When I first thought of Indian food the first thing that came to mind was 1) my tongue is going to be on fire and 2) I will be visiting the washroom quite frequently. Thankfully neither of those have come to fruition…..yet. Part of that is due to the fact I am being ultra careful in the types of restaurants we are going to as well as some experienced traveler tips like “don’t eat anything raw” or “don’t have ice in your drink unless you are sure it is from a clean/filtered source”.

The other thing I make sure to tell all of our servers no matter where we eat is that my food has “no spice”. Now you would think no spice would mean something really bland right? Well not the case. No spice in India is the equivalent of saying you want no taste in your salsa at a Mexican restaurant or I want a cold hot dog. You just aren’t going to get it. No spice = The least amount of spice the chef is willing to put on your food. It is a delicate balance of the chef wanting to make you something flavorful while at the same time not having to smother yoghurt all over your tongue and lips (I actually had to do this once when I thought I was eating a green bean and surprise it was a pepper!).

So spice comes with almost everything and when you order no spice you will still be getting something that both tastes like the underlying food as well as the spice flavoring on top. And I must admit — Indian food is VERY flavorful. And what is even better, unlike other parts of Asia, I actually recognize all of the ingredients! Rather than feasting on a soup that has vegetables I have never heard of mixed with various animal innards, I am surrounded by the comfort of lentils, cucumbers, onions, basil, cumin, chicken, lamb, etc. This opens the doors to really trying anything you can imagine.

So my first impressions. The food is delicious. There is a reason you can go to most towns with a population over a few thousand and find an Indian restaurant. I feel like in the US there are only 3 ways to cook broccoli — in India there are 1,000 ways. So there is a ton of variety in the way different foods are cooked and combine that with 1,000s of curries and sauces and you have almost endless choices for food. Oh and didn’t I mention they have cheese entrees? Yes, they have a brick cottage cheese thing called paneer that they can cook in 1,000 different way as well and is a favorite for those trying to avoid meat but get in some protein

Pune is located in the state of Maharashtra and it is a mostly vegetarian state. Most menus will have “veg” and “non veg” options although there are always less “non veg” options. Meat dishes are typically either chicken, seafood, or lamb. Beef is hard to find because of the religious significance and pork is also rare to find.

Here are some of the foods I have enjoyed thus far, see you next time!

In 2003 I did my first trip to Asia. It was to Beijing and then later Shanghai and finally Hong Kong. It was a huge culture shock and opened my eyes to an entirely new world. Over the next almost 20 years I gained an appreciation for the cultures of China, Japan, and Korea (The countries I traveled to the most for work and play). It actually changed my life. I learned about how terrible the Western diet can be for your health. I learned about how the people of a country do not necessarily share the views of their government. While our country is dealing with its own political balkanization and self contempt, the major powers of Asia in most cases think fairly highly of the US and its citizens. I learned to appreciate different work attitudes, work ethics, and the tenacity and focus of the Eastern world. I loved the energy of growing economies and the tremendous amount of help and friends I have made along the way.

When most Americans dream of an overseas vacation the line of thinking generally gravitates towards London, Paris, Munich, Rome, Prague, Lisbon, Seville, etc. I have been to all of them and had a great time but for the most part I was comfortable there. Buildings were somwhat familiar. Cars somewhat familiar. Landscapes and famous attractions all familiar. All great places to learn about a history I knew, culture and arts I am familiar with, and food I love. But what if we stretched ourselves to go beyond the familiar? To go beyond the comfortable? Entering stage left…India.

