10/8/2010 - Final Presentation

Before I go into any details let me take a quick second to wish my beautiful daughter Tori and VERY HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY .... I miss you little one and papi is coming home soon.

Today Chris and I gave our final presentation to PSI and they loved it.  I feel we were spot on with our assessment of their current organization (we did sort of pseudo SWOT analysis) and our recommendations were just want they needed.  After the presentation many people came up to thank us and say this is exactly what we needed to do and they needed to hear.  We're feeling pretty good right now.  The only thing we have left to do now is finish up our guide to building a management information system.  We're sitting at about 70% complete so we should be OK.  AH, BTW ...we also had the chance to do a couple field visits.  We visited another construction site where PSI was teaching workers about TB and we went to a TB clinic which PSI refers people to.  Very interesting.

After work Chris and I went back to the hotel and then joined the group for dinner at UB City (a posh upscale patio area full of different restaurants).  We chose sushi for the night and it was great.  He and I celebrated with a Kingfisher.  Excellent way to wrap up a busy but an extremely productive week.   Here's a picture of me presenting.  Until tomorrow everyone.

Giving an organizational analysis to PSI

10/7/2010 - More Cultural Immersion

Today, at PSI, Chris and I did a practice run of our final presentation to a couple of the PSI staff members.  The feedback was excellent.  Just need to make some final, minor adjustments to the pitch and we're set for tomorrow.  I think they're going to like our assessment of their organization (even through there will be some tough criticism) and we feel they'll understand our recommendations.   Knock on wood ... should be a good day. 

After work I was at it again getting myself culturally immersed.  This time I went to a dance show.  It was quite good.  Apparently there were some very famous people there.  One of the dancers won best actress of the year in 2006.  For some info on the show you can click here.  The only criticism I have is it was way too long; lasted 3 1/2 hours. 

After the show we headed back to the hotel, ordered some food, and added some finishing touches to tomorrow's presentation.  I've attached a short video of one of the dances.  Enjoy!!!

10/6/2010 - Finishing Up Work, Shopping Night

Today Chris and I achieved a major milestone; we completed our first draft of the final presentation.  Tomorrow we are going to run through a practice run with our official PSI contact, Neeraj.  We're also advancing nicely on our final document and are confident we'll have everything ready by 10/14.   The only bummer about today was both Chris and I were not feeling well.  But PSI took really good care of us.  They brought us wholesome food and even provided us with coconut water which apparently helps ease a queasy stomach.   Nice.

After work the whole gang went to a store called Mother Earth.  The sell organic, free trade items.  Some of us spent a lot of money, while others were able to control themselves.  After the shopping extravaganza we went back to the hotel and had some pasta.  We also received a nice gift from our prework leader Martin from Switzerland; a nice box of chocolates.  Good way to end a good day.  Later.

Vacation or work? Who can tell?

10/5/2010 - Work and a Movie

Today was an uneventful day.  Spent a full day at the office working on the final deliverable.  Chris and I are now under the gun to get our final presentation ready for this Friday.  Apparently PSI's managing director and main focal point from the US will be here.  They've asked us to present to them for about an hour and then assist the them on some field visits.  Should be a good experience and we're confident we'll be ready.

After work we went to a movie called Anjaana Anjaani.  It wasn't my favorite movie.  Not much dancing and the base story line was the typical stranger love story.  I was told it was supposed to be a comedy and it was much darker than I expected.  It was long too and there were probably at least a half a dozen scenes in the movie that didn't need to be there.  Oh well .. it was an experience.   Until tomorrow.

Movie Poster

10/4/2010 - Back to Work and a Nice Dinner

Mondays aren't my favorite days.  They're the days where I feel (intellectually speaking) at my low.  I actually avoid meetings at work and try to complete as many solitary tasks as possible.  Today however was a total exception.  I think that Kabini / Mysore trip charged me up.   Maybe I needed the fresh air or 5 minutes without hearing a horn.  Who knows.   Anyway .. I put in a solid day at work.  Chris and I are advancing nicely on our final deliverable and we should be set for the final presentation next week Thursday. 

Tonight I was fortunate once again to go out with the IBM India team.  They took me to a place called the 13th floor (located on the 13th floor of a building) which had a spectacular view of Bangalore.  We sat out on the balcony and had a very enjoyable meal.  They also presented me with a gift.  A rosewood sculpture of a deer and a fawn.  My daughter is going to love it. Later.

(Left to Right) Thiru, Dan, Priyanka, Rajesh, Bobi

10/1/2010 – 10/3/2010 – A Weekend Getaway

I’ve just returned from a very enjoyable and relaxing weekend.  I feel rejuvenated; ready to put in a good week of work.  So here’s the summary of the weekend...

Friday > Left Bangalore for Kabini at around 2pm and drove straight there without making a single stop (it's over 5 hours).   Good thing I went to the bathroom beforehand.  We arrived roughly at 7:30pm, checked into our rooms.  We then met a the dining area and had an Indian buffet style dinner and  watched a movie on tigers.  We called it a night early.

Road trip!!!!

Saturday > 6AM rise and shine.  It’s safari time.  I was sharing a room with Chris and it took every ounce of our will power to drag ourselves out of bed.  I just don’t do 6AMers.  Anyway, we had some coffee and made it to our safari truck.  The safari itself was great; my first one.  We saw a lot of deer, birds, monkeys, bison, squirrels, and of course elephants.  In fact, we were charged by one.  It was scary.  After the safari we did breakfast and got to hang out with some school children which was very cool.  After that we went to our rooms and just chilled out for awhile.  At 2pm we met for lunch and then at 3:30pm we did the evening safari.  Saw the same as the morning except for some wild boars.  No tigers or leopards L.   Dinner after that followed by a team gathering over some drinks.  It was a really good day.

Grumpy elephant

Sunday >  6AM again.  Yippee.   Instead of a ‘land’ safari, we went on a boat trip around the lake.  We saw all kinds of birds.  But the best was seeing a herd of nine elephants.  After the boat ride we had breakfast, checked out of our rooms and proceeded to Mysore.  At Mysore... we visited a temple which is considered to be South India’s largest.  After that we hit / toured Mysore Palace (very cool) and after the tour we gathered on the bus and went back to Bangalore.  

At Mysore Palace entrance

Again, it was a very relaxing trip and the bond between our team is even stronger.  Until tomorrow.

9/30/2010 - The Verdict and an Indian Pasta Night

Well the verdict is in.  They plan to split the land in three different ways.  Looks more like a win for the Hindus than anything as the Muslims immediately said they would appeal to the supreme court. It's been relatively calm here too.  I've heard nothing about protests or violence breaking out.   I imagine it helps that India is hosting the Commonwealth games in a few days and no one in this country wants India to be perceived as an unstable country.

We did spend the day at the hotel where Chris and I put in some good hours.  We were able to complete the outline structure of our final deliverable so now it's just a fill-in-the-details exercise for the next couple of weeks. 

In the evening we held a team pasta night.  The hotel provided us cooking supplies, a stove, plates, etc.  A few of the team members cooked and we enjoyed our first home cooked meal in 2 weeks. Tasty.  We had a really nice time and I must say (again), this team really, really gels well.  

Tomorrow we are off to Mysore (see ancient temples) and Kabini.(go on an elephant safari).  I won't be bringing my laptop so that means I won't be blogging for the next few days.  I promise to take many pictures and stay the hell away from a mama elephant and her child.   Take care everyone!!!

Pasta Party on the Terrace