I encountered a useful new word when talking to one of the Indian trainers - in the context that she was trying to prevent her trainees from using it because it doesn't actually exist in British English. But it should, by all logical rules, be a word, and I think it could be quite useful.
If you delay something, or change the date to a later date, you postpone it.
So why, if you bring something forward from the original planned date, can't you prepone it?
Monday, December 18, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Last Day?
Today is my last full day in India. I've probably said that 3 times now, and so far I've been proved wrong each time. In Mumbai in June, I thought that there would be no more opportunities for me to come out. Last month in Delhi I really thought it was my last time, but as you can read, I was proved wrong at the 11th hour. This time, I feel I may not be wrong. The project is winding down and we have our official team "wrap" party next Wednesday. Never say never though, stranger things have happened.
I like coming out for short trips (although perhaps 2 1/2 days is pushing the "short" definition to its minimum limit), as I get a chance to experience the challenge and the variety and the different culture, but don't have to settle down to the long haul and deal with homesickness (much) or life moving on without me back home.
It's tough to stay in touch when there's a 5 1/2 hour time difference, without one person keeping extremely antisocial hours. And going away for short trips (longest so far has been 3 weeks) means that I don't need to worry too much about watering plants, sorting out "vacant property" buildings insurance or dealing with post that arrives and needs immediate action. Admittedly I have come home to water leaks from the flat upstairs the last two times I've been away, but that would surely have happened anyway, and wasn't particularly exacerbated by my absences.
So today I had to do an "early" shift. 9-5ish. Early? Not particularly, unless you convert it into GMT, which makes it 03.30 - 11.30 - which is just plain wrong. Normally, on a longer trip, I'd get onto IST pretty fast then the early time wouldn't bother me: this time, I'm trying not to get onto IST too much as I just have to get off it on Saturday (and go to the team night out in Edinburgh which will mean a late night). But having to set my (GMT) mobile alarm to 01.30am last night was rather disturbing. I made it though, and actually met one of my colleagues going to bed this morning (around 8.15am) as I was leaving for work. A contingent had gone to the Orchid Karaoke bar after the restaurant, with Hilarious Consequences, evidently.
Work was good - I got everything done I wanted to and I think that the delegates have demonstrated their new skills. They gave me presents when I left, which was lovely, and so did one of my previous delegates too (I'd trained her back in the UK in April). So I now have two nice new Indian bags to use.
Got back to the hotel, did a bit of admin and then wandered up to the Club Lounge to catch up with colleagues who had had the day off before their flights home tonight. I had commissioned one of them to pick up some XXXXXX for me, that I'd seen in Delhi and regretted not having bought. Can't disclose the purchase at this time as the recipient(s) may be reading! So I ordered a drink, had some canapes, had some nice chat with various co-workers (all female, oddly) and generally enjoyed my last evening in India. There are some lovely people here at the moment, and (unusually, compared to previous trips) a significant number of them are mature women, who can gossip and chat and generally have a good sociable evening on a range of topics. Lovely. Then we all headed back to our rooms to pack and generally prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.
I'll miss India, but I think I've had my fair share now and although I'm very sad not to have the prospect of seeing some of the friends I've made again, I think I can move on without regret and see what happens next. Novosibirsk?!!*
I like coming out for short trips (although perhaps 2 1/2 days is pushing the "short" definition to its minimum limit), as I get a chance to experience the challenge and the variety and the different culture, but don't have to settle down to the long haul and deal with homesickness (much) or life moving on without me back home.
It's tough to stay in touch when there's a 5 1/2 hour time difference, without one person keeping extremely antisocial hours. And going away for short trips (longest so far has been 3 weeks) means that I don't need to worry too much about watering plants, sorting out "vacant property" buildings insurance or dealing with post that arrives and needs immediate action. Admittedly I have come home to water leaks from the flat upstairs the last two times I've been away, but that would surely have happened anyway, and wasn't particularly exacerbated by my absences.
So today I had to do an "early" shift. 9-5ish. Early? Not particularly, unless you convert it into GMT, which makes it 03.30 - 11.30 - which is just plain wrong. Normally, on a longer trip, I'd get onto IST pretty fast then the early time wouldn't bother me: this time, I'm trying not to get onto IST too much as I just have to get off it on Saturday (and go to the team night out in Edinburgh which will mean a late night). But having to set my (GMT) mobile alarm to 01.30am last night was rather disturbing. I made it though, and actually met one of my colleagues going to bed this morning (around 8.15am) as I was leaving for work. A contingent had gone to the Orchid Karaoke bar after the restaurant, with Hilarious Consequences, evidently.
