As you can see from the pictures posted earlier.. the Radisson Beach Resort was amazing! Our driver took us to the resort which was about an hour away from the main city of Chennai. The grounds were lush and the hotel was situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal. We enjoyed a swim in the infinity pool - in fact it felt so refreshing we stayed in there for 2 hours :) The view was breathtaking and the swim up bar was a bonus. We have a new appreciation for King Fisher beer.. lol. We chatted with a few guys from Holland that were at the pool and are in India on work project as well. Overall, it was nice escape and very relaxing. We will return to the same resort in a couple weeks and will venture off the property to visit the Shore Temple and to do some shopping.
The weekend flew by way too fast and now it is back to work. Amy and I completed the first phase of our training which focused on simple process changes. Ten people out of our original 32 trainees have moved to the production floor and will be completing live work on the processes they have learned. Amy and I have moved on to training the remaining 22 trainees on the second phase- complex processes.
We also moved training rooms so that all of the trainees can have their own individual computers. We thought this room would be better and more spacious.. but no such luck. The room is very crowded.. trainees have limited space, and once again Amy and I's desk consists of a cart and a couple lawn chairs in the center of the room. The internet cable to my laptop stretches across the room and if the trainee sitting closest to it moves too much to the left it disconnects. In addition .. there are trainees sitting in front of the door to leave the classroom.. which gives me an awkward trapped feeling.
Yesterday was the most challenging day of training yet. Amy and I both worked from 430pm -545am at the office (that doesnt include all the prep time before we got to the office). I am exhausted. Our sleep has been minimal since we have been here and we are struggling to find foods we like to eat. So needless to say 12 hr+ days with no energy is difficult. Last night I returned back to the training room at the end of the shift.. and just sat in there alone, collecting my thoughts ..on the verge of tears. Two small mice crawled out from the one of the desks to greet me. I couldnt help but wish for some Disney music to start playing.. the mice to start dancing and somehow carry me off to some fantasy world. Unfortunately, they just scampered off in search for cookies left behind.
Today is a new day... I know I will look back on this whole experience (even the difficult times) and appreciate all that I have learned. I am grateful.
India has humbled me a bit.. the streets are lined with poverty.. yet the people know no different. It has renewed my appreciation for the country I live in. Makes me want to simplify my own life, let go of material possessions and focus on what really matters.
Cheers! 40 more days... PS.. I have fed my dog everynight :) Leave a comment... missin everyone!
The weekend flew by way too fast and now it is back to work. Amy and I completed the first phase of our training which focused on simple process changes. Ten people out of our original 32 trainees have moved to the production floor and will be completing live work on the processes they have learned. Amy and I have moved on to training the remaining 22 trainees on the second phase- complex processes.
We also moved training rooms so that all of the trainees can have their own individual computers. We thought this room would be better and more spacious.. but no such luck. The room is very crowded.. trainees have limited space, and once again Amy and I's desk consists of a cart and a couple lawn chairs in the center of the room. The internet cable to my laptop stretches across the room and if the trainee sitting closest to it moves too much to the left it disconnects. In addition .. there are trainees sitting in front of the door to leave the classroom.. which gives me an awkward trapped feeling.
Yesterday was the most challenging day of training yet. Amy and I both worked from 430pm -545am at the office (that doesnt include all the prep time before we got to the office). I am exhausted. Our sleep has been minimal since we have been here and we are struggling to find foods we like to eat. So needless to say 12 hr+ days with no energy is difficult. Last night I returned back to the training room at the end of the shift.. and just sat in there alone, collecting my thoughts ..on the verge of tears. Two small mice crawled out from the one of the desks to greet me. I couldnt help but wish for some Disney music to start playing.. the mice to start dancing and somehow carry me off to some fantasy world. Unfortunately, they just scampered off in search for cookies left behind.
Today is a new day... I know I will look back on this whole experience (even the difficult times) and appreciate all that I have learned. I am grateful.
India has humbled me a bit.. the streets are lined with poverty.. yet the people know no different. It has renewed my appreciation for the country I live in. Makes me want to simplify my own life, let go of material possessions and focus on what really matters.
Cheers! 40 more days... PS.. I have fed my dog everynight :) Leave a comment... missin everyone!
The Indian girls wear fresh flowers in their hair.. strands of Jasmine. I complimented one of the trainees on the scent. The next day she brought me flowers for my hair. Sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like quite an adventure! Stay safe and healthy (my hubby was given bottled water that wasn't actually bottled water and got very sick when he was there - but he was staying in private homes :) ) I'll be praying for you as it sounds like there are some challenges. Love you!
ReplyDeleteDear Juliet: This experience is fabulous as I've said before, not only for your CV, but for personal growth. Your comments about appreciating your life here and prioritizing your values is so insightful. I think you have the makings of a book here. Take very good notes. Talked to the boys last night and they're doing fine. The big one was cleaning up the yard and the little one was waiting for his taco dinner. I may take the big one out to lunch tomorrow. So is all of your teaching at night????? You amaze me. In any event try to get some rest, pet the puppy and the little mice and have faith that you are changing the lives of your students. Love, D
ReplyDeleteHey julieta- I can finally post comments!! Yay! I can sing you song Disney songs if you'd like ... M I C K e y m o u s e Mickey Mouse .. It's a smAll world after all! You are a strong person - I know this has challenges but the swinger I know doesn't let anything defeat her! She's strong and will not let anything bring her down! Love you!
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