Working in IT industry or in more broader terms any service based industry has it's own share of unique experiences. And anybody who has been a part of this setup can easily relate to these unique, weird and extraordinary experiences. One such very common phenomena is the rage to travel abroad through work related trips and quite interestingly this phenomena is inversely proportional to the number of years one has spent in the industry. So if this phenomena is not a top priority for a veteran who has spent 10-15 years in the industry, it certainly is the ULTIMATE desire for a fresher who has just joined the industry or is a new bee in this arena. Amazingly it even rates higher than the more important and substantial attributes like job profile, quality of work or future career progression.So why do people carve for working in a foreign land so much? Obviously visiting a new country is always exciting as it gives an opportunity to experience new culture and fulfill ones foreign holiday dreams. Some see it as an opportunity to prove that they have achieved a career or professional high by working in a foreign land. Some see it as a status symbol over others and derive superiority mileage from such opportunities. But in majority of the cases the biggest reason for an onsite trip is to make large sums of money and do a hefty saving which is otherwise not possible in such a short span while working in India. And these savings enables individuals to buy their dream homes and dream cars without much sweat. No wonder people go to extraordinary extents to earn an onsite opportunity. Nothing wrong in that obviously but the herculean efforts that individuals put in to get them are simply hilarious.
But getting one such opportunity doesn't end the story, in fact the change in mannerisms thereafter makes it even more interesting. Thanks to various social networking sites like GTalk, Facebook and Twitter every individual is connected to virtually everybody he has come across all his life till date. Though its a different matter that out of 500 odds friends in the friend list one interacts with only a dozen on a regular basis. But once ones reaches onsite or a foreign land the count exponentially shoots up from a dozen to a few hundreds or even more. How? & Why? The just landed onsite maniac, JLOM, makes it point to socialize with every guy on his friend list ones he steps out of India, irrespective of the fact that he hasn't spoken a word to him in say last 5-7 years or despite the fact that he doesn't has anything substantial to talk. Changing City, Country and Status updates on these networking sites are few of the other modes of attracting attention and declaring that I am currently on a foreign land. But interestingly every effort is been made to ensure that he is not showing off either:)!
And how does this supposedly seamless conversation happens? -
Just landed onsite maniac, JLOM: hey...how are you doing...
Target 37, T37: hi...i am good...long time...how are you? ( whats wrong with this guy...woken up after 8 years..must be something fishy)
JLOM: yeah man...was thinking of buzzing you from a long time...but life is so busy...
T37: yeah..i understand...so what makes you so free today? (come to the point bugger)
JLOM: nothing man...just thought life is always gonna be busy..you have to take out time for your close buds...
T37 : thats so nice of you dude...(cut the crap jerk..i know how close you have been to me in last 8 years)
JLOM: so tell me..what r u doing...
T37: nothing was just about to pack up and go to sleep...you tell..(come to the point jerk...stop fooling around)
JLOM: oh thats great...i am just cooking my lunch...
T37: lunch??? (there you go...)
JLOM: (yes yes yes...i have done it) yeah man...have to do it all on your own here...
T37: ohhh..where are you? (so this was the reason for waking up from a 8 year long slumber)
JLOM: i am in NJ dude....
T37: NJ? (already put on the american jingo s)
JLOM: New Jersey bro...just landed last week..
T37: oh wonderful (landed last week...and can't wait to show off)
T37: so minting money...;)
JLOM: no man...thats not my purpose...i am here to gain global exposure you know....i mean you learn so much interacting with the guys here..
T37: very true...so must be a long stint...(i know a$$h*&# how much you wanna gain)
JLOM: they were pressing for a 2 year stint but i said i wont be able to extend it for over 3 months...
T37: oh...but why..you could have gained far more global exposure with that 2 year stint (i know how hard you might have fought for this 3 months trip)
JLOM: (oh i wish the stint was actually 2 year long...i could have booked a flat in India with those savings :( ) yeah...thats true..but i can't stay away from my family for that long...and trust me India is the best...so I straight away denied their request...
T37: (come on it's enough..i can't handle it anymore) great man...true Indian...ok...i gotta go to sleep now...office tomorrow morning..
JLOM: thanks...sure sure...carry on...will catch you soon...
T37: sure..bye...tc...( i know... catch you soon in your next onsite trip...bugger...)
T37: Tools -> Actions -> Block User -> JLOM
And invariably this happens with every second JLOM, every second trip and in every other friend list. Such is the carving, such is the madness and such is the reality about these trips. Hilarious but true!
kin...
