Sorry for the long delay. I'm not joking when I say that we probably had the worst return trip ever, or possible, compliments of Air India.
It is now Monday morning, 10:30am and I have just gotten back to Rochester. Deviating slightly from our scheduled return at 7:30pm Friday night, we ended up back in Minneapolis on Sunday morning at 9:30am. Since I'm tired and desperately need sleep, here are some highlights to tide you over until I wrap up with my final reflections on the trip:
-10 hours in the Bangalore airport. Quite possibly the dirtiest airport I've ever been into. I've got video of our "living hell" on my camera.
-Was forced to use the public bathroom in Bangalore. No, it was not a western toilet. No, there was no toilet paper. Yes, I had to "pop a squat". No, it was not easy. I will never, ever complain about a dirty gas station bathroom in the US ever again.
-Begged for food at the only coffee store located at the Bangalore airport. After all of the begging we had seen on this trip, I was able to take bits and pieces of what I learned and successfully land 2 samosas for breakfast.
-Missed every single leg of every single flight on our 4 layover trip. Not one flight left on time and not one leg went smoothly.
-After staying one night in Mumbai, left early in the morning for Frankfurt. Surprisingly, we all made it and I was even able to get an exit row seat for this leg.
-On our way to Chicago, I ended up getting some kind of food poisoning or stomach bug. Unfortunately, the first time I decided to lose my lunch, I didn't quite make it all the way to the luxurious Air India 747 bathroom. It is not easy to vomit within a room that is 3 feet by 3 feet. Oops.
-Finally, in the United States! What could go wrong right? The baggage doors on our plane in Chicago froze shut and we weren't able to get our bags until an hour later. We only had 45 minutes to catch our flight to Minneapolis. One more night of our living nightmare was spent in Chicago. Fortunately, we all got hotel vouchers and food vouchers for dinner. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed before most of us could get there.
-Back in Minneapolis. 38 hours AFTER we were supposed to be home. I'm trying to think of what I am going to write in my tasteful letter to Air India when I get home. Here is a word of advice for anybody who wants to visit India...DO NOT FLY AIR INDIA!!!!! Worst customer service, worst airplane efficiency, worst website for flight updates, I have ever experienced. I have never been on an airline with more excuses, inadequate help, and bad attitudes than Air India. They don't even use computers...everything is done on carbon paper. Forget the frequent flyer miles I've racked up for this trip...I will never use this airline ever again. And I will do my best to make sure nobody else has the unfortunate experience of flying Air India either. Trust me, it isn't worth it, even if your flight is free.
OK, time to hit the sack...
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
MTV says so...
Yesterday morning, we were able to enjoy a lecture given by Professor Balakrishnan concerning branding strategies from an Indian perspective. We were introduced to various Indian brands and the methods that Indian companies use to market to the general Indian population. It is interesting to see what large multinational firms must go through when branding in India. The lecture reminded me of the lecture given by Dr. Aggarwal during one of our marketing courses regarding Thums Up! Soda, a popular Indian soft drink.
Coca-Cola is one of the most widely recognized brands in the entire world. In this day and age, it is difficult to find a country that does not have Coke products. Without a doubt, Coca-Cola has an effective marketing department that has reached developed as well as underdeveloped countries. As a result, it was a surprise to us that Coca-Cola ran into significant problems when marketing in India. The brand name loyalty to Thums Up was so strong, Coca-cola did not sell nearly as well as the nationally incumbent product! For the first time in history, Coca-Cola was forced to retain the Thums Up! brand name, even after acquiring the business a few years later. Last night, as a small group of us were enjoying a Subway sandwich in Mysore, we noticed that Thums Up! soda was available right next to the Coca-Cola dispenser in the soda fountain. While it isn’t completely unusual to have two sodas (Coke and Sprite) from the same manufacturer in the same fountain, it is a little unusual to have two separate colas (when one of them isn’t diet). I’ve got to admit, I’m glad Thums Up! is not the cola of choice in the United States. It definitely has a distinct flavor that doesn’t agree with my palette.
The same morning, we were informed after our class that we would have members of the local media, TV and newspaper, present to talk to us about our experiences in India. Great. The one day on this whole trip that I didn’t dress in business attire for class. All in all, I think I counted 8 reporters there, asking us various questions about India, outsourcing, differences in business, and comparisons between the MBA programs in India and the United States. While I chose to generally stay quiet, there were a couple of questions that I felt strongly about which forced me to pipe up. One of the reporters asked about the general perceptions of the United States concerning outsourcing in India. I didn’t need Friedman’s book to answer this one. This question was very real and was a daily conversation that I had to have with various businesses in the United States.
In my experience, the overwhelming opinion regarding outsourcing to India in the United States is usually tied to some negative connotations. For those that have lost their jobs and businesses to outsourcing, the topic can be very emotional and personal. Certainly, there are various trains of thought regarding whether outsourcing is right or wrong. Furthermore, the debate can be spun into whether outsourcing is right because it is a greater good for the majority versus the minority, stimulates our global economy, etc. Still, I can completely understand why thousands of Americans feel that outsourcing is a problem because the topic has hit very close to home. It is hard to justify the “greater good” when you don’t have a paycheck coming in to pay for your mortgage.
What people need to understand is that outsourcing and globalization is a reality and a necessity in order for our global economy to thrive. Whether you want to believe it or not, outsourcing is what actually keeps our costs DOWN and is one of the reasons why our American economy has not already sunk into a recession. It provides the opportunity to supply more employment both domestically and internationally and it is the reason why we can enjoy the various goods and services in the United States that we do. In the Midwest, I hear statements like, “I bought my John Deere tractor because I want to buy American.” What people are not realizing is that John Deere has large manufacturing plants outsourced to Japan. Conversely, Komatsu, a competing Japanese company, has manufacturing operations in the United States!
In my humble opinion, the real problem lies in the standard of living that we have come to expect in the United States. We externalize our problems and complain about factors such as sub prime mortgage rates and inflation, when in reality, we are buying homes and products that are far beyond our means. There are far too many people who spend money they don’t have on luxury cars, jewelry, and clothes just because some credit agency gave them a $100K limit when they earn $25K per year. How does that math make sense? I’m sick and tired of hearing about how gas has gotten expensive, food is expensive, homes are expensive…Take some time and look into the mirror people! Yes, it is going to cost a lot to fill up your 50,000 gallon tank for your brand new Hummer. Yes, it is expensive to go to the grocery store and buy lobster tails and filet mignon. Yes, the house payment on a $500K house is expensive when you make minimum wage.
Do you want reality? Reality is that the majority of employees in India make less than $200 a month. Reality is that a farmer in northern India committed suicide yesterday because he owed 1 lakh in debt ($2,500 US). And this is just India. Yes, I understand that the costs of living vary across nations and you have to take into account what the Purchasing Power Parity is and yadda, yadda, yadda. Still, apples to apples, we have a very, VERY nice life. And outsourcing is not the main contributing factor to why Americans are losing jobs to developing nations. It’s all about education. Don’t take my word for it. Don’t take MTV’s word for it. Don’t take Oprah Winfrey’s word for it just because she is a nice person and gives away tons of free stuff and tells you to vote for Obama. Vote because you have educated yourself about the platforms these candidates stand for. Vote because it is a privilege, not a right. Vote because you want our nation to be represented by the best, possible individual for the job, not just because your friends talked to you about him/her at the bar. I hate to admit it, but not long ago, I was ignorant to the very soapbox I am standing on now. I’ll always be grateful to Cathy for showing me that if you don’t exercise your right to vote, you don’t have the right to complain…
So I’ll leave you with that. I don’t even know how I got off on this rant, but always, always, strive to educate yourself. Get the facts, do your research, stay current with what is going on in the news. The second you stop trying to educate yourself is the second you grow ignorant to what is going on around you. Now go read a book…
Coca-Cola is one of the most widely recognized brands in the entire world. In this day and age, it is difficult to find a country that does not have Coke products. Without a doubt, Coca-Cola has an effective marketing department that has reached developed as well as underdeveloped countries. As a result, it was a surprise to us that Coca-Cola ran into significant problems when marketing in India. The brand name loyalty to Thums Up was so strong, Coca-cola did not sell nearly as well as the nationally incumbent product! For the first time in history, Coca-Cola was forced to retain the Thums Up! brand name, even after acquiring the business a few years later. Last night, as a small group of us were enjoying a Subway sandwich in Mysore, we noticed that Thums Up! soda was available right next to the Coca-Cola dispenser in the soda fountain. While it isn’t completely unusual to have two sodas (Coke and Sprite) from the same manufacturer in the same fountain, it is a little unusual to have two separate colas (when one of them isn’t diet). I’ve got to admit, I’m glad Thums Up! is not the cola of choice in the United States. It definitely has a distinct flavor that doesn’t agree with my palette.
The same morning, we were informed after our class that we would have members of the local media, TV and newspaper, present to talk to us about our experiences in India. Great. The one day on this whole trip that I didn’t dress in business attire for class. All in all, I think I counted 8 reporters there, asking us various questions about India, outsourcing, differences in business, and comparisons between the MBA programs in India and the United States. While I chose to generally stay quiet, there were a couple of questions that I felt strongly about which forced me to pipe up. One of the reporters asked about the general perceptions of the United States concerning outsourcing in India. I didn’t need Friedman’s book to answer this one. This question was very real and was a daily conversation that I had to have with various businesses in the United States.
In my experience, the overwhelming opinion regarding outsourcing to India in the United States is usually tied to some negative connotations. For those that have lost their jobs and businesses to outsourcing, the topic can be very emotional and personal. Certainly, there are various trains of thought regarding whether outsourcing is right or wrong. Furthermore, the debate can be spun into whether outsourcing is right because it is a greater good for the majority versus the minority, stimulates our global economy, etc. Still, I can completely understand why thousands of Americans feel that outsourcing is a problem because the topic has hit very close to home. It is hard to justify the “greater good” when you don’t have a paycheck coming in to pay for your mortgage.
