Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot...

This week should be a fairly short post. After a few weeks of go-go-go, it was time to relax a little and enjoy Gurgaon and Delhi.

Masala Dosa and Coconut water from Dilli Haat.

It was another busy week at work--the newest group just completed there second week of taking calls and are being shadowing and shaped to become the future of Cvent Customer Care. In the evenings, I began researching destinations for my upcoming travels when Alex arrives. I think we have settled on a tour to the north Indian mountains--which should be cool and beautiful in June. More to come on that! The training batch did take a break from the hard work and enjoyed a group dinner on Friday across the road from the office. The team introduced me to a Masala Dosa--a delicious south Indian crepe-like food. I am now obsessed with the crispy pancake, spicy filling and scrumptious dipping sauce and will definitely be eating much more over the next several weeks.

On Friday, I came home (at 4am IST [6:30pm ET] ) to find my roommates awake and continuing the celebration of Julide's last few nights in Gurgaon. We decided to wait a few more hours and head to the Westin for their amazing buffet breakfast. The buffet started at 6:30am IST [9pm ET] and offered some of the most delightful foods in all types of cuisine. I enjoyed croissants spread with Honey that I cut from a Honeycomb, Indian Samosas and Chinese Dim sum. We chowed down of the amazing selection and then headed to the pool to relax in the morning sun. We enjoyed ourselves until the hotel realized that we were not guests, so we were asked to leave. Boo.

We walked home at 11am IST [1:30pm ET] and crawled in bed for a nap. I snoozed until 7pm IST [9:30am ET] and realized it was approaching night-time. After attempting to coordinate some plans for the evening, we decided to order Pizza Hut and relax for the night. We watched a few movies before calling it a night. I tried to get some sleep, but was not able to go back to bed so soon after waking--I basically tossed and turned until it was time to get going Sunday Morning.

Akshardham Temple. Photo by liveindia.tv

After a Puni omelet for breakfast, Erin and I were greeted by Arvi and his wife, Vidhi, for some Delhi sightseeing and shopping. First, we went to the Akshardham temple -- a magnificent hand-sculpted temple that is a new structure honoring an ancient religion. After a few hiccups while trying to enter the facility (turns out they don't allow ANY electronic devices, including cameras) and a true fear that I was going to faint in the 108 Degree Fahrenheit heat, we entered the temple complex and walked around the gardens and walkways. Because the temple was completed less than a decade ago, it offered some very moder attractions including an IMAX movie of its beginnings and a Pirates of the Caribbean style boat ride through scenes of India's history. We finally made our way into the temple complex and my breath was taken away when I saw the ornate, hand carved marble from floor to ceiling. Golden depictions of the Hindi gods were placed in every alcove and the main attraction, a huge seated statue of Swaminarayan, the leader of the sect, garnished in precious stones and gold.

After spending a few hours at the temple we made our way to Dilli Haat, a street market in Delhi, for shopping and dinner. You always get the best deals when you have a local with you, and Vidhi was great at getting us a deal. I bought 2 pairs of leather sandals, some jewelry, a leather purse, scarves and pillow cases--and got some amazing deals. Arvi was a perfect man among the three ladies and offered to carry our spoils through the market. We grabbed some dinner (another Dosa) and made our way home just in time to bid farewell to Julide as she left to catch her plane.

A wonderfully relaxing weekend before the madness starts again! Coming up: Thailand for Memorial Day then Alex arrives! I can't wait!

The Golden Triangle

Classic Taj Picture

It's Sunday (and Mother's Day at that) and I find myself again reminiscing over another fantastic week in India. Per usual, it was a busy week with a lot of changes. Prachi is being evaluated to go live and the new group hit the floor for their first calls--and all are doing so well! There is lots of work to be done, but I really enjoy everyone that I have been working with--so it makes the days and weeks go by so quickly! I can't believe I am already half-way through my trip!

The "Golden Triangle" is one of India's most popular tourism circuits. It is made up with Delhi at the top and Jaipur and Agra forming a triangle of amazing cities with beautiful attractions. We did all three--in one week!

Delhi

Wednesday Night (or should I say Thursday Morning) after work, Javed and Shaun invited us to experience the sunrise while site seeing in Delhi. Erin and I could not say no, so we piled into Shaun's car and drove in to the city. At 4am, it was a quick trip that would have taken hours had it been during a peak time of the day. We had open roads ahead of us as we made our way to the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. This beautiful Sikh place of worship was beautifully lit against the dark sky. As we approached the main courtyard, we heard the chantings of the priests inside and drums were beating as they rhythmically shared passages from their holy text.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Before entering, we removed our shoes and donned head covers. The marble courtyard felt smooth against our bare feet as we explored the exterior and sat peacefully by the pond. A man approached us with an offering of food and Erin and I almost declined before the boys told us it was extremely disrespectful to do so. Instead, we held out our palms and accepted the warm, sweet meal he provided. It was Karah Prasad (a mix of butter, sugar and semolina) a blessed offering that is provided to all visitors of the grounds and was absolutely delicious. We explored the temple inside and out and watched the sky lighten the backdrop of the white building as we left to continue our journey.