Granted I have only been in Pune. The last 2 weeks have been a huge eye opener. As I told my wife — I think Pune is a couple of decades behind what I saw in the 15 plus years I went to Shanghai. Yes there is immense poverty that is very visible. I have had beggars knock on my window, but not hordes and crowds like I had hear about. I have seen trash lining the streets. But it isn’t everywhere in fact some people gather up trash to sell it for fuel or recycling. It can be very dirty but it is a dusty place and the cleaning standards in India culturally are not the same. But not everything is dirty. The traffic is horrible and chaotic but I have yet to see an accident. As a friend put it today “somehow the chaos is functional”. I have yet to get sick yet from food or water but I am sure that time is coming. I eat food here with no idea what I am eating. Rather than saying “i would like some chicken with veggies” I get a piece of bread, something in an orange sauce, a lump of something in green sauce, and small bowl of yoghurt. I tell them “no spicy” and you know what….its damn good! I have no clue what the mess in front of me is but its colorful and flavorful.

But back to the thing I appreciate the most. In India there is something that is becoming scarce in the Western world — energy, enthusiasm, hunger to grow, interest in change, sacrifice and commitment to better oneself and their family. Of course this still exists in the US and other places but not nearly to the same level and energy as in the developing world. In India when someone gets a raise they aren’t blowing it on a trip to Hawaii, or a Coach purse, or an expensive watch. They are using it to upgrade from a one room apartment to a two room apartment. And they live with their family. They are using their raise to get internet in their home, or a new TV, or maybe a used car. Their achievement isn’t just increasing their comfort its changing their lifestyle. And you can see their motivation to do this for themselves and their families daily. Its so refreshing and inspiring.

Would I have found this if I accepted a position in another country? Perhaps. But I am glad that God steered me towards a nation that couldn’t be more different than my home country. I can’t wait to learn more and watch how India will change me over the next few years like China did earlier in my life. I can’t wait to show how “the real world” lives to my kids and hopefully to all of you. It isn’t comfortable, but it sure as hell is living.

I have been in India for one week now! I am so busy with work meetings that by the time evening comes I just want to go to sleep. Nonstop meetings and trips since I landed. India seems to have the same way. Everything is busy! The roads, the sidewalks, the restaurants, hotels, etc. Now there is a difference between being busy and actually doing something valuable. I remember the line from the Christmas Vacation movie where Griswold’s wife says “He works real hard dad” and her grumpy dad says “So do washing machines.” But that is a topic for another day.

I think the biggest thing hitting me is that I am going to live in traffic gridlock for the next 3 years. Unless I want to do something before 8:30am, I am going to be stuck in traffic. They say rush hour is 8:30-10:30 and after 5pm but that means that you literally will be stopped for 5-10 mins at a time. If you go in the middle of the day you will stop for 3-5 mins at a time and rarely go above 25mph. Yesterday it took New Raj and me an hour to go 6 miles in the middle of the day. Why is traffic so bad? First of all there are over 7 million people in Pune and they just couldnt build roads and infrastructure fast enough (They still can’t). Second, the roads are not really preplanned — for example some intersections have as many as 6-7 roads that feed in to them — yes thats right imagine navigating that. Oh and did I mention some people will drive the wrong way down the road? Which leads me to my third point — rules of the road are really more guidelines here not rules. Red and green lights MAY be followed by the cars but not the scooters, bikers, and pedestrians. Fourth – there is so much construction most roads have been narrowed. There is a big build being done for a Pune metro line that should be finished right when we head back to the states…JOY! We get to put up with all the delays before we get to use the metro itself.

As always you can CHOOSE your attitude and rather than be pissed and impatient I choose to see the positives. What other urban center in the western world can you take an hour drive through the city and see a camel eating a tree branch, a cow being milked, people selling trash, people driving the wrong way, and 5 year old kids walking on tightropes between two posts 8 feet above the ground?? Those of you that know me know I love absolute random stuff and find it humorous so always look at the bright side of your life!

I got a chance to take some pictures from the car as well as a hotel free tasting buffet and a mall next to the hotel. For those of you that know Pune, the JW Mariott will be my temporary home for the next couple of months as I continue to commute from Medford.

I am now about to end Day 3 in India. Still in Mumbai and given my heavy work meeting schedule I have not really had a lot of time to see much or do many touristy things.

