Amidst the confusions and wierd abberations that I was having, I just landed up in UK at my client's office on 25th Sept 2005, a brand new Monday of a brand new week(I refer to this as current and everything is relative to this), exactly a year and a dozen days past my landing in Kolkata. Well, I would love to tell you as to why all those threads of thoughts that troubled me before my departure from India. The story that needs to be told till today unfolds as below........
Thu (Last to last Week): My PM asked me if I would go toUK to support one of my colleagues. I asked him as to how long I would be gone and he said maybe a month or two .... real short term. I denied because I had started some serious CAT preparations and had a strong feeling of Belling it this time. I could not have given this reason and hence made up some ancient, tried and tested crap about family troubles (touch-wood) etc etc. Then he started his lecture saying that work is like serving your duty and I should feel responsible etc etc. Then he asked me to convey my decision by tomorrow.
Fri(Last to last Week): I was busy, he was busy .... we didn't meet. I felt relieved that the problem is resolved. Also I really not prepared for it. So, had a peaceful week-end, studying and enjoying with my friends. But, I should have known that there is always a lull before the great storm.
Mon(Last Week): My PM called me up and asked as to what I had decided. By then I had talked to my parents and some of my other friends & well-wishers, and came to a conclusion that I'll take everything in my stride. But before putting up the question to me he said "I've asked another senior guy (SD) to go if possible but he(SD) has some problems of his own." I said "That's good"(and internally was hoping that the noose has been let out of my neck) and as a reply to the question posted earlier I said "I don't mind digesting anything that comes to my plate." and I smiled, though I never wanted to, as I made an exit from his chamber.
Tue(Last Week): In the meanwhile, I had tried my level best to persuade the other senior guy (SD) to please take up the work and go to UK for the assigned job. The senior guy refused b'coz he was getting married on that Saturday and also was marked to go to US for some other project and yes that was long-term. As I had seen it coming in my dreams over the past few sleepless nights, my PM walked upto me and said "Kartik, so you are the chosen one :) " I was asked to get all my documents for the subsequent VISA processing.
Tue day end and Wed first half(Last Week): Running hither-tither to get all documents, photographs and approval letters. I sincerely missing Hari then, how confortable everything would have been riding to all those places on his bike, but unfortunately he was held up with some critical work at office(i just wonder when some work is not critical :)). Atlast before lunch on Wednesday I submitted my documents and the VISA form for UK to the travel desk. The respite amidst all this chaos in my world was a sumptuos lunch that I enjoyed at the B'day treat of my off-shore team lead.
Wed eve(Last Week): I shopped some formal shirts, ties and shoes. Spent the evening with Hari just like that, reminiscing the old days and buying stuffs.
Thu(Last Week): I reported late at office and also left early in order to do the remaining shopping and get hold of all the goods, I mean cigarettes, medicines, etc that my on-site colleagues had asked for. I met some of my friends and narrated the story that you read now.
Sat(Last week): Yesterday I had been in office to just collect my foriegn exchange and bid good-bye to my team here, who were pulling my leg that I should set the trend by doing some work at on-site instead of just forwarding the mails to off-shore with a subject line of FYI(For Your Information) and FYIA(For Your Information and Action). I had to board my flight to Heathrow from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum, Kolkata at 1330 hrs (IST). Last night we had a gala-time chit-chatting and packing my baggage at the room. Well, the feel of the GBP in my hands gave me a special kick.
Early morning I woke up, did my prayers, called up home and some friends and ofcourse did the stuff that every other human does. Ram, one of my roomies, accompanied me to the airport and I thank him for the same since it atleast helped me push the break on the growing swarm of butterflies in my stomach. Well, once inside the airport lobby, I just followed the instructions that were given to me by my PM and the guy at travel desk and went on to finish the formalities for getting in the Cabin baggage, cleared the immigration check and finally relaxed in the bay eagerly awaiting my flight to get docked at the terminal.
