Saree wrapping

Today it is 77 degrees F and sunny.

Yesterday was a first for me.  I had never worn a saree.  Preeti brought in a deep purple (favorite color) saree.  There are a lot of layers and twists and turns to put on one of these.  I believe a man created it because a woman would have made it easier.  Steps to dressing in a saree:
      1. There is a skirt which needs to be tied tightly around your waist.
      2. The half blouse is on.
      3. Now the wrapping of the saree begins.
      4. Tucking the extra fabric into the skirt (this is why the skirt needs to be tightly around your waist).
      5. Working from bottom to top the wrapping continues.
      6. With the extra fabric pleats are made in the front and tucked into the skirt.
      7. Finally part is the wrapping around the top to cover the mid-section (that is for me only).

Now the problem - walking!  You need to take small steps.  The left arm has to carry the extra fabric of the saree.  When you make it to a chair with wheels, be careful!  As I sat normally, but there nothing normal while in a saree.  I forgot about the extra fabric that was (yes - WAS) supposed to be draped over my left arm.  Rolled over the saree and pulled the pleats and untucked all fabric tucked.  All the work Preeti had done was undone in a blink of an eye.  She worked so hard to get everything in the right place.

Back the the restroom with Preeti, Param, Nethra and other women to redo the saree wrapping.  This time it worked.  We were dressing for a festival.  Now time for pictures.  Pictures can be taken in the lounge areas of the building.  Charith, Darshan, Anil (or Doki) were taking pictures.  Here are some of the 100s taken.

Dhanya and me

Dhanya, Param, Preeti

Some of the ladies

Nethra and me

Shibin and me

 

The office was a place of beauty.  All the colors of the rainbow were moving around us.

I jumped ahead to the office.  Let's go back to getting to the office...

I was waiting for the taxi.  Shibin messaged me that he will pick me up.  When the taxi called, I told him that I was being picked up by a coworker.  He was already at the hotel.  There were 5 men standing and talking as I tried to explain I was being picked up by a coworker.  In drove Shibin with his red car.  The red car is exactly what I thought Shibin would own.  Back to the guard letting him into the driveway.  I got into the car.  Now, 6 men were standing talking about where I am.  Off Shibin drove to the office.  Traffic was not too bad, not like the day before.  About an hour later I received a call telling the taxi is still waiting for me at the hotel.  I handed the phone to Shibin and it was done.

Work day (or night depending where you are) took a long time.  It felt like the last 3 hours took 6 hours.  I did not sleep well in the day (or night depending where you are) because someone kept calling my work mobile.  I have now silence the work phone so I can sleep.  Lessons are still being learned.

After work tomorrow at 3am IST Shibin, Celina and group will bring me places.  I will update tomorrow.

Stop - Honk - Go - Stop - Honk and Honk because

Weather report - It is 81 degrees F with overcast but the sun can be seen.

Yesterday I left off Waiting Waiting Waiting.  I am not one to wait.  I am one to go.  Let's go.  Let's do it now.  But I patiently waited for the taxi.  The taxi came at 540pm IST.  I am supposed to be at work at 6pm IST which is 830am ET.  The taxi driver calls me to come out.  Before I get in the taxi I asked eClinicalWorks.  He said Yes.  I get in the backseat of the taxi.  He asked me what is the address and where to go.  Whoa!  What!?  I told him I do not know the address.  He should know.  Why is he asking me???  I repeated eClinicalWorks.  Off we went.  I was watching for the landmarks along the way.  I saw St. Anthony's Tiles.  There was a school next to it.  The traffic was horrendous.  Leaving 40 minutes later the traffic is stopped.  What took 10 minutes the day before took 40 minutes.
Back to the taxi driver...He brought up Waze to find the correct route.  He started to look at his mobile while starting and stopping.  In this traffic there is NO DRIVING.  This is the way it goes:
 1. Move forward - STOP!
 2. Honk! to make sure others know you are around.
     * I don't understand this one.  Everyone is everywhere.
     * There are no lines.
 3. Move into a row without hitting the motorcycles, cars, carts, buses, trucks, auto rickshaw - Oh my!
 4. Honk!
 5. How can a taxi (standard size) fit in a space less than 2 feet (609 mm)?  I don't know but it seems to work.
 6. Honk!
 7. Other vehicles honk, so HONK!