What people need to understand is that outsourcing and globalization is a reality and a necessity in order for our global economy to thrive. Whether you want to believe it or not, outsourcing is what actually keeps our costs DOWN and is one of the reasons why our American economy has not already sunk into a recession. It provides the opportunity to supply more employment both domestically and internationally and it is the reason why we can enjoy the various goods and services in the United States that we do. In the Midwest, I hear statements like, “I bought my John Deere tractor because I want to buy American.” What people are not realizing is that John Deere has large manufacturing plants outsourced to Japan. Conversely, Komatsu, a competing Japanese company, has manufacturing operations in the United States!
In my humble opinion, the real problem lies in the standard of living that we have come to expect in the United States. We externalize our problems and complain about factors such as sub prime mortgage rates and inflation, when in reality, we are buying homes and products that are far beyond our means. There are far too many people who spend money they don’t have on luxury cars, jewelry, and clothes just because some credit agency gave them a $100K limit when they earn $25K per year. How does that math make sense? I’m sick and tired of hearing about how gas has gotten expensive, food is expensive, homes are expensive…Take some time and look into the mirror people! Yes, it is going to cost a lot to fill up your 50,000 gallon tank for your brand new Hummer. Yes, it is expensive to go to the grocery store and buy lobster tails and filet mignon. Yes, the house payment on a $500K house is expensive when you make minimum wage.
Do you want reality? Reality is that the majority of employees in India make less than $200 a month. Reality is that a farmer in northern India committed suicide yesterday because he owed 1 lakh in debt ($2,500 US). And this is just India. Yes, I understand that the costs of living vary across nations and you have to take into account what the Purchasing Power Parity is and yadda, yadda, yadda. Still, apples to apples, we have a very, VERY nice life. And outsourcing is not the main contributing factor to why Americans are losing jobs to developing nations. It’s all about education. Don’t take my word for it. Don’t take MTV’s word for it. Don’t take Oprah Winfrey’s word for it just because she is a nice person and gives away tons of free stuff and tells you to vote for Obama. Vote because you have educated yourself about the platforms these candidates stand for. Vote because it is a privilege, not a right. Vote because you want our nation to be represented by the best, possible individual for the job, not just because your friends talked to you about him/her at the bar. I hate to admit it, but not long ago, I was ignorant to the very soapbox I am standing on now. I’ll always be grateful to Cathy for showing me that if you don’t exercise your right to vote, you don’t have the right to complain…
So I’ll leave you with that. I don’t even know how I got off on this rant, but always, always, strive to educate yourself. Get the facts, do your research, stay current with what is going on in the news. The second you stop trying to educate yourself is the second you grow ignorant to what is going on around you. Now go read a book…
Monday, January 14, 2008
Trip to the ER...
Over the weekend, Al and Rajiv left our schedule wide open but had arranged for 2 full days of sightseeing in nearby cities for those of us that were interested. I had decided that I would go on one of the two trips and catch up on some much needed sleep on Sunday. Saturday morning, the majority of us headed off to Belur Halebeedu to visit 3 separate temples, one of which is still active. Quite honestly, I’ve had my fill of temples at this point. If you are really interested in what they look like or which god/goddess each one is dedicated to, I’m sure one of my classmates has posted something about our excursions this weekend. As for me, I won’t be visiting another temple anytime in the immediate or distant future…or at least until I can visit one without having to walk around in my bare feet.
I decided that I would go and try to finish up on some last minute souvenir shopping on Sunday afternoon. If you’re reading this blog, chances are good that I will have something for you when I return to the United States. I won’t spoil it here so I’ll leave you in suspense. That way, most of you will actually be excited to see me when I get back home…
Of course, my weekend could not have ended without some sort of excitement in my life. That would be way too ordinary and boring. Very early Monday morning, I had the pleasure of visiting the emergency room of the local Mysore hospital. And no, it was not one of our planned tours…
Here is a chronological list of events as I remember them:
-Saturday night, 11:30pm. Had an unfortunate incident with a 150cc moped while returning home from The Road. I won’t get into details, but let’s just say I left a fair share of my palms on the road/dirt/pavement in Mysore.
-Sunday morning, 11:00am. 3rd round of tweezing/cleaning various rocks and debris embedded in my hands in Gene’s room. Lucky for me, Gene had a good supply of antibacterial soap, ointment, and band-aids.
-Sunday afternoon sometime. Most of my classmates return home from their Sunday sight-seeing tour. As Mary (whose husband happens to be a family doctor in Duluth) looks at my wounds, she says they look great and jokingly states that I shouldn’t worry unless, “red streaks start shooting up your arms.”
-Sunday night, 11:00pm. I give Mary a call in her room. I show her the “red streaks shooting up my arms.”
-Sunday night, 11:45pm. Because I am a complete genius and a trained professional, I decide that it would be great to give myself a self-diagnosis on WebMD to see what I should do.
-Sunday night, 11:55pm. After a thorough self-diagnosis, I have determined that not only am I in the beginning stages of a serious infection, I also have 47 other skin/blood diseases, some of which are not yet known to mankind.
-Monday morning, 12:15am. I decide to call the one person who is able to talk sense into me. Cathy advises me to call Cigna and get on the 24-hour nurse hotline and explain the situation.
-Monday morning, 12:30am. I am told that I need to see a doctor immediately since I am in a foreign country and they have no idea what kinds of organisms/bacteria/diseases might be living in the ground in India (I immediately recall my first blog where we witness a little boy doing a #2 in the middle of the street). Furthermore, she tells me that the red streaks are “not good.”
-Monday morning 12:45am. Rajiv accompanies me to the local Mysore hospital where I am taken to the emergency room. I notice the various signs on the door as I walk down the hall. Office. X-ray. Surgery. I get ushered into a room where the sign says “Casualty.” All of a sudden, I don’t feel so good (Rajiv did tell me after we left the hospital that “Casualty” is the term they use for the ER. A small detail that would have been good to know BEFORE visiting the hospital).
-Monday morning, 12:55am. While we are waiting in the ER (which is definitely NOT clean by any stretch of the imagination), the power shuts off in the hospital. It is completely pitch black. My doctor comes in through the door way using her cell phone to illuminate the path. I start to feel even worse.
-Monday morning, 1:00am. The doctor takes a look at my arms, scribbles a prescription on a pad and asks Rajiv to go to the pharmacy to buy me the appropriate medicine AND medical syringe. Did I mention that I am not feeling too great about the situation yet?
-Monday morning, 1:05am. I have the pleasant experience of having my wounds scrubbed and washed with alcohol (which they called spirits), peroxide, and iodine. I’d be lying to you if I told you that it felt great.
-Monday morning, 1:10am. Rajiv explains to me that they will be injecting me with an antihistamine. I roll up my sleeves to get my shot and the nurse tells me he is going to inject it in my butt. I’m not one to argue so…when in Rome, right?
-Monday morning, 1:12am. Doctor explains to me that the red streaks are most likely an allergic reaction to something that got into my wounds, shouldn’t be a problem and to come back the next day if streaks don’t get better.
-Monday morning, 1:15am. They tell me that I need to pay for my bill. As Rajiv and I walk to the front desk, I wonder if I should have brought my credit card with me. Here is what the breakdown was:
Consultation- 60 rupees (about $1.50 US)
Hospital set-up fee- 10 rupees (about $0.25 US)
Medication and syringe- 9 rupees (about $0.25 US)
Total fee for my ER visit with medication- 79 rupees (about $2.00 US)
I wonder what Cigna will do if I try to submit this for reimbursement?
So there it is. My little adventure to start the week. I paid $2.00 US for a great story that I will never forget for the rest of my life.
I decided that I would go and try to finish up on some last minute souvenir shopping on Sunday afternoon. If you’re reading this blog, chances are good that I will have something for you when I return to the United States. I won’t spoil it here so I’ll leave you in suspense. That way, most of you will actually be excited to see me when I get back home…
Of course, my weekend could not have ended without some sort of excitement in my life. That would be way too ordinary and boring. Very early Monday morning, I had the pleasure of visiting the emergency room of the local Mysore hospital. And no, it was not one of our planned tours…
Here is a chronological list of events as I remember them:
-Saturday night, 11:30pm. Had an unfortunate incident with a 150cc moped while returning home from The Road. I won’t get into details, but let’s just say I left a fair share of my palms on the road/dirt/pavement in Mysore.
-Sunday morning, 11:00am. 3rd round of tweezing/cleaning various rocks and debris embedded in my hands in Gene’s room. Lucky for me, Gene had a good supply of antibacterial soap, ointment, and band-aids.
-Sunday afternoon sometime. Most of my classmates return home from their Sunday sight-seeing tour. As Mary (whose husband happens to be a family doctor in Duluth) looks at my wounds, she says they look great and jokingly states that I shouldn’t worry unless, “red streaks start shooting up your arms.”
-Sunday night, 11:00pm. I give Mary a call in her room. I show her the “red streaks shooting up my arms.”
-Sunday night, 11:45pm. Because I am a complete genius and a trained professional, I decide that it would be great to give myself a self-diagnosis on WebMD to see what I should do.
-Sunday night, 11:55pm. After a thorough self-diagnosis, I have determined that not only am I in the beginning stages of a serious infection, I also have 47 other skin/blood diseases, some of which are not yet known to mankind.
-Monday morning, 12:15am. I decide to call the one person who is able to talk sense into me. Cathy advises me to call Cigna and get on the 24-hour nurse hotline and explain the situation.
-Monday morning, 12:30am. I am told that I need to see a doctor immediately since I am in a foreign country and they have no idea what kinds of organisms/bacteria/diseases might be living in the ground in India (I immediately recall my first blog where we witness a little boy doing a #2 in the middle of the street). Furthermore, she tells me that the red streaks are “not good.”
