The Gateway to IndaYou're on vacation. An e-mail comes to your inbox from your supervisor looking for volunteers to go to Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India to train people who could potentially replace you.
I guess the first question would be "Why the hell are you checking your e-mail while you're on vacation?". OK! I have issues! Deal!
My first response..."Why would I want to help a group that could eventually leave me without job?" I was already working with two of the folks over there who have taken over duties from Europe. Plus the the thought of a $400+ kennel bill was literally painful...well maybe not literally. So I deleted the e-mail and went on with my vacation.
I eventually, against my better judgement, went back to work. Then I started thinking...One of the processes, PCEs (For you non-Dow or Dow non-Cost folks, that stands for Product Cost Estimates...Get on you knees and thank God you are not involved with them) would require quite a bit of intensive training. Training that if done over the phone would eventually lead to mental anguish to them and myself. Made much more sense to be there.
On the personal side, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Three weeks in a city with a ton of history. 18 million people from the very wealthy to the souls who live in poverty that is unimaginable. Spiritually speaking, for those of you who know my interests, there are polytheist Hindus, monotheist Muslims and Christians, as well as the Jains (dharmic - which encompasses several religions), Parisis, Buddists, Sikhs, and Jews.
Even though I will spend the vast majority of my time working, this is an all expense paid trip that appeals to the Sociology minor in me. A trip that I would never probably make if I was paying my own way.
I will try to post a few more times before I leave. While I am there I will try to post a couple of times a week with pictures. Feel free to come back and post comments if you like.
Cheers,
Lori
3 comments:
Wow! I didn't even know that you were going to INdia! When do you leave? I think it is a really great adventure for all of the reasons you mentioned (except the job take-over part). I'm jealous because I've always wanted an all-expense-paid trip to India :-)
Keep me posted and I would enjoy seeing your pictures as you travel. Enjoy your trip!
I thought I mentioned it to you when I stopped by with the AIDS Walk stuff. Maybe it was just Emily, who then gave me a 5 minute lecture about the differences between elephants in India and the ones in Africa. I leave on Aug 31 and get back the 23rd of Sept.
Lori,
Really like the idea of you writing a blog on this...and maybe continuing it beyond your trip.
I enjoy your writing style and look forward to seeing the next blog.
Hope to talk to you before you leave!
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