Travelling? Don’t forget the fun!!
Travelling for work may be tiring, but it certainly does not come in the way of Indian women executives cherry-picking perks like some time to themselves for a bit of self-indulgence, away from bosses at work and kids at home. Here’s what some of them do:
“I like going to the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC to watch a play over the weekend at times. It’s expensive but worth it,” says Minakshi Seth, heading communications for the South Asia region for the International Finance Corporation. “I get my cab to take me around cities to observe their history, culture and literature and look up antiquarian bookshops. In Barcelona, I was taken to try hot churros (cinnamon sticks with pastry inside), a local breakfast specialty, at 7:30 am in the morning once” shares Swati Piramal, director, Nicholas Piramal India.
“One doesn’t get too many opportunities to just curl up in bed with a book, or catch a favourite show on TV or just sit by a café sipping coffee. Shopping, reading and going to a spa are my favourite indulgences in that order when travelling,” confesses Khushnooma Kapadia, director marketing and communications, Marriott Group of Hotels, India.. Most would agree with this being theirs too.
For Vidhya Srinivasan, COO at Integrated Brand-comm, one of the perks is waking late and getting ready at a leisurely pace without her five year old banging on the door with ‘Mom, don’t take too long, don’t waste water.’
And would they love an extra day all for themselves? “Would love to keep one, but just cannot with something always waiting,” rues Ms. Piramal. “It’s possible only when you end up with an extra day or evening due to flight schedules, not otherwise,” says Satyavati Berera, Executive Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers India.
Time is always at a premium with back-to-back work and the need to rush back when it’s all done. But the enterprising always take out time for some self-indulgence.
I like the one that goes to the Kennedy Center. She has very unique thinking, that I wouldn’t go for at all when I’m having some spare times in work trips. This is because the Kennedy Center for me is linked with a Japanese Opera I went to when I was a kid there…So it’s more related to school trips for me! As a matter of fact, I’d prefer going out in the nature on those precious spare times…it’s always according to the environmental features of the place of course…But I wouldn’t mind having a dive if it’s somewhere on the sea side…going for some hiking if there are mountains or woods available…skiing maybe…fishing or camping if there’s enough time…I’d do all these stuff if there’s enough time and effort left in me
But they surely come before sightseeing or even shopping…!!!
Comment by Salma — September 20, 2007 @ 2:11 am
This rang a bell !! For most of us trying to be a bit of everything; working woman, mother, wife, friend, daughter, sister, mentor - where’s the time or space for yourself. Travelling for work allows you to stop playing roles. There’s just YOU - I for one have spent time on my trips in India to catch up with friends in other cities, or merely with myself- read a book or watch your favourite TV show. When travelling to UK I have most certainly picked up a play or gone to Statford Upon Avon to snatch a piece of Shakespeare’s life or sat at a roadside cafe watching the world go by. Travelling on work gives you the time to “stand and stare”.
Comment by Sudha Sarin — September 24, 2007 @ 1:22 pm