-Monday morning 12:45am. Rajiv accompanies me to the local Mysore hospital where I am taken to the emergency room. I notice the various signs on the door as I walk down the hall. Office. X-ray. Surgery. I get ushered into a room where the sign says “Casualty.” All of a sudden, I don’t feel so good (Rajiv did tell me after we left the hospital that “Casualty” is the term they use for the ER. A small detail that would have been good to know BEFORE visiting the hospital).
-Monday morning, 12:55am. While we are waiting in the ER (which is definitely NOT clean by any stretch of the imagination), the power shuts off in the hospital. It is completely pitch black. My doctor comes in through the door way using her cell phone to illuminate the path. I start to feel even worse.
-Monday morning, 1:00am. The doctor takes a look at my arms, scribbles a prescription on a pad and asks Rajiv to go to the pharmacy to buy me the appropriate medicine AND medical syringe. Did I mention that I am not feeling too great about the situation yet?
-Monday morning, 1:05am. I have the pleasant experience of having my wounds scrubbed and washed with alcohol (which they called spirits), peroxide, and iodine. I’d be lying to you if I told you that it felt great.
-Monday morning, 1:10am. Rajiv explains to me that they will be injecting me with an antihistamine. I roll up my sleeves to get my shot and the nurse tells me he is going to inject it in my butt. I’m not one to argue so…when in Rome, right?
-Monday morning, 1:12am. Doctor explains to me that the red streaks are most likely an allergic reaction to something that got into my wounds, shouldn’t be a problem and to come back the next day if streaks don’t get better.
-Monday morning, 1:15am. They tell me that I need to pay for my bill. As Rajiv and I walk to the front desk, I wonder if I should have brought my credit card with me. Here is what the breakdown was:
Consultation- 60 rupees (about $1.50 US)
Hospital set-up fee- 10 rupees (about $0.25 US)
Medication and syringe- 9 rupees (about $0.25 US)
Total fee for my ER visit with medication- 79 rupees (about $2.00 US)
I wonder what Cigna will do if I try to submit this for reimbursement?
So there it is. My little adventure to start the week. I paid $2.00 US for a great story that I will never forget for the rest of my life.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Breathe in all that is...Infosys!
Friday afternoon, we were all excited to go on our daily excursion. Armed with a newly tailored suit, mirror-polished shoes, freshly pressed shirt, and a mind filled with an eagerness to learn, I was prepared to visit the pinnacle of all of our site visits in Mysore: Infosys. Arguably, this is where outsourcing began in India. This was the heart of India’s IT infrastructure. This is where we would see the world’s largest corporate training campus in action and see why companies such as Microsoft relied on this IT giant for much of its software development. Complete with awards such as “The Best Managed Company in India”, this was undoubtedly the country’s pride and joy.
From a purely physical standpoint, Infosys was everything that I thought it would be. The entire campus was reminiscent of a resort in Florida, equipped with lush, green grass, palm trees, a pool that looked like an island oasis, and an auditorium that was a spitting image of Epcot Center. This was definitely not the India that we had been staying in over the past 2 weeks. This was a tropical getaway with state-of-the-art facilities, fitness center, bowling alley, grocery store, pharmacy, and even its own on-site salon. Off in the distance, we could see a new building being erected. When asked what everyone’s opinions were on what the new building looked like, we all came up with the exact same answer; the Roman Coliseum.
Impressive? Absolutely. There was no doubt that Infosys was presenting an image of success. Infosys was proud of where it had started and what is has turned into today. As the tour began and our speaker introduced us to the company, I began to get a sense for what the company was all about. To be brutally honest, Infosys was my worst corporate nightmare.
I’ll preface the following by saying that this is my personal OPINION and I’m sure that Infosys has plenty to offer for employees of certain skill levels, personality types or expectations. With that said, if anybody is still offended by the fictitious narration of my personal Infosys perceptions, deal with it. We don’t have to agree with each other, we just have to mutually respect our varying individual opinions.
In contrast to our tour guide at L&T, the individual that was chosen to represent Infosys was uncharismatic, dull, and inexperienced with the company (2 years). He laid a heavy emphasis on technical development but glossed over the values and ethics that Infosys “marketed” through their introduction video. His answers to simple questions took 10 minutes and his answers to difficult questions took even longer. I think I heard about their 88,000 employee base poised for 30% growth and $3 billion net revenue statistics mentioned every 5 minutes. Both the presentation and facility tour seemed to scream, “This is Infosys. Breathe it in everybody, because we….are….awesome.”
The Mysore facility is geared towards the entry-level employee looking to make a career at Infosys. Infosys refers to their incoming classes as “batches” and these “batches” are on a rigorous 18 week training schedule. The end of this training culminates in the graduation and assignment of their new job as software programmer. These recent grads live, eat, and play on the Infosys site. After all, with all of the amenities they have, what need is there to ever leave? These robots, I mean, employees, are then taken to the Infosys lobotomy clinic where they have their brain removed and replaced with an Infosys issued hard drive void of feelings or emotions. Mandatory fun in the form of bowling and dancing comes at the hours of 9-10pm on Friday from where they must immediately depart so that they can plug themselves in at night through the serial port implanted in the back of their neck. Any Infosys employee caught in creative thought or having an individualistic idea gets shipped to the sandalwood factory, thrown in the sandalwood chipper, and subsequently becomes fertilizer for their award winning Infosys flower garden. Who knew that human blood was the key ingredient for healthy organic wildlife?
Ok. I may have made up the last part a little bit. But my point is that the entire Infosys campus and training methodology felt vacant and sterile. Case in point, the Infosys library was filled with nothing but scientific journals and books. I wonder what would happen if somebody asked for the latest edition of “Calvin and Hobbes”? The introductory training video ended with 3 short personal “experiences” of brain-washed Infosys grads who said things like, “At Infosys, I feel like I am in 7th heaven.” Not to be judgmental, but given appropriate context clues from the individual being interviewed, I seriously doubt if he even understood what the term “7th heaven” even meant. Short of holding a cue card complete with a Chinese-to-English translation, the testimonial couldn’t have been more scripted.
The Infosys website talks about how Infosys is helping to improve the world by making it more flat. And much of what it says does reflect what we have been reading about in our Friedman texts. So you would think that this would be a significant core value within the Infosys company vision, right? One of our classmates asked our tour guide a question pertaining to how Infosys was educating its employees and helping them to understand the concept of creating a flatter world. His response? A 10-minute deflection of how he was not the appropriate person to answer that question and that Infosys was continually creating avenues to expand the technical training of their employees so they could learn about different business divisions within the company.
All I can say is, “wow.” If the company culture of Infosys trickled down any slower, it would make an 85 year old man trying to urinate with gall stones look like a waterfall.
From a purely physical standpoint, Infosys was everything that I thought it would be. The entire campus was reminiscent of a resort in Florida, equipped with lush, green grass, palm trees, a pool that looked like an island oasis, and an auditorium that was a spitting image of Epcot Center. This was definitely not the India that we had been staying in over the past 2 weeks. This was a tropical getaway with state-of-the-art facilities, fitness center, bowling alley, grocery store, pharmacy, and even its own on-site salon. Off in the distance, we could see a new building being erected. When asked what everyone’s opinions were on what the new building looked like, we all came up with the exact same answer; the Roman Coliseum.
Impressive? Absolutely. There was no doubt that Infosys was presenting an image of success. Infosys was proud of where it had started and what is has turned into today. As the tour began and our speaker introduced us to the company, I began to get a sense for what the company was all about. To be brutally honest, Infosys was my worst corporate nightmare.
I’ll preface the following by saying that this is my personal OPINION and I’m sure that Infosys has plenty to offer for employees of certain skill levels, personality types or expectations. With that said, if anybody is still offended by the fictitious narration of my personal Infosys perceptions, deal with it. We don’t have to agree with each other, we just have to mutually respect our varying individual opinions.
In contrast to our tour guide at L&T, the individual that was chosen to represent Infosys was uncharismatic, dull, and inexperienced with the company (2 years). He laid a heavy emphasis on technical development but glossed over the values and ethics that Infosys “marketed” through their introduction video. His answers to simple questions took 10 minutes and his answers to difficult questions took even longer. I think I heard about their 88,000 employee base poised for 30% growth and $3 billion net revenue statistics mentioned every 5 minutes. Both the presentation and facility tour seemed to scream, “This is Infosys. Breathe it in everybody, because we….are….awesome.”
The Mysore facility is geared towards the entry-level employee looking to make a career at Infosys. Infosys refers to their incoming classes as “batches” and these “batches” are on a rigorous 18 week training schedule. The end of this training culminates in the graduation and assignment of their new job as software programmer. These recent grads live, eat, and play on the Infosys site. After all, with all of the amenities they have, what need is there to ever leave? These robots, I mean, employees, are then taken to the Infosys lobotomy clinic where they have their brain removed and replaced with an Infosys issued hard drive void of feelings or emotions. Mandatory fun in the form of bowling and dancing comes at the hours of 9-10pm on Friday from where they must immediately depart so that they can plug themselves in at night through the serial port implanted in the back of their neck. Any Infosys employee caught in creative thought or having an individualistic idea gets shipped to the sandalwood factory, thrown in the sandalwood chipper, and subsequently becomes fertilizer for their award winning Infosys flower garden. Who knew that human blood was the key ingredient for healthy organic wildlife?
Ok. I may have made up the last part a little bit. But my point is that the entire Infosys campus and training methodology felt vacant and sterile. Case in point, the Infosys library was filled with nothing but scientific journals and books. I wonder what would happen if somebody asked for the latest edition of “Calvin and Hobbes”? The introductory training video ended with 3 short personal “experiences” of brain-washed Infosys grads who said things like, “At Infosys, I feel like I am in 7th heaven.” Not to be judgmental, but given appropriate context clues from the individual being interviewed, I seriously doubt if he even understood what the term “7th heaven” even meant. Short of holding a cue card complete with a Chinese-to-English translation, the testimonial couldn’t have been more scripted.