Shaun, Erin and Me at India Gate

After leaving the temple, we drove as close as we could get to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the massive presidential residence in the area of Delhi that could be equivalent to our own "National Mall". Though we could only see the tip of the main palace's dome peeking above the entry way, we could see the magnificent complex. Directly opposite the palace, the India Gate serves as a war memorial to fallen soldiers. We explored the area and the surrounding gardens--it was beautiful in the barely-morning light

We drove by a few other sites, including the railroad park and the American embassy, before making our way back to Gurgaon for a five-star buffet breakfast. I am sure you are sick of me talking about the India time warp, but in this case I was glad to be having breakfast for dinner because it was delicious. Shaun dropped us off at the apartment at 8am IST (10:30pm ET) so we could get plenty of rest for the remainder of the week.

Click here for more photos of our Delhi Drive.



Agra

The group at the Taj Mahal

We set ourselves up for another fast-paced weekend when we decided to leave as soon as the shift ended on Friday for a journey around the Golden Triangle--starting with Agra. Caitlyn, Brendan, Jasmin, Dave, Erin and I filled every seat in Suresh's van and got out of Gurgaon pretty close to schedule. Most of the crew passed out, but I realized quickly that someone needed to stay awake, as Suresh was feeling a little sleepy and the Indian roads are not easy to manage with heavy eye-lids. Again, I was in awe as we made the 250km trek. The decorated trucks, people alongside the roadways, miles and miles of roadside stands and cows crossing the street with no care at all left for pretty exciting scenery to take-in along the way. You can really tell how populated India is--there was no point on the trip where you didn't see someone standing, working, sitting or doing their business on the side of the road and it was always bustling.

I was 8:30IST when we made it to Agra and we could see the silhouette of the Taj Mahal in the distance as we approached. It was still early in the morning, but as soon as the sun came out it was HOT and we were immediately sweating. Suresh dropped us off in the nearest parking lot possible, which was still a few kilometers from the entrance. Naturally, we hopped in a camel cart and hired a guide, Wasia, to take us around. He told us the history of the site and pointed out important elements in the structure. Additionally, he served as a great photographer and we were able to get a few group shots. We dragged our bootied feet around the mausoleum complex until we finally broke down to the heat and after being harassed by souvenir hawkers, we decided to continue on our journey. We came, we saw, we conquered--in 2hours time.

Jaipur

Kids on the road to Jaipur

It seemed like Suresh was able to rest up a bit, so I felt comfortable resting my eyes during the second 250km of our trip. We made good time until we came across a terribly designed intersection at a railroad crossing and were stuck for 40 mins until the mess was cleared. We made some friends in the meantime and exchanged some granola bars for bags of cool water and adorable pictures. When we finally got moving, we bumped and jostled our way to Chokhi Dhani, an Authentic Rajastani village and resort. After an Aarti & Tikka welcome (they blessed us each with a bindhi--the red dot on your forehead), we were almost turned away as only three of the six of us had our passports with us and it was required for entry. After only a few moments of panic, we were able to contact our friends back home in Delhi, who emailed us pictures. Needless to say we were exhausted and ready for a shower.

Dancing at Chokhi Dhani

After freshening up in the "royal cottage" decorated in true Rajastani style, we met for dinner and drinks at the restaurant. All of us were starving and were disappointed to hear that we could only order appetizers until 7:30. It didn't stall us a bit, and we made a full dinner of Samosas, noodles and crispy papadum. Afterwards, we walked to the villae where a crowd of locals and travellers enjoyed the fair. There were stalls with handmade crafts, carnival style games, elephant rides and dancers. We explored for a little while, watched a "magic show" and pet the baby cows before heading back to the resort for a drink and a cozy bed.

Suresh's Van

This morning, we packed up our things and asked Suresh to drive us around Jaipur. He took us past the sunken palace and drove us though the famous "Pink city". We shopped around for a bit at the jewel capital of India, until unfortunately, Erin's debit card was retained by the ATM machine--so we decided to continue our trip to the Amber Fort--situated high above Jaipur. We explored the walled city and even saw a monkey before calling it a day and cramming in the car to make the journey home.

"Pink City"

We were all sweating and there was almost no circulation, but somehow we managed to get past it and doze for most of the way home. After being on the road for so long, we decided to shower up and head to the Westin for a nice Italian dinner. When we came home, Erin and I made our final reservations for Thailand--Bangkok and Pattaya for Memorial Day 2012!

