Going Native

Purely Personal

As you know if you've been reading, I find the women of India stunning. They wear the most beautiful clothes, regardless of their station in life. I am toddling around in my practical Land's End gear, looking like the Pasadena matron that I am. I've been dreaming of wearing my own shirt, pant, scarf outfit that the women at IBM wear. And we all know that I bought a sari on my second day in India. You need stuff to wear underneath this diaphonous 6 yards of cloth.

Ramesh's dad is a tailor. Ramesh was a tailor too until he spiffed up his English and started driving. I thought I'd be losing weight hand over fist and would be a waif by the end of the trip. Always dreaming. So I waited until the end of my stay to have the dad make me stuff to wear under my sari and a pants outfit. Based on current weight loss, we could have done this weeks ago.

The father and son visited my apartment yesterday. We decided what exactly I wanted and needed and I got measured. Ramesh's father is very nice and, as you can see, looks very much like his son. My new favorite color is orange, so the pants outfit is solid pale orange. I'm sure I will look like a pumpkin, but we shall see. I may need to find a different scarf when all is said and done. We are having a fitting on Monday. I think I will ask to have all the women of IBM wear their prettiest outfits next Wednesday so I can create a photo album to show you exactly what I've been admiring for 10 weeks. I've been admiring the men, too, but for their brains and good presence on the phone, not their tee shirts and jeans.

Business

The IBM team is doing very well. I've asked to have them receive 100% of all calls between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays. It's a go. Those people who have been hanging up and hoping to get someone in the US can talk to their neighbor from now on. These guys in India aren't perfect, but are getting better every day. There are so many little things that come up that one has never heard of before, it's difficult to be spot on each time. But remember, they are very collaborative. As they find the solution, others learn. We also have links to the people in LA so we can ask for their assistance in seconds.

For example, there was an issue last week about how to find a seat license for Mac users who are installing VPN (remote access) software. I know, this means nothing to many of you. Think of how it sounds to a person who is responsible for coming up with an answer and doesn't have it. I reviewed the solution with the group. We got a call soon after needing the same information. The gang knew what to do this time and resolved the issue in moment. An actual Editorial person was actually pleased. And wrote a very nice note.

This is the trend. More nice notes, fewer disgruntled clients.

Travelers

Nancy is leaving tonight. But, ssshhhhh, don't tell her. On the drive home last night, I reminded her that she needed to be packed and ready to go when we drive in to work at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. She was stunned that she was leaving. Even though we have discussed this before, it was news to her. A difficulty with our coming and going is that the airplane usually arrives at 11:55 p.m. and leaves at 1:55 a.m. It's the same airplane, gassed up and ready to fly. So the plane leaves on Friday, but we tend to kick people out of the car at 11:30 on Thursday. Got it? I can't wait to see what happens today at 4:30 p.m. Expecting Chaos, praying for full bags and a cleaned out apartment.

I leave next Friday night. Laura got a flight that stops in New Delhi instead of Frankfort, Germany. Since the first leg of the flight is domestic, she will be leaving during the day on Saturday. I'll be leaving her my local phone so she can keep in contact with Ramesh at all times. She will be giving the phone to Ramesh when she leaves. I don't know what he'll do with it, but he was very pleased at the prospect.

I'm getting very excited about leaving. We discussed 11 weeks being a long time. But it's just time and it passes. I'd be just as excited if I'd only been here 3 weeks. Transitions are what is exciting. I am so looking forward to the next one. Who knows what being in LA at The Times without my old duties will look like? Will I actually have time to walk around the building and visit people, see how they're experiencing the new HelpDesk? Who knows? Pretty exciting stuff, no?