The Infosys website talks about how Infosys is helping to improve the world by making it more flat. And much of what it says does reflect what we have been reading about in our Friedman texts. So you would think that this would be a significant core value within the Infosys company vision, right? One of our classmates asked our tour guide a question pertaining to how Infosys was educating its employees and helping them to understand the concept of creating a flatter world. His response? A 10-minute deflection of how he was not the appropriate person to answer that question and that Infosys was continually creating avenues to expand the technical training of their employees so they could learn about different business divisions within the company.
All I can say is, “wow.” If the company culture of Infosys trickled down any slower, it would make an 85 year old man trying to urinate with gall stones look like a waterfall.
Friday, January 11, 2008
One night in Bangalore...
After another exhilarating morning lecture session, we had the opportunity to visit Larsen and Toubro in the afternoon. It was here that we would experience the best lunch we’ve had since our arrival, the best site visit we’ve had throughout the trip, and the best management team in Mysore thus far, whose enthusiasm and dedication to their company were reflected by their products and employees.
Larsen and Toubro is a large firm with satellite locations throughout the world, offering products and services in the healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and engineering fields. Their products range from electricity meters to heart monitors and their services include a wide range of consulting services from mechanical contracting to building architecture. L&T was impressive both aesthetically and operationally, but what stood out to our group the most was the respect and honor that was given to us, a diverse visiting group of students from the United States. Signs, computer monitors, and LCD screens throughout the building stated, “Larsen and Toubro cordially welcomes the students from the University of Minnesota.” A small, simple, yet powerful statement that truly made our little group feel welcome in an unknown country. Until L&T, no other company had done that for us before.
At some point during the presentation, our tour guide mentioned that to date, L&T has never lost one single customer in its history. When asked about how they market their products and services, he simply stated that the majority of their business spread by word of mouth and that L&T did not invest significant resources into its marketing initiatives. Service was everything and L&T would go through any means necessary to ensure that their customers were happy. L&T even went as far as freely giving away patentable ideas to host companies without receiving any fees or royalties from patents filed. Was this really the case? Or was L&T just another company trying to make a favorable impression on students who might be on its business radar in the near future?
Perhaps it was the beautiful campus, or maybe it was the way all of the employees smiled at us while we walked by (we’ve all noticed that most of the locals here don’t like to smile or wave). Perhaps it was the energy of our charismatic tour guide or the gift (a carved wooden elephant) that was given to us as we left. Maybe it was even the fantastic chocolate cookies (the way to my heart is truly through my stomach, Cathy knows this better than anyone) that we happily munched on while we were sitting in the Q&A session. Whatever the reason, I was sold by L&T and thought about what steps I could take as a manager to proactively synergize the culture within my own company back home. L&T showed that the luxury of a truly positive workplace environment was very real, and within the grasp of those leaders who were willing to work for it. For the first time since I’ve been here, I was envious of an India based company environment. The question was not, “what can Indian companies do to be more like companies in the US?’ The question became, “what can US companies do to harbor a successful culture like L&T in India?”
I’ll be the first to admit that I am a very, very stubborn person. My stubbornness stems from being generally closed minded to new ideas and my selfish pride. I hate to admit it, but I’m a “glass is half empty” kind of guy and that is something I am working hard to change. This trip was no different and I can remember my feelings in the airport before we departed for this adventure. As a result, I feel a need to apologize to this country and this trip, for painting an initial negative image in my own mind and the people around me.
Adversity is a funny thing. It’s probably the worst feeling in the world when you have to deal with it, but you only appreciate the great things you have in life after you’ve conquered it. And throughout the process, you grow stronger. There is a great quote from Being Indian that defines why India is developing at such a rapid pace, “Even a middle class Indian struggles for such basics as electricity, water, transport, and medical care. The very poor, of course, survive the absence of all of these. This relentless grappling with adversity has bred by now an inventiveness and a will to survive that can only be called remarkable.” –Pavan Varma
India, like many other Asian nations, is becoming a modern day “Tortoise and Hare” story. Slow at first, underdog by appearance, yet resilient to the end. We’ll see how this story ends in another 10 years.
That evening, Gene generously offered to take Karl and I to Bangalore so that we could enjoy a nice dinner at the Oberoi hotel with his manager and Director of IT. It took us about 2 hours to drive the 150 km from Mysore to Bangalore and another full hour to travel 2 km downtown to the hotel once we were in Bangalore. To say that the traffic was bad is an understatement. The roads are so congested that people turn off their vehicles while waiting for stoplights. There is absolutely no space in between cars, buses, mopeds, and scooters. 2 lane roads turn into 5 lanes and there isn’t even enough space for pedestrians to walk between vehicles to get to the other side of the street! I am being completely serious when I say that other vehicles are 2 inches away from your own and you could easily read a newspaper over the shoulder of somebody sitting in the bus right next to you. Surprisingly, we haven’t seen any accidents yet.
The trip was definitely worth it. After feasting on a gourmet Thai dinner complete with Tom Yum soup, Thai spring rolls, grilled grouper, steamed red snapper, deep fried prawns in chili oil, assorted Thai curries and chicken Pad Thai, we ended the evening with a few glasses of single malt scotch and some very familiar Romeo Y Juileta No.2 cigars. As we sat around the dinner table enjoying each other’s company, the five of us reflected upon our experiences in Bangalore and solved all of the world’s problems…
Larsen and Toubro is a large firm with satellite locations throughout the world, offering products and services in the healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and engineering fields. Their products range from electricity meters to heart monitors and their services include a wide range of consulting services from mechanical contracting to building architecture. L&T was impressive both aesthetically and operationally, but what stood out to our group the most was the respect and honor that was given to us, a diverse visiting group of students from the United States. Signs, computer monitors, and LCD screens throughout the building stated, “Larsen and Toubro cordially welcomes the students from the University of Minnesota.” A small, simple, yet powerful statement that truly made our little group feel welcome in an unknown country. Until L&T, no other company had done that for us before.
At some point during the presentation, our tour guide mentioned that to date, L&T has never lost one single customer in its history. When asked about how they market their products and services, he simply stated that the majority of their business spread by word of mouth and that L&T did not invest significant resources into its marketing initiatives. Service was everything and L&T would go through any means necessary to ensure that their customers were happy. L&T even went as far as freely giving away patentable ideas to host companies without receiving any fees or royalties from patents filed. Was this really the case? Or was L&T just another company trying to make a favorable impression on students who might be on its business radar in the near future?
Perhaps it was the beautiful campus, or maybe it was the way all of the employees smiled at us while we walked by (we’ve all noticed that most of the locals here don’t like to smile or wave). Perhaps it was the energy of our charismatic tour guide or the gift (a carved wooden elephant) that was given to us as we left. Maybe it was even the fantastic chocolate cookies (the way to my heart is truly through my stomach, Cathy knows this better than anyone) that we happily munched on while we were sitting in the Q&A session. Whatever the reason, I was sold by L&T and thought about what steps I could take as a manager to proactively synergize the culture within my own company back home. L&T showed that the luxury of a truly positive workplace environment was very real, and within the grasp of those leaders who were willing to work for it. For the first time since I’ve been here, I was envious of an India based company environment. The question was not, “what can Indian companies do to be more like companies in the US?’ The question became, “what can US companies do to harbor a successful culture like L&T in India?”
I’ll be the first to admit that I am a very, very stubborn person. My stubbornness stems from being generally closed minded to new ideas and my selfish pride. I hate to admit it, but I’m a “glass is half empty” kind of guy and that is something I am working hard to change. This trip was no different and I can remember my feelings in the airport before we departed for this adventure. As a result, I feel a need to apologize to this country and this trip, for painting an initial negative image in my own mind and the people around me.
Adversity is a funny thing. It’s probably the worst feeling in the world when you have to deal with it, but you only appreciate the great things you have in life after you’ve conquered it. And throughout the process, you grow stronger. There is a great quote from Being Indian that defines why India is developing at such a rapid pace, “Even a middle class Indian struggles for such basics as electricity, water, transport, and medical care. The very poor, of course, survive the absence of all of these. This relentless grappling with adversity has bred by now an inventiveness and a will to survive that can only be called remarkable.” –Pavan Varma
India, like many other Asian nations, is becoming a modern day “Tortoise and Hare” story. Slow at first, underdog by appearance, yet resilient to the end. We’ll see how this story ends in another 10 years.
That evening, Gene generously offered to take Karl and I to Bangalore so that we could enjoy a nice dinner at the Oberoi hotel with his manager and Director of IT. It took us about 2 hours to drive the 150 km from Mysore to Bangalore and another full hour to travel 2 km downtown to the hotel once we were in Bangalore. To say that the traffic was bad is an understatement. The roads are so congested that people turn off their vehicles while waiting for stoplights. There is absolutely no space in between cars, buses, mopeds, and scooters. 2 lane roads turn into 5 lanes and there isn’t even enough space for pedestrians to walk between vehicles to get to the other side of the street! I am being completely serious when I say that other vehicles are 2 inches away from your own and you could easily read a newspaper over the shoulder of somebody sitting in the bus right next to you. Surprisingly, we haven’t seen any accidents yet.
The trip was definitely worth it. After feasting on a gourmet Thai dinner complete with Tom Yum soup, Thai spring rolls, grilled grouper, steamed red snapper, deep fried prawns in chili oil, assorted Thai curries and chicken Pad Thai, we ended the evening with a few glasses of single malt scotch and some very familiar Romeo Y Juileta No.2 cigars. As we sat around the dinner table enjoying each other’s company, the five of us reflected upon our experiences in Bangalore and solved all of the world’s problems…
More pictures!
