Pizza?

Working nights - US mornings is really a challenge! I find myself coming back to the hotel, logging onto my computer and before I know it, it's 630 am! I can't continue doing that! I'm wasting precious time! Yesterday we thought that we'd eat a light lunch since we missed the breakfast buffet - soup and some pot stickers. What we had been doing was waking up to hit the breakfast buffet only to go back and take a nap, then getting sandwiches to go for the way to work. What didn't work was the waking up and going back to bed thing. Now, I know... this light lunch thing won't work either! I start training at 630 pm. That's when my day begins (well, not really, but when I start working). By 700 pm, I'm famished and we're not scheduled for lunch until 1030 pm. Great. I DO have a big bag of American chocolate! However, not sharing with the rest of the group would just be wrong. That's not an option. We take a break and I'm thinking... "did i snare an apple and throw it in my bag the other day? Maybe there's a granola bar in there..." As training is about to start, in walks my project manager with boxes of Domino's pizzas! I thought "this is my lucky day!!" I see stickers on the side that say "veg" and "non-veg". I get that. Everyone asks which I prefer to which I respond, "oh, I'm a meaterarian!" One of the gals suggests I try the chicken pizza. I like chicken! It looks fine. So, I do. It was quite tasty.... until I bit into a hot pepper. Now, I DO like spicy (in fact, I'm a little spicy myself) and would probably order this if in the U.S. Considering I'm still feeling the effects of DB (and apparently the entire organization is aware of that), I suddenly wonder if suggesting the spicy chicken was an experiment to see how long it took for me to politely dismiss myself from the training room - as I did on Monday. Good news is, no real issues!

Prior to the pizza party, we had arranged to be at work early. We had a meeting with our contact in India. I went to my training room and logged onto my computer. I found the meeting invite and attempted to dial in. I didn't want to be late. I felt as if we'd be causing quite a stir and wanted to show some respect by being timely. I follow the directions exactly. I can't get through. I instant message the coordinator explaining that I'm attempting to dial in and told her what I was doing. Her reply was "well, I'm in". Ok. That doesn't help. Thankfully, another contact instant messaged me and gave me the correct phone number and code - what was on the invite was wrong. I tried, right? So, this important meeting was an orientation. Um... I've been here since Monday if you recall. Today is Thursday. This information would have been nice about four days ago. We learn that we're not getting our cell phones until Monday (what a surprise). Apparently, our contact here "has always been fine" with us using the hotel car. That's interesting, I could have sworn I was part of a different conversation. It's fine. I'm pretty adaptable. During the conversation, another colleague pops into my training room to chat. Bottom line is that she feels as if moving hotels is what needs to happen for us here at Uppal's Orchid. So... be it known that my residence MAY change! Actually, that would allow us to prowl around Delhi a little more!

Prior to going to work (and before the light lunch) we chatted with the hotel manager. We were hoping that we could take the lunch buffet rather than breakfast buffet because of the hours we keep. We had also mentioned some of our grievances, none really tying to me, but to another colleague- her doorbell would ring in the middle of the night-or morning, she came home to a bug on the floor (oh, and that was after the scary cab ride.. not a good night), the other gal's room is just shy of an ice box, etc. The manager promised to follow up on all of these items. Before leaving, my colleague asked if we all could have "complimentary massages". Well, I'm here to report that I have JUST returned from my massage - and it was lovely!! However, she did tell me that I needed a pedicure and to come back in 4 days because she wasn't sure how I could walk. Sales strategy? Not sure.

We're meeting the other folks from the US tonight for dinner. I've arranged for someone to walk through exercises on my behalf while I'm there. I'm happy it's Friday! Today's training should be fine. As for the weekend, our plans are still up in the air. We may be joining everyone here from the US on a trip to the Taj!! When it was mentioned that "we'd have to leave early", my reply was "I get off at 3".