first day at the office

So today was a really full day...I work up at 4:30am...darn jetlag...and watched Sernity on HBO. I don't even know the last time I was that awake that early.

The hotel provides free breakfast every day which is really cool...most of it is pretty normal fare but I did have these really good frien spinich and cheese thingamy-bobs...and some not so good papya juice...something about it just seemed off.

Sareen, one of the Managers at the ATC picked me up and we headed into the office. I didn't really see the outside of the building because before I knew it we were in the undergroud garage. They found a work area for me and introduced me around. the best thing...Free espresso...a caffinated Drew is a happy drew ;) It's kinda interesting because to bring laptops (or any electrinics into or out of the building) you have to sign them in.

We got the server for the lab unpacked and I spend the day setting it up as it's own domain, getting all the VMs setup and configured. BTW...I HATE DNS...and windows firewall. I worked a lot with Siddartha, one of the ePro CTAS guys (who also runs their lab), getting all the DNS domain stuff worked out. By the time I left the server is ready for the app to be installed when Shrujal and Vineet make it back. Quick note on them...due to the horrible weather in the north east they were still not in Bangalore by 6pm tonight. I feel really bad for those guys...and I thougt I had a long trip.

Like the Nashville office they have food there...and yes it's Indian. Sareen asked if I wanted Indian food or pizza...and india food all the say baby...I still have not hunted down western food...and there are no plans to still!!!!!!

I also talked with Mahendra quite a bit about our support model and eWFM in general. I think it would probably be beneficial...once the lab is up and running to show them the application so they have a frame of reference.

Overall everyone is really nice, eager to help and make sure I'm comfortable :)

After work I got back to the hotel and decided to go for a walk...if I thought it was crazy yesterday it was so much more so today. MG Road was PACKED and I got a little more adventurous and turned off MG Road onto Residency Rd (I think). And if I thought MG road was packed....guess what...even more crazyness. I'll have to get a little video clip of walking down the street because there really are no words to decribe it. I find it really energizing to walk around with tons of people and stuff going on..I wish nashville had just one street like this because it really makes you feel alive being surrouded by so many people, so much movement, and so many different colors and smells.

I'm also finding the little things that make India "indearing". My walk ended because what was a bright busy street all of a sudden turned into a pretty dark busy street...At first I thought it was just the way it was until I heard all the generators and saw vendors doing business by candle light or flashlight...actually it was a power outage...That's when I decided since I didn't really know where the road I was on went it might be wise to turn around. It did make for a really cool image of a guy counting $$ from customers by candelight in a tabacco stall. Back on MG road some of power there was also out...but not everywhere...good thing is there are so many cars, bikes, etc. providing light that it wasn't pitch black and it made for some really cool shadows when people were walking towards me. There have been a few of those...my room has probably lost power about 5 times by now...for about 30 seconds each time...and it happened once at the office for about a minute. The first 2 times I was a little concerned...but knowing that it comes right back makes it ok.

After 2 days here my best comparison would be the organized chaos of NYC meets the spirit of New Orleans...this will probably change the more I experience but that's how I feel for now :)

TTFN