A Typical Day at the Office
I figured it would be prudent and productive to describe what a typical day for me is like here working at Selco Foundation in Southern Bangalore. My day typically starts at 7:45 in the morning where I take a quick, very cold and refreshing shower. Sometimes the maid for the AirBnB comes, however, I often try to clean up as much as possible before the maid arrives. I often try to practice my Kannada (the local language, mainly spoken in Karnataka state), however, she can not understand me when I try to speak! Next, I have some breakfast. I try to keep this light and familiar, often opting for cereal, toast, or oats. I also will use this time to perhaps call some friends since the time zone lines up with the evening at home. Around 9 o’clock, I set off walking for work. It is an easy walk through semi-busy streets shaded by sturdy trees. I have become familiar with many of the people I see on my relaxing walk (I should say this did not feel relaxing at all my first week!) including some shop workers at a breakfast place and a tea stop, which I will sometimes stop by if I do not feel motivated to get to work on time.
Work begins slowly after 9:30. My understanding is that arriving on time is not so important due to the extreme unpredictability of traffic. Typically, I have a meeting with my boss/intern manager at around 11 and the rest of the time is mostly unstructured. Selco was very responsive to my desire to have freedom in the tasks I choose to do, for which I am enormously grateful. In fact, my manager even encouraged me to explore new things. My tasks include reviewing financial and business plans for old solutions, compiling the solutions into more accessible documents, designing financial models for new solutions, consulting on economic issues, running financial statistical analysis on Farmer Producer Organizations, and researching optimal subsidy and gap financing schemes. I was not sure how to do most of this so I simultaneously hope nothing I did will be used in a meaningful way while also hoping I productively contributed to the organization.
Work is where I get a lot of my social interaction. At 10:30 and 3:30, there are chai/coffee breaks. This has proven to be an excellent time for me to make new connections and socialize. I am able to meet folks from multiple different teams relating to innovation, scaling, and amplification, while also having delicious homemade chai. Lunch is also a great time to explore. I used this time to try new restaurants, and luckily so many of my friends and colleagues offered to take me to the good places! I often accepted, but sometimes I needed to be alone, or return to the office early where I would spend the rest of my lunch break on the roof reading among the many plants and trees that covered any open space at the office.
My walk home was my favorite part of the day. It always felt like a small victory getting through the work day, and one I was happy to celebrate. I often stopped at parks to read, shop, go to the market, or grab a quick bite to eat. It really allowed my body to relax and adapt. One thing I did struggle with, however, was that the sun set relatively early in the evening so it often felt I didn’t have much chance to explore the city in the evening. But I also had to remind myself that I needed to take time to relax and take care of myself. Although I wanted to take hold of this experience, I did also need to recognize my limitations. During the evenings I sometimes cook myself simple meals (exploring new fruits, vegetables, and spices) or order in food from across the city. Once done, I have a few options on how to spend my night. I read, watch tv, or call my friends. My day concludes at around 11-12, where I must rest up to conduct the entire wonderful routine the next day.
Work begins slowly after 9:30. My understanding is that arriving on time is not so important due to the extreme unpredictability of traffic. Typically, I have a meeting with my boss/intern manager at around 11 and the rest of the time is mostly unstructured. Selco was very responsive to my desire to have freedom in the tasks I choose to do, for which I am enormously grateful. In fact, my manager even encouraged me to explore new things. My tasks include reviewing financial and business plans for old solutions, compiling the solutions into more accessible documents, designing financial models for new solutions, consulting on economic issues, running financial statistical analysis on Farmer Producer Organizations, and researching optimal subsidy and gap financing schemes. I was not sure how to do most of this so I simultaneously hope nothing I did will be used in a meaningful way while also hoping I productively contributed to the organization.
Work is where I get a lot of my social interaction. At 10:30 and 3:30, there are chai/coffee breaks. This has proven to be an excellent time for me to make new connections and socialize. I am able to meet folks from multiple different teams relating to innovation, scaling, and amplification, while also having delicious homemade chai. Lunch is also a great time to explore. I used this time to try new restaurants, and luckily so many of my friends and colleagues offered to take me to the good places! I often accepted, but sometimes I needed to be alone, or return to the office early where I would spend the rest of my lunch break on the roof reading among the many plants and trees that covered any open space at the office.
My walk home was my favorite part of the day. It always felt like a small victory getting through the work day, and one I was happy to celebrate. I often stopped at parks to read, shop, go to the market, or grab a quick bite to eat. It really allowed my body to relax and adapt. One thing I did struggle with, however, was that the sun set relatively early in the evening so it often felt I didn’t have much chance to explore the city in the evening. But I also had to remind myself that I needed to take time to relax and take care of myself. Although I wanted to take hold of this experience, I did also need to recognize my limitations. During the evenings I sometimes cook myself simple meals (exploring new fruits, vegetables, and spices) or order in food from across the city. Once done, I have a few options on how to spend my night. I read, watch tv, or call my friends. My day concludes at around 11-12, where I must rest up to conduct the entire wonderful routine the next day.
