The Day to Day Delhi

I am still not too comfortable taking out my camera and being a tourist, so over time I will be collecting more of the Real Delhi photos. Some day I will have the courage to snap a photo of the construction men by my house who stack bricks on their heads to carry them up 4 flights, and someday I will capture the 4 person family piled onto a motorbike wearing colorful saris and dangling scarves and someday I will capture the life of the people living in shanties on the side of the road, but for now - here are the markets and the traffic.

This is my street from my balcony

Not the best shot, but these women are always side-saddle and I fear that they are going to fall

The view from inside a rickshaw of other auto rickshaws

The Kahn Market

(it is still early on the weekend that is why there aren't many people)

A bush shaped like an Elephant - can't wait to see a real one

This is a Mosque in the Lodi Gardens that I saw on my walking tour

In the Muslim Religion it is not allowed to use people or animals in sculpture so all of the detail is written script.

Just a little Yoga in the Park

Another mosque in Lodi Gardens

I think that the guard is pointing at me. This is at the Prime Ministers place

This Principal had Some Bling Bling

I am trying to learn more about the business from all aspects so I can completely understand the audience that we are working with, so I am jumping right in. I went on my first school visit this week. I accompanied one of the Tour Consultant here to meet with the Principal. The school that we went to has seen a lot of visitors and there is a very good reason for that - they were our first school to sign on to travel with us when we started. The K.R.Mangalam world school.

From what I have learned we used to travel with this school, and then a new principal has come in. Even though she is coming from another school that also traveled with us, it is just like starting from scratch. It normally takes a lot of time to get a visit with the Principal but we have contacts with the management so things went quicker. You see, the thing that is so different about the school systems here are that they are run like businesses. There is an owner, and management, and then the Principal who sometimes is on the Board, but there are all of these stakeholders who have a say in everything that happens in the school...especially something like kids traveling abroad.

So the Principal is pretty high up. He or in this case she is like a VP who makes the decision to either move forward or propose the trip to management. So we arrive at the school which is gated in, and sign in with the guards. We go in and hand in another sign in slip to the receptionist who keeps us waiting for about 15-20 minutes because the principal is eating her breakfast. When she is finished we are called in. I am introduced as a manager, the flattery begins and then we get down to business...I think. There are tons of tours and dates thrown around, no real firm numbers and then tea and cookies are served. We discuss a little further, some push-back, swine flu concerns, and some more tour talk.

Everyone here talks really quickly and I still struggle to follow conversation at times let alone jump in, so I was definitely an observer. What I noticed is there is this air of superiority that is around the Principal. You can be a little direct, but that comes more with time and the relationship. Also, you seem to have to keep talking, because if there is any break in the convo, the principal may decide that she is two busy and cut you off. She seemed exhausted, but didn't really seem to be doing anything, and she had a ton of Bling! She had a diamond solitaire bracelet and two huge diamond rings; one on each hand. They were huge and I found myself distracted and blinded by the light reflecting off of them.

Needless to say we left the meeting and I was a confused with what the decision had been made so I think I have a lot to learn and a lot to teach. I am excited to go to more meetings and start to compare, but I have heard that the Delhi schools are a little more pretentious than other regions. A few more weeks and I think I will be traveling to schools in other regions of India...so cool!

What is it Worth to You

I was going to go to bed early and actually try and catch up on some sleep, but I am just so frustrated right now. I feel like there are so many excuses and haggling and guilt involved with everything. I was just laughing in the last log about how I thought it was funny that I am charged double for everything, but today I had a really awful auto rickshaw driver who caused me to walk in circles around my house talking to myself.

I decided to go to a market after work to go shopping for a light blanket for my bed to make my empty room feel more like home. It is big which is great, but really empty and there is nothing on the walls. So I ventured out to the GK1 Nblock market where I knew of a large Fabindia that had blankets, sheets and pillows of every color shape and size. I tricked Alex into coming with me to shop, poor kid, but we got an rickshaw from our neighborhood to the market for 40 rupees. The thing is - you never really know how much something should cost, and neither do they so it is all about who is going to be more believable in the when it comes down to the bluff. That's why you have to negotiate everything before you step a foot into the rickshaw.

