I got to the Bombay apartment around 11:00 p.m. local time last night, then hung out with Casey and Misti for a while (Dan was already asleep). Fell asleep sometime after 3:00 a.m., so needless to say I was not up and ready to go to work at 7:30. So, my first day back at the office will be Monday. Luckily our next batch of hires won't be there till Tuesday.
I walked down to the supermarket just now and was reminded that in India, more so than usual, I am a giant freak. Especially now with my super short hair I am getting even more stares than before.
In keeping with tradition, the portly little Indian Delta gate agent at JFK called me "sir." They like to start reminding me early that I am super feminine and pretty. Thanks, India.
The weather is probably the best it's been since I started spending time here last June. It's not even sweltering, and in the mornings and evenings it is almost cool and pleasant. However, the entire city, including my bedroom, smells like a campfire. This may have something to do with the fact that the entire city is, in fact, a campfire. At least the smoke helps to mask some of the other smells. I'm talking about poop here, people.
Showing posts with label jet lag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jet lag. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
baumer's index*
Number of round trips to India since late June: 3
Total number of miles flown: 61,316
Number of those miles seated in coach: 59,730
Frequent flier miles earned: 119,735
Approximate number of hours spent traveling: 180
Number of those hours in business class: 6
Number of standard work days represented by 180 hours of travel: 22.5
Total number of days spent in India: 110
Number of those days sick with traveler's illness: 0
Number of Indian linguists hired for last month's start date at the Mumbai office: 7
Number of linguist job offers accepted so far for January 2008 start date: 6
Target of new hires for January : 8-10
Percentage of DA Team expats who kick ass and without whom I'd have been lost: 100
*pace Harper's Index
Total number of miles flown: 61,316
Number of those miles seated in coach: 59,730
Frequent flier miles earned: 119,735
Approximate number of hours spent traveling: 180
Number of those hours in business class: 6
Number of standard work days represented by 180 hours of travel: 22.5
Total number of days spent in India: 110
Number of those days sick with traveler's illness: 0
Number of Indian linguists hired for last month's start date at the Mumbai office: 7
Number of linguist job offers accepted so far for January 2008 start date: 6
Target of new hires for January : 8-10
Percentage of DA Team expats who kick ass and without whom I'd have been lost: 100
*pace Harper's Index
160
One hundred and sixty hours.
That is the approximate amount of time I have spent so far (since late June) traveling back and forth to India. That's four weeks' worth of 40-hour work weeks, except compressed into miserable 30-35 hour chunks crammed into coach class seats on (almost always) full planes.
Last night I arrived into Bombay and called the driver who was supposed to pick me up. This is at 11:00 p.m. or so. He answers the phone and I tell him I'm just leaving the terminal, and he says, "No Madam, you are arriving tomorrow!" I assured him that no, I was quite certain I was arriving today. He was at home in Colaba, about an hour's drive (or more) from the airport in normal Bombay traffic.
Somehow everyone at the office had become convinced that ALL of us (me, Alex, Robin, and Lon) were arriving together this morning, despite multiple emails providing precise flight information to the contrary. So, I ended up taking a taxi. Luckily I know enough about this city in the meantime that that was not too much of an ordeal, and I was able to direct the driver to the apartment building.
Another minor problem was that Don was staying at our apartment through last night, and had no idea someone would be showing up at midnight, so I was afraid I'd freak him out once I got there. I managed to make enough noise to wake him up and let him know what the deal was.
Hooray, though--our seven new linguists start on Monday.
That is the approximate amount of time I have spent so far (since late June) traveling back and forth to India. That's four weeks' worth of 40-hour work weeks, except compressed into miserable 30-35 hour chunks crammed into coach class seats on (almost always) full planes.
Last night I arrived into Bombay and called the driver who was supposed to pick me up. This is at 11:00 p.m. or so. He answers the phone and I tell him I'm just leaving the terminal, and he says, "No Madam, you are arriving tomorrow!" I assured him that no, I was quite certain I was arriving today. He was at home in Colaba, about an hour's drive (or more) from the airport in normal Bombay traffic.
Somehow everyone at the office had become convinced that ALL of us (me, Alex, Robin, and Lon) were arriving together this morning, despite multiple emails providing precise flight information to the contrary. So, I ended up taking a taxi. Luckily I know enough about this city in the meantime that that was not too much of an ordeal, and I was able to direct the driver to the apartment building.
Another minor problem was that Don was staying at our apartment through last night, and had no idea someone would be showing up at midnight, so I was afraid I'd freak him out once I got there. I managed to make enough noise to wake him up and let him know what the deal was.
Hooray, though--our seven new linguists start on Monday.