We came home and called our Mother's to say hello and wish them a happy Mother's Day from afar. There is a busy week ahead and I cant believe my time here is offically half complete! So much to do, with so little time!!

Click here for more photos of Agra and Jaipur.

Desi and you know it...

Crazy ride in a bicycle rickshaw with Jasmin.

My time here is really starting to go by so quickly! It has now been three weeks, and here goes my fourth installment. Per usual, most of the week was pretty standard. [See last week's post for the routine] I am spending most of my day mentoring Prachi and the rest of it I assist AJ designing classroom materials. The new batch hits the floor this week, so there is a lot to do to prepare.

It is surprising how quickly the week flies by. There is so much energy and excitement in the office that time just seems to warp. One of the nights this week, I called Suresh to pick me up, it was 4:00 AM and I needed to head back to the apartment. On our way he tried to make conversation by saying, "Have you really been at the office for 12 hours?" I had to think about it a minute before I realized that it was true, and the sad part about it--I wasn't really that bothered. In fact, I was planning to review a few more items from home. It's what everyone signs up for when they come--but it is worth it. Everyone here works hard, but plays hard too!

Cvent Recruitment

Cvent recruitment drive

We cancelled our plans to go to the Taj when we found out that Cvent was hosting recruitment drives this weekend and needed our help. Similar to sending representatives to find talented people on college campuses in the US, Cvent places ads in the paper and employment websites asking job-seekers to come interview with us at an open call. In an attempt to get some rest for a long day ahead, I left work on Friday at 12AM IST [2:30PM ET]. As hard as I tried to fall asleep during what my body thought was mid-afternoon, I tossed and turned until I finally dozed off at 6:30AM IST [8PM ET] --just in time for my alarm to go off at 7:30AM IST [9PM ET] to get ready to go.

Julide, Jasmin and I participated in the drive at Essex Farms, a meeting facility in South Delhi. Because most of the recruiting efforts rely on the advertisements in the local papers, you never know what type of crowd you are going to get when you arrive. Unfortunately, this particular drive was not as successful as some others have been in the past, but it was great to experience the whole process for hiring in India. I have always known that our department is made up of a smart, talented and diligent group of people--but my appreciation for our team rose even higher when I met with the other people looking to get in with one of Gurgaon's hot companies.

The whole process was a fascinating day to observe and partake in. The space was configured with a reception area and two large rooms with desks and chairs. Candidates would check-in with a member of HR and make their way to one of the rooms to begin filling out their application. At the surrounding desks, current team members waited to meet with the candidates. Because the flow of candidates was more like a trickle, I was able to conduct most of my interviews by pairing up with a teammate.This worked well because Ross, Gautam, Abhilash, Baldeep, Tenzin, Mansi or Piyush could spot the candidates from top schools or companies, and I could judge their communication skills from an American perspective. A candidate who finished their application would be sorted to one of the "Level 1" tables. This level was mostly for communication skills and screening--if they were good--we would pass them to a manager at "Level 2" and a decision would be made on whether or not to invite this person to the office for further rounds of interviews.

I sat at the level 1 tables for most of the day. We would be handed an application to review and then call the candidate for a 5 minute interview. The application was surprisingly detailed. It asked for your grades from high-school to college and your rankings/ratings and your previous employer. Even age in years was a data point on the application and played a part in many decisions--that would never fly in the US! After introductions and the nervous realization that they had been called to the table with the American, the first question was typically "Walk me through your resume"--a typical introduction to get the ball rolling--and the conversation continued from there. It wasn't hard to tell within the first 30 seconds the people that should move on and the people that just weren't cut out for it, but we gave everyone the respect of an interview for their effort. See some questions and typical answers below:

• So, tell me about yourself.
• My name is sldkfjlskdjf, from the town of adslfkjlkjadf in the middle of lakdjsflkjasdlkfj. I traveled today from algfkljlkasdlalskd and am staying in lkajsdlkjasld.
• I see that your last job was in 2010, what have you been doing since then?
• I went home to akjflkjskldfj to start a business with my father. The business failed due to a land dispute so now I am looking for a new job.
• I fell ill and was unable to work.
• What have you heard about Cvent?
• Nothing much.
• I heard they are a paymaster [pays well] and has high retention.
• They design events and websites for the client and when the client has a requirement they build the softwares. [Not really...]

After speaking to a candidate for a few minutes, my interview partner and I would make a decision on whether to move them on. We assessed their speech/grammar and if they were a good fit for the team and the company. We typically hire people who have prior experience working on the phone with callers from the USA, Australia or Great Britain. Additionally, they need to demonstrate a strength in logic and the ability to lead a client through unscripted situations.