For the 40 rupees we drove pretty far, got stuck in late rush hour traffic, and he took us to the wrong market. Can you believe that after a week I knew enough to tell the difference between the GK1 Nblock market and the GK2 Mblock market :) Yeah that's right, I know I am good! He took the money and never asked for more. On my way home it was dark and Alex was heading out to meet up with a friend. I still looked like a tourist, and I now had three shopping bags with me. I asked how much it was going to cost to get to Sarvapriya Vihar where I live and he said 70 rupees. I responded with 40 he said no, I asked if he could do better and he repeated 70. I said no and walked away hoping that he would call for me to come back for a lower price. That's usually how I have been working it, but he didn't so I headed for the main road. I found another guy and he told me 60. I again said 40, telling him that is what I got here for. He said no. I asked 50 because at this point I was tired, it was dark and I had all my bags with me He told me to jump in.

It was all fine and dandy riding home until we started to get close to where I live. He was telling me that 50 rupees is a really good price. He said that is what he takes Indians home for, so the 60 that he was asking for was not a bad price for me. Here I am thinking that he is trying to show me his true colors and how he was a good man. One who is fair and isn't overcharging me just because the color of my skin, and then he starts talking more about the money and how I should give him 10 more rupees and it was a mistake to take me for the 50. I was not at my house but close enough, so I told him to pull over so I could walk the rest of the way. I handed him the 50 and got out. He counted it quickly, looked at me and rudely said, "really not 10 more, you were a mistake! A mistake! Ah, all the way for a mistake." This all happened quickly and I really think that in this guilty ridden head shake and eye contact he was thinking that this was going to make me give him more money. So I walked away mumbling "a mistake, what a jerk! I am not a mistake!"

I have a built in guilty conscious as it is. I am very literal and when I say I am going to be somewhere I am there and if I feel guilty it is usually for a good reason... because I let someone down or I could have done a better job. But here I am paying the pre-negotiated price, which is still over priced I am sure and he tries to make me feel bad. Boo on him.

I get so frustrated that people are trying to make me pay more, but in the grand scheme of things, what they are charging me is still so inexpensive that I can understand why they do it. But it is a pride thing. I feel that I should be charged the same amount as an Indian. There are some indians out there making just as much as I am these days. I also do know that a few cents or dollars from me can add up and make a significant difference in their lives. Knowing this if I find a driver who is willing to take me for less, I tend to give them an extra 5 or 10 rupees. I don't know why I do it, I guess I feel like I should positively reinforce the nice drivers and punish the rude ones. It was the same when I was swiping cards at the Terraces Dinning Hall in Ithaca. I held the power to let you by without a card on those rainy days when you left it at home, or make you turn home and get it while all of your buddies enjoyed their meals. It was the ones that knew that they should go back but were secretly hoping that you wouldn't make them that I let in and the better than thou who I rejected

I guess a few cents here and there doesn't make a huge difference and what it all comes down to is how much is the hassle worth. I am choosing my battles. If it is late and dark, raining, really hot, or I have a lot of stuff with me does it really matter if I am getting ripped off? This was only day two of taking a rickshaw to work so I will give you my answer in a few weeks. I still have many more bumpy rides in my future.

Even if you are a Celebrity you don't get a Deal

What a day! I tell you, just as I think I am getting used to things India throws something new at me. It's really exciting and humorous. This weekend I went sightseeing with Alison and the new flatmates. I was able to see a different part of Delhi. I nicer area, the more touristy - a Washington DC type place. Really. The India gate is kind of like the Mall in Washington DC. It is a long area that is lined with trees leading up to the Prime Ministers place. We drove all around with Alison's driver KK jumping in and out of the car and taking pictures. We then went to the Lotus Temple which is so beautiful! It is a Ba'hai temple that is formed into the shape of a lotus flower. Architecture genius! It is a place where all religions can pray and even though it is a major touristy site, most of the people there were Indian and they were coming to sit. The ushers do a great job at keeping the place silent as to not disturb the communication with God.

We next went to a mall. When Alison told me we were going to a mall, all I could think about was a bigger market, crazy and swarming with people, but surprisingly it was like a huge US mall. I felt like I was in the US, or at least in Europe. It was well lit, clean and just like any mall in America. The locals there dressed more western. I saw shorts and skirts above the knees, and then of course still very traditional saris. But a lot of t-shirts and jeans. I felt right at home. Ha! Consumerist America, and the stereotype continues :)