Work was good - I got everything done I wanted to and I think that the delegates have demonstrated their new skills. They gave me presents when I left, which was lovely, and so did one of my previous delegates too (I'd trained her back in the UK in April). So I now have two nice new Indian bags to use.
Got back to the hotel, did a bit of admin and then wandered up to the Club Lounge to catch up with colleagues who had had the day off before their flights home tonight. I had commissioned one of them to pick up some XXXXXX for me, that I'd seen in Delhi and regretted not having bought. Can't disclose the purchase at this time as the recipient(s) may be reading! So I ordered a drink, had some canapes, had some nice chat with various co-workers (all female, oddly) and generally enjoyed my last evening in India. There are some lovely people here at the moment, and (unusually, compared to previous trips) a significant number of them are mature women, who can gossip and chat and generally have a good sociable evening on a range of topics. Lovely. Then we all headed back to our rooms to pack and generally prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.
I'll miss India, but I think I've had my fair share now and although I'm very sad not to have the prospect of seeing some of the friends I've made again, I think I can move on without regret and see what happens next. Novosibirsk?!!*
Actually quite busy
Lateish start today (Wednesday) - doing a 12-8 training shift. This means leaving at 11.15 to get there in time, but because there wasn't another car going at that time I left at 10.45 - arriving slightly early but that's No Bad Thing. I was a little concerned and distressed by the anti-Indian comments being made by my travelling companions - quite negative about their abilities and lifestyle - opinions not matched by their colleagues, which is a relief. Perhaps they were jaded and fed up of being here for weeks/months on end, but I felt it was very sad that they felt that way and were here to help the agents improve. Also they were making the comments in front of the Indian driver, which although his English probably doesn't meet any fluency standards, must have picked up a bit of what they were saying. "He who is without sin..." / "People in glass houses...". The UK isn't perfect either so don't pick on less developed countries. It's mean.
I had a good day training - my delegates were quick and keen to learn and we covered a lot. They had already had an introduction to the subject (designing e-learning packages) but this was a more advanced polishing course. So we had a good facilitation session rather than a boring didactic one. They had a nice big whiteboard and (oh I'm easily pleased) a board wiper which is magnetic and sticks to the board(!) so I had fun with that all day. I had lugged a company laptop for 4000 miles but in the end it wasn't needed. We buddied up and they all had a go at the system.
Most of the staff who have been out here long term are heading back early Friday morning, so they have Thursday off to shop/pack. So tonight was the last night in the office for many of them, at least for a few weeks. Hence the decision to head off to a local Indian restaurant for a team party. It was a dry restaurant (and therefore perhaps not as popular as it could have been), but we sat outside so the smokers amongst us were placated a little. We got there about 9.45pm and didn't start to order until about 10.30pm as other people were arriving still from later shifts. When we did get our food, it was all quite messed up as we were failing to comply with Indian rules of dining and just sharing everything, instead everyone wanted their Own Food. My starter didn't turn up, and then the main course that I got was different to someone else's version of the same dish. Odd. Rather tasty though, and excellent value at about Rs500 each (£5.50 ish?) for 2 courses and non-alcoholic drinks. Eventually we left at about 12.30pm, after singing Happy Birthday to Sheetal, (offshore manager) and then working out which car to get home.
Despite the late hour, the traffic was still horrible - really heavy for some parts of the trip (although practically empty elsewhere) so didn't get back to the hotel until 1am (posting this on Thursday with an edited time/date) and then I had to get up 5 hours later to get to work for 9am. Busy busy.
I had a good day training - my delegates were quick and keen to learn and we covered a lot. They had already had an introduction to the subject (designing e-learning packages) but this was a more advanced polishing course. So we had a good facilitation session rather than a boring didactic one. They had a nice big whiteboard and (oh I'm easily pleased) a board wiper which is magnetic and sticks to the board(!) so I had fun with that all day. I had lugged a company laptop for 4000 miles but in the end it wasn't needed. We buddied up and they all had a go at the system.