(Click to enlarge)
Elephants at the Kabini River Lodge. We discovered that elephants will do a fake "charge" at you when they get scared or angry. One came a little too close for comfort as we were trying to get in for a picture...
Elephants at the Kabini River Lodge. We discovered that elephants will do a fake "charge" at you when they get scared or angry. One came a little too close for comfort as we were trying to get in for a picture...
The entire group at Planet X. Sadly, of all the places we have visited, this is the only group picture I have with all 16 of us in it. I won't post the "after" picture...
Making new friends at the Mysore Palace. Here, I'm getting a lesson on how to properly use "rattlesnake eggs."
The magnificent Mysore Palace at night. 
Traditional south Indian cuisine. This entire meal was less than $3 US. Thursday, January 10, 2008
Rajiv and Al must have felt generous yesterday morning because we did not have to go to class. Instead, we took a tour of the local sandalwood and silk factories in Mysore. Sandalwood is a naturally fragrant smelling wood that can be used in products such as furniture, oils, incense, and soaps. I have not developed a particular fondness for the smell of sandalwood, but then again, I don’t like the smell of incense either.
The sandalwood factory was a significant contrast to the Automotive Axles or TVS plants we had visited last week. Faintly reminiscent of a prison yard, the building had seen its better days. Upon walking in through the main entrance, I noticed that quite a few pigeons had decided to make the sandalwood factory their permanent habitat. As I expected, the process of making sandalwood has not evolved with the advent of technology. In fact, the process and equipment used in producing the sandalwood oil in this factory has remained relatively unchanged for nearly 80 years! As we were introduced to machines such as the sandalwood disintegrator, steamer, boiler, splitter, and chipper, I noticed belt driven machines, dated pressure gauges, and antiquated gears and cranks that undoubtedly required constant maintenance and care. Yet, the plant manager who was giving us the tour was very proud of the history and production capability of his facility.
My immediate thoughts were, “why would you not automate this process? Why don’t you look into equipment that would improve the efficiency of your operations? Why is there machinery that isn’t running 24 hours a day, 365 a year in order to optimize your throughput?”
During breakfast this morning, a few of us talked about the value of time in our society. In the United States, time is money. As a result, we move at a frantic pace, work long hours, use Blackberries/cell phones/PDAs/computers to stay connected to work, even buy new, improved coffee pots just to free up an additional 5 minutes in the morning. In India, time is a commodity. When you order a coffee here, you can expect to wait about 20 minutes to get it. The bill comes at a restaurant when the waiter feels like bringing it to you. Normal services such as making change for a 100 rupee bill can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes. On top of that, you can expect to have more than 2-3 people working on that task for you. Make sense? Not really, but time and labor are what India has an abundance of. Just take a walk outside in Mysore at 10pm and see how many people are out in the streets. It is a virtual ghost town. Additionally, most storefronts and businesses don’t get into full swing until mid-morning. Even our sandalwood factory tour didn’t begin until after everybody “had finished breakfast.” We were there at 9:30am.
The silk factory was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It is simply a process that you have to see to believe. From the initial winding of very fine silk thread to the double winding to the twisting to the loom, I was amazed at the beautiful pieces of “art” these old looms could produce. One machine in particular involved the manual process of threading over 200 individual strands of silk through a labyrinth of holes that would eventually turn these threads into the large fabric used to make intricate sarees and scarves. The threads of silk running through these machines was not unlike a complicated man-made spider web; fragile, delicate, and exquisitely unique. Certainly, while improved business and technology can help make our world more productive and efficient, the craft and trade of these silk factory workers clearly demonstrate the breathtaking results of pure human sweat equity.
This course has focused on the effects of international business and its impact within our society as a whole. In recent years, we have seen innovation, engineering, and technology close the gap between economic superpowers and third-world countries. Our world is getting flatter and cultures are beginning to merge into one universal melting pot. Nevertheless, this experience has stimulated new thoughts in my mind that I would not have had the opportunity to reflect on during my hectic American schedule. Perhaps the expression we have in the United States that sums it up best is, “take time to stop and smell the flowers.” I am 28 years old. I go to work full-time. I go to school part-time. I dedicate myself fully to my career and my education in an effort to achieve financial success for myself and my future family. Since my college graduation, I’ve never stopped in my pursuit to “climb the corporate ladder.” Everything needs to be faster, stronger, better, more advanced, more technological, more productive, more efficient, more connected…
Not that these things are necessarily “bad”, but India has given our group of 18 a new perspective of the world. There is an entire society of people that exist on this planet that may never receive an education or use a computer. They may never put on a shirt and tie or become VPs of large Fortune 500 organizations. So what makes us so different from them?
Opportunity.
We have been blessed with the opportunity to learn, to expand our horizons by traveling to a new country, to experience a new culture that is so different than what we are accustomed to. I know that when we get back to Minnesota, we will all fall back into our little niche in the world. But I know that every time somebody asks me about my experience in India, I’ve taken something away from this country that words and pictures cannot express, money and power cannot buy. This is a God given opportunity that has undoubtedly impacted my thoughts and actions as I progress through my personal life and career.
It is truly amazing what you can “learn” from a rural farmer lacking formal education. I may be receiving an MBA in business, but these people have a PH.D in life…
The sandalwood factory was a significant contrast to the Automotive Axles or TVS plants we had visited last week. Faintly reminiscent of a prison yard, the building had seen its better days. Upon walking in through the main entrance, I noticed that quite a few pigeons had decided to make the sandalwood factory their permanent habitat. As I expected, the process of making sandalwood has not evolved with the advent of technology. In fact, the process and equipment used in producing the sandalwood oil in this factory has remained relatively unchanged for nearly 80 years! As we were introduced to machines such as the sandalwood disintegrator, steamer, boiler, splitter, and chipper, I noticed belt driven machines, dated pressure gauges, and antiquated gears and cranks that undoubtedly required constant maintenance and care. Yet, the plant manager who was giving us the tour was very proud of the history and production capability of his facility.
My immediate thoughts were, “why would you not automate this process? Why don’t you look into equipment that would improve the efficiency of your operations? Why is there machinery that isn’t running 24 hours a day, 365 a year in order to optimize your throughput?”
During breakfast this morning, a few of us talked about the value of time in our society. In the United States, time is money. As a result, we move at a frantic pace, work long hours, use Blackberries/cell phones/PDAs/computers to stay connected to work, even buy new, improved coffee pots just to free up an additional 5 minutes in the morning. In India, time is a commodity. When you order a coffee here, you can expect to wait about 20 minutes to get it. The bill comes at a restaurant when the waiter feels like bringing it to you. Normal services such as making change for a 100 rupee bill can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes. On top of that, you can expect to have more than 2-3 people working on that task for you. Make sense? Not really, but time and labor are what India has an abundance of. Just take a walk outside in Mysore at 10pm and see how many people are out in the streets. It is a virtual ghost town. Additionally, most storefronts and businesses don’t get into full swing until mid-morning. Even our sandalwood factory tour didn’t begin until after everybody “had finished breakfast.” We were there at 9:30am.
The silk factory was unlike anything I had ever seen before. It is simply a process that you have to see to believe. From the initial winding of very fine silk thread to the double winding to the twisting to the loom, I was amazed at the beautiful pieces of “art” these old looms could produce. One machine in particular involved the manual process of threading over 200 individual strands of silk through a labyrinth of holes that would eventually turn these threads into the large fabric used to make intricate sarees and scarves. The threads of silk running through these machines was not unlike a complicated man-made spider web; fragile, delicate, and exquisitely unique. Certainly, while improved business and technology can help make our world more productive and efficient, the craft and trade of these silk factory workers clearly demonstrate the breathtaking results of pure human sweat equity.
This course has focused on the effects of international business and its impact within our society as a whole. In recent years, we have seen innovation, engineering, and technology close the gap between economic superpowers and third-world countries. Our world is getting flatter and cultures are beginning to merge into one universal melting pot. Nevertheless, this experience has stimulated new thoughts in my mind that I would not have had the opportunity to reflect on during my hectic American schedule. Perhaps the expression we have in the United States that sums it up best is, “take time to stop and smell the flowers.” I am 28 years old. I go to work full-time. I go to school part-time. I dedicate myself fully to my career and my education in an effort to achieve financial success for myself and my future family. Since my college graduation, I’ve never stopped in my pursuit to “climb the corporate ladder.” Everything needs to be faster, stronger, better, more advanced, more technological, more productive, more efficient, more connected…
Not that these things are necessarily “bad”, but India has given our group of 18 a new perspective of the world. There is an entire society of people that exist on this planet that may never receive an education or use a computer. They may never put on a shirt and tie or become VPs of large Fortune 500 organizations. So what makes us so different from them?
Opportunity.
We have been blessed with the opportunity to learn, to expand our horizons by traveling to a new country, to experience a new culture that is so different than what we are accustomed to. I know that when we get back to Minnesota, we will all fall back into our little niche in the world. But I know that every time somebody asks me about my experience in India, I’ve taken something away from this country that words and pictures cannot express, money and power cannot buy. This is a God given opportunity that has undoubtedly impacted my thoughts and actions as I progress through my personal life and career.
It is truly amazing what you can “learn” from a rural farmer lacking formal education. I may be receiving an MBA in business, but these people have a PH.D in life…
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
You can pay your debt in beef...
After returning home from the Kabini River Lodge yesterday morning, Karl and I decided to venture out into Mysore to look for a new lens for his digital camera. We had the entire day off so we decided to take advantage of it and explore the rest of Mysore. We decided to try and walk in the direction of major buildings and came across a hotel called Sandesh the Prince. The hotel looked western, complete with a doorman, spa, various world times hanging from the wall, and a nice continental restaurant. Most importantly, it contained a small pub called The Road that looked like an American club with an exclusive DJ, full bar, hookah lounge, and dance floor.
10 of us decided to go to The Road later that night to “partake” in its evening offerings. I’ll try and post some pictures later this week. We had such a good time; we made reservations for Friday night for our entire group of 16.