As we were crawling at a snail's pace, I observed the motorcycles decided it would be easier to travel on the sidewalks.  A man carrying a table on his head was almost run down by a motorcycle taking the shortest route around the traffic.

Back to the taxi driver not knowing where I am supposed to go.  He was all the way in the right portion of the road (remember there are no lanes).  I knew a left turn was coming up soon.  As he was stopped he realized that he needed to get to the middle or left side.  Cars, buses, trucks, cycles auto rickshaws weaving all over and here we go!  We made the left turn. STOP!

I could see the building.  I could have walked there faster than Stop-Go-Stop and Wait-Go 2 inches-Stop-Go-Don't go because the bus moved in front of us-STOP! 20 minutes to move less than a block and we are at the building.  I made it.  I was late.   For everyone in America - It is true the transportation is crazy!  Do not be upset when people are late in Bangalore and Mumbai!

I am finally at work.  Shibin planned dinner.  I have asking for pizza or anything with protein.  Pizza!  The food in the office cafeteria is vegetarian which is not bad, but no protein available in the options.  Shibin, Nitesh (Hitman), Nethra and I were off to get pizza at the Phoenix Mall just down the road. You could see it from the office building.  Hitman tried to get an Uber, but it would take longer than working.  Guess the type of transportation we used..cmon guess!  Auto Rickshaw!  Nethra and I jumped into the first one, while Shibin and Hitman followed behind.  Nethra and I were dropped off on the other side of the road.  This means we had to cross both sides in the darkness.  She took my hand and off we went.  There was a break in traffic and we walked calmly across the one side.  There was a pause and made it across to the mall entrance.

Shibin and Nitesh made it.  While going into the Mall we had to walk through an Xray machine.  We all beeped walking through the machine, but no one stopped us.  We continued into the mall.  The security must be for appearances only.  We found California Pizza Kitchen.  We ordered BBQ Chicken pizza and Paneer Pesto (?) pizza for the "pure veg" Hitman.  It was so delicious.  As we were leaving the mall, we saw a beautiful purple elephant.

All of the IPMs have been great.  They wanted another training yesterday.  Shibin is booking 2 hours on Friday.  More fun to come.

I took a picture of the area I am sitting in. I will take more later.  Do you see the heads?  

Today is Dussehra Festival.  You are supposed to burn all your bad deeds and start your life with a good one.  I will be getting dressed in traditional clothes by the ladies.  Pictures will be posted tomorrow.

Best Restaurant

Today it is 77 degrees F and partly sunny.  Another beautiful day.

When everything is quiet, then all of a sudden - BOOM!  On Monday towards the end of the shift it was all quiet.  I hear a BOOM.  My eyes were wide open and wondered if that was a bomb.  Yes a bomb.  No it was not a bomb.  Avinash told me a transformer blew up.  The group was not concerned.  What would you do it if in the early morning you hear a BOOM? 

I have a fly living with me in the hotel room.  It never bothers me when I am sleeping.  When I wake up, he comes out.  He seems to follow me.  I wonder where he is when I am asleep.  Does a fly sleep?  What is the fly thinking?  Does he have a family?   When I am in the bedroom, he is there flying around the room.  I move to the bathroom or kitchen or living room and he is there.  He does not bother me directly.  He has become my roommate.  If he bothers me too much, I will squish him. 

No I am not going crazy!  I have a lot of time to think while in my hotel room. 

I have a new gentleman cleaning my room today.  There will be no new towel art.  He is very quiet. 

What happened at work yesterday...

I thought I was going to be picked up with the same group I had a crazy ride in the morning, but no.  I was the only one in the taxi.  The taxi driver asked me "Where my Native is?".  I responded America.  Guess what his next question was - "Did you vote for Trump?"  I answered his question.  And the ride continued.  The trip from the hotel to the office took 10 minutes.  He drove with the traffic.  It was quite boring!

At the office Dhanya promised samosas the first day, but there was none.  I was in the office early, so we went down to Best to get tea and samosas.  The samosas were delicious.  No - I did not have tea.  I have learn my lesson.  Best is the Best.   The name of the restaurant says it all, but I have only eaten in the hotel restaurant and the office cafeteria and had samosa and tea here.  Why wouldn't you go to Best? 

