I Can Almost See the Finish Line...

Today marks the day where I have only one more month left in India... if I knew for sure that the date of departure is January 5. Unfortunately, as is the rest of my experience in India, I'm not entirely sure if I'm leaving on the 5th, 7th or 9th due to three separate emails with conflicting dates. I'm sure I'll know on the day I'm leaving. I have to know...right?

I have 4 more weeks of India, but only 3 more weeks of live project because of some plans I made for Christmas. The plan so far is to fly to Singapore, then Phuket (which is in Thailand) for 3-4 days, and then return to Singapore for another 4 days. The grand total of the trip should cost around $1000 if I include all expenses, which is fine if I pay it all in rupees. I'd still have about $800-$1000 left to spend (bring home). Originally we oscillated between Taiwan and Hong Kong, but both are extremely expensive and out of the way since the route through Thailand is out of the question due to a recent government uprising.

Now that the long cycle has graduated training, it looks like the US batch will be further split apart. Several will be in Bangalore, others will be in Pune, and last but not least, some are going to Mangalore, a place that smaller than Mysore. Some people know their U.S. locations already and it seems like this time its for sure. One person got Fremont and is working with Apple. Lucky guy... except he's from Seattle. In a twist of irony, a person in the same practice is from Fremont and ended up getting Seattle instead. Clear proof that preferences seem not to matter in the decision making.

I do have an update on my own location. The uncertainty is still there, but after having a talk with my Department Manager, it sounds like he's trying to get me in a project for Underwriter Labs (the group I'm currently working with now). That would put me in Chicago. But apparently I have somewhat of a choice, and that choice is Dallas, Texas. I suppose I should find that appealing, but not really. The last choice is working with Warner Music Group in Los Angeles, but apparently that project is completed and there's only maintenance work to be done there. He also through this nugget in there. There are usually plenty of jobs in the Bay Area, however because I was lucky enough to get hired during one of the worst economic downturns of the century, there have been no clients there. In normal times, I would probably be headed back home. However, he's where the possibilities stand:

Chicago: 66%
Dallas: 20%
Fremont: 14% (if I were to be benched upon return to the U.S.)

I guess I should mentally prepare for Chicago...