It is my last full day in Mumbai. It is a beautiful Friday afternoon with the sun shining and a light breeze blowing the trees outside my living room window. Again I am waiting for Ashish, but have heard from him. He will not be coming. I have to find something to eat since I only have oranges, coffee and Lichi juice left in the apartment.
I am packed. The one suitcase is at the maximum weight. The second one is almost there. I have not packed my carry on suitcase yet. I will not sleep until I am on the plane tomorrow afternoon at 2pm IST. I should be landing in Boston on 1 March around 10pm EST. I cannot wait to see Manny and Max.
For the past month I have watched the people at the lift bay. It is so funny to watch them. I have been working on the 7th floor of the Boomerang building. As I enter the building, I put my purse, laptop bag and any other bags on the x-ray machine. I walk through the metal detector and pick up my stuff. Off we walk to the next security check. The security guard uses his badge to open the gateway to get to the lifts. At the lift bay there are 8 lifts, but we always have to wait. I watch the people come and press the "UP" button and press it again and again and again. Finally, an lift opens and we step in. If we are lucky the lift door will close and stay closed, but most of the time it will open and reopen. Finally we are on the way to the 7th floor sometimes with a stop at the 5th floor for some of the people.
Turn one way and you go to the terrace and the other way through the glass doors onto the floor.
When leaving it is so funny watching everyone. Many of the people press the "UP" and "DOWN" buttons multiple times when we want to go "DOWN". We stand and wait. New people come to the lift bay and start the process all over. An lift door opens for "UP" we walk in and press "G" for Ground Level. The door closes and opens again. Now we are supposed to go down. No! Someone else pressed the down button so the door opens again. This can occur multiple times before the lifts starts heading down.
This happens all over the world, but I think about people always in a hurry. The people are rushing to get to the ground floor to get to the transportation waiting to drop them off at or near their homes. They head to the back of the building and wait. I see many people standing and waiting outside of the vehicles. They are waiting. There are groups of people standing and waiting, but everyone was in a hurry to get there. I see it in the Mumbai traffic. Everyone is honking and maneuvering around other vehicles to get to the next traffic jam. Everyone is rushing to stop. Then the traffic starts to move slowly and the maneuvering to be in front begins again.
When I was in the US Army, the one phrase said all the time was "Hurry up and Wait!" The people of Mumbai live this to the fullest.
For Dinner I brought Shanawaz, Sameer, Amit, Noor, Vijeta, Ashish, Rohit and Shahbaaz to Mainland China. The deal was everyone had to attempt to eat with chopsticks. I eat with chopsticks every time I go a Chinese or Japanese restaurant. I showed them how to use the chopsticks. It was funny to see them try. It was great to see them try. There were pictures taken but no one has sent them to me so I will have to post later.
Eating with chopsticks causes people to slow down. Everyone here eats so fast. I showed them how to eat rice with chopsticks. We had a great time laughing and talking. I still eat slow compared the group. Shanawaz made a comment that I become like the other in the group teasing others. Yes! I feel very comfortable with everyone in Mumbai.
Let's discuss Shahbaaz! He is a very happy young man. He is also an interesting young man. I told him I was gong to bring some people to eat at a restaurant. (Shahbaaz is very slim, but he eats A LOT.) I kept telling him I do not plan anything. I just go. Shahbaaz works the off-hour shift. He is supposed to leave at 830am EST/7pm IST. So, I told him that I want to go to Mainland China and I am paying. Everyone has been paying for everything for me. They kept telling me my money is not good here. I wanted to treat them. Shahbaaz stayed at work then came out with us. I could not believe it. We left the restaurant around 130pm EST/12 midnight IST. He had to be ready to be picked up by transport in less than 5 hours. His home is 1 hour from the restaurant. My question is "Why would you wait for free food?". He did this when the techs bought dinner for all of us. Maybe he likes the people and wants to be with us. I just do not understand why he would not want to go home and see his family and get some sleep. Yet, I am glad he came, because I enjoy his company.
Shahbaaz - Thank you for the gift!
The IPMs are so funny. In my first week I would come in and sit at my "pod" space and the IPMs would say "Hi". After my first training with the group they opened up and began talking to me. I have enjoyed talking and laughing with all of them. Ananth has been a great "secretary". He is a great friend. He has always been here to help me with anything I needed. Prasad, Vinayak and Royson are great TLs. I have enjoyed talking with them.