It was a virgin experience for me boarding an airbus and travelling in a flight for more than 1.5 hours. As luck would have it, I travelled my entire 9 hour voyage in the Executive class of AI, streching my legs to the fullest, pushing the back-rest to the max and enjoying the movie on the adjustable TV as I sipped through my Champagne. Well, I got upgraded to an executive class b'coz there was a duplication of my ticket with some BA passenger who had to be accomodated in AI due to cancellation of BA flights. But, one should never complain and took everything in my stride :)
Yesterday (Sun -Last Week): Having landed at LHR and wading my way through the innumerable immigrants, I passed into the foriegn land under the pretext that I was a Senior Associate with my company and was in for some requirement clarifications and bagging some new projects into our off-shore kitty. I had quite a relaxing ride to my pre-booked hotel 'The Regent Lodge Hotel' and got into my room after resolving some conflicts with the authority over there and having a chat with my on-site team lead. I spent the night feeding on some candy bars and quenching my thirst with the fruit juice cans each worth a pound.
Sunday morning my senior came over and took me over to his apartment and a small trip to the client's office. There in I met the first person with whom I had earlier conversed over the phone regarding some project issues :Mr. M, who was settled in Britain and spoke with a heavy Tamil accent. Also, I became of the fact that we drink the running water from the tap when we are thirsty. How on earth was I to decipher that after living in Kolkata, wherein drinking one glass of water directly from the tap may infect with all the water-bourne diseses you can think of.
Today i.e. Mon: I took the most convinient bus-ride in an year, from my hotel to the office, attired in the best formal clothes I had packed and yeah, I wore a tie for the first time since the beginning of my professional life. I await my meeting with the client and users wherein we would discuss the issues for Period Rationalise, that is the first and foremost reason of getting me here.
I still wonder how much is to be explored and wondered about the place, Dunstable and how many such things to be learnt like quenching your thirst with the tap water etc.
Be patient and I'll let you know how I digressed from my path of belling the cat and landed up again back into the same old work, I was doing at off-shore.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
Thu (Last to last Week): My PM asked me if I would go toUK to support one of my colleagues. I asked him as to how long I would be gone and he said maybe a month or two .... real short term. I denied because I had started some serious CAT preparations and had a strong feeling of Belling it this time. I could not have given this reason and hence made up some ancient, tried and tested crap about family troubles (touch-wood) etc etc. Then he started his lecture saying that work is like serving your duty and I should feel responsible etc etc. Then he asked me to convey my decision by tomorrow.
Fri(Last to last Week): I was busy, he was busy .... we didn't meet. I felt relieved that the problem is resolved. Also I really not prepared for it. So, had a peaceful week-end, studying and enjoying with my friends. But, I should have known that there is always a lull before the great storm.
Mon(Last Week): My PM called me up and asked as to what I had decided. By then I had talked to my parents and some of my other friends & well-wishers, and came to a conclusion that I'll take everything in my stride. But before putting up the question to me he said "I've asked another senior guy (SD) to go if possible but he(SD) has some problems of his own." I said "That's good"(and internally was hoping that the noose has been let out of my neck) and as a reply to the question posted earlier I said "I don't mind digesting anything that comes to my plate." and I smiled, though I never wanted to, as I made an exit from his chamber.
Tue(Last Week): In the meanwhile, I had tried my level best to persuade the other senior guy (SD) to please take up the work and go to UK for the assigned job. The senior guy refused b'coz he was getting married on that Saturday and also was marked to go to US for some other project and yes that was long-term. As I had seen it coming in my dreams over the past few sleepless nights, my PM walked upto me and said "Kartik, so you are the chosen one :) " I was asked to get all my documents for the subsequent VISA processing.
Tue day end and Wed first half(Last Week): Running hither-tither to get all documents, photographs and approval letters. I sincerely missing Hari then, how confortable everything would have been riding to all those places on his bike, but unfortunately he was held up with some critical work at office(i just wonder when some work is not critical :)). Atlast before lunch on Wednesday I submitted my documents and the VISA form for UK to the travel desk. The respite amidst all this chaos in my world was a sumptuos lunch that I enjoyed at the B'day treat of my off-shore team lead.
