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In an attempt to adjust to the Indian way of life I did not get up until 8 am. I do not know that I have slept that late on a Tuesday since I was in college (many moons ago). Upon waking I took a quick look over the city and checked the temperature outside, its warm already. I ventured down to one of the many hotel restaurants for my complimentary buffet breakfast. The spread was amazing, potatoes dishes, vegetable dishes, fresh pastries, fresh fruit, and fruit juice. I have eaten many pineapples, cantaloupe, and mangos at home, THEY DO NOT COMPARE. If I can figure out a way to sneak a bunch back into the US I will let everyone know, until then take my word. Can one live for a year on nothing be fresh fruit? After I was done eating I sat there relaxing, sipping my unfiltered south Indian coffee, listening to the soft sounds of Kenny G and instrumental Beetles tunes play over head.
During my morning dining the Hotel staff brought me a message I had missed due to sleeping in, just when I thought no one else worked before 9. The Indian relocation staff wanted to confirm my mid-morning (11:30) apartment key pickup, and the concierge told me my driver was waiting upfront. I seemingly forgot to call him yesterday afternoon to inform him of what time I would be needing his services so he showed up sometime early this morning. I stopped my breakfast to walk out and inform the driver that I would not need his services until 11:30 am. He informed me he would wait over there until I needed him. This is SO weird, he will literally sit in the parking lot until I walk out there for a ride, or call him and tell him I am ready. The quality of the services provided here are amazing considering the city is many times larger than New York. I have decided that when I return to the states I will mandate Cerner continues the driver service.
….
2 lady’s from the booking agency met me at the hotel and directed my driver how to get to my apartment. We parked and went up to the 3rd (top floor), it is amazing. The main entry way is huge, with a nice table and all stainless kitchen, a sitting room, and a spiral staircase leading to the roof and utility/wash room. The master bedroom is to the right which contains a loft style office, giant walk in closet with more shelf/hanging space then I have ever seen, and a bathroom (tucked in the closet). You walk to the other side and there is a second bedroom, with full bath. Next to it there is a TV/Lounge room which has a couch, a leather chair, big screen TV, and a deck. And to top it all off the maid (Stella) was already here asking if she could cook me something. I checked in and went to the office while Stella unpacked and put away my suitcases for me J.
After a 30ish min drive we make it to the office park. It is an amazing looking complex that contains several major companies, IBM, Target, Cerner…. After a quick bomb inspection they let us go past. I walked into office and make my way to my desk. Rachel was not present but she tipped the team off that I was coming so they all surrounded me. I am not sure why they automatically assumed I was Blake. Wait…now that I think about it…I did not see another white person in the entire business park…hum. They circled around me and stared like I was a tiger that escaped from the zoo. Eventually things settled and work continued…well at least until I pulled out a bag of Jolly Ranchers to share. ADVICE: If you ever move to a foreign country and want to make friends, bring candy that most of them cannot afford or find in their own country. I am now tired and hungry and just want to go home and chill.
I make it home, traffic is horrible at 7:30 pm over here. The day has been good so far, few more hours and I am off to bed. I get home and Stella had been shopping but she had spent more money than I had given her, and I was unable to find anything I knew how to eat. I went to my room to change and to figure out where she had put my things. She did a pretty good job. As I ventured through the house I could not figure out the light switches and power outlets. There are tons of them and none of them work. To get a power outlet to work in this country you first have to flip a switch to turn it on. Then when you plug something into it sparks shoot everywhere. Why there are light switches to nothing I am yet to figure out. Moving past the switches, I was unable to figure out how to turn on the air, so it was hot as hell in my apartment, and all of the channels on this giant TV and in Indian. So I went to plan B, jump on the internet and complain to all of my friends back home until my battery dies as I was afraid to plug in the charger. This plan was seemingly working until we experiences my first power outage.
Pissed off, hungry, and hot I went to bed at 9:30.
Blake
PS – I did get a few emails while angrily sleeping that made today start better (Thanks). Today I am getting pizza for lunch, the big one too in case I have to eat it for dinner as well.
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