The IPMs are a great group of people. They are always willing to assist one another. It is so great to see the teamwork. They work very hard. They laugh! I love the laughter and teasing between the people. I have joined in as well. Namrata and Ritika sit in front of me. I have come to know them very well. Maya is beautiful. She is always dressed perfectly. I have had so much fun working with all of them. I had a great time training while playing a game. They are very competitive people. They want to learn new things and I am so happy. My deal with Ananth when I was training him is whatever I learn you will learn. This deal is the same with all the IPMs. Knowledge gives you strength. In April the whole team will be on 1 floor again. The company is growing. The whole team will be together.
Vance and Ankit have the best seats. They sit in the back and watch everything going on.
Thank you for accepting me into your group. I had the best time. I love the laughter!
I want to thank everyone who has made me food. Imran, Franky, Rohit - Thank you.
For my vegetarian friend - Ritika - for ordering Butter Chicken for me.
Back to the techs...
Today is the last day Ashish and I are tagged as IPM and Tech. We have been together for 16 months. I have enjoyed our partnership. He is the magician. He can vanish and reappear in seconds. He understands me and I understand him. He is moving to off hours. I hope he enjoys the change and the new challenges. As Shanawaz has told me many times - "Stop spoiling him." I understand what he is saying now.
As of Monday, Madhura and I are tagged together. Madhura has the best smile. We have laugh together to the point I had tears in my eyes. I know we will have a great time working together as a team.
The techs are amazing. They work so hard and have time to enjoy each others company. I have learned so much from all of them. I am amazed watching them work on the HL7 interfaces. As am IPM I attempt to explain the issue. They have to take my explanation, understand my thought process and investigate the issue. As many people who know me...many of my thoughts are not always in a logical sequence. When I am tired or overwhelmed, they are down right confusing...even to me.
I have so much fun getting to know all of them. I work with Shanawaz and his team consisting of Ashish, Gaurav, Rushab, Madhura, Vishnu, Prashant, Sameer, Abhi, Shahbaaz and Amit. In the past month I have had the best time with all of them. They are a great time. Rohit is kind person. He has so much knowledge about PM interfaces. He works so hard. Mozzam and Faresh's teams are fantastic. Prithvi is TL in training. He will be a great TL. In Westboro I rarely interact with them, but now I have great new friendships. The Interface trainers are a band of 4. Kavita, Sharmeen, Shubro (SHU - BRO) and Franky. (Hey - you still need watch "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit".) I know where to go to get questions answered about the interfaces, since they train the practices daily.
I am honored to have been able to meet all of the people. To have the people take time out of their busy schedules to take me out and show me Mumbai. I feel part of the Mumbai family. The people are so wonderful. I will always remember Ritika's smiling eyes. Sharmeen's beautiful smile. Shanawaz's smile and the twinkle in his eyes when he is teasing someone. Noor and his purple water bottle with so many plastic cups and his deep love for his grandmother. Prashant, Vishnu and Gaurav are the quietest people. They love to laugh! The hub guys - Sameer, Amit, Abhi and Shahbaaz - are amazing. Franky's hairstyle and now the men in the group are trying to copy him.
Joshna from the SAAS team is a beautiful young woman. I was so excited to meet her. She made me and others special treats. I enjoy working with all the SAAS team and I am so happy to put a face to a name.
The Admin Team has been dealing with me since January. Getting my plane tickets, the apartment and dealing with my questions. Once I got here, they have picked up and dropped me off every work day. Whenever I have called the Admin team they are ready to assist me. Nilesh, Sarvesh and Swapnil have been so wonderful and patient with me. Thank you for every thing.
I know I will be missing mentioning so many people. I have enjoyed be getting to know all of them.
My thoughts of India before I had come here.
1. Mumbai is not a safe place. Everyone kept telling me to be extra cautious. Never go anywhere alone. - I have gone no where alone, but I am happy about this because I have enjoyed the people who have accompanied me. I have never felt unsafe here. Everyone has been so protective of me.
2. Mumbai is so overcrowded. The only time I have felt overwhelmed with crowds is attending the Kala Ghoda Festival. I had Ashish, Rohit, Mukul, Shahbaaz, Prashant, Amit and Vijeta always around me. Mukul was going to wait with me in the female line to get into the festival. I know people planned excursions when the crowds were less. I have a fear with crowds since the car accident, but I had no fears in Mumbai.
3. Mumbai is dirty and polluted. I had brought a prescription inhaler with me because I was told the air quality was so bad. At first I noticed the trash and pollution in Mumbai. When you stop looking at the surface and begin seeing the beauty of the surroundings and people, the exterior does not matter. I never used the inhaler.
4. Being loud and outspoken - I and others were concerned about my personality in Mumbai. I was told by others that I will need to tone my personality down. I have found that the people in Mumbai are as happy about living life as I am. There was no change required. I am who I am.