I met with all sorts of people, from young professionals who showed a lot of potential to unqualified job-seekers who were desperate for a break. While it was unfortunate to turn someone a way with the "We'll get back to you" it was satisfying to know that we ended the day with a few high-potential candidates too.

The two BEST parts of the day were the lunch (DELICIOUS rice, roasted Mutton and Dal) and the chance to get to know more of my colleagues that were at the drive. Between interviews we had a few minutes to chat and get to know each other which I really appreciated.

...and the Fun Stuff

Shopping in Hauz Khas Village

After the drive ended, Julide, Jasmin and I asked Suresh to take us to Hauz Khas Village where we met up with Sid for some exploration and shopping. I have come to find out that India gives me a total adrenaline high--do I even need sleep?--and I was able to make it through the day and into the night.We meandered our way through the narrow streets lined with levels upon levels of shopping, dining and living space. The store fronts displayed some of the most beautiful saris, suits and dresses that I have seen and the quality of workmanship was exquisite. Some of the items were absolutely breathtaking, but my practicality won over, as I knew there would be little occasion for me to wear a bedazzled sari once I returned home.Though we all admired the beautiful attire, we stuck to the jewelry arena and made some friends at a silver store where each of us purchased a few beautiful pieces. I also walked away with a scarf and a leather wallet.

It was getting late and the sun was setting so Sid lead us to the best sunset spot in town, Boheme, for a unbelievable view of the neighboring park in the evening. It was a wonderful setting for a coffee and a delicious Italian meal. We relaxed and enjoyed the ambiance for a few hours until we decided to pump it up a bit and head out to Turquoise Cottage for some rock music and dancing. It was Cinco de Mayo, so the group decided to celebrate by ordering margaritas. It ended up being a bad choice, as they came out as basically tequila on the rocks--which we readliy improved with an order of fresh lime juice. We met up with quite a group and it didn't take us long to start the party. The song selection was amazing [all American of course] and everyone enjoyed moving to the music.

After a few more rounds and a free bottle of champagne, we called Suresh and asked him to transport us to Angi, where the folks who had not gone recruiting in Essex were gathered. By this time it was 3AM IST [5:30 PM ET] and I had basically been awake (minus 1 hr of sleep) for 36 hours. We kept it going and partied with the full crowd. A local singer/DJ was playing live and a popular song [no joke] was a remix of the preschool classic. "If you're Desi and you know it clap your hands..." Desi basically means "Indian" and the song immediately caught on to all of us--I am sure it wont be the last time I hear that chorus.

We eventually made our way back to Essel Towers, but continued the fun till the early morning hours. I think I finally went to bed around 6AM IST [8:30 PM ET], with plans to wake up for brunch at the Westin. Needless to say, brunch didn't happen. I finally woke up at 3:00 PM IST [5:30 AM IST] and appreciated the ability to catch up on sleep. Jasmin and I decided to head down the block to explore a bit and get a nice meal. Much to our convenient surprise, we walked out of Essel towers and happened to find a Westin auto-rickshaw driver who was on his way back--so we hopped in. The complex would be a short walk away from the apartment, but the mid-day heat was quite exhausting--not to mention the busy roads lined with ruthless beggars.

Enjoying the Westin pool

We ordered a scrumptious pasta lunch and capped it off with an Oreo ice cream pie. The manicured lawns and swimming pool was a Delhi oasis for a few minutes. Jasmin needed to stop at an ATM, so we walked out of the gated complex to find one and were immediately surrounded by a gaggle of girls who thought they had hit the gold mine--they followed us chanting "money-money-money-money" until we finally shooed them off and made the snap decision to flag down a bicycle rickshaw. We didn't think about the conditions until we were already on our way, and the five minute trip was terrifying as our driver pedaled through traffic an eventually needed to cross 8 lanes before turning into our gate. We thanked him for keeping us alive and paid the 50 Rupee fare--that's about $1.

Glad to be alive, we rounded up the troops and decided to ask Suresh to take us to the grocery store. I already stockpiled last week, so I only needed a few things to add to my inventory--a set of Tupperware being one!

We unpacked our loot and loaded the fridge. The group of 8 all sat together for a family dinner thanks to Puni. It is rare that we are all eating at the same time and it is always enjoyable to gather for an Indian meal. Puni made a delicious chicken tikka and fried rice dinner. We stayed up for a few more hours and watched a movie. Everyone was using their ipad or iphone to load pictures etc.--its funny how connected everyone can be!

Family Dinner from Puni

After everyone called it a night, I came to my room to spill this out. This week is going to be busy and then I actually think we are going to make it to Agra next weekend! Check back next week for another post and leave your comments!

Check out more photos here.