My first assignment as a corporate training consultant has come to an end, this week. I guess I do not have adjectives to describe the fun I have and the new friends I have made while on this assignment.
In fact it was a tight rope walk. When I started with this program on 2nd July, it was just a day since my family moved to Bangalore from my native place Tadepalligudem. Many tasks were in pending state at Bangalore and on the other hand, I was not in a position to loose this assignment. You know, I could not get a gas connection, could not get a landline/mobile connection for the family. I could not find a tuition teacher for kids. This list was endless at that point of time. I remember my wife and kids were forced to eat their dinner in the nearby hotel (darshini) for about three days.
You know still how we survived? Its only because of friends like you. Wife of one of my friends spent around 4-6 hours a day for 10 about days with my kids to prepare them for their tests. (It was very important because kids joined in the school after one month since the academic year started). My wife's friend gave away her mobile and gas stove to us. A PUC child of other friend made visits to home everyday just to check if anything was to be purchased. There are no words to thank any one of them. Of course, my wife and kids understood the situation and reacted in the way that is required at that time.
Now, you can understand state of my mind in the initial days of this assignment. My body was present at training room but mind was always thinking about the family back at home. Still, I guess the training program went smoothly and pleasantly. The success factor? None other than the participants. I have participants from all over India: from Bangalore, Chennai, Jarkhand, Luknow, Assam, Hyderabad, Nepal, Haryana, Uttarakhand .... They remain very enthusiastic, hardworking, self-motivating people ... they worked really like a rock solid team.
The best moment during the training was what happened on 14th Aug. We had such an instant fun on that day by the performances of these folks ... I remember I was laughing non-stop during that one hour program. It was a stunning creation armed with perfect execution.
Next best moment was the project slot. The kind of commitment, patience, direction that was exhibited in those three days by the participants is simply exemplary. They have greate future ahead.
Of course how can I forget the Rakhi day? My family from Bangalore and my sister's family from Vijayawada joined me on the Rakhi day in Chennai. We roamed around the city in such way that it was 12 mid night by the
time we reached back our hotel. No buse/auto from Guindy station to our place in Ekkaduthangal. We the parents along with our four kids walked on the streets of Chennai at that time under the clear sky with stars, for couple of kilo meters to reach the hotels. It reminded me my childhood days. The kids were fully enjoying that day ... no sign of getting tired. Laughing, running, joking all time time. We had chilled cooldrinks at that time to sum it up.
Along with these best moments, there was one sad moment. One of my best buddies fell sick at Mysore and I could not even pay a visit to that place. Those three days was like a punishment. She was in the hospital in a very sensitive situation and I could not leave Chennai. Only during the next weekend I could make a visit to Mysore to see her. Luckily she recovered now and no issues.
And lastly, how can I forget the city called Chennai? Right from the hotel wallah to auto wallah, from Beach-Tamabaram local train to my D70 city bus, everything made my first ever stay at Chennai a memorable one. Earlier, many times I visited Chennai from Cisco on official work. But, it was like AirPort to Chola Shereton Hotel - HCL Office - AirPort. I did not tasted the real Chennai then.
This time, we had dinner in the very special Saravana Bhavans, did some shopping in Saravana Stores in Ranganathan Street, played in the Marina beach, had fun at Vandalur zoo, had little naps at Central station while waiting for trains ... nothing we missed except a tour to Pondy. I was weekly customer to the Kaveri express and Bangalore-Chennai weekly. And, once I even went to Tadepalligudem to see my mother and some friends.
Its like this.
This Chennai city gave me my first international exposure by sending me abroad around nine years back. This is the same city that gave me, now, another break by giving me the first opportunity in my new profession.
I might have had many highs and lows during these two months. But, the city, its people, the participants, the family, the people at hotel/lunchroom and the organizers of this training program ... all pumped in fresh energy into me, every minute.
Its a wonderful experience which I can not afford to forgot, life long.
In fact it was a tight rope walk. When I started with this program on 2nd July, it was just a day since my family moved to Bangalore from my native place Tadepalligudem. Many tasks were in pending state at Bangalore and on the other hand, I was not in a position to loose this assignment. You know, I could not get a gas connection, could not get a landline/mobile connection for the family. I could not find a tuition teacher for kids. This list was endless at that point of time. I remember my wife and kids were forced to eat their dinner in the nearby hotel (darshini) for about three days.You know still how we survived? Its only because of friends like you. Wife of one of my friends spent around 4-6 hours a day for 10 about days with my kids to prepare them for their tests. (It was very important because kids joined in the school after one month since the academic year started). My wife's friend gave away her mobile and gas stove to us. A PUC child of other friend made visits to home everyday just to check if anything was to be purchased. There are no words to thank any one of them. Of course, my wife and kids understood the situation and reacted in the way that is required at that time.
Now, you can understand state of my mind in the initial days of this assignment. My body was present at training room but mind was always thinking about the family back at home. Still, I guess the training program went smoothly and pleasantly. The success factor? None other than the participants. I have participants from all over India: from Bangalore, Chennai, Jarkhand, Luknow, Assam, Hyderabad, Nepal, Haryana, Uttarakhand .... They remain very enthusiastic, hardworking, self-motivating people ... they worked really like a rock solid team.
The best moment during the training was what happened on 14th Aug. We had such an instant fun on that day by the performances of these folks ... I remember I was laughing non-stop during that one hour program. It was a stunning creation armed with perfect execution.Next best moment was the project slot. The kind of commitment, patience, direction that was exhibited in those three days by the participants is simply exemplary. They have greate future ahead.
Of course how can I forget the Rakhi day? My family from Bangalore and my sister's family from Vijayawada joined me on the Rakhi day in Chennai. We roamed around the city in such way that it was 12 mid night by the
time we reached back our hotel. No buse/auto from Guindy station to our place in Ekkaduthangal. We the parents along with our four kids walked on the streets of Chennai at that time under the clear sky with stars, for couple of kilo meters to reach the hotels. It reminded me my childhood days. The kids were fully enjoying that day ... no sign of getting tired. Laughing, running, joking all time time. We had chilled cooldrinks at that time to sum it up.Along with these best moments, there was one sad moment. One of my best buddies fell sick at Mysore and I could not even pay a visit to that place. Those three days was like a punishment. She was in the hospital in a very sensitive situation and I could not leave Chennai. Only during the next weekend I could make a visit to Mysore to see her. Luckily she recovered now and no issues.
And lastly, how can I forget the city called Chennai? Right from the hotel wallah to auto wallah, from Beach-Tamabaram local train to my D70 city bus, everything made my first ever stay at Chennai a memorable one. Earlier, many times I visited Chennai from Cisco on official work. But, it was like AirPort to Chola Shereton Hotel - HCL Office - AirPort. I did not tasted the real Chennai then.
This time, we had dinner in the very special Saravana Bhavans, did some shopping in Saravana Stores in Ranganathan Street, played in the Marina beach, had fun at Vandalur zoo, had little naps at Central station while waiting for trains ... nothing we missed except a tour to Pondy. I was weekly customer to the Kaveri express and Bangalore-Chennai weekly. And, once I even went to Tadepalligudem to see my mother and some friends.
Its like this.
This Chennai city gave me my first international exposure by sending me abroad around nine years back. This is the same city that gave me, now, another break by giving me the first opportunity in my new profession.
I might have had many highs and lows during these two months. But, the city, its people, the participants, the family, the people at hotel/lunchroom and the organizers of this training program ... all pumped in fresh energy into me, every minute.
Its a wonderful experience which I can not afford to forgot, life long.