I will continue my thoughts before I leave for the Mumbai Airport...
I am packed. The one suitcase is at the maximum weight. The second one is almost there. I have not packed my carry on suitcase yet. I will not sleep until I am on the plane tomorrow afternoon at 2pm IST. I should be landing in Boston on 1 March around 10pm EST. I cannot wait to see Manny and Max.
For the past month I have watched the people at the lift bay. It is so funny to watch them. I have been working on the 7th floor of the Boomerang building. As I enter the building, I put my purse, laptop bag and any other bags on the x-ray machine. I walk through the metal detector and pick up my stuff. Off we walk to the next security check. The security guard uses his badge to open the gateway to get to the lifts. At the lift bay there are 8 lifts, but we always have to wait. I watch the people come and press the "UP" button and press it again and again and again. Finally, an lift opens and we step in. If we are lucky the lift door will close and stay closed, but most of the time it will open and reopen. Finally we are on the way to the 7th floor sometimes with a stop at the 5th floor for some of the people.
Turn one way and you go to the terrace and the other way through the glass doors onto the floor.
When leaving it is so funny watching everyone. Many of the people press the "UP" and "DOWN" buttons multiple times when we want to go "DOWN". We stand and wait. New people come to the lift bay and start the process all over. An lift door opens for "UP" we walk in and press "G" for Ground Level. The door closes and opens again. Now we are supposed to go down. No! Someone else pressed the down button so the door opens again. This can occur multiple times before the lifts starts heading down.
This happens all over the world, but I think about people always in a hurry. The people are rushing to get to the ground floor to get to the transportation waiting to drop them off at or near their homes. They head to the back of the building and wait. I see many people standing and waiting outside of the vehicles. They are waiting. There are groups of people standing and waiting, but everyone was in a hurry to get there. I see it in the Mumbai traffic. Everyone is honking and maneuvering around other vehicles to get to the next traffic jam. Everyone is rushing to stop. Then the traffic starts to move slowly and the maneuvering to be in front begins again.
When I was in the US Army, the one phrase said all the time was "Hurry up and Wait!" The people of Mumbai live this to the fullest.
For Dinner I brought Shanawaz, Sameer, Amit, Noor, Vijeta, Ashish, Rohit and Shahbaaz to Mainland China. The deal was everyone had to attempt to eat with chopsticks. I eat with chopsticks every time I go a Chinese or Japanese restaurant. I showed them how to use the chopsticks. It was funny to see them try. It was great to see them try. There were pictures taken but no one has sent them to me so I will have to post later.
Eating with chopsticks causes people to slow down. Everyone here eats so fast. I showed them how to eat rice with chopsticks. We had a great time laughing and talking. I still eat slow compared the group. Shanawaz made a comment that I become like the other in the group teasing others. Yes! I feel very comfortable with everyone in Mumbai.
Let's discuss Shahbaaz! He is a very happy young man. He is also an interesting young man. I told him I was gong to bring some people to eat at a restaurant. (Shahbaaz is very slim, but he eats A LOT.) I kept telling him I do not plan anything. I just go. Shahbaaz works the off-hour shift. He is supposed to leave at 830am EST/7pm IST. So, I told him that I want to go to Mainland China and I am paying. Everyone has been paying for everything for me. They kept telling me my money is not good here. I wanted to treat them. Shahbaaz stayed at work then came out with us. I could not believe it. We left the restaurant around 130pm EST/12 midnight IST. He had to be ready to be picked up by transport in less than 5 hours. His home is 1 hour from the restaurant. My question is "Why would you wait for free food?". He did this when the techs bought dinner for all of us. Maybe he likes the people and wants to be with us. I just do not understand why he would not want to go home and see his family and get some sleep. Yet, I am glad he came, because I enjoy his company.
Shahbaaz - Thank you for the gift!
The IPMs are so funny. In my first week I would come in and sit at my "pod" space and the IPMs would say "Hi". After my first training with the group they opened up and began talking to me. I have enjoyed talking and laughing with all of them. Ananth has been a great "secretary". He is a great friend. He has always been here to help me with anything I needed. Prasad, Vinayak and Royson are great TLs. I have enjoyed talking with them.
The IPMs are a great group of people. They are always willing to assist one another. It is so great to see the teamwork. They work very hard. They laugh! I love the laughter and teasing between the people. I have joined in as well. Namrata and Ritika sit in front of me. I have come to know them very well. Maya is beautiful. She is always dressed perfectly. I have had so much fun working with all of them. I had a great time training while playing a game. They are very competitive people. They want to learn new things and I am so happy. My deal with Ananth when I was training him is whatever I learn you will learn. This deal is the same with all the IPMs. Knowledge gives you strength. In April the whole team will be on 1 floor again. The company is growing. The whole team will be together.