One of the things that really stood out in the club was the western theme and décor that adorned the interior. Wait staff and bartenders were wearing cowboy hats, vests, and boots and the room itself contained 3 or 4 classic American cars. The DJ played American hip hop music and the bar served a variety of exported beverages. Even the bathrooms housed western style toilets and urinals complete with TOILET PAPER. In fact, our entire group commented that The Road felt like a place we would have all visited back in Minnesota. Not only did we have a great time, we were also able to alleviate some of the homesickness we’ve all been feeling since we arrived.
That reminds me, my co-workers owe me multitudes of big, thick, juicy hamburgers with fresh green lettuce, ripe red tomatoes, and a few strips of greasy, crispy bacon when I get back into the office on the 21st. For all of you in Praxair Land reading this blog that have been taunting me with food, I’ll be cashing in soon. You know who you are!
10 of us decided to go to The Road later that night to “partake” in its evening offerings. I’ll try and post some pictures later this week. We had such a good time; we made reservations for Friday night for our entire group of 16.
One of the things that really stood out in the club was the western theme and décor that adorned the interior. Wait staff and bartenders were wearing cowboy hats, vests, and boots and the room itself contained 3 or 4 classic American cars. The DJ played American hip hop music and the bar served a variety of exported beverages. Even the bathrooms housed western style toilets and urinals complete with TOILET PAPER. In fact, our entire group commented that The Road felt like a place we would have all visited back in Minnesota. Not only did we have a great time, we were also able to alleviate some of the homesickness we’ve all been feeling since we arrived.
That reminds me, my co-workers owe me multitudes of big, thick, juicy hamburgers with fresh green lettuce, ripe red tomatoes, and a few strips of greasy, crispy bacon when I get back into the office on the 21st. For all of you in Praxair Land reading this blog that have been taunting me with food, I’ll be cashing in soon. You know who you are!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Anybody seen a tiger around here?
For the past two days, our group was able to relax within the confines of the beautiful Kabini River Lodge. You can check out the website of the lodge at http://www.nivalink.com/kabini/index.html.
To say that our journey there was “smooth” would be a complete and utter lie. The last 30 minutes of our bus ride consisted of barely paved roads, potholes, and the sharing of single dirt lanes with local animals and passerby. About 10 minutes out from our final destination, our driver failed to successfully negotiate one of these potholes resulting in most of us taking flight and hitting our heads on the ceiling of the bus. No joke. The roads here are that bad.
Once we arrived at Kabini, we were greeted by guides there who showed us the layout of the camp and our schedule over the next two days. Then we were on our own…for 4 glorious hours of relaxation in one of the most breathtaking settings imaginable. Some of the group headed off to the spa for a massage and aromatic oil treatment, some went to the bar for a refreshing drink. But most of the group had the same idea I had in mind: hammocks in front of Kabini Lake.
These weren’t your normal everyday hammocks, although they had those too. These hammocks were HUGE, capable of holding up to 25 fully grown adults and supported by 4 or more large trees. About 8 of us lay in one of these huge hammocks and had our Swiss Family Robinson moment, basking in the sun and enjoying a view of India that we had not seen before.
Eventually, each of us decided to venture off and explore the lodge on our own. I decided to do my own exploring in one of the personal hammocks to see what the back of my eyelids had to offer.
About half an hour later (I think), I was awakened by the sound of shuffling in the tree above me. I looked up and saw 2 monkeys scurrying down the tree and heading to the outdoor hand washing station about 15 feet from where I was taking my nap. As I rushed to grab my camera, one of the monkeys turned on the faucet and started drinking out of it. He motioned over to his friend, who joined in taking a cool, refreshing drink out of the sink. After they were both satisfied, they climbed onto the roof where…well, the rest of it gets a little X-rated. And if you’re wondering, yes, I have it all on video. Up until they decided to procreate on the roof of the hand washing station. Good times.
That same afternoon, I went on my first safari, venturing out into the national parks of Karnataka to search for elephants, deer, monkeys, and the elusive tiger. Although none of our groups were able to spot any tigers in the wild, I did see something that would have seemed to be even harder to find in this extremely rural portion of India.
A satellite dish.
And not just any satellite dish, this one was fully equipped to handle the incoming and outbound voice and data services of Airtel, one of the larger cell phone carriers in southern India. Mounted on a small hut that was undoubtedly a fraction of the cost for even the installation of this particular device, modern technology was pointed straight up at the sky and receiving signals from anybody who wished to call this small portion of the world. This satellite dish and other technological “steroids” are yet another example of how our world is getting flatter every day. Not that flatter is necessarily a bad thing for this part of the world. Our driver told us that only 10 years ago, communication was difficult for them whenever they were taking a group out on a safari. Now, with wireless communication, they are easily able to communicate to each other when a rare animal is sighted or if a vehicle breaks down in the field. Still, I can’t help but feel like it takes a certain part of the adventure away from a true safari…
Speaking of staying connected, on our bus ride towards Kabini, Rajiv asked me to give him an update of the NFL playoff games that had just been played Sunday in the United States. Without hesitation or doubt, I whipped out my Blackberry and went to the ESPN website and promptly listed off the weekly scores. Reflecting on that moment, I wonder why I had not noticed my surroundings and wondered if I would be able to receive any service in such a desolate area. Once again, my reliance on technology and the luxuries of the modern world trumped my once keen sense of observation.
For the record, Kabini offered the most beautiful view of the starry night sky that I can remember. With the pace at which technology is growing throughout our society, I wonder how much longer we will be able to escape to locations such as Kabini River Lodge in an attempt to disconnect from the rest of the world.
To say that our journey there was “smooth” would be a complete and utter lie. The last 30 minutes of our bus ride consisted of barely paved roads, potholes, and the sharing of single dirt lanes with local animals and passerby. About 10 minutes out from our final destination, our driver failed to successfully negotiate one of these potholes resulting in most of us taking flight and hitting our heads on the ceiling of the bus. No joke. The roads here are that bad.
Once we arrived at Kabini, we were greeted by guides there who showed us the layout of the camp and our schedule over the next two days. Then we were on our own…for 4 glorious hours of relaxation in one of the most breathtaking settings imaginable. Some of the group headed off to the spa for a massage and aromatic oil treatment, some went to the bar for a refreshing drink. But most of the group had the same idea I had in mind: hammocks in front of Kabini Lake.
These weren’t your normal everyday hammocks, although they had those too. These hammocks were HUGE, capable of holding up to 25 fully grown adults and supported by 4 or more large trees. About 8 of us lay in one of these huge hammocks and had our Swiss Family Robinson moment, basking in the sun and enjoying a view of India that we had not seen before.
Eventually, each of us decided to venture off and explore the lodge on our own. I decided to do my own exploring in one of the personal hammocks to see what the back of my eyelids had to offer.
About half an hour later (I think), I was awakened by the sound of shuffling in the tree above me. I looked up and saw 2 monkeys scurrying down the tree and heading to the outdoor hand washing station about 15 feet from where I was taking my nap. As I rushed to grab my camera, one of the monkeys turned on the faucet and started drinking out of it. He motioned over to his friend, who joined in taking a cool, refreshing drink out of the sink. After they were both satisfied, they climbed onto the roof where…well, the rest of it gets a little X-rated. And if you’re wondering, yes, I have it all on video. Up until they decided to procreate on the roof of the hand washing station. Good times.
That same afternoon, I went on my first safari, venturing out into the national parks of Karnataka to search for elephants, deer, monkeys, and the elusive tiger. Although none of our groups were able to spot any tigers in the wild, I did see something that would have seemed to be even harder to find in this extremely rural portion of India.
A satellite dish.
And not just any satellite dish, this one was fully equipped to handle the incoming and outbound voice and data services of Airtel, one of the larger cell phone carriers in southern India. Mounted on a small hut that was undoubtedly a fraction of the cost for even the installation of this particular device, modern technology was pointed straight up at the sky and receiving signals from anybody who wished to call this small portion of the world. This satellite dish and other technological “steroids” are yet another example of how our world is getting flatter every day. Not that flatter is necessarily a bad thing for this part of the world. Our driver told us that only 10 years ago, communication was difficult for them whenever they were taking a group out on a safari. Now, with wireless communication, they are easily able to communicate to each other when a rare animal is sighted or if a vehicle breaks down in the field. Still, I can’t help but feel like it takes a certain part of the adventure away from a true safari…
Speaking of staying connected, on our bus ride towards Kabini, Rajiv asked me to give him an update of the NFL playoff games that had just been played Sunday in the United States. Without hesitation or doubt, I whipped out my Blackberry and went to the ESPN website and promptly listed off the weekly scores. Reflecting on that moment, I wonder why I had not noticed my surroundings and wondered if I would be able to receive any service in such a desolate area. Once again, my reliance on technology and the luxuries of the modern world trumped my once keen sense of observation.
For the record, Kabini offered the most beautiful view of the starry night sky that I can remember. With the pace at which technology is growing throughout our society, I wonder how much longer we will be able to escape to locations such as Kabini River Lodge in an attempt to disconnect from the rest of the world.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Minnesota invades Mysore!
We did so much yesterday that it doesn’t even feel like it really happened. Here are a few highlights from our local sight seeing day in Mysore:
-Started out our day at 7am to visit the Shri Chamundeshwari temple located at the peak of Chamundi Hills. Definitely an experience I won’t forget, especially since we had to remove our shoes outside to walk through the temple and its surroundings. It was bad foresight to wear flip flops that day…without socks. I think I’ve already used half my bottle of Purel on my feet since then.
-Yoga at the SDM Institute with Professor Dwarankanath.