Wed eve(Last Week): I shopped some formal shirts, ties and shoes. Spent the evening with Hari just like that, reminiscing the old days and buying stuffs.
Thu(Last Week): I reported late at office and also left early in order to do the remaining shopping and get hold of all the goods, I mean cigarettes, medicines, etc that my on-site colleagues had asked for. I met some of my friends and narrated the story that you read now.
Sat(Last week): Yesterday I had been in office to just collect my foriegn exchange and bid good-bye to my team here, who were pulling my leg that I should set the trend by doing some work at on-site instead of just forwarding the mails to off-shore with a subject line of FYI(For Your Information) and FYIA(For Your Information and Action). I had to board my flight to Heathrow from the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Dum Dum, Kolkata at 1330 hrs (IST). Last night we had a gala-time chit-chatting and packing my baggage at the room. Well, the feel of the GBP in my hands gave me a special kick.
Early morning I woke up, did my prayers, called up home and some friends and ofcourse did the stuff that every other human does. Ram, one of my roomies, accompanied me to the airport and I thank him for the same since it atleast helped me push the break on the growing swarm of butterflies in my stomach. Well, once inside the airport lobby, I just followed the instructions that were given to me by my PM and the guy at travel desk and went on to finish the formalities for getting in the Cabin baggage, cleared the immigration check and finally relaxed in the bay eagerly awaiting my flight to get docked at the terminal.
It was a virgin experience for me boarding an airbus and travelling in a flight for more than 1.5 hours. As luck would have it, I travelled my entire 9 hour voyage in the Executive class of AI, streching my legs to the fullest, pushing the back-rest to the max and enjoying the movie on the adjustable TV as I sipped through my Champagne. Well, I got upgraded to an executive class b'coz there was a duplication of my ticket with some BA passenger who had to be accomodated in AI due to cancellation of BA flights. But, one should never complain and took everything in my stride :)
Yesterday (Sun -Last Week): Having landed at LHR and wading my way through the innumerable immigrants, I passed into the foriegn land under the pretext that I was a Senior Associate with my company and was in for some requirement clarifications and bagging some new projects into our off-shore kitty. I had quite a relaxing ride to my pre-booked hotel 'The Regent Lodge Hotel' and got into my room after resolving some conflicts with the authority over there and having a chat with my on-site team lead. I spent the night feeding on some candy bars and quenching my thirst with the fruit juice cans each worth a pound.
Sunday morning my senior came over and took me over to his apartment and a small trip to the client's office. There in I met the first person with whom I had earlier conversed over the phone regarding some project issues :Mr. M, who was settled in Britain and spoke with a heavy Tamil accent. Also, I became of the fact that we drink the running water from the tap when we are thirsty. How on earth was I to decipher that after living in Kolkata, wherein drinking one glass of water directly from the tap may infect with all the water-bourne diseses you can think of.
Today i.e. Mon: I took the most convinient bus-ride in an year, from my hotel to the office, attired in the best formal clothes I had packed and yeah, I wore a tie for the first time since the beginning of my professional life. I await my meeting with the client and users wherein we would discuss the issues for Period Rationalise, that is the first and foremost reason of getting me here.
I still wonder how much is to be explored and wondered about the place, Dunstable and how many such things to be learnt like quenching your thirst with the tap water etc.
Be patient and I'll let you know how I digressed from my path of belling the cat and landed up again back into the same old work, I was doing at off-shore.
TO BE CONTINUED.....
2 comments:
An excellent diary entry...be sure to post some "interesting experiences" there...
Hi Kartik,
Please do complete your story...it was really very interesting reading about it..you know why?? bcoz we belong to the same fraternity of IT :) and though your onsite experiences are unknown to me, the offshore pandemonium has been prevalent since our novice days.
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