The crazy speed at which Bangalore has grown means that infrastructure is not quite keeping up.
Every night this week, at 9pm, just like clockwork, the power goes out.
And actually, now that I think of it, I think there has been an outtage each day too ...
Thankfully I have a generator that is meant to last for three to four hours. Fortunately I now know how it works, so it even has a possibility of lasting that long. Maybe not tonight though ... I think it's about to cut out (after 17 minutes) ... this is entirely my fault though ...
Luckily my laptop is fully charged and I have all three seasons of How I met your Mother to watch.
arrival!
Melbourne to Bangalore ... it's a looooong way ... and yes, I do know this probably isn't news to anyone ... but the nearly 24 hours in transit was pretty exhausting. The manicure and pedicure in Singapore did help a little, but I nearly fell asleep in the middle of it.
There was, what I think is not an unusual mix-up getting into my apartment. Thankfully a couple of awesome TWers (Praveen or Pravin, I think, and another guy*), who were working late, helped me out! I got into my cavernous, dismal (but thankfully temporary) apartment at about midnight. But all I wanted at that point was to sleep, and it managed to serve that purpose.The next day I went to the office, where I met another lovely TWer* in the elevator. He convinced me (it wasn't hard) that I needed to experience a traditional Indian breakfast, so we postponed our office plans and went to a place called southindies. It was a buffet style vegetarian breakfast and it was delicious.
My new friend then invited me to come along to the movies - the plan was to see Ice Age 3 with friends, but it was, unfortunately, sold out. But maybe not so unfortunate ... his girlfriend* (also a TWer) and another TWer* came to meet us anyway and we went to a great bar called Pecos. This is a bar I already know that Mark will love. And honestly, it wouldn't be that out of place in a Melbourne laneway! Weird.Finally we went for lunch nearby - the name escapes me, but it specialised in seafood and was delicious! Fish curry and prawn curry, with neer dosai, appam and rice. Yummo!
After lunch we said our goodbyes and I went back to the office where I sorted out my new apartment - which I moved into today. Hurrah! I was worried that I was being oversensitive and that my displeasure with the state of the temporary apartment was just me being ... well, western. But I'm here now, in comfort and happiness. And light :)I start work tomorrow, and I'm really quite excited about it. And it's proper excitement, not just ... redressed apprehensiveness. I'm not sure when I last felt that way about going work. There are often days I look forward to, days I really enjoy but days that I'm excited about? Not so much. So yay!
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* I am awful with names. At clients, I find out names ahead of time as much as possible, then I write down names as soon as possible - often with physical descriptions. When I started at TWs I had a spreadsheet with all the TWOZ names on it, so I could keep track of who I met ...
BPW :: The International Federation of Business and Professional Women
Today I was going to talk about BPW at the ThoughtWorks Women's lunch, but couldn't make it due to client commitments. And since I'm going to India shortly, I'm not going to get another chance so I thought I'd do a quick entry to cover what I would have spoken about ... bear in mind that I'm currently investigating a global membership for all ThoughtWorks women ...
What is BPW?
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women was founded in 1930 by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips. She was passionate about encouraging women to look beyond their own borders, whether local, state or country in the 1920's - long before the term "global inclusivity" was coined.
BPW has a close relationship with the UN and is representated at UN Headquarters in New York, Vienna, Geneva; UN regional offices (UNECA, UNECE, UNESCAP, UNESCWA, UNECLAC); UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO, WHO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, FAO, UN DPI; Council of Europe; European Women’s Lobby and UNIFEM.
The BPW network is spread across 80 countries in five continents and includes influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women. Read more about BPW ...
Aims of BPW
The aim of BPW is to develop women’s professional and leadership potential at all levels, with the determination that our effort will lead to equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.
My experience at BPW so far
My local group is Melbourne Midcity. They host monthly get-togethers - usually dinners with amazing - and amazingly diverse - guest speakers.
The first I attended was Kristina Karlsson (who is a member of Melbourne Midcity) talking through how she built Kikki K into the successful business it is now.
The second event had two guest speakers - the first was from Project Respect, who support women in the sex industry of Australia and to help prevent the exploitation and enslavement of women, by the industry. The second speaker was Susie Latham, one of the authors of Human Rights Overboard :: seeking asylum in Australia. I've since read Human Rights Overboard and believe it to be the most important book I've ever read.
Coming up next is an 'end of financial year' get together, with Emmanuel Perdis of Napolean Perdis talking about how he built his business.
People I've met
I've already mentioned Kristina. Other members I've met at Melbourne Midcity include a successful private client adviser who is also the Second Vice President Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women and a successful entrepreneur and business performance strategist who is also the Deputy Chair of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia.