-Tour of the Mysore Palace. There are a lot of contrasting words that can describe the palace; beautiful, magnificent, ostentatious, gaudy. Regardless of what anybody’s initial impressions are, it is a historical gem in Mysore that reflects its colorful days of maharajas and royalty. Unfortunately, we couldn’t wear shoes here either. Mental note: contact Mayo Clinic when I return to the United States and ask if I can have my feet amputated and replaced with clean ones.
-Journey to Srirangapattnam to visit Tipu Sultan’s palace and bird sanctuary. We were able to get on a boat ride around the sanctuary and get uncomfortably close to live crocodiles. I faintly remember a comment about how the famous Indian headless crocodile eats through his…well, you know.
-Walk through KRS dam and the Brindavan Gardens. At the dam, we saw a man who was seriously over 8 feet tall. Gene tried to shake his hand but it got engulfed in the black hole of his palm. When we got there, I was so thirsty that I summoned the courage (or stupidity) to eat a slice of watermelon from one of the street vendors. I’ll let you know how that turns out tomorrow.
-Back to the Mysore Palace to see the night lighting. This was really awesome. There were so many lights that it drowned out all of the surrounding city noise and ambience. Absolutely beautiful. On the way back home, I had 50 rupees (about $1.25) in my wallet and decided that I wanted to buy a sandalwood box to bring back home. Street vendor asking price was 650 rupees. 5 minutes of haggling later, Karl and I left with 2 sandalwood boxes for 92 rupees. Don’t you love the art of negotiation?
It goes without saying that I was slightly tired and slept like a baby all night. Once I get all of my pictures from the digital camera onto my computer, I'll post some new ones up!
-Started out our day at 7am to visit the Shri Chamundeshwari temple located at the peak of Chamundi Hills. Definitely an experience I won’t forget, especially since we had to remove our shoes outside to walk through the temple and its surroundings. It was bad foresight to wear flip flops that day…without socks. I think I’ve already used half my bottle of Purel on my feet since then.
-Yoga at the SDM Institute with Professor Dwarankanath.
-Tour of the Mysore Palace. There are a lot of contrasting words that can describe the palace; beautiful, magnificent, ostentatious, gaudy. Regardless of what anybody’s initial impressions are, it is a historical gem in Mysore that reflects its colorful days of maharajas and royalty. Unfortunately, we couldn’t wear shoes here either. Mental note: contact Mayo Clinic when I return to the United States and ask if I can have my feet amputated and replaced with clean ones.
-Journey to Srirangapattnam to visit Tipu Sultan’s palace and bird sanctuary. We were able to get on a boat ride around the sanctuary and get uncomfortably close to live crocodiles. I faintly remember a comment about how the famous Indian headless crocodile eats through his…well, you know.
-Walk through KRS dam and the Brindavan Gardens. At the dam, we saw a man who was seriously over 8 feet tall. Gene tried to shake his hand but it got engulfed in the black hole of his palm. When we got there, I was so thirsty that I summoned the courage (or stupidity) to eat a slice of watermelon from one of the street vendors. I’ll let you know how that turns out tomorrow.
-Back to the Mysore Palace to see the night lighting. This was really awesome. There were so many lights that it drowned out all of the surrounding city noise and ambience. Absolutely beautiful. On the way back home, I had 50 rupees (about $1.25) in my wallet and decided that I wanted to buy a sandalwood box to bring back home. Street vendor asking price was 650 rupees. 5 minutes of haggling later, Karl and I left with 2 sandalwood boxes for 92 rupees. Don’t you love the art of negotiation?
It goes without saying that I was slightly tired and slept like a baby all night. Once I get all of my pictures from the digital camera onto my computer, I'll post some new ones up!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Cross-eyed in Mysore...
We had the morning off yesterday so all of us took the time to catch up on sleep. Sleep has been one of those precious luxuries that doesn’t come easily here in Mysore. It seems like every time I am about to drift off into blissful rest, something or somebody wakes me up. On the plane trip over here, it was the airline attendants. It felt like they fed us every hour on the hour. And here at the fabulous Ginger hotel where the walls are only slightly thicker than double ply toilet paper, you are lucky if 15 minutes go by without housekeeping knocking on your door, children screaming down the hallway, or generally obnoxious residents having a loud conversation between rooms with their doors propped open.
Speaking of which, has anybody else noticed that when 2 locals engage in conversation here in India, it sounds like they are about to get into a boxing match?
Yesterday afternoon, we were able to take a visit of the AT&S plant in Mysore. AT&S manufactures PCB boards for devices such as cell phones and computer hardware. Upon arrival at the facility (where the majority of the 16 students were tired, sleepy, and crabby) we were filtered into a break room so that they could locate the staff that would be giving us the tour. I will be forever grateful to Rajiv and Al for deciding NOT to have us attend the classroom portion of the tour, which I’m sure is about as interesting as watching water boil.
After a 10 minute power nap (and wiping the drool off of my shoes), we were off on our tour to visit the magical world of copper plates and epoxy resin. For the most part, the facility contained most everything that I would have expected from a PCB board manufacturer. Mechanical presses, drills, CAD equipment, chemical etching stations, etc. After 30 minutes or so, our group reached the tail end of the board manufacturing process: quality control.
Two words immediately crossed my mind as I stared at the dozens of workers manually counting and inspecting the finished products with nothing more than a magnifying glass: cheap labor. Here is the difference from businesses in India and those of the United States. Here is the reason why so many jobs are being outsourced to India. Here is the reason why many of our products cannot compete competitively from a cost perspective with similar products in India.
I was appalled when I heard about the $4 shop rates in Automotive Axles and TVS and how labor contributed for only 4% of the overall cost of the finished product. But here it was, staring me in the face as board after board went through a painstaking process of manual inspection that would have made most of us cross-eyed after the first few hours. Can you imagine staring at circuits no larger than a few grains of sand through a magnifying glass for 6 days, 8 hours a day, for no more than $200 a month? It is a reality here in Mysore and the rest of India.
Speaking of which, has anybody else noticed that when 2 locals engage in conversation here in India, it sounds like they are about to get into a boxing match?
Yesterday afternoon, we were able to take a visit of the AT&S plant in Mysore. AT&S manufactures PCB boards for devices such as cell phones and computer hardware. Upon arrival at the facility (where the majority of the 16 students were tired, sleepy, and crabby) we were filtered into a break room so that they could locate the staff that would be giving us the tour. I will be forever grateful to Rajiv and Al for deciding NOT to have us attend the classroom portion of the tour, which I’m sure is about as interesting as watching water boil.
After a 10 minute power nap (and wiping the drool off of my shoes), we were off on our tour to visit the magical world of copper plates and epoxy resin. For the most part, the facility contained most everything that I would have expected from a PCB board manufacturer. Mechanical presses, drills, CAD equipment, chemical etching stations, etc. After 30 minutes or so, our group reached the tail end of the board manufacturing process: quality control.
Two words immediately crossed my mind as I stared at the dozens of workers manually counting and inspecting the finished products with nothing more than a magnifying glass: cheap labor. Here is the difference from businesses in India and those of the United States. Here is the reason why so many jobs are being outsourced to India. Here is the reason why many of our products cannot compete competitively from a cost perspective with similar products in India.
I was appalled when I heard about the $4 shop rates in Automotive Axles and TVS and how labor contributed for only 4% of the overall cost of the finished product. But here it was, staring me in the face as board after board went through a painstaking process of manual inspection that would have made most of us cross-eyed after the first few hours. Can you imagine staring at circuits no larger than a few grains of sand through a magnifying glass for 6 days, 8 hours a day, for no more than $200 a month? It is a reality here in Mysore and the rest of India.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
TVS Company Visit
Class again. And another day of lecture without questions, discussion, or collaboration. School in India is much different than in the United States. Rather than challenge professors, students here seem to accept their teachings as doctrine. I’m not sure if that is more of a cultural or educational thing, but it is something that I will not take for granted when I get back home!
Insourcing- “A whole new form of collaboration and creating value horizontally, made possible by the flat world and flattening it even more…very few companies can afford to develop and support a complex global supply chain of the scale and scope that Wal-Mart has developed. That is what gave birth to insourcing.” – Thomas Friedman, “The World is Flat”
Yesterday, we had the opportunity to visit another company in Mysore, TVS. TVS currently manufactures 2 wheel vehicles in India such as mopeds and scooters. They offer a variety of vehicles from a base economy model moped to a larger 160cc model scooter that looks like a scaled down sport bike. TVS was even more impressive than Automotive Axles with operations all over India and a solid foundation of integrated supply chain systems such as JIT, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and Kanban for inventory.
Like most companies in the United States, TVS has taken advantage of the capabilities available to them through their vendors in order to achieve higher operating efficiency and productivity. This insourcing of knowledge from their numerous vendors has allowed TVS to dramatically improve their numbers in the areas of production, operations, and safety while steadily increasing their sales volume and bottom line. TVS currently holds less than 30 percent market share in India, but is already in the planning phase of increasing their exports to countries outside of India. From my conversations with their numerous floor managers, Praxair has been a part of their consultative planning for improved welding processes and metal fabrication projects.
Insourcing- “A whole new form of collaboration and creating value horizontally, made possible by the flat world and flattening it even more…very few companies can afford to develop and support a complex global supply chain of the scale and scope that Wal-Mart has developed. That is what gave birth to insourcing.” – Thomas Friedman, “The World is Flat”
Yesterday, we had the opportunity to visit another company in Mysore, TVS. TVS currently manufactures 2 wheel vehicles in India such as mopeds and scooters. They offer a variety of vehicles from a base economy model moped to a larger 160cc model scooter that looks like a scaled down sport bike. TVS was even more impressive than Automotive Axles with operations all over India and a solid foundation of integrated supply chain systems such as JIT, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and Kanban for inventory.
