Three weeks ago, I received a surprise invitation for an all expenses paid trip to Chennai, India to give a talk at a university. Naturally, I agreed without a single moment's hesitation as I had never been to India, and it would be my first time!
I was so excited about it that I announced it to almost every one I met for three weeks! Nevertheless, my enthusiasm was met with suspicious looks and dubious, cautious questions. Apparently, in the eyes of my circle of friends, I had not given proper thought about the whole invitation. They asked me funny questions like:
""Jean! Is the university legitimate? How did you hear about it?"
Given my ignorance, I shrugged my shoulders and answered, "Umm... It should be. It organized an education forum here in Dubai, inviting experts from all relevant industries, attended by technical experts and managers from various companies."
After which I went back to my trusty laptop and immediately started Googling up the education institution's background, chronological history, board of committee, its students etc. Oh well, it does look legitimate. It must be legitimate, otherwise it wouldn't be able to hold such a big conference at a hotel, right?
Then, another friend exclaimed, "Jean! You're going to India? Oh my gosh! Haven't you heard? India's classified as yellow danger zone right now. Don't you know about the recent woman who was gang-raped and murdered? I tell you, you better not go. You, a woman, and single, plus, you'll be a tourist in a foreign land, it all increases the risk of you being there. Exposed to all sorts of danger. Why would you want to go? Have you even thought carefully about it? I think you should just cancel it."
Oh no! That would be devastating! I mean, the inviter sounded really sincere. And he was so enthusiastic about me coming, and I was extremely fired-up about going there too! I can't disappoint them and myself! After all, what are the possibilities of such chances dropping by again? No no... I have to take it up. Even if it is 'risky'. So, I made up my mind and went ahead with the visa application process.
A few days later, another acquaintance finds out and goes, "Ahh! India! People, people everywhere!"
Suddenly, I conjured up an image of me lost in a multitude. So, I made plans with the coordinator to have someone pick me up at the airport, and got all the relevant contact details.
One day before I'm supposed to travel to India, my concerned colleague who stayed in Bangalore for a year, warned me, "Oh.. you have to be very careful over there. There are tricksters, conmen. Always keep your belongings with you. Don't talk to strangers. Don't take any pipe water. Always drink bottled water. Don't eat at the roadside stalls. Always eat at established restaurants. Don't give alms to little kids who come running up to you. Otherwise, the whole bunch of them will throng up to you."
Ahh... hygiene, self defense and protection. Ok. I got it.
Before I even got on the plane to India, people around me warned me all about it. All warnings. No nice, rosy remarks.
But, since this is my first time, I might as well dismiss all fears and dispel all negative thoughts. After all, conmen exists in every part of the world, even Dubai. Hygiene? How do you know that the food that you're served is thoroughly clean and void of bacteria? In life, there are no 100% guarantees.
Thus, I mustered up all my courage and braced myself for the travel to Chennai.
I was so excited about it that I announced it to almost every one I met for three weeks! Nevertheless, my enthusiasm was met with suspicious looks and dubious, cautious questions. Apparently, in the eyes of my circle of friends, I had not given proper thought about the whole invitation. They asked me funny questions like:
""Jean! Is the university legitimate? How did you hear about it?"
Given my ignorance, I shrugged my shoulders and answered, "Umm... It should be. It organized an education forum here in Dubai, inviting experts from all relevant industries, attended by technical experts and managers from various companies."
After which I went back to my trusty laptop and immediately started Googling up the education institution's background, chronological history, board of committee, its students etc. Oh well, it does look legitimate. It must be legitimate, otherwise it wouldn't be able to hold such a big conference at a hotel, right?
Then, another friend exclaimed, "Jean! You're going to India? Oh my gosh! Haven't you heard? India's classified as yellow danger zone right now. Don't you know about the recent woman who was gang-raped and murdered? I tell you, you better not go. You, a woman, and single, plus, you'll be a tourist in a foreign land, it all increases the risk of you being there. Exposed to all sorts of danger. Why would you want to go? Have you even thought carefully about it? I think you should just cancel it."
Oh no! That would be devastating! I mean, the inviter sounded really sincere. And he was so enthusiastic about me coming, and I was extremely fired-up about going there too! I can't disappoint them and myself! After all, what are the possibilities of such chances dropping by again? No no... I have to take it up. Even if it is 'risky'. So, I made up my mind and went ahead with the visa application process.
A few days later, another acquaintance finds out and goes, "Ahh! India! People, people everywhere!"
Suddenly, I conjured up an image of me lost in a multitude. So, I made plans with the coordinator to have someone pick me up at the airport, and got all the relevant contact details.
One day before I'm supposed to travel to India, my concerned colleague who stayed in Bangalore for a year, warned me, "Oh.. you have to be very careful over there. There are tricksters, conmen. Always keep your belongings with you. Don't talk to strangers. Don't take any pipe water. Always drink bottled water. Don't eat at the roadside stalls. Always eat at established restaurants. Don't give alms to little kids who come running up to you. Otherwise, the whole bunch of them will throng up to you."
Ahh... hygiene, self defense and protection. Ok. I got it.
Before I even got on the plane to India, people around me warned me all about it. All warnings. No nice, rosy remarks.
But, since this is my first time, I might as well dismiss all fears and dispel all negative thoughts. After all, conmen exists in every part of the world, even Dubai. Hygiene? How do you know that the food that you're served is thoroughly clean and void of bacteria? In life, there are no 100% guarantees.
Thus, I mustered up all my courage and braced myself for the travel to Chennai.
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