Thank goodness people like this place. 

I had my first training session with the group.  There was a lot of laughing and hopefully learning.  There were 5 teams.  I had brought my buttons - NO, YES, SORRY, BLAH BLAH, WOW,
I would ask questions about interfaces and functionality.  They had to answer.  Shibin kept score.  Sometimes!  I had a wonderful time.  I am a NERD when it comes to interfaces, HL7 and hubs.  It is very boring to many, so I try to make it fun.  I hope they learn this way.  I am changing it up next training session.  There were some that did not speak.  I want FULL participation!

After 90 minutes of training, I was put on the Hot Seat.  All new people I put on the Hot Seat.  Param started asking me questions.  It could be any question.  She started off easy, then more and more questions were being asked.  I answered every question.  There may have been some that I gave a vague answer, but I answered it.  I told them about how I met Manny and the US Army days. I was asked who my favorite actor is - Antonio Banderas. 


They did not question who my favorite singer.  Of course it is Donny Osmond.
1970 version.


There was one comment that answered honestly.  Oh - I was asked who I voted for in the last election.

The drive back to the hotel was on the wrong side of the road, but there was no traffic.  When the truck was heading towards us, I said a little prayer.  Ramesh (the taxi driver) finally made it to the right direction and there was tape across the road.  I saw a red flashlight waving.  The road was closed.  Back to the wrong direction.  There are no nicely routed Detours.  I made it to the hotel in 10 minutes. 

Oh!  I met Nethra.  She is exactly as she sounds.  She is beautiful woman.  She has great patience with the team.  She is a Mentor.  She can be very serious.  She goes out of her way to assist anyone who comes to her.  There will be more to come about Nethra.  I was so excited to finally meet her. 

Update on the weather...It started to rain heavily and knocked out the satellite TV.  Instead of sitting in a quiet room, I came downstairs.  I placed my order for food for tomorrow at 4am IST.  Now I am sitting in the lobby.  I noticed there are no rugs in the lobby.  Since it is wet outside, there are 2 towels on the floor by the doors to wipe your shoes.  The towels are folded in half.  The floors are marble so it would be very slippery if your shoes are wet.  I realize there is no carpet or rugs in my hotel room.  The floors are laminate wood and the bathroom has stone floors.  I like the idea of no carpet.  Carpets are so dirty.

I am waiting for my pick up.  It is 530pm IST.  There is no taxi waiting.  I have been listening to a recording on the TV monitor next to the Xray machine in the lobby asking "What makes you Happy?"  The response "A mobile that is charged fully."  Really!  A fully charge cellphone!  It is sad to think that is what makes you happy.  Unless you are lost or have an emergency and are grateful for a fully charged mobile.  The woman on the monitor asking me "What makes me happy?" is driving me crazy.  I have been sitting waiting for the taxi for 35 minutes.  How many times can the staff listen to this going on FOREVER!  This does not make me happy.

Still waiting for my pick up....I am a person who is on time.  This is driving me crazy.  Waiting Waiting Waiting.

Prayers in a Taxi!

Weather report - 77 degrees F overcast with some sun.  (This is for Sophia!)

It was like the first day in a new school.  Getting picked up in a taxi and driving to the workplace.  I went to the correct floor - Thank goodness.  Kiran from Admin met me in the front.  I was handed my Guest Badge.  Kiran and crew were wonderful.  They brought me to an office area and set me up with Cisco phone and set up my laptop to get access to the wifi.  No one from the Integration Project Management (IPM) team was not in yet.  I was early.  I was given a tour of the 2 floors.  The work space is amazing.  There are so many couches, booths and other areas to relax and make calls.  The training rooms are stadium seating.  This is perfect for training. There is dining room on each floor.  I was told only vegetarian cuisine is served.  On Fridays there is a chicken dish.  The tour was finished and IPMs were coming...

Now the fun begins trying to remember all the names and faces!