Vance and Ankit have the best seats. They sit in the back and watch everything going on.
Thank you for accepting me into your group. I had the best time. I love the laughter!
I want to thank everyone who has made me food. Imran, Franky, Rohit - Thank you.
For my vegetarian friend - Ritika - for ordering Butter Chicken for me.
Back to the techs...
Today is the last day Ashish and I are tagged as IPM and Tech. We have been together for 16 months. I have enjoyed our partnership. He is the magician. He can vanish and reappear in seconds. He understands me and I understand him. He is moving to off hours. I hope he enjoys the change and the new challenges. As Shanawaz has told me many times - "Stop spoiling him." I understand what he is saying now.
As of Monday, Madhura and I are tagged together. Madhura has the best smile. We have laugh together to the point I had tears in my eyes. I know we will have a great time working together as a team.
The techs are amazing. They work so hard and have time to enjoy each others company. I have learned so much from all of them. I am amazed watching them work on the HL7 interfaces. As am IPM I attempt to explain the issue. They have to take my explanation, understand my thought process and investigate the issue. As many people who know me...many of my thoughts are not always in a logical sequence. When I am tired or overwhelmed, they are down right confusing...even to me.
I have so much fun getting to know all of them. I work with Shanawaz and his team consisting of Ashish, Gaurav, Rushab, Madhura, Vishnu, Prashant, Sameer, Abhi, Shahbaaz and Amit. In the past month I have had the best time with all of them. They are a great time. Rohit is kind person. He has so much knowledge about PM interfaces. He works so hard. Mozzam and Faresh's teams are fantastic. Prithvi is TL in training. He will be a great TL. In Westboro I rarely interact with them, but now I have great new friendships. The Interface trainers are a band of 4. Kavita, Sharmeen, Shubro (SHU - BRO) and Franky. (Hey - you still need watch "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit".) I know where to go to get questions answered about the interfaces, since they train the practices daily.
I am honored to have been able to meet all of the people. To have the people take time out of their busy schedules to take me out and show me Mumbai. I feel part of the Mumbai family. The people are so wonderful. I will always remember Ritika's smiling eyes. Sharmeen's beautiful smile. Shanawaz's smile and the twinkle in his eyes when he is teasing someone. Noor and his purple water bottle with so many plastic cups and his deep love for his grandmother. Prashant, Vishnu and Gaurav are the quietest people. They love to laugh! The hub guys - Sameer, Amit, Abhi and Shahbaaz - are amazing. Franky's hairstyle and now the men in the group are trying to copy him.
Joshna from the SAAS team is a beautiful young woman. I was so excited to meet her. She made me and others special treats. I enjoy working with all the SAAS team and I am so happy to put a face to a name.
The Admin Team has been dealing with me since January. Getting my plane tickets, the apartment and dealing with my questions. Once I got here, they have picked up and dropped me off every work day. Whenever I have called the Admin team they are ready to assist me. Nilesh, Sarvesh and Swapnil have been so wonderful and patient with me. Thank you for every thing.
I know I will be missing mentioning so many people. I have enjoyed be getting to know all of them.
My thoughts of India before I had come here.
1. Mumbai is not a safe place. Everyone kept telling me to be extra cautious. Never go anywhere alone. - I have gone no where alone, but I am happy about this because I have enjoyed the people who have accompanied me. I have never felt unsafe here. Everyone has been so protective of me.
2. Mumbai is so overcrowded. The only time I have felt overwhelmed with crowds is attending the Kala Ghoda Festival. I had Ashish, Rohit, Mukul, Shahbaaz, Prashant, Amit and Vijeta always around me. Mukul was going to wait with me in the female line to get into the festival. I know people planned excursions when the crowds were less. I have a fear with crowds since the car accident, but I had no fears in Mumbai.
3. Mumbai is dirty and polluted. I had brought a prescription inhaler with me because I was told the air quality was so bad. At first I noticed the trash and pollution in Mumbai. When you stop looking at the surface and begin seeing the beauty of the surroundings and people, the exterior does not matter. I never used the inhaler.
4. Being loud and outspoken - I and others were concerned about my personality in Mumbai. I was told by others that I will need to tone my personality down. I have found that the people in Mumbai are as happy about living life as I am. There was no change required. I am who I am.
I will continue my thoughts before I leave for the Mumbai Airport...
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