Like most companies in the United States, TVS has taken advantage of the capabilities available to them through their vendors in order to achieve higher operating efficiency and productivity. This insourcing of knowledge from their numerous vendors has allowed TVS to dramatically improve their numbers in the areas of production, operations, and safety while steadily increasing their sales volume and bottom line. TVS currently holds less than 30 percent market share in India, but is already in the planning phase of increasing their exports to countries outside of India. From my conversations with their numerous floor managers, Praxair has been a part of their consultative planning for improved welding processes and metal fabrication projects.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Praxair in India?
Yesterday, we took a tour of Automotive Axles, a local company specializing in the production of heavy duty axles mainly used for trucks. Driving through the city of Mysore, the sights and sounds of the city, its rickshaws, scores of people crossing every which way in the street, cows and goats roaming aimlessly throughout downtown, Automotive Axles was definitely “out of place”. Needless to say, I was skeptical to see the manufacturing processes taking place within Automotive Axles.
Part of my job is to assess a customer’s manufacturing facility and form a business partnership that can be mutually beneficial for both parties. For the customer, those benefits can be described with terms such as increased productivity, lower costs, competitiveness in the marketplace, and shareholder value. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity to visit dozens of companies and speak to hundreds of employees ranging from floor supervisor to CEO. After working with world-class manufacturing facilities in the United States, I expected Automotive Axles to be an archaic version of a true manufacturing plant riddled with problems, bottlenecks, and OSHA violations.
Much to my surprise, Automotive Axles was an ISO 9001 company that closely resembled heavy manufacturing firms in the United States. Here, in the middle of Mysore, stood a company that could rival the likes of axle manufacturers throughout the world. And here’s the kicker. After talking to the plant manager about manufacturing processes and product supply, I found out that they were using Praxair microbulk tanks for supply of their welding gases.
In an attempt to not bore you to death, a microbulk tank is essentially a smaller version of a full sized bulk tank, filled with liquid product that is vaporized to deliver a continuous supply of gaseous product to the end user. I was thrown for a loop. I knew that my company had a few plants in India, but I never would have thought our supply chain would reach to remote areas such as Mysore. Friedman describes supply-chaining as “a method of collaborating horizontally- among suppliers, retailers, and customers- to create value.” Obviously, this is working for our friends at Automotive Axles in India. This was not ordinary plant tour for an MBA course. In the blink of an eye, I had switched roles from an MBA student studying abroad in Mysore, India to a company representative for a product crucial to Automotive Axle’s manufacturing process. This place never ceases to amaze me…
Part of my job is to assess a customer’s manufacturing facility and form a business partnership that can be mutually beneficial for both parties. For the customer, those benefits can be described with terms such as increased productivity, lower costs, competitiveness in the marketplace, and shareholder value. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity to visit dozens of companies and speak to hundreds of employees ranging from floor supervisor to CEO. After working with world-class manufacturing facilities in the United States, I expected Automotive Axles to be an archaic version of a true manufacturing plant riddled with problems, bottlenecks, and OSHA violations.
Much to my surprise, Automotive Axles was an ISO 9001 company that closely resembled heavy manufacturing firms in the United States. Here, in the middle of Mysore, stood a company that could rival the likes of axle manufacturers throughout the world. And here’s the kicker. After talking to the plant manager about manufacturing processes and product supply, I found out that they were using Praxair microbulk tanks for supply of their welding gases.
In an attempt to not bore you to death, a microbulk tank is essentially a smaller version of a full sized bulk tank, filled with liquid product that is vaporized to deliver a continuous supply of gaseous product to the end user. I was thrown for a loop. I knew that my company had a few plants in India, but I never would have thought our supply chain would reach to remote areas such as Mysore. Friedman describes supply-chaining as “a method of collaborating horizontally- among suppliers, retailers, and customers- to create value.” Obviously, this is working for our friends at Automotive Axles in India. This was not ordinary plant tour for an MBA course. In the blink of an eye, I had switched roles from an MBA student studying abroad in Mysore, India to a company representative for a product crucial to Automotive Axle’s manufacturing process. This place never ceases to amaze me…
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Picture time...
More pictures! (click to enlarge)
At the local open market. The colored powder is mixed with water and can be used as paint or dye. A few of us had this stuff painted on our hand (involuntarily). It did actually come out.
At the local open market. The colored powder is mixed with water and can be used as paint or dye. A few of us had this stuff painted on our hand (involuntarily). It did actually come out.
Inside of an incense/oil store next to the craft market. I can't remember for sure, but I think the guy is rubbing a mix of almond and sandlewood oil on my arm (which is supposed to be good after you workout). At the time, I was a little more worried about what this stuff might do to my skin, if you couldn't already tell from the look of horror on my face.
The main entrance to our hotel. If you're curious what the rooms look like, you can look at their website http://www.gingerhotels.com/. This is definitely one of the nicer buildings in Mysore.
Tod aka "Mr. Toad" and I on the bus at the Bangalore airport. You can't see around us, but we're packed in here like sardines.
Yes, crack is a problem here in India. And of course, Gene found somewhere to get it.Wednesday, January 2, 2008
What I would do for a cheeseburger right now...
It’s about 11:15pm here. Freshly showered, ready for bed, and back from a long yet overall entertaining day. I had planned on going to sleep, but my mind is just racing. It might be from the Red Bull Gene and I had after our group’s 2 day long search for the Holy Grail. No, I’m not talking about any religious artifacts or precious jewelry. My hunger was for something of the utmost importance….
AMERICAN FOOD.
As the familiar yellow and green sign of a newly built Subway approached, I joined the ranks of treasure hunters who had discovered such treasures as the sunken Titanic or Chinese terra cotta soldiers. Further discoveries of a Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza around the corner forced a tiny tear out of my eye…As Gene and I basked in the gentle glow of these wonderfully out-of place fluorescent signs, we nearly forgot about our earlier tuberculosis control center-cricket experience. I’ll save that story for another day.
On a more serious note, my experience in Mysore has been overwhelming. Just 5 days ago, I had called Cathy to let her know how much I wanted to come home, how I missed my normal amenities, how the pollution and smell of the city made my stomach turn. The poverty that is apparent all over the city is striking. The pictures of the city tell the story.
However, 5 days later, all I can see is the beauty that Mysore has to offer our small, foreign group of 18 strangers from Minnesota. The hospitality and friendliness of the people quickly melt any reservations I initially have from their outward appearance. Eager to bring you a hot cup of Chai tea or invite you to their homes for a meal, everyone seems to have a genuine interest in the 18 people invading their city. The delicious aroma of fresh fruit and spices temporarily fill your nostrils in the open-air markets. The dazzling colors of dyes and silks draw your gaze away from the dirt and filth of the street. And the enchanting sounds of instruments that we are not yet accustomed to drown out the sounds of honking motorists buzzing through the city. As I sit and type this blog now, I can’t help but appreciate how lucky I am to have this opportunity to open my eyes to a new culture and world that I may never get to see again.
In 5 short days, I’ve come to fully love a city that I absolutely despised when I first arrived. Amazing. I can’t wait to see what India has in store for me next. Now, if I could only get this internet thing to work…
We are sorry ladies and gentlemen, but the internet has reached maximum capacity.
The internet here is horrible. And that’s only if you can even get access! I say this as I type this blog on Word to transfer back to my blog if and when my WiFi decides to come back on tonight. There are quite a number of factors involved in acquiring this special privilege.
1. The hotel needs to have WiFi cards available to sell. It seems that the maximum capacity for internet usage in the luxurious Ginger hotel is 3.
2. You need to use all of your available talent, charm, wisdom, and patience to get the front desk staff to talk to the internet guy to talk to the Wifi card guy to get the card and give it back to the internet guy to give back to the front desk staff to write out a ledger on a carbon copy then scratch it out due to mistakes and write another carbon copy then ask you what room number to charge the card to then tell you 15 minutes later that they cannot charge to your room then ask for your credit card that you have to run up 3 flights of stairs to get then have them run in the credit card machine so they can void out 3 incorrect transactions then record the Wifi card in their stupid ledger then painfully count out 6 precious-as-gold WiFi cards and FINALLY hand them to you while you try not to freak out and throw an inappropriate tantrum in the front lobby of the hotel while toxic cleaning chemicals from the housekeepers are making you light headed.
3. Then you go back to your room, log-in and find out that the network is down. It’s a good thing that the pharmacies here sell you anything you want without ID (and cheap). I may pick up some pills for my heart tomorrow afternoon….
1. The hotel needs to have WiFi cards available to sell. It seems that the maximum capacity for internet usage in the luxurious Ginger hotel is 3.
2. You need to use all of your available talent, charm, wisdom, and patience to get the front desk staff to talk to the internet guy to talk to the Wifi card guy to get the card and give it back to the internet guy to give back to the front desk staff to write out a ledger on a carbon copy then scratch it out due to mistakes and write another carbon copy then ask you what room number to charge the card to then tell you 15 minutes later that they cannot charge to your room then ask for your credit card that you have to run up 3 flights of stairs to get then have them run in the credit card machine so they can void out 3 incorrect transactions then record the Wifi card in their stupid ledger then painfully count out 6 precious-as-gold WiFi cards and FINALLY hand them to you while you try not to freak out and throw an inappropriate tantrum in the front lobby of the hotel while toxic cleaning chemicals from the housekeepers are making you light headed.
3. Then you go back to your room, log-in and find out that the network is down. It’s a good thing that the pharmacies here sell you anything you want without ID (and cheap). I may pick up some pills for my heart tomorrow afternoon….
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
As promised...
Pictures from Mysore!!
(click on them to make them larger)
This is how we roll in India...you know you want one.
Karl, me, and Teresa at Planet X for New Year's Eve. Bottles of champagne for $20 US + over 1000 attendees + partying and dancing with locals + beautiful 70 degree weather under a starry Indian night sky = one unforgettable end to 2007.
Karl captured this amazing shot from our stroll through the city. Check out the sweet scaffolding on the building "under construction" in the top left. Yes, those are trees supporting the building.I'll post a few more later...it takes forever to upload pictures with the connection speeds here.
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