Five days of Business travel – had to switch between two locations in a short span. Landed in Berlin on Sunday and checked into my hotel. After spending two days in Berlin office, I had to take my flight to Stuttgart on Tuesday evening. Doing a workshop with some customers on Wednesday, I had to fly back to Berlin the same night. The next stay was in Genshagen, a little town in Ludwigsfelde near Berlin. After finishing last few discussions on Friday evening, I bid goodbye to my colleagues and left the plant.
It was raining and I got drenched. I picked up an umbrella from the local store and was heading towards my hotel. With no more time left for shopping, I picked up some chocolates from the store and moved on. The town of Genshagen had very few connections from Berlin after 7 pm. I had to transfer twice and if I miss one of those the next bus would be at 5 am. My colleague had pointed another way to reach by train to the nearest railway station and take a taxi from there. With these in mind I was making a move.
I got into the bus while my ear plugs sang for me. I transferred twice and reached the bus stop that is about 2 kms from my hotel. The roads were empty and looked more like a highway. I could hardly see the pedestrian walkway and there were no lights. I saw some grass on one side but couldn’t see much through them. Since I used the same route in the morning, I moved on. I used my phone light as my headlight and walked on the extreme right not on the road.
It was my mistake that I didn’t carry my jacket as I didn’t look at the weather prediction for the day. My teeth played drums for me! My umbrella was as resistant to me to elope with the winds! I could hardly see someone walking. “Solitude is bliss” I smiled and walked!
The next morning I had my flight back to India at 6:20 am. Pre-ordering a taxi at odd times from Genshagen to Berlin airport was a nightmare I realised. I made about 20 calls to different taxi partners from a long list my colleague offered. No driver was ready to pick a duty for 2:30 am as they wanted a good night sleep. Finally with all difficulties got one acceptance. When I reached the airport, I saw people sleeping at the airport at 3:30 am. I realised it was not typical for night taxi services there. New experiences and learnings again.
“Working with Germans is not fun. It’s just black and white culture and may be difficult to deal with” this was what I’ve been hearing a lot. Last four years working on global assignments with quite a number of German clients made me look at this from a different perspective.
From a Business consultant role I have learnt a lot and the same applies to my life. When I changed jobs my role was completely different than what I expected. With a lot of difficulties, I set my own path. I struggled in the beginning and slowly was getting into a new dimension. I thought this wouldn’t last long but then this became me now. Traveling and interacting with different people opened my views towards life.
In the beginning I felt why this is so different! No one gives you much details of how to get to a place, where to go etc. I saw school kids going by themselves in buses and trains. At work, only work topics are discussed. People would laugh at you when you call them “friends at work”. They strictly separate personal and business relationships. While this sounded too formal, what I learnt is to be much more independent. I started liking their tasks to me on the high level only. “Meet this business unit and get this done!” were typically the tasks and figuring out “how to and what to do” were on me. I liked this degree of independence given.
If I look at it in the complaining way, I could say I can cry and crib forever. “There are no clear orders and how to do it. I cannot do it. I can find my excuses not to do it!” On the other hand no one looked at me as a woman. At work we’re all equal and why should we define this as a woman’s job or a man’s job! It’s my choice to continue or quit but not complain. I can look at it in an extremely negative way and state “I’m a woman and cannot travel to multiple locations alone. I need all appointments to be prepared and given and then I will proceed. I do not prefer staying at work late in the evening”. Well, it’s my choice not to pick this job then. There are only two sides of a coin – Do it or not! There is nothing in between complaining.
Hand holding is not required all the times. When do we learn if we need this hand holding all the time. “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high!” – we learnt this in school and why should we find a reason not to live it!
Many of us are pampered princesses at our homes. Some of us have the same expectations from our partners. We get depressed when we are cared less. We must accept that we always want everyone to understand us. At work too, we hear a lot of coffee talks on gender discrimination, men don’t understand what we go through etc.
We go through a vicious cycle between “not being loved, not being given the priorities and not treated fairly at work”. Let’s look through carefully around us!
Isn’t it all pointing to a direction how we look at life? My husband puts me through tough times by not pampering me. I had depressing days as well. A lot of times I cried and lost myself. But today, looking at what life has to offer me, I look at the bright side of life. Had he not put me through situations to deal things myself, I never would have learnt this in my life. I would be waiting with pain until my husband arrives back home to take me to a doctor. Isn’t this a pampered discrimination?
Same situation at work. Working with a tough lead made me more independent. Although I initially felt it’s mean, I understood he has groomed me to what I am today! I’m able to face situations fearlessly and stick to my words. A great sense of responsibility has grown within me.
Personal life and professional life has become stress free as I no longer carry the burden of why I’m not cared. I’m able to have meaningful conversations and lead life from a different dimension.
What’s life without challenges! Complaining or dealing with challenges is our choice. I do not want a pampered discrimination – I told myself! I see the sun rising before me!
