Feels like a month!

Its been a week since I last wrote, 5 days to be precise :P And such a lot has changed within these few days. Work, location, life, everything! After the experience in Zeus, the one in Persistent is extremely different. Its not like I have not worked in a big company but its just that its been sometime. The scale and dynamics are extremely different. Here's what I have been experiencing in the past one week.

As my previous post suggests, I was a little anxious and sad leaving bombay and my family. I caught the MSRTC Ac-Volvo bus from Vashi. I think it is the best way to go to Pune compared to the other private buses. Its the fastest and there is a bus every 15 minutes. Since I had no idea about Pune, I had decided to get off at the last stop which was Pune Raliway station. It was raining continuously. I was extremely fortunate to get a good rickshaw, who knew exactly where I wanted to go.

Reached the hotel, checked in and thought I should explore Pune a bit. I had to check out the office or else would have been anxious and tensed all night. So I thought of doing a little recce. My hotel was situated very close to F. C. Road. One of the most happening places in town and I soon discovered why :) Anyways, the office is situated in a place called Erandwane and its about 30 minutes walk from where I stayed. Went, saw the office, felt comfortable and thought of returning via a different route (through gallis :P). Big mistake! If one is used to parallel roads in Bombay, parallel roads in Pune aren't really parallel. They can go anywhere. I roamed through various roads and finally after about 45 minutes reached back.

F. C. Road is teeming with restaurants with price ranging from very cheap to exhorbitant. I tried out various places throughout the week :) Had a great time eating! First day at work was weird. There were quite a few new joinees. The whole day went filling forms. But I was impressed with the way everything was happening like clockwork. By the end of the Resource Allocation manager gave us the names of our reporting managers. Spoke to my manager the next day and she gave me leads to whom I should talk about projects. Apparently there were numerous projects which required my expertise (always good to know that).

I was to meet a guy who sat at another office in Pune, located at S. B. Road. Went there and met him. Told me what the work was. Though the platform was different, the work involved all the technologies I knew. So he was happy, I was happy, a very happy environment. :)

Getting a work station is apparently not a quick job in Persistent. I am still waiting for mine. Meanwhile I sit in the Test Lab. Awaiting access to it though :P I currently require others to let me in. But the project is interesting. Will learn some new stuff.

Persistent has some really good facilities. Its got a good gym, a badminton court, table tennis and other stuff I still need to discover. Its got a library containing a lot of technical books. Very good free food at lunch and evening snacks. Once I settle in a bit, I plan to utilize these to the fullest :)

The thing I was worried about is residence. I wanted to stay independently but the cost of a 1 bhk was turning out pretty expensive. Though, it is the ideal situation and I would like to eventually get myself one of those, for the time being I have decided to go into a sharing mode. Decided to stay with a couple of guys ina 3 BHK flat. Got my own bedroom and bathroom and it is also partially furnished. So ya it looks pretty decent. the locality also looks nice and clean. Its in a place called Kothrud. A little far according to Pune standards but will figure out something. Need to get myself a bike eventually.

Well, with my work and stay fixed, I decided that it was time I came back to Bombay and so here I am :) Its just been a week and it already feels a little different. It actually feels like I have come back after a month.