Postcards from Hannover

Its 8.13 am and I am at the Hannover airport waiting for the security check post to open at 8.30. Yes today I am flying back to the US. It has really been 2 long weeks in Germany. There is this funny looking (may I help you – information provider) guy loitering around me bugging the hell out of travelers. He approaches everyone and asks them “Can I help you?” Then he notes it down if he was able to help them or not in a sheet of paper. Many just ignore him but he just smiles back and notes down in that sheet that they did not need any help. I am so sure that sheet of paper is not going to fetch him a raise at the end of the year…. Moreover all he has to do is be available (his shirt say “May I help you?”).. Lol its sooo funny. I would hate to have his job though.

I was sent to Hannover to accomplish two things. Develop good customer relations with an important customer while helping her with the preacceptance and push Germany to complete some projects US requested which have been delayed for so long now. The first week Ed and Frank were around and every night we would be treated by the German salesmen. Monday it was Thai, Tuesday Greek. Wednesday Brazilian. Thursday I had Turkish. During this trip I drank a lot of beer and also learnt a lot about different kinds of German beers. They have very good beer here. It’s fresh with no preservatives unlike US. It’s the preservatives that give you a hangover the next day. Frank has this habit of asking the German waitress to give him a Pils(hops beer) in a Weizen(wheat beer) glass. He loves the bitter/strong taste of Pils and but doesn’t like the shape of the glass they are served in. Many times they just refuse to serve it thus because Germans are so rule based and as kids they learnt that Pils has to be only served in a Pils glass. Testing Germans to see if they go against the norm is very funny. I have been hanging out with lots of salesmen lately and I swear to god they have all the fun in the world. They eat at the best restaurants, travel all around the world, make a lot of money, are always optimistic and jolly and have no morals whatsoever. I have realized that 2 things can make you sad.. Less money and strong morals..

I tried the Brazilian drink Caipirinha and the Ouzo shot and they both made me want to puke. There is a great Pancake house here where they serve meat on a pancake… I was very apprehensive about this but was surprised that it tasted so good. I think I did write a lot about food, so will stop now.

I spent the weekend in Hannover as I didn’t want to travel to Brussels and also I hadn’t explored Hannover fully. I think next year I will take some time out and go backpacking across Europe for 15-17 days. I will be spending my thanksgiving weekend with Clemson friends in Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. There were a lot of emails flying back and forth regarding the arrangements and I missed all of it because of the limited access to internet in Viscom AG. This group of friends is mischievous to say the least (I happen to be the most decent of the lot, now you can imagine) and putting them together in Sin city for 4 days is gonna make things quite interesting. Last time we went to New Orleans together and that was a lot of fun J. I have met all of them individually during my business trips this year except Bonda.

I bought my India tickets and am planning to visit Rajasthan with my family for 5-6 days in January. I hope to spend the New Year with SPCE pals.

I am scheduled to be in Atlanta next week, Anderson, SC the week after next and Mexico the week after that.

Ahhh the security post is open.

Danke!