The City of Joy is Challenge City

Executing a project in India can be a very different experience for a westerner. There are so many challenges including: the obvious language barrier, the language barriers across Indian states, the slow moving correspondences, the numerous holidays and strikes, the power outages, the harsh weather and personal health issues, are a few.

It's also amazing how sometimes the smallest, logistical errand somehow gathers momentum and monopolizes a significant amount of time, for instance: where do you buy certain items for the jewelry studio when there is no American-style hardware store, why is the store closed at 2:00pm on a Friday and now where do we go? What can we do that is productive while a blackout paralyzes the jewelry studio? How will anything (including sleeping) be accomplished when most of Kolkata shuts down for a their biggest annual holiday, Durga Puja? Why is the ATM closed? What about water? Will the water problem close the ATM tomorrow? Maybe? You find you are troubleshooting tasks that are found mundane and are usually simple at home in the West.

After spending a month here in April, I've learned to expect such challenges and to never underestimate how difficult an easy task can become here. Prioritizing, patience and flexibility are a must. The rest of the time you are just hanging in there.