Most of the staff who have been out here long term are heading back early Friday morning, so they have Thursday off to shop/pack. So tonight was the last night in the office for many of them, at least for a few weeks. Hence the decision to head off to a local Indian restaurant for a team party. It was a dry restaurant (and therefore perhaps not as popular as it could have been), but we sat outside so the smokers amongst us were placated a little. We got there about 9.45pm and didn't start to order until about 10.30pm as other people were arriving still from later shifts. When we did get our food, it was all quite messed up as we were failing to comply with Indian rules of dining and just sharing everything, instead everyone wanted their Own Food. My starter didn't turn up, and then the main course that I got was different to someone else's version of the same dish. Odd. Rather tasty though, and excellent value at about Rs500 each (£5.50 ish?) for 2 courses and non-alcoholic drinks. Eventually we left at about 12.30pm, after singing Happy Birthday to Sheetal, (offshore manager) and then working out which car to get home.
Despite the late hour, the traffic was still horrible - really heavy for some parts of the trip (although practically empty elsewhere) so didn't get back to the hotel until 1am (posting this on Thursday with an edited time/date) and then I had to get up 5 hours later to get to work for 9am. Busy busy.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Mumbai Take 2
I've been up non-stop (well not counting a few hours of dozing on the plane en route) for about 30 hours now, so I'm just trying to stay up a little longer to make a proper night's sleep tonight and try to trick Jetlag into passing me by. Tomorrow I have to get a car at 10.45am to go to the office.
I left yesterday afternoon, on a bouncy BA shuttle to LHR. Alas they wouldn't check my bag through (unlike last time) so I had to go through the rigmarole of waiting for my bag, going through the Underground tunnel then queueing for check in. As I travelled Premiere Class I got to skip most of the queues, including an astonishing 10deep/200m long one for security at LHR Terminal 3. Avoid that area at about 7pm on weekdays, I think. Lots of big intercontinental flights leaving at once, probably.
Anyway, once I'd passed into the hands of Jet Airways, the trip became much more pleasurable. Sybaritic.
I had a sociable seat partner (Mike from Stirling, works for some finance company, travels to Mumbai quarterly) who is doing a similarly crazy 3-day visit (actually his is crazier as he comes back on Thursday night, I at least have a night's sleep before the return journey on Friday) who liked hill walking and talked about his wife's rules for letting him out on the hills (one day a month, unless she gets to go too). Anyway, he stopped talking when the lights were dimmed, and I managed to get a few hours official doze. I changed into the inflight pyjamas, which were very comfortable ( I was tempted to pinch them but resisted the urge). I watched a film (the Break Up) which was moderately entertaining, if unrealistic (fabulous apartment in Chicago funded by jobs as a tour guide and an assistant in an art gallery) and had Beautiful People looking Beautiful.
The plane arrived beautifully on time, I was early off the plane and (for once!) so was my baggage. I found my driver (from the hotel) without any problems and about 30 mins after the plane touched down, I was checking into my room. Whew. I have a welcome letter from the hotel which informs me that I get free stuff. Like Internet access, apparently. And Happy Hours at The Club until 9pm nightly (food, drink = supper). And 4 free bits of laundry. I'll have to think about that. Probably will prioritise cold weather kit, for the return leg.
Then I went to the office for a few hours (3) to get ready for training tomorrow, and get all the tedious (not really!) reunions with old friends out of the way. I have brought with me bribes of Shortbread and Tunnock's Tea Cakes, so I'm guaranteed to have a stream of visitors into the training room tomorrow!
I stopped off at the local supermarket (Haiko's) on the way home for supplies to take home, made a phone call (I love Skype!) and then availed myself of the freebies in the Club Lounge for Happy Hour. hic. And now it's probably time to sleep. (20h40)
I left yesterday afternoon, on a bouncy BA shuttle to LHR. Alas they wouldn't check my bag through (unlike last time) so I had to go through the rigmarole of waiting for my bag, going through the Underground tunnel then queueing for check in. As I travelled Premiere Class I got to skip most of the queues, including an astonishing 10deep/200m long one for security at LHR Terminal 3. Avoid that area at about 7pm on weekdays, I think. Lots of big intercontinental flights leaving at once, probably.
Anyway, once I'd passed into the hands of Jet Airways, the trip became much more pleasurable. Sybaritic.