You know how it feels on the first day of school or work...All new faces and names. Everyone was coming up to me shaking hands and telling me their names.  I only remembered a few names, but I am getting better.   I knew some by voice because I have worked with them.  Shibin is one of the Team Leads and a friend who has been to my home 3 years ago had arrived.  Avinash K (there is MY Avinash in Mumbai my partner.  This is why I have typed K.) is the other Team Lead.  Once he started talking I knew who he was.  His voice matches him perfectly.  Param came in and said Hi to me.  We have been working together on a project.  She is the same age as my daughter, Erika.  I have met everyone but Nethra.  She was off, but I will meet her today.  I will have more to say about each person as I get to know them.

Back to the office situation...I told Shibin that I am not one to sit in an office.  I want to sit with the team.  I was moved to desk with Nitesh Gunda (or Gunda Nitesh).  Gunda means Hitman!  So funny.  I moved to the desk and SILENCE!  All I hear was typing.  TYPE TYPE TYPE It reminded me of Radhika.  All you hear is the same thing TYPE TYPE TYPE. People who know me know I am not a quiet person.  The first day everyone was looking at me.  How was this going to be.

Then at 730pm IST (minus 9 1/2 hours for EST time) the group went out for Chai.  I never had Chai.  It is a high caffeine hot tea.  I drank only half of the small cup.  My heart started racing.  The caffeine hit me.  I was awake and wow!  My mind was racing!  I could not focus!  I know now Chai may not be the best drink for me.  I will stick with black coffee.  All the IPMs went outside to a little restaurant called Best to get the Chai.  It was a beautiful night. There was a light wind and the temperature was perfect.

As the work day continued, dinner was finished.  I had brought a treat for the team.  The Colonial Candy was finally opened for the team.  They started coming and chatting with me.  The ice has been broken.  The team was relaxing with me.  I had moved many times in my childhood.  I know the feeling of trying to fit in with the group.  We started laughing and talking.  It was a great first day!

Have you ever said more than 10 prayers in less than 30 seconds?

I was so excited about taking a taxi with other IPMs (I hope they do not get upset with me, but I cannot remember all the names.)  We jumped into the taxi.  I could not sit in the front (rules!).  I told the guys I do not sit in the middle of a backseat.  Off we went!

Being a passenger in a taxi in Bangalore is not good if you have a weak heart.  We left the parking garage and were on the rode.  Cars, trucks, motorcycles and people were coming from all directions.  The taxi driver was weaving his way through traffic at 330am IST.  Then I realized we were driving in the wrong direction!  Yes - the 3 lanes of headlights were coming towards us!  Lights were flashing! Horns were honking!  The guys were telling me this is the fastest way to the hotel.  Oh my goodness!   Then all of a sudden we were back to being on the right side of the rode going with the traffic.  Poof!  We were at the hotel.  It was very quick ride back to the hotel, but what a way to get to the hotel.

At least 10 Hail Mary's and a few "Dear God watch over us." were said during this short ride.  It was a great adventure for the end of the first day.

I had food delivered to my room by 430am IST.  It was Dal.  It is very high in protein.  It was delicious.  I relaxed and continued working for a little while and off to sleep.

Getting ready for the 2nd day!

I went to lunch and came back to Sharanappa cleaning my room.  He made 2 peacocks out of towels.  He is a very creative man.

I feel like I am on a cruise ship.

Now I am at work.  Need to begin the 2nd day!  Let's see if the taxi ride back to the hotel will be as exciting.

Getting Ready for the First Day

My weekend has been very quiet.  I was able to catch up on sleep.  The Keys Hotel staff did not understand why I am up from 4pm to 7am IST.  I have told them that my work schedule is from 5pm to 3am IST.  The 5pm IST is pick up by taxi to get to work by 6pm IST.  This schedule is daytime in Westboro, MA.  Today, I woke up at 130pm IST to start my day. 

Hey Sophia - It is a beautiful 73 degrees F with a chance of thunderstorms.  For the past few days it starts off sunny and becomes overcast.  I know it is a little chilly in New England.  But for the relatives in Nebraska you have your first snowfall. 

I am so excited about the first day in the Bangalore office.  I finally get to meet all the people I have been working with for the past year.  Shibin has moved to this office from Mumbai.  Last time I saw him was in Westboro.  He came to US for the eClinicalWorks National Conference in Nashville.  It will be great to see him again.  The last day in the US Vance, Amit T. and Shibin cooked all the food they had purchased for Manny and I.  They did a great job. 