We went to eat at an Italian place at the mall. It was all Indians no foreigners and supposidly children are allowed to do anything that they want without discipline. They were yelling and running around the resturant and yelling across the room and yelling at the servers. It was insane. Then I thought back to my worst plane flight ever - on my way to the Roman Holiday Convention. Paul and Kaitlin know exactly what I am talking about. I thought I was super lucky because I was on the aisle of the center 4 seat rows so I popped a sleeping pill and passed out only to be awoken by a flight attendant moving an Indian woman and her screaming 2 year old right next to me. Frustrated, I let them in and fall back asleep. Moments later I wake up to the child whacking me on the arm and yelling. The girl continued to hit me and throw her food at me for a half an hour before I gave the mom a death stare that caused her switch seats with her daughter. The girl instantly started banging on the mans computer next to her. It continued like this switching the girl back and forth for the next 7 hours while everyone except for me slept as normal until we landed and the little brat passed out in time for her mom to carry her off the plane. I tell you, I love kids and I am patient, but I have never wanted to kick a little kid so much in my life. I am not a bad person, I was just over tired.

So after the mall and realizing that there are places that I can get the stuff that I need even if it wasn't too convenient I felt much better. I now know that they sell Pantene for when I run out. Funny thing about hair products. They have this thing called No-Fall Shampoo. I was asking about what this was because I kept seeing adds for it, and as it turns out the water is so polluted here that your hair falls out much easier. So this shampoo was to make your hair stronger or protected or something. I think I need to invest in some of that, or you may have a very bald friend coming home in a year.

After that long adventure I was pooped and finally felt like I could go to bed at a normal hour. I have been going to sleep after 1 and waking up at 7:30 each morning for work. After the long flight and not napping, I was all messed up and wanted to take advantage of the exhaustion.

Today I woke up early to go on a Heritage tour walk with Alison. This group has 5 walking tours in different parts of Delhi and you go around with a tour guide for 50 INR for a couple of hours and they teach you about the site. I had invited Joel from the plane and he meet us at the Lodi Gardens at 7 am. While we were waiting I was chewed to bits by the bugs. Chad - I forgot my bug spray, but after the 800 Marlia threatening bites this morning I bought some this afternoon. The tour was so interesting. We walked into all of these Temples and Mosques and we was teaching us about how people are buried in the Mosques with their heads north to south so that when they turn the head the person is buried always facing west toward Mecca. So cool. Also the western wall is always different from the rest by some little structure or a blocked up archway or something. A Mosque can be many things. Even just a wall built on the West side can be an outdoor mosque for people to pray. I am definitely going to do more of those tours. You find out more from locals than just reading the few plaques.

Next we met up with a friend of Alison's in Khan Markets. I have now been to a bunch and I am learning where has the best fruit and where I can find milk, veggies, and I found Kraft Mac and Cheese. It was so expensive to buy, but I had to! Sunil, the company driver came and picked us up, and then helped me move into MY NEW PLACE! I am so excited. This is my first night sleeping here! Whoooo!

I unpacked some things and then headed out to Delhi center to an old fortress with Alex to meet up with Saabria. She told us the address and said that it was going to be 60 rupees to get there. Of course the rickshas drivers see two blonde, pale, blue eyed people and they charge us double to three times as much. If you are a tourist and if you are as pale as we are and traveling in groups you have no chance. So 100 rupees later Alex and I finally reached Saabria only to be encounter with the next disadvantage...admission. The sign says Indians - 5 INR, Others - 100 INR. No arguing we pay and go in and this is when the craziness started happening...

When Alison and I went to the Lotus temple, I noticed that people weren't only staring, but there were also couples coming up to us and saying "Hi" and trying to have a conversation with us. On the way out we passed a line of school children that without hesitation each said hello until it all blended into one sing song celebration of the people who looked different. Luckily the kids were cute and I left feeling very flattered. When I met up with Alex and Saabria I was telling them all about this happening thinking it was a one off until the fort. I don't know what it was - maybe both me and Alex together. He is bleach blonde and paler than I am, but everyone wanted to take our picture or have us pose with their daughters. It wasn't just me. Guys would come up to Alex and ask for him to pose with them. They would shake his hand and then shoot a quick picture with their cell phones. I thought that is was funny, but then I started getting self conscious...do I really look that strange? Little girls riding by on motos would point and start until I was out of sight.

picture of Alex and I with a random Indian in the middle.