I had a sociable seat partner (Mike from Stirling, works for some finance company, travels to Mumbai quarterly) who is doing a similarly crazy 3-day visit (actually his is crazier as he comes back on Thursday night, I at least have a night's sleep before the return journey on Friday) who liked hill walking and talked about his wife's rules for letting him out on the hills (one day a month, unless she gets to go too). Anyway, he stopped talking when the lights were dimmed, and I managed to get a few hours official doze. I changed into the inflight pyjamas, which were very comfortable ( I was tempted to pinch them but resisted the urge). I watched a film (the Break Up) which was moderately entertaining, if unrealistic (fabulous apartment in Chicago funded by jobs as a tour guide and an assistant in an art gallery) and had Beautiful People looking Beautiful.
The plane arrived beautifully on time, I was early off the plane and (for once!) so was my baggage. I found my driver (from the hotel) without any problems and about 30 mins after the plane touched down, I was checking into my room. Whew. I have a welcome letter from the hotel which informs me that I get free stuff. Like Internet access, apparently. And Happy Hours at The Club until 9pm nightly (food, drink = supper). And 4 free bits of laundry. I'll have to think about that. Probably will prioritise cold weather kit, for the return leg.
Then I went to the office for a few hours (3) to get ready for training tomorrow, and get all the tedious (not really!) reunions with old friends out of the way. I have brought with me bribes of Shortbread and Tunnock's Tea Cakes, so I'm guaranteed to have a stream of visitors into the training room tomorrow!
I stopped off at the local supermarket (Haiko's) on the way home for supplies to take home, made a phone call (I love Skype!) and then availed myself of the freebies in the Club Lounge for Happy Hour. hic. And now it's probably time to sleep. (20h40)
Where am I?
I'm in a country where...
...the word "kindly" has apparently replaced the word "please".
...a tabloid-like newspaper will use the word succubus (in connection with Paris Hilton) without flinching
...it's only just starting to be "an issue" not to wear a helmet when on a motorbike ("2 boys killed in 90kmph m/c smash")
...a family of 3 can be killed by a car while cooking.
...bedraggled teenagers with a babe in arms will knock on the car window at traffic lights. And keep knocking, despite 100% negative body language that "you will NOT be getting anything from this car's occupants".
...your carrier bags at the supermarket are counted by the bag packer, recorded on your receipt, and then 10 yards further on they are counted again by the security guard and the receipt stamped with "delivered".
..."fairness" creams outsell tanning creams by infinity %
...Bryan Adams Rock Anthems play in supermarkets, swiftly followed by a bit of Bhangra.
...babies play on the central reservations of dual carriageways without being carted off by social services.
...slums spring up 20 yards from 5 * international hotels.
..."Health & Safety" is something for someone else to worry about. Now let me get on with welding this thing right over some agent's head, standing in bare feet on a metal ladder.
...the cleaning company pays its staff to wash the ornamental pebbles inside the office (gather them up, dunk them in a bucket, put them back again).
...in a free association test, "World Cup" means cricket not foopball.
Yes, I'm in India again. Now, and for 3 days only.
...the word "kindly" has apparently replaced the word "please".
...a tabloid-like newspaper will use the word succubus (in connection with Paris Hilton) without flinching
...it's only just starting to be "an issue" not to wear a helmet when on a motorbike ("2 boys killed in 90kmph m/c smash")
...a family of 3 can be killed by a car while cooking.
...bedraggled teenagers with a babe in arms will knock on the car window at traffic lights. And keep knocking, despite 100% negative body language that "you will NOT be getting anything from this car's occupants".
...your carrier bags at the supermarket are counted by the bag packer, recorded on your receipt, and then 10 yards further on they are counted again by the security guard and the receipt stamped with "delivered".
..."fairness" creams outsell tanning creams by infinity %
...Bryan Adams Rock Anthems play in supermarkets, swiftly followed by a bit of Bhangra.
...babies play on the central reservations of dual carriageways without being carted off by social services.
...slums spring up 20 yards from 5 * international hotels.
..."Health & Safety" is something for someone else to worry about. Now let me get on with welding this thing right over some agent's head, standing in bare feet on a metal ladder.
...the cleaning company pays its staff to wash the ornamental pebbles inside the office (gather them up, dunk them in a bucket, put them back again).
...in a free association test, "World Cup" means cricket not foopball.
Yes, I'm in India again. Now, and for 3 days only.
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