Bangalore is in process of building public transportation.  There are towers being built everywhere to hold the new train system.  I have been told the traffic is worse than Mumbai.  I cannot believe it.  I will find out today when I head to the office.  The office is 1.7 km or 1.99 miles based on Google Maps.  I have been told it will take one hour.  I live 17 km or 10.6 miles from the office in the US and it takes me 20 to 30 minutes.  I will update everyone on the first ride to the office.  Hotel to Office

The man who cleans the rooms on this floor finally was able to get into my room.  Today he called to coordinate the time to come and clean.  He is extremely nice.  He made a swan from towel and tissues.  I am pampered.  It reminds me of the Viking River Cruise.  The staff would have a new animal made from towels.  The man (I need to ask his name tomorrow) said he is going to create a greater masterpiece.  Ok!  He did not say masterpiece. 

I have finally upload some of the food.  It is so delicious.  The food is delicious.  Vishal V. the pictures are for you.  The spices are such perfect. 
This is only a few pictures of the food.  I never liked Paneer in the US, but in India it is superb!  Maybe it is the gravy or sauce.  The fresh made garlic naan is amazing!  It can only be made during the dinner time.  I will get more on the weekend.

I will upload more pictures later.

Since I am unable to watch my TV shows including the Red Sox baseball playoffs, I watch Romedy TV.  Today I watched Parent Trap from 1998.  It always makes me laugh.  Parent Trap from 1998 It is always a happy ending.  I can watch this movie over and over again.  

One more thing...I have to remember to walk on the opposite side of the hall.  I keep bumping or almost bumping into people.   I am a clumsy America!  

I am sitting in the lobby waiting for my taxi.  It is supposed to be hear at 5pm IST, but as we all know time for most everyone is relative.  I try to be on time all the time.  I have to remember to buffer the time by 15 or 30 minutes.  My excitement is building.  

It is 505pm and still waiting...Remember time is relative.  Do you think they forgot me?  Will I be late?  I hate being late...I wonder what I will have for Dinner!  For my breakfast I had Palak Paneer.  This is spinach sauce with cheese curds.  It is so good!  I have the remaining in my refrigerator in the room for later.  

The noise of Bangalore is not as loud as Mumbai at least from the hotel.  Once I get into the taxi it may be different. There is definitely honking.  

Still the taxi is not here...

The taxi is here!  Off for an adventure!

First days in Bangalore!

My day started at 530pm IST Saturday which is 8am ET Saturday.  I realized I slept for 12 hours.  My day really started in Boston at 630pm ET when the Van Service picked me up to get to Boston Logan Airport.  My flight on Emirates Air left late because 2 passengers did not show.  The airline had to remove the luggage belonging to them.  This took about 45 minutes.

I had the WHOLE 3 seats to myself.  It is unbelievable.  I was served a wonderful dinner, then time for bed.  I laid across all 3 seats and off I went.  I slept for 7 hours.  Awaking to quiet.  Everyone was sleeping as well.  There was a young mother with a 4 month old daughter and 2 year old son and her parents traveling to Bangalore as well.  The children were very well-behaved.

During the plane ride to Dubai I was able to watch movies.  What else it there to do on a long flight?  The first movie was Jumanji.  I love this movie with The Rock.  I watched this movie before I went to sleep.  After a great sleep I watched Hotel Transylvania 3 and Woman Walks Ahead.  All of the movies were worth watching.  On Rotten Tomatoes Woman Walks Ahead did not receive the best rating.  Manny and I were in the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota in July.  I can relate to this story.  It was very inspiring.  A young widow left New York City in the 1800s to paint Chief Sitting Bull.  The movie is based on a true story. 

Where am I now?  I am in Bangalore, India.  Actually I am in Whitefield section of Bangalore.  The Keys Hotel is very nice.  The staff are wonderful.  When I entered with my 2 large suitcases weighing 50 lbs (23kg) each, 1 small suitcase weighing about the same, backpack and purse, the guard did not run any of it through the xray machine. Yes!  Just like the airports.  I must not of looked too threatening.  I was tired and needed to get to my room.  I felt a little overwhelmed! 