Laughing Saabria asked if we wanted to try this restaurant that she has been to that is known for their kebabs. We both agreed and started walking. She turns to us when we were almost to the street and said, "brace yourself because this might be kind of intense." We turn down a street that is in the Muslim section of town. The street is so crowded and it was definitley the poorest spot that I have seen so far. Tons of old beggars and little kids yelling and following you down the street. Again, everyone was staring even more than before and we were rubbing shoulders with everyone that we passed. It was so dirty and there were stray dogs and goats amongst all of the craziness (but that is normal of all of Delhi, not just this area). We turned into the restaurant and I walked it. Literally it was like out of a movie. Everyone in the restaurant stopped talking and looked at Alex and me until we sat down and things went back to normal. As we looked around no one had food and there was only one really stressed out disgruntled worker in the whole restaurant. Saabria speaking Hindi told us that we came at the time of prayer and all of the other servers and cooks were praying and would be back soon so he would take our order and we would be served when they returned.

It was actually quicker than we anticipated. Today was a total lesson in culture. She was teaching us that in this restaurant that we should eat with our hands. Alex and I were laughing as she taught us to scoop rice the right way in our fingers and how to use our thumbs to push it into our mouths. There was food all over. She then looked at us as we were digging in carnivorous style and then told us that we should only use on hand. Never our left. It is very rude to eat with your left because most Indian use their left hand to clean themselves. You should just leave that hand on your chair. She said that you should also never hand money to someone or shake hands with your left hand. Alex of course then asked…”so what if you are left handed?” You are screwed.

Alex and I tried to get an auto rickshaw home…$120 rupees. Saabria then got one for $60 INR so we hopped in and went home.

Green and Blue

Green and Blue, those are the colors of the walls in the EF building. I really like the building and the funny thing is that is where I feel the most comfortable and like at-home. I am starting to work on different trainings and projects and it is good to feel like I am not just waiting around. There was no real rush to get to work on Monday after I landed, but I thought that I should just throw myself into it instead of sitting around inside my room worrying about my first day. The funny thing is that I was really nervous to get dressed. I didn't want the other kids to make fun of me.

It is strange to be new again :) I was talking to a Kim and Eleacia at work before I left about a blog that we found where the guy referred to rise and repeat. I really liked the idea. It was referring to the fact that we are constantly moving through stages where we enter in not knowing anything about anything, then we get comfortable, confident, and then we rule, only to be moved to another stage where we are at the bottom of the food chain again. Take High School for instance. You enter in an awkward gangly teenager, okay maybe just me, and over time you find your grounding until you are a senior ruling the halls, only to be knocked down one more time when you enter college and have to start all over again, and this time without your parents. Just picture me...and awkward white girl who can't find her office and doesn't know where she is at any time. Okay, I am exaggerating - but you get my point. Even after completing my first week at work I am already feeling great! but mostly just exhausted.

I went shopping today in one of the markets and it was really nice. There was a fabric store there and I bought two pillow cases. Everything there is so beautiful and brightly colored. I wanted to get sheets and a light blanket for my bed, but I didn't take the measurements and didn't want to buy the wrong size. I don't know what India's return policies are. Anyway it gives me more time to decide between a hot pink and orange scheme - sounds gross, but it is really pretty; orange and yellow or yellow and green. Any votes? There were also these shoe stores and clothing stores. I am just so drawn to the bright colors that the women wear. I keep telling Alison that if she comes back in a year from now she is going to find me all dressed up in traditional neon clothes. I am going to have to make the girls in the office take me shopping. I can't wait!

So back to the office, I spent the first week adjusting to the office atmosphere, and meeting with all of the different teams. There are two teams. A north and a south, and each of those team are divided into two smaller teams with one person doing the Alpha position. Twelve in total. It is an open floor plan just like Boston and when everyone is talking - man it is loud. I like it the best when it is that way because it reminds me of home. It has been great so far and everyone has been really welcoming. There have been so many sweets and celebrations that I am stuffed before lunch comes around. It was one guy's birthday, one guy just had a baby and another one is getting married soon. Every time there is good news there are treats passed around by that person for the celebration.

Speaking of celebrations, before I left for India Rachel was telling me all about this Indian wedding that she is in the bridal party for and how they are so much fun and a week long celebration and if I can get invited to one while I am here that I should really try to...well it is week one and I have already been invited to a wedding. I know that I just fell into that, but man am I excited. For those of you whom the idea of inviting a stranger to your wedding is strange - I didn't get it at first either. I am quickly learning that you invite family, friends, colleagues and more. There are about 700-1000 people at the wedding all having a grand ole time and partying. I could be completely wrong, but that what I think I am going to at this point :) Looks like I will also get to wear that Sari that I bought for the holiday party one more time! Yes!