I have been in Mumbai the entire time with my colleague, whom I will refer to here (until I get his permission) as New Raj. We have mostly seen the insides of some very nice hotels and restaurants, some pictures below. We have already had some very good meals. I am very thankful to have New Raj with me because he has been my guide, teacher, and advisor as I wade through this new and unknown country.

Some initial thoughts…

I don’t know if it is just me but most of the people I know that have been to India have had bad experiences. Everything from the poverty, to the sounds, to the number of people, to the food getting them sick, to the cleanliness, to the smells, etc. Suffice it to say, most people I know have had negative experiences in India. Here are some of my initial impressions.

India is a third world country and therefore you are going to see third world issues — abject poverty, lots of garbage and filth, and yes an abundance of odors (good and bad). However I guess my expectations are low because the nightmare scenario in my brain of an armless ogre begging me for money, constant trips to the bathroom, cows being in the street, and people invading my personal space have not yet happened. Perhaps they will or will not. Regardless I set a pretty low bar and thus far I have to admit that I am pleasantly surprised.

Is the food very spicy, some of it, I have them make it mild for me. But it is doable. Is there poverty? Yes but nothing different than I have seen in China, Brazil, or parts of southeast Asia. Are there beggars and homeless people? Of course, but is that any different than Portland Oregon?

I have found most of the poeple very accomodating and nice. In fact several are giving up alot of their time to help connect me to the right people and make sure I have a good transition to living in India. People are giving me contacts of friends in the industries I need connections with, sacrificing their family time and weekends, and helping ensure I am not taken advantage of — so incredibly kindness.

It is monsoon season which means its pretty much been completely gray or pouring rain (for example, they have had more rain in the past 3 weeks here in Mumbai than Medford gets in an entire year). Having grown up in Seattle, it really doesn’t bother me because apparently after August I will get 9 months of sun — eat your heart out Seattleites!

This adventure has just begun, more to come. Its Friday night. We have a late dinner and who knows maybe we go crazy and have ourselves a beverage or two. I have never hit the town on a night out, fueled on vegetarian fare with measured amounts of gin. Ah to be young (middle aged) and professional!

Well here we go. After 6 months of planning, decisions, excitement, tears, and anxiety my first trip to India begins today. I thought this little set up during my 6 hour layover in SFO best describes my next 3 years. The family I have and love, some to be left behind for awhile, some for longer. Always in my heart and my motivation for taking an incredible opportunity that will change the trajectory of our future forever. My trusty laptop where I can communicate with 20 different time zones in 3 different apps at once. On this laptop I will help build an office in a country I have never been too and make a team that will power my company in to the future. To take us to the next level and make us a true global leader that can bring all solutions to the financial services sector. And finally, my faith. Without which I could never do anything close to this new adventure. My family and my job will not be the ones with me on the many lonely and scary moments ahead — but God will be. And He always has been. Through the several dark and scary periods I have been through in life and in the joyous celebrations as well. It is God through Christ that calms my worry of the unknown path and world ahead. He has always been faithful and has never stopped working for me. I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me through this both anxious and exciting time.

In about 27 hours I will be in India. I hope to write here as often as I can about my experiences and about a country most do not know of or if they do have predominantly negative experiences with. So let’s get started!

One of my favorite ending monologues of a movie is Morgan Freeman’s from the Shawshank Redemption. I sort of feel like he did in that movie, leaving one life for another. Deciding to give up everything to pursue something new. Here is my revised version of that…

Get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’. That’s hot-damn right. For the second time in my life, I am relocating for a new work opportunity. Building an office and scaling it. Of course, I doubt I will face any real dangerous roadblocks for that. Not for a supported CPA like me…

I find I’m so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can do what I think I can. I hope my family grows and changes with the new friends and experiences ahead. I hope that India is as beautiful as it has been in my dreams. I hope.