Let's go back to the Bangalore Airport.  I need assistance walking long distances.  My name was on the list, so a young man brought me to the Visa area.  I stood answering questions concerning my visit since I am on a Business Visa.  The Visa Immigration person did not smile.  From my last visit I remembered to print the Keys Hotel and eClinicalWorks addresses.  She asked for both of them. After what seemed a very long time, I did not check my watch prior, so I cannot say how long.  Maybe 15 minutes including fingerprinting and picture taken.  My passport was stamped.  I am legal to go into India.  Next time I need to print a copy of my return flight.  I was asked for it, but did not have a copy.  Now back to the the gentleman was taking me to get my luggage.  He told me I will owe him 500 rupee.  I asked him why?  He told me that was the TIP for assistance.  That was IT!  I told him that a tip is given because of the extra care given to the customer.  Telling me I am to pay him 500 rupee when he is paid already was unacceptable.  I told him I will get my own luggage.  I know longer needed his assistance.  He changed his attitude and assisted me with my luggage.  I gave him 100 rupee.  I was going to give him more, but a tip is a tip.  I feel some guilt but he should not have demanded money from me.  I rolled the cart with all my luggage out to the waiting area and found my name.  I told Manny this story.  His comment was "The guy messed with the wrong American Woman.". 

There was a taxi driver and security guard waiting.  We got to the taxi and off we were.  My first observations of Bangalore is there are so many trees and bushes.  Not only palm or coconut trees there are so many other trees.  I need to ask the names of the trees.  This was early morning and dark.  I am back in the country where many trucks do NOT have lights in the back.  You have to watch carefully when driving.  The next thing was driving on the opposite side of the road, or if you live in India the proper side of the road.  The honking telling other vehicles and humans - I AM COMING AND YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!

We made it to the Keys Hotel.  I checked in and slept.  Now I am back where I started! 

After waking up I went for dinner (I wrote that at the beginning).  I have been watching A LOT of Romedy TV.  There are many great old movies.  Now I am thinking of Noor and his movie knowledge.  Last time I was in India, Noor introduced me to 2 great movies.  They are Shawshank Redemption and A Beautiful Life.  Shawshank Redemption is beyond my time limit for movies which is no longer than 2 hours 30 minutes, but do you do on a weekend at 3am IST?  You watch movies suggested by one of the greatest movie critics - NOOR!  Shawshank Redemption is a great movie.  Noor is now in New York City following his dream, but I hope he will suggest other movies for me to stream while I am visiting India.  Ironic!

I took the hotel taxi to Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church for 7am IST English Mass in Whitefield.  It was 5.5km from the hotel.  I was awake so it was a perfect time to go.  The church was full.  The music was amazing.  The Mass was in English.  The parishioners were welcoming.  The one person, Margaret Stella, gave me her number to call anytime for anything.  She is a widow and has her children.  I saw the love she has in her Roman Catholic Faith, her children and her city.  Her daughter, Laity (I may have misspelled it.), was selling homemade sweets after each Mass which brings money for the family.  I bought one of each to bring to work tomorrow.  While I was waiting for the taxi I listened to the next Mass in Tamil.  The music was beautiful. The Roman Catholic Mass is the same all around the world.  Even though I did not understand the words, the readings and prayers are the same.  Faith is beautiful!

I should update everyone on Manny.  He had the MRI Saturday morning.  He is off the crutches and using the walking boot only.  The Zumba friends have been there to assist him.  Olga drove him to the MRI and out to eat at the Crab Shack in Framingham.  I am so grateful for everyone taking care of Manny.  We will find out if the tendon on the bottom of his right foot is torn or detached.  Praying for a tear only.  Thursday he returns to Orthopedic Surgeon, who looks younger than our son Max.  You know what this means!!!  Manny and I are OLD.  The doctor has to be in his early 30s when trying to calculate the years of schooling and residency.  He was knowledgeable concerning the foot tendon and understanding about my trip to India.  Manny can drive but he should not unless absolutely necessary.  If he has to press hard on the break, more damage could occur to his right foot.

Before I sign off for the night or day depending on where you are in the world, I want to state I saw a COW in the road on the way to Church this morning.  Yes - finally!  It was a female in the street.

One more thing!  The electricity just went off.  It is back on again! Just a few moments of darkness.  Now off to the gym!  I need to keep up the routine I have at home.  I will eat breakfast at 7am IST, then go to sleep until 2pm IST.  Get up, coffee, Protein drink, blog writing, dinner at 4pm IST, finally pick up for work at 5pm IST.

