News Item: : Travelling job isn't all that glorious
(Category: News)
Posted by Ba
Sunday 04 March 2007 - 11:03:22
For the last 2 years I've been travelling on my job. Recently I started working on a project based in the suburb of Boston, U.S. that requires some international travel. Last week I went to France for the first time. If there's one thing I regret when reflecting on almost 3 years as a student in the U.K. in the late '70's, it is that I neglected to visit other countries in Europe. Anyway, when I tell people I'm going to France for a week on business, I hear "Cool!" or "Wow!". Upon my return, the question is "did I see Eiffel Tower"? Well, I'll tell you what I saw: Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, the highway, the tunnels along the way, the hotel in Saint Quentin (30 km from Paris), the client's site at near by Plaisir, the highway again, and back to the airport for the flight home. There's nothing "cool" about the trip, and there's definitely no "wow". Not to mention having to adjust to the 6 hours time difference.
Boston is a historic town, but the suburb is basically boring. Before you say why not spend some time sight seeing while I'm there, our job consists of long hours at the office, at the hotel and at home too. As for food, I try to eat at the first opportunity, because I never know when will I get my next meal. And I'm not talking about affordability here. It's sad, but such is the state of our job. Mind you, travelling doesn't bother me. It's what I keep telling people that doesn't sink in: we're not in the business of saving lives! Work hard, but you should be able to take some time out to relax. We just don't do that enough, and sometimes not at all.
There you have it. Next time I tell you I'm going to some European country, remember it's not cool and there's no wow!
This news item is from bkwon.net
( http://bkwon.net/news.php?extend.53 )
(Category: News)
Posted by Ba
Sunday 04 March 2007 - 11:03:22
For the last 2 years I've been travelling on my job. Recently I started working on a project based in the suburb of Boston, U.S. that requires some international travel. Last week I went to France for the first time. If there's one thing I regret when reflecting on almost 3 years as a student in the U.K. in the late '70's, it is that I neglected to visit other countries in Europe. Anyway, when I tell people I'm going to France for a week on business, I hear "Cool!" or "Wow!". Upon my return, the question is "did I see Eiffel Tower"? Well, I'll tell you what I saw: Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, the highway, the tunnels along the way, the hotel in Saint Quentin (30 km from Paris), the client's site at near by Plaisir, the highway again, and back to the airport for the flight home. There's nothing "cool" about the trip, and there's definitely no "wow". Not to mention having to adjust to the 6 hours time difference.
Boston is a historic town, but the suburb is basically boring. Before you say why not spend some time sight seeing while I'm there, our job consists of long hours at the office, at the hotel and at home too. As for food, I try to eat at the first opportunity, because I never know when will I get my next meal. And I'm not talking about affordability here. It's sad, but such is the state of our job. Mind you, travelling doesn't bother me. It's what I keep telling people that doesn't sink in: we're not in the business of saving lives! Work hard, but you should be able to take some time out to relax. We just don't do that enough, and sometimes not at all.
There you have it. Next time I tell you I'm going to some European country, remember it's not cool and there's no wow!
This news item is from bkwon.net
( http://bkwon.net/news.php?extend.53 )