The visit to MDI (Management Development Institute) was probably one of my favorite in interacting with students in a similar program. We visited on Saturday, 1/9/2010 and it was like any other day of the week. The students are in class full time, six days a week. We started off the session with an informational video about MDI and then a skit put on about Americans by the MDI students ... and they hit it right on the head for management perceptions in the USA!
We then moved into a discussion about if outsourcing was outlawed in the USA. The MDI students has a lot of opinions, but it seemed as though they had the perception that our government has more of a hand in our everyday workings of business, which I do not believe is true.
We then moved into perceptions from both sides (American & Indian) on outsourcing and India in general. I shared the story that I was at a wedding the weeekend before leaving and everyone acted like I might not come back to Milwaukee. The band stopped and the song "Jai Ho!" played at the reception and the crowd went wild. The song is quite a hit in the USA, but mostly because of the movie Slumdog Millionaire and it has a catchy tune. The reality is that most Americans in business have no plans of actually coming to India to see what it is all about. Which is sad to me, but the truth nonetheless!
After the classroom session, we walked across campus for a cup of chai and some time to chat with the students. Those 25 minutes are probably where I learned the most and realized that these students are REALLY smart. They talk to us like English is their first language and since most of the students had some type of engineering or computer science undergrad, the knowledge base is only going to expand exponentially for the country in my eyes.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Do I have to tip for that?
One of the most surprising concepts to me in India was the amount of tipping that was expected. From the beginning, we were asked for tips. I figured that there are two types of tips, those for a service well done, and those to ensure good service.
I do understand for service well done, tips I would expect, like carrying our bags, a bus driver or tour guide. The tipping I did not necessarily agree with was the bathroom, taking a picture with someone dress in traditional dress at a tourist attraction, a person watching our shoes at a temple (you would assume the worshippers would be honest?!) or the guy who was directing our elephant or horse drawn carriage.
I did bring my own toilet paper and paper towels in my purse in the event that the supplies were lacking. In a few instances, the 'attendant' did not look happy that I was not taking her toilet paper or paper towel on the way out or giving her a tip. I felt bad at first, but as the trip went on I was used to it.
Twice when we had already paid for a ride on either a horse drawn carriage up to the Taj or an elephant up to the Amber Fort, the driver asked us for his tip before we reached the destination. I was quite taken aback, and maybe they should have asked if we enjoyed the ride, but then remembered that they were only asking for a $1USD at the most.
Tipping also was challenging for me as we did not have small amounts of money at the beginning as the the ATMs only shoot out higher bills, but in the end the concept that 46 rupees = $1, still throws me for a loop. I felt like 100 rupees was a lot, but in reality, only about $2!
Personal space, or lack thereof.
Personal space as we are used to in the USA, is not relevant to those in India and I think the main reason is the size of the population, almost a billion, and 24 million just in Mumbai. I was preparing to really experience this phenom on the train to Agra, but the fog was a bit heavy and the train was running about 3 hours behind. I have seen on television that people trying to load the trains are literally pushed in before the doors are closed.
Personal space doesn't only include my usual two foot invisible circle around me for strangers, but also staring. I felt that as we were walking around different areas many people tended to stare, and not just for a moment or two, but very obviously. I did notice a lack a tall blonde females in the country, but please. Most stares were deliberate and penetrating, but almost as if they were more curious and trying to be offensive.
Also asking questions about personal information was pretty interesting. The cab driver asked if we were married or had children, and when everyone responded "no," he reminded us, "without a wife, is no life" …. Clearly different than the USA! Personal questions here in the USA, are free game in India. My only question is "why is it someone else's business?"
I was prepared for not being able to have as much personal space in India as I do in the USA, but our visit to SpiderLogic in the conference room almost made me uncomfortable, and I really have never been claustrophobic in my life. After a short Q & A session with the lead of the center, we (13) and the rest of the office (25) all gathered in a room the size we would have in the USA for 10-12 at a conference table to listen to a half hour presentation by Kate. The chairs were packed in together and people were standing in the doorways. This was definitely a fire hazard, but the employees did not appear to be uncomfortable at all. I knew the time that we would be so crammed would be short, so it did not make as nervous as possibly the train would have for a longer amount of time.
I think that if you are prepared for having little personal space while traveling in India, you will be better off, but I do also have to mention how I love my space and peace of mind back here at home.
Honk, please!?!
To state that honking in India is prevalent, would be an understatement. Nothing can prepare an American for the amount of honking that takes place while traveling the roads of India. Here in the USA, most people follow a honk with an unpleasant hand gesture or a few fingers, but not in India. The noise pollution from honking is overwhelming.
Following is a short list of what a beep, or honk can mean on the roads of India:
- I'm here
- watch out
- hi
- get out of my way
- move over
- hurry up
- I might hit you
- I am here for a valet
- I am coming
- Stop
- Go
- just because
- move
- speed up
- because the back of the truck states "horn please"
A few of us took a pink taxi to a textiles mart in Jaipur, and that ride from the hotel to the mart about a 30 minute ride and was one of the scariest rides of my life, and I was in the back seat! The driver was great and said that you just had to worry about your vehicle and moving forward, not who is next to you. His tip was in order to drive like he does; you need "Good Horn, Good Brakes and Good Luck!" And was that the truth.
Taj Mahal, how great thou art!
The Taj Mahal was one of the most fascinating places I have been this far in my "young" life.
We took a 4 person a horse drawn carriage up to the Taj, as polluting vehicles are not allowed within a certain distance surrounding the structure. On the way, our horse had a small collision with a van, neither party was injured or damaged, but the driver was not happy. The horse was quite slim with ribs visible at all angles. About a half mile later, we reached the entrance to the Taj. I knew the Taj was going to be quite grandiose once I saw snow globes, key chains, postcards, books, figurines, t-shirts and tea with the name being sold on the street!
We entered through gates and had a small pat down, and we were in. The first word that comes to mind is symmetry. Everything was symmetrical, offices, gardens, walkways, plant motifs, painting, the Taj itself as well as the two outlying buildings.
The first glimpse of the Taj in the distance was breath-taking. It was truly amazing and the pictures do not do any justice. All the facts are maybe the most impressive to me: 23 years to build, 1000s of artisans and craftsman involved, all marble brought in quarries of Makrana and elephants were used for transportation of the marble. I was also impressed with the minarets and how they are all learning a few degrees away from the dome in the event of a disaster, they would fall away from the tomb. Once inside the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, photos are not allowed. The details of the walls were incredible, there were 28 different kinds of precious and semi-precious stones used in the inlays, and everyone was perfect and beautiful.
I probably could have walked around and sat and stared at the Taj Mahal for the good portion of a day if we would have had the time. The reflection of the sun and the effect of the weather was very interesting to me. When we arrived, the fog had not completely lifted, but by the time we left, the fog was gone and the blue sky was a perfect complement to the white marble structure and green gardens.
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