I Am Going To Be Helpless When I Get Home

I got a new apartment today! I met with two roommates today at a place that is close enough to potentially walk to work and at the least take an auto-rickshaw. I had to basically interview with the landlady after the two roommates decided that they wanted me to live with them, then "sign a lease." Which meant writing on a notebook that I wanted to live there. I will sign a real official lease in a month or two when it is drafted up. It was a little strange, but I think that she will also be responsible and fix anything that might break. I am going to be living with one Finnish guy who works at the Embassy and one Indian girl who lived in Boston for a year and went to Mt. Holyoke. Not too shabby. I really hope that we all get along, but the place is huge so we should have plenty of room and I am upstairs so if there are people over it should be relatively quite. Worse case scenario, I give my 2 month notice and I am a free woman.

The house is two floors, and there is also a part that is floor number 1.5. The kitchen overlooks the living room. There is a front balcony and my room and the other girl that lives upstairs with me both have our own private back decks off our rooms. We have a washing machine which is rare - most people just have a maid. Yes, I also have a maid and if we want we can hire a cook, still not decided on that. I am going to be moving into the apartment this weekend and I pick up my keys tomorrow.

So besides the maid and the cook and the driver, everyone comes to you. I spilled my coffee on my desk today...okay, I really dribbled it out of my mouth. No big tragedy and I didn't think any one saw. I was looking around for a napkin or something to clean and within literally less than a minute there was someone standing next to me handing me a paper towel.

Also, yesterday when someone was asking about my bank account I told them that I was going to go and open one in the afternoon. The accounting guy quickly told me that the bank would be coming to the office to set up my account and I shouldn't worry about going to lunch because he will come and just wait until I am around.

It is just a different world and I am learning quickly that when my TC's say that the customer is always right they mean it! They have to treat the customer like they are gods are we are so lucky that we have their service.

There will be more about the office and the job soon. Don't you worry.

Oh, and Julie - I have had curry two out of the three days so far :)

Go Easy on Yourself

Toady is my second day in India but already I am feeling much more comfortable. I am not going to lie, when the plane started it's final descent and I could see the sprawling lights of Delhi below me, my heart started to race and i think that I had a mild anxiety attack. I couldn't believe that I was actually moving to a place, that most people don't even want to visit and I was going to be there for the next year.

I had had my expectations set by anyone and everyone that I have talked to before coming here and I think that I had a good idea of what the next year was going to be, but still I hadn't seen it for myself and I was nervous.

When I got off the plane I was a mixture of excitement and jitters. Not to mention that I had also chosen not to sleep the 29 hours so that I could be exhausted when I arrived at the planned 11:00 pm arrival time in Delhi and better adjust to the jet lag. Arriving at almost at 1:00 my bags came out unexpectedly quick. The next challenge was to find Satya who I have never met and never got around to looking up a picture of him at work...oooops. When I didn't see him or a sign saying Quinnen or EF or anything of the sort, my overtired nervous body started to panic. My phone didn't work and I didn't have his phone number even if it did. Upon this panic I my inner tour consultant reminded myself that I have dealt with much worse and I was probably just standing in the wrong spot. So I looked around, spotted a sliding glass door with tons of men holding signs. I walked through, still didn't see Satya or anyone who recognized me until some guy came up to me and told me that I should go with him. It was Satya's driver and he led me to Satya. Few.

I I had my first experience with the Driver. He brought in all of my luggage and it was a little awkward. I just wanted to carry my own stuff in or at least hellp him. When I started to Satya said, “don’t worry, he will take care of it.” Not in a rude way, just as is. He entered the house when Satya was showing me around only to bring in my bags and then he just waited until Satya was finished and they left.

The drive here didn’t scare me as much as I thought that it was going to…but don't get me wrong, it is still insane. There are no lines an everyone is honking every second. Since there are no rules that i have experienced yet, except honk when you pass so the other person doesn't hit you it becomes loud and chaotic. I would take a picture, but it just does not capture the feeling that you are always going to crash. Good thing that I am not an anxious passenger. There were times when the car next to you in only one or two inches away and there are so many people riding side saddle on bikes. Some of the motorcycles are carrying 4 people and babies with no helmets. Either we are uptight or they just don't care.

For the last couple days I have been staying on the bottom floor in the suit room of the Canadian guesthouse. It is a living room and bed room with a shared kitchen. The bathroom didn't have any TP. Luckily Satya thought ahead and brought some for me. No shower curtains and the power goes out multiple times per day. I kid you not, that while I am writing this the power just went out. Looks like I am finishing the rest of this in the dark with the light of my laptop (Which I love! Thanks Jack for getting it set up!). The guy who owns it is super nice. He is a very large Indian guy who lived in Canada and then opened up this place when he moved back here. Since the room is right on the street I wake up to the stray dogs barking and fighting, the honking of the cars and the calling to the fruit vendors that walk up and down the road. Where I am staying is close to work and is supposed to be somewhat of an upscale area, but upscale here is not the same as upscale at home. It is clean and safe and that is all that I need, but I really think that the standards here are much different than those back home.

