The transvestite near one of the overpasses we have to stop at. Because it is a high traffic area there are several people who try to sell the motorist things. It took me a second and a double take...I thought "she" looked better than some of the women in their saris...Honestly showing midriff is a priviledge not a right. (Same applies for Speedos, chunky hairy guy at the pool last week)
• The hairband station one night on the way home
• The DJ on the 80's station (City, City, Bang, Bang! was the program) and his "useful" sex tips (am I blushing???)
• Sitting at Vista during a cricket match and hearing the Indians actually being loud. (There is a big tourney going on in South Africa and India is doing very well....)
• The fact that there is a cricket channel....I have watched some and it is interesting to watch, but I have no clue what the rules are....
• And the number 1: Last Friday on the ride to the office hearing a Dolly Parton song. I know that doesn't seem surreal, but in the middle of the ride it seemed very strange...

The one thing that does bother me is that it only took a week for the poverty to seem normal. The first week, I watched out the window each day not believing what I was seeing. By Monday the second week, I was putting my head back, resting my eyes. Yesterday, Marcel and I left early as he had to leave and I needed to get some of my own work done. Seeing the ride home in the daylight for the first time, I took it all in again, but it just seemed normal. I don't care who you are, this should not seem normal or acceptable.

OK I am going to take my book and IPOD down to the lounge, have a cappuccino and give housekeeping a chance to clean clean. My packing is nearly done and I am waiting for Doug and Vincent to get back to say goodbye.... The only real question left?

"Where in the hell am I going to pack my shoes?"

See you all soon!

Lori

The Boys

Due to popular request from the folks at home, here is a picture of the boys: Vincent, Marcel, Doug, and Frederic. As you can see, I have been outnumbered 4 to 1 for the last week.

However each has a purpose:

Vincent will have a Kingfisher at dinner with me (which of course makes him the most important)

Marcel is not afraid to speak up on our daily calls with the big shots so I don't feel bad about voicing my opinions as well.

Doug is my little brother from home.

And Frederic. Well Frederic is charming which pretty much says it all.