Contrast

                The past week has been full of contrast and contradiction. Not long ago, I was taking a cruise from Rotterdam, Netherlands to the UK. It was the perfect way to cap off our European tour. We basically had three free days in London—no classes, no corporate visits, and everyone speaks English. It was the perfect formula for relaxation and reinvigoration.

                The last week of this trip has been nothing like London. This last week, I have been four and a half time zones away in Chennai, India. While our group was receiving our orientation speech in preparation for our time in India, I tended to have more optimistic of what Chennai would be like. I figured it would be like any other modern metropolitan city with large buildings everywhere and nice paved roads with sidewalks. I was surprised. As I looked out the window from our bus as we drove from the airport to our hotel, I was surprised by the shacks, the rubble, and the trash. Cows still roam free and people enjoy using the side of the road as a restroom.

                While the contrast between London and Chennai seemed great, I think the greater contrast could be found in Chennai itself. Along the same stretch of road from the more central part of the city to our hotel were the large regional headquarters of some of the world’s leading IT companies. In the same city, there are signs of the third world country that India is transitioning out of and the modern country that they transition toward.  

                 This part of the trip necessitates a whole change in mindset. I have enjoyed my time here in India for different reasons than Europe. From an economic and business perspective, it is exciting to see how rapidly this country is changing and how much opportunity there is in India. People are coming out of poverty and seeking new kinds of opportunity.

                I have much that I could say about all the different experiences that we have had here which I probably would have written out if we weren’t so immersed in class work at the same time, but I think that I should finish by noting the hospitality of the people here. The service that we receive at the hotel and when we go out to stores has been unrivalled by anywhere we have been. We have been served Coke and snacks at every corporate visit and everyone seems excited to have us around (they make us take a lot of group pictures). At the GEM Granite corporate visit they took us to the owner’s private beach, and they cut open some coconuts for some coconut milk.

                Right now I have just about finished my global marketing class and get to enjoy the next five days in India class-free—a trip to Delhi and the Taj Mahal to come in that time. We will be in China in a week and the International Trade and Finance course begins then. 

Cows taking a stroll down the street. We don't eat cows here in India. 

On the Indian ocean.

I took this picture from our bus.