Oh and I forgot to mention, there is a creepy dude with a big fro on my walls. There are two huge pictures as if one 2'x3' foot frame is not big enough. He stares at me every morning and every night. I am told he is a Guru. :)

I am starting to get brave. I use the water in the sink to brush my teeth, then rinse once with bottled water. I have to ease into things you know...I hope that I don’t get sick.

The day I arrived I was completely overwhelmed. I still am a little timid to walk outside by myself. I was getting so angry with myself because my normal confident, independent, strong personality flew right out the window when I landed on that plane. I have never been so aware of how white I am. Everyone stares at me, and on top of that most of the people outside are men. There are men just sitting on the side or the road or piled in cars and they just stare. It is intimidating to say the least.

Alison has been great. She picks me up with her driver every morning before work until I get situated, and she took me food shopping at the market yesterday. Again, there are just so many people! I walk into the smallest market. One that is smaller than the room that I am sitting in right now and there were at least 8 men working three in front of the counter blocking the shelves and 5 behind. One bagged the groceries, one took my money, one calculated the cost and the other one handed the money to the one at the register to get me change.

I wonder how long it is going to take to stop noticing the differences and to feel comfortable. I have to keep reminding myself that it has only been two days and that I have plenty of time to acclimate and it is okay that I am not there yet.

A Little Good PR

British Airways is my new favorite airline. Why you ask? It's because I went all the way from Boston to Delhi, a long flight that could have been a terrible disaster smoothly without any hiccups. They happened to sit me next to the only other person on the first leg who was going all the way through London to Delhi, and of course she became my friend. Annie and I were able to talk the whole time and she gave me sage advice on my time in Delhi. More than anything it was just great to talk to someone who has been there before.

Secondly, I had those little TV's on the back of my seat...i have never had one of those in all of my international flights. Can you believe that! The head supports were so great they blew my neck support out the window. I was sat in the second to last row, which only had two seats in the row and tons of extra leg room.

Then Annie and I relaxed in the airport cafe until our next flight that again was very smooth. The flight wasn't full so there was an extra seat in between my neighbor and me a British guy Joel. He was going to be in Delhi for two weeks doing some research for his engineering degree. I felt much better after meeting both Joel and Annie.

Although I got in almost an hour late because of a delayed leg in London because of Engine failures...the engine did not fail on the flight, and all was well. The only other strange thing was that upon landing in Delhi they walked up and down the aisles fumigating the cabins. I couldn't hear well enough to understand why. First of many strange things to come that I will never understand :)

The Next Step

I have been working at EF Education for the last 3.5 years enjoying work, but really wondering what was going to be the next step in my life.

Years ago while corresponding with Julie Keech through the good ole' fashioned snail mail we both sent each other our 10 year plans. Not necessarily the place that we wanted to be in 10 years, but things that we wanted to accomplish by the time we were 32 (10 years after college). One thing, and probably the only thing that I remember besides owning and not killing a bonsai, was to live in another country for a year. Each day this dream was nagging me because I hadn't yet figured out how I was going to check this off my big life to-do list.

Enter Wednesday, June 18th 2009 when Shane pulled me into his office and said that Cristina asked him to find out if I would be interested in moving to India. "YES!" Shocked at my lack of hesitation he responded with "really?" I told him that I definitely wanted to think it over and talk to people in my life, but I was really excited about the opportunity. I don't know what he was expecting, but I don't think that is was that.

By Monday I said that I wanted to move forward and on Tuesday I was on the phone with India. For two hours we talked about the position and the culture so that I could learn more and make a wise decision. I met with Chad and talked to friends what had been there and I was getting more and more excited about living in India while still training and managing staff.

I left for vacation in Cali, road tripped for three weeks, interviewed with Raj and then officially accepted the position of the ET India Sales Training Manager. This left me with 2.5 weeks to see friends and family and cax my boston life. Not any easy process and I don't recommend it. During that time I ran around with my head cut off trying to make sure that I had really taken care of everything that needed to be done before I left.

Sorry to everyone that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to and those of you who helped me get to my flight on time.