I know I have only been in Pune, India for a few days but my initial reaction is everyone is so incredible kind. Now, I think this is saying a lot since I truly believe I grew up emulating “Iowa Nice”. Sure, it is possible people are being extra nice to me because I am their new boss or it is their job to make me feel welcome in my home away from home. But I think I have a pretty good “bull-shit” radar. I can see the pride in their eyes when their kindness touches me, for example….
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The first day of work in the Pune office is in the books! I was greeted at the office by my co-worker Hema, who I will be replacing while she takes on a new role and moves to Chicago. This friendly face helped to ease my nerves and then we had a good chuckle when neither of our IDs didn't allow us into the office.
The team is converting a conference room into an office for me…. the conference room was named “IOTA” – one letter away from being perfect. They also provided a basket of goodies for me to munch on throughout the day. What a great start to my time in the offices in Pune! Months of thinking about “what if” and weeks of packing and preparing is finally here. Every bit of excitement is matched with trepidation – which I am telling myself is completely normal when you are uplifting your life even for a short 4 months. I departed Chicago on Sunday from O’Hare Airport, which started off by running into the University of Iowa Women’s Soccer team on their way to Iceland - definitely a good sign!
Emirates Air Business Class has spoiled me for all time now. Amazing accommodations, customer service. delicious food – everything you read or see in the commercials is true. Once in my cabin/seat the attendant stopped by with slippers, eye mask, headphones, PJs and toiletries. I could not wait to put on the PJs and snuggle in for the food and wine – I felt right at home. Dubai Airport is HUGE! My walk from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 included 8 escalators, 3 lifts, 2 security check ins, a tram, a bus and over 3K steps. The shopping was amazing! Unfortunately, I didn’t have room in my bags, and I was already overweight with both my carry on and checked bags. My first day in Pune I plan to get settled into the apartment, post this blog and catch up on some sleep since the last 24 hours felt like a week of activity. Am I ready to go on my 4-month assignment? I am going through every imaginable emotion – excited, scared, anxious and terrified. When this trip first started to be a reality, I started to create list after list of things I needed to do, buy or find before I leave. Now, here I am 1 week before I leave and I have it all including the kitchen sink (as my mom would say).
I have been preparing the boys for what they need to do around the house while I am gone and today my conversation with CJ went like this:
Time for me to see the fruits of my labor. I decided to start this blog to help capture my adventures for an upcoming business trip to India. However, as I was creating it, I realized I have always been someone who has enjoyed an adventure. And yet an adventure to me doesn't have to be a trip around the world, it can be close to home as well. For example, I took Andrew and CJ when they were younger on a Gangster tour in Chicago, I have gone to many Chicago sporting events and even jumped in my car to take pictures of the leaves changing in autumn.
I have also been very fortunate to have adventures away from home. To date I have spent the night in 33 different US States (it only counts if you sleep in the state), traveled to Mexico with Emily with her friends, been to London twice on business and as an adult taken my parents on several bucket list trips. Check out the photos on the "HAWK EYE" page. When I reflect on each of these trips, I recall the majority of the most memorable things happened that weren’t even planned, or the trip was topped off by new unexpected friends have made who I am still in contact with this day. So as this new adventure begins, I am excited for the unexpected and exciting adventures in store for me. |