So far I've met many other incredible women across various industries, including marketing, law, social work, branding and manufacturing. Interestingly, so far I've not met any other IT Professionals. Who could you meet at your local chapter?
What is BPW?
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women was founded in 1930 by Dr Lena Madesin Phillips. She was passionate about encouraging women to look beyond their own borders, whether local, state or country in the 1920's - long before the term "global inclusivity" was coined.
BPW has a close relationship with the UN and is representated at UN Headquarters in New York, Vienna, Geneva; UN regional offices (UNECA, UNECE, UNESCAP, UNESCWA, UNECLAC); UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO, WHO, UNCTAD, UNIDO, FAO, UN DPI; Council of Europe; European Women’s Lobby and UNIFEM.
The BPW network is spread across 80 countries in five continents and includes influential women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women. Read more about BPW ...
Aims of BPW
The aim of BPW is to develop women’s professional and leadership potential at all levels, with the determination that our effort will lead to equal participation of women and men in power and decision-making roles.
My experience at BPW so far
My local group is Melbourne Midcity. They host monthly get-togethers - usually dinners with amazing - and amazingly diverse - guest speakers.
The first I attended was Kristina Karlsson (who is a member of Melbourne Midcity) talking through how she built Kikki K into the successful business it is now.
The second event had two guest speakers - the first was from Project Respect, who support women in the sex industry of Australia and to help prevent the exploitation and enslavement of women, by the industry. The second speaker was Susie Latham, one of the authors of Human Rights Overboard :: seeking asylum in Australia. I've since read Human Rights Overboard and believe it to be the most important book I've ever read.
Coming up next is an 'end of financial year' get together, with Emmanuel Perdis of Napolean Perdis talking about how he built his business.
People I've met
I've already mentioned Kristina. Other members I've met at Melbourne Midcity include a successful private client adviser who is also the Second Vice President Chair of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women and a successful entrepreneur and business performance strategist who is also the Deputy Chair of the Council of Small Businesses of Australia.
So far I've met many other incredible women across various industries, including marketing, law, social work, branding and manufacturing. Interestingly, so far I've not met any other IT Professionals. Who could you meet at your local chapter?
Another step closer
We've picked out our passports, our flights are booked and we're in the process of getting visas.
I leave on July 3 - and arrive on July 3 ... ahh, all day on a plane ... lovely!
So now ... what to pack?
I leave on July 3 - and arrive on July 3 ... ahh, all day on a plane ... lovely!
So now ... what to pack?
Bangalore bound ...
I've taking up the opportunity to teach at ThoughtWorks University, so it looks like I'm moving to India for four-ish months. Probably.
Why the probably? Well, after nearly ten years, I've learned that nothing is ever final in consultant-land ...
Current plan is to head off at the start of July, returning in mid-November. The lovely Mark will be coming along (hurrah) to keep me company and we're both apprehensively excited (the best kind of excited if you ask me).
Only drawback is leaving our lovely Rexy-dog behind. It's only taken a month, but he's completely taken control of our emotions. We will find a fabulous housemate for him while we're away though. Oh, he looks so sad already!!!
Why the probably? Well, after nearly ten years, I've learned that nothing is ever final in consultant-land ...
Current plan is to head off at the start of July, returning in mid-November. The lovely Mark will be coming along (hurrah) to keep me company and we're both apprehensively excited (the best kind of excited if you ask me).Only drawback is leaving our lovely Rexy-dog behind. It's only taken a month, but he's completely taken control of our emotions. We will find a fabulous housemate for him while we're away though. Oh, he looks so sad already!!!
Ria
Leederville again!
A friend, Jane, had meant to come here on another visit to Perth, but handn't been able to book or get a table as a walk-in ... they do take bookings now!
Their signature dish - caramelised duck (lok ak) was rated very highly by my duck fan (though not quite as a high as the duck with spinach at Hawker's). Have been three or four times now, and sampled many of the mains and entrees with no disappointment.
It will be busy. And noisy. This is not the place to go for a quiet dinner and conversation. But take a group of friends and settle in for great food, drinks and company.
106 Oxford St, Leederville
ph:: 02 9328 2998
Price guide :: entrees $10 - $15, mains $15 - $25
A friend, Jane, had meant to come here on another visit to Perth, but handn't been able to book or get a table as a walk-in ... they do take bookings now!
Their signature dish - caramelised duck (lok ak) was rated very highly by my duck fan (though not quite as a high as the duck with spinach at Hawker's). Have been three or four times now, and sampled many of the mains and entrees with no disappointment.
It will be busy. And noisy. This is not the place to go for a quiet dinner and conversation. But take a group of friends and settle in for great food, drinks and company.
106 Oxford St, Leederville
ph:: 02 9328 2998
Price guide :: entrees $10 - $15, mains $15 - $25
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