Walk Down Memory Lane: India 1999
Training to be a Trainer:
A New Challenge
India marked my third international assignment for the company, bringing a massive shift in responsibility. For the first time, our task during this three-month program wasn't just to learn, but to mentor the local personnel for a brand-new, start-up factory in Pune, India.
Stepping into the role of a trainer was a daunting new challenge for our group, but we knew that by pulling together and working as a unified team, we could hit our goals.
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| India memories - group photo |
A Truly Memorable Journey 🛫🛬🚐
Since there were no direct flights from Manila to India, our group, namely Anne, Chai, Mel, Joel, and I, braced ourselves for a multi-leg journey. Our first leg was a quick two-hour Air India flight from Manila to Hong Kong. When we arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport, the terminal was vibrantly alive with Chinese New Year celebrations.
Next, we boarded a six-hour Cathay Pacific flight to Mumbai, which turned out to be the most exhausting flight any of us had ever experienced. In total, we spent nearly a full day traveling by plane, and our first order of business was turning our watches back 2 hours and 30 minutes to match India's local time.
After a much-needed five-hour rest at the Mumbai Airport Transit Hotel, Sir Erwin fetched us for the final leg of our trip. What was supposed to be a straightforward drive to Pune turned into a grueling five-hour van ride, stretched out by brutal traffic and an unexpected flat tire.
A Delayed Welcome Dinner 🍜🍛🍴🍲
After just one night of rest, we had to jump right into work the very next morning. Because we arrived right in the middle of a busy workweek, our official welcome dinner had to wait until ten days later.
It was well worth the wait, though! We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at The Chinese Way restaurant alongside the Japanese and Indian staff, which was the perfect way to bond as an international team.
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| Group photo at The Chinese Way restaurant |
Work Schedule Routine
Our home base was in a company-provided three-bedroom guest house in Kalyani Nagar, complete with our own cook and houseboy.
Getting to work was a breeze, thanks to the free transportation. A company van picked us up from the house and dropped us off right at the factory. On days when the van wasn't available, we commuted like the rest of the Tata-Yazaki employees on the bus.
Those shuttle bus drivers loved honking their horns when driving fast down the road; it felt like riding a roller coaster! There was truly never a dull moment.
As for our actual work schedule, it was intense. We logged eight hours a day, six days a week, leaving us with only Sundays to recharge and visit local tourist spots. Because of this tight schedule, our daily routine was to head straight to MG Road to stock up on necessities when our shifts ended.
Back then, the go-to shops were called Superstore, G-Mart, Options Gift Shop, Archie's, and Homeland Supermarket. Visiting them became a comforting and familiar part of our daily life.
Tourist Attractions: Bhaja Caves ⛰
I fondly recall our visit to some incredible mountain stone carvings. The locals called them the Bhaja Caves, located right by Bhaje Village in Khandala, India.
To reach the caves, you have to climb 230 steps uphill. Waiting at the top are 22 breathtaking, stone-carved Buddhist Caves.
Whew... I'm glad I was younger and had the energy for that steep walk! It was a truly wonderful experience. Check out the photos below!
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| Bhaje Caves stone carvings |
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| Bhaje Caves group photo |
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| Bhaje Caves solo picture |
Memories are Meant to be Shared
In the end, it’s never about the material things, but the rich memories we create along the way. I share these stories not to boast or brag about working in another country, but to honor the experiences that shaped us.
Most importantly, it's a reminder of how we can touch each other's lives, and these are the memories I will cherish forever.
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| Photo at the airport |
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