48 hours and counting down to Bangalore!

It has been more than 4 years but I am heading back to India.  I will be flying on Emirates Air at 11pm on Thursday, 11 October.  The flight from Boston to Dubai is almost 14 hours straight.  Actually it is not straight!  The flight plan will take me over the Arctic Circle over Europe into Dubai.  Why would not the flight just go across the Atlantic Ocean???

Let's look back the past month...I flew to Long Beach, CA on 19 Sept ember returning home on 24 September.  I had a wonderful time with my daughter, Erika.  We had no real plans but did what we wanted.  The Mission of San Juan Capistrano is absolutely beautiful.  The swallows return to the Mission every year.  A song has been written and sung by many about this phenomena. Swallows Return to Capistrano  There were museums and historical sites around Orange, CA we visited.  It was short but had a wonderful time.

Last Thursday the flight to Nashville, TN left at 7am.  I was heading to Nashville for the eClinicalWorks National Conference.  I was delivering 2 presentations about our electronic medical record system used by providers.  The prep is always difficult.  There is never enough time to do everything.  I have a great time discussing all interfaces with all the practices.  Then POOF!  the presentations and conference is done.  I came home 8 October in the afternoon.  I quickly unpacked and had to wash all my clothes to prep for the next trip.  The BIG one!

I will be in Bangalore, India around 3am IST (India Standard Time) on 13 October.  Bangalore is 9-1/2 hours ahead of Boston.  For 3 weeks I will be working and playing in Bangalore.  I am so excited.  I cannot wait to see my coworkers.  I am so excited!

What am I doing in Bangalore for 3 weeks?  First and foremost - is to transfer my knowledge of Clinical Interfaces between medical practices and hospitals or laboratories.  I have been working in this field for more than 20 years.  I have so much to give to all my coworkers.  My teaching technique is slightly different.

On 3 November I will be flying to Mumbai.  Back to Mumbai for 8 days - not 30 days!  I will be in Mumbai for Diwali (Festival of Lights).  I will be working with my coworkers in Mumbai for the week.

I will be heading home on 11 November.

What do I want to do in Bangalore?
  1.  I want to eat the food.  Each region has specialties.  I want to eat!
  2.  I will be attending Roman Catholic Mass.  I am looking forward to experience Mass in Bangalore.
  3.  I want to meet my coworkers. I call many friends already.  I know I will make more friends after my 3 weeks.
  4.  I want to experience Bangalore and all the beauty!  There are markets I want to visit.

There is so much to do and so little time!

More to come with more experiences!

I am now sitting in Boston Logan Airport waiting for 2 more hours to board Emirates Flight!  You would not believe what has happened in the past 48 hours.  I could not post this entry the night I started it.  Why you may ask???

Tuesday night Manny is calling me from the basement of our home.  I open the basement door and find him with CRUTCHES!  Yes crutches and hopping on his left leg.  What happened is the first question?  He is a Zumba instructor.  While conducting his class he heard SNAP or CRACKLE or POP on the bottom of his right foot.  This is the driving foot.  He was in pain and could not put any weight on it.  He was able to get to the top of the stairs into the house.  I had to carry the crutches and his backpack up the stairs.  He got to the bedroom and laid down. 

Everything STOPPED for me.  I told him I would cancel the trip to India, but he said NO.  I had to get him dinner.  Ok!  Many know I do not like to cook, so I reheated food he had already prepared.  It was reheated with Love!  My packing and writing stopped.  The next morning I went to work, but left to bring him to his primary care provider.  Xrays were taken.  It was not broken.  From the beginning there was very little swelling or discoloration. 

Today, we went to Orthopedic provider.  He will an MRI next week.  The provider is concerned the tendon on the bottom of his right foot.  I left him tonight for 4 weeks using crutches.  He is a stubborn man.  There will be no Zumba for a while (I am not there so I hope he follows the provider's instruction.).

What is there to do in the Boston E Terminal?  NOTHING!  This terminal is so boring for an International Terminal.  I made through security in 5 minutes.  I sat an had Shepard's Pie and watched some of the American Football game.  Eagles intercepted the football on the first play from the Giants. 

More to come has my travel progresses.