Not exactly Lawrence of Arabia, and not exactly Peter O'Toole, but it sounded like a reasonable attempt at a blog title, and so it will do for the time being.
I promised myself (and others) that I would start a new blog to coincide with my entry into the world of deaning in India and, of course, I have delayed and delayed on the basis that I was not "really" into the role yet. Well I can't procrastinate any longer - have spent my first full day in the IBS Kochi office after arriving last night (Friday 5th October) at 10.30pm and finally hitting the sack at 12.30am (or 5.00am Sydney time).
Yesterday was a mixed experience. Luke (my son) had driven me out to the airport and we'd parted company after a couple of decent bear hugs and my encouragement for him to download Skype for more regular ongoing contact.
What I thought was going to be a standard check-in like the hundreds of previous occasions turned sour at the Singapore Airlines counter, as I discovered that 10kg in excess baggage translates into a $300 (yep, $30 per kg) excess baggage charge. The flight to Singapore (down the back of the bus) was uneventful, with spare seats between me and the fourth person in our middle row and a chance to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, along with another movie I immediately forget.
Singapore Airport remains a hive of activity and I was no stranger to this, meeting up with a guy named Wayne on his way to an ayurvedic ashram in Kerala (serendipity? fate? God moving in mysterious ways?) in between making a phone call to an important business contact I'd arranged the previous Wednesday (which turned out to be the most positive aspect of the day).
Singapore to Kochi on Silk Air is about a four-hour flight and, again, I was fortunate to find a space between me and the other person in our row of three, but not so fortunate, given the very tired young three year old in the seat immediately behind me.
Ajith and Thankachin were at the airport to pick me up and deliver me to the apartment, where I was delighted to be the recipient of a thoughtful fruit basket and warm words of welcome in a note from Freeda (our Director Marketing). Some extended minutes of unpacking and then it was settling down time.
Up earlier than expected this morning and then a day of all sorts of sites, sounds and activity - first to the police station for the obligatory "reporting in" under Rule 14 of the Foreign Visitors Act. To the office and staggered at how much has been achieved in refurbishment and construction in the last month or so. On to the net for emails and such, with a visit from our friendly local bank managers, a Skype session with Jay, phone call from Mohan and a follow up text message from Freeda to punctuate various parts of the day. Met Jeena, our new office assistant/receptionist and Ajay, our new IT guy and our housekeeper (whose name, I'm ashamed to say immediately escapes me).
This evening was shopping time, with a trip to the supermarket, followed by visits to the textiles shop, the sandal shop, a local water bottle dispenser (interspersed by a quick dosa marsala for dinner) and so to home for more unpacking and the beginning of this blog.
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