The Work Begins...

And it begins in more ways than one.  Just being here alone in a strange country with many rules imposed upon you (by my employer), is a job in itself.

I spent the latter part of the weekend acclimating to my new surroundings.  Luanda and Angola in general are very much in the third world.  The city was originally built for about 500 thousand people.  Today, there are more than 4 million living here.  It is crowded and the infrastructure is not designed to handle the population of that size.  Like any big city, there are good areas (few), and not so good areas (many).  Many of the people here seem to eke out a living as best they can.  But, to their credit, they don't seem to mind or even to know what we would look at as their plight.  The people seem for the most part, well fed, well dressed and in constant touch with each other (cell phones are ubiquitous here!)

Well, after a weekend of acclimation, I got down to work.  Chevron's facility is not to far from the hotel but takes a good 30 minutes to get to due to the traffice.  But first you hafe to wait for thew suttle and hope it gets there when you need it by.  A little furstrating when your a trainer that expects to be in control.  I got to my class 30 minutes late but they understood.  Afterall, they drive in the same traffice every day.

Once we got rolling, the class went fine.  I taught them the finer points of the project and portfolio management process.  They were enagged and their English, it is their second language after Portuguese, wasn't bad but their accents sometimed confused me. 

Th second day of class on Tuesday was canceled due to lack of students for the same subject so I went in and prepared for the rest of the week.  And then, more fun, waiting again for the shuttle to take me to the Staff House (where we have to eat our meals since Angola is very expensive for foreign travelers).  It took 45 minutes but they finally showed.  Half way to the house, the car broke down in the middle of Tuesday night Luandan traffic.  Fun.  After another 45 minutes later, the car finally started and we made our way to the fine cuisine of Chevron's Staff House.

I'm tired now.  Tomorrow is another day.

Angola Chegada! (Arrival)

Wheels down at 7:18 local time (West Africa Time Zone). 

Bon Dia!  (Good Morning!)

Flying in to Luanda reminded me of grwoing up in Southern California.  They have a definite "June Gloom" overcast going on.  I do have to say that the view was interesting.  You can definitely see that much of Luanda is still very third world.  There are thousands of houses from nice to not so much.  It reminds me of going down to Tijuana, Mexico except of course for the people.

The people here are very nice, well dressed and everywhere!

Upon arrival, we exited on to the tarmac, boarded a bus for the short hop to the terminal.  Once there, you go through immigration.  A quick passport check and your through to the baggage claim.  On the way, you'll get stopped by the Health Ministry representative who checks your immunization card to insure that you've had your yellow fever shot.

Once you get your bags, its staright out to the exit where you meet your "delta 9".  These are the CABGOC (Chevron) reps who get you to a car and then on to your destination which in my case was the Hotel Avelade.  Even though it's a Saturday, the streets are crowded and traffic while moving isn't really controlled.  There's no signals, signs or anything else that seems to teel drivers what to do.

The Hotel Avelade is right in the middle apartments buildings and a neighborhood that you don't see every day.  But once you get inside, it seems like any nice hotel.  While not having been to Europe, I would guess these are what the hotels are like.  The lift (i.e. elevator) has enough room for about 3 people.  My room is nice but small compared to a US hotel.  Nice, comfortable.  But I've got two toilets.  The second one has a faucet on it...what gives?  OK, OK, so I've never actaully seen a working bidet before!  Interesting to say the least but I'm not actually sure what I'm supposed to do.

Well, I'll get settled in and get back to y'all later.

-Mark, 6/25 11:a.m.

The Next Leg of the African Journey - The Houston Express

So, I arrived at the gate about 8 a.m.  No huge lines.  No harried passengers or customer service people.  Just did I want an aisle or a window seat?  I replied, “This is my first time on the Houston Express.” 

The 747 Houston Express

The British Airways Biz Class Lounge

“Well”, she said, “let’s make you comfortable.”

She gave me a seat on the aisle and a “pass” to the lounge.

After going through security where there were only three people in line and NO one was in a hurry, I made my way to the “lounge”.  I was greeted with a hearty “hello” and told to help myself to ANYTHING.  Anything included, comfortable seats, a full bar, snacks, food coffee, newspapers, magazines, etc. So, now I understand the secret being kept from us middle class travelers all these years.  There is luxury even in the airport “lounge”.  I don’t want to leave.

9:45. I have to leave.  The Atlas Air run flight for Son Air known as the Houston Express is boarding.  I make my way to the gate.  Funny, again there is no line.  I make my way on board…what kind of plane is this?  Well, it’s a 747.  I rode one of these once.  It was a cattle car.  500 or so people packed in.  But this was different.  No cattle in sight.  Just these pod like chairs and very few of them at that.  The flight attendant, Amber, greeted me and asked if I’d like Perrier or a strawberry champagne.  I took the Perrier.  Too early to drink.

As I settled into my seat that looked better than anything I had back at home and resembled a futuristic Barcalounger, I began to understand.  I AM in Business Class.  This is cool.  So here’s the rundown:

·    My seat can recline by the touch of a button.  Not a mechanical one on those lower class aircraft but with a touchpad that has no less than 13 buttons to adjust my seat from an airline seat to a recliner to a bed.

·    Nobody is here.  The plane is less than half full.  I’m sharing a row of 7 seats with two other people.  Room to spread out and relax.

·    They just came by with a REAL pillow and a blanket.  Oh, and here’s your complimentary travel kit complete with socks, eyeshades, toiletries, etc.

·    They just went through the safety briefing.  We have three pilots and 13 flight attendants.  Can anyone say overkill?  No, I say, “well cared for”.

·    There is a touch screen in front of me and a remote by my side.  I can watch movies, TV, listen to music, call the flight attendant, etc.

·    Oh, the just delivered a menu.  For lunch, the appetizer is a grilled shrimp skewer with pineapple and lemon grass.  This is followed by a spring mix salad and a choice of one of three entrees.  I think I’ll have the Beef Tenderloin with Thyme roasted potatoes and mushroom and bean ragout.  Yummy.

·    For dessert, an ice cream sundae made to order at your seat.  (Thanks, Amber!)

I have learned three things halfway through my first international trip via the “Houston Express”:

• I am a poor traveler.  I travel in economy which qualifies me as poor.  I must win the Lotto so I can continue to travel in this fashion.
• Business class travel (Thanks, Chevron!) ROCKS.
• I do not want to get off the plane…but I must as the next chapter in my African Adventure beckons in several hours as we approach Luanda.

I have to go, they just came by to offer our ”midnight snack”.  Can’t miss that.

-Mark, Halfway to Luanda at 35000 feet and 561 mph over the Atlantic (4,030 from Houston and 3,677 miles to destination) 6/24 6:00 p.m. CDT

Wheels Up to Angola...T-minus 3 Hours

It was somewhat of a restless night but I'm feeling better that the time is now here.  I'll talk to you from the other side of the world soon.

Mark 6/24/11 7:30 a.m.

The Journey Has Begun - Wheels Down in Houston

6/23/2011

After a furious and long night of packing and making all the necessary last minute arrangements, I made my way to SFO airport this morning and a tearful goodbye to my wife, Stephanie.  We'll be apart for longer than we ever have been during our almost 25 year marraige (yup, our anniversary is coming up riht after I return...)

Continental flight 93 ran a little late but was but was otherwise uneventful.  Wheels down in Houston at 6:10 p.m. local time.  I was pleasantly surprised to find my hotel for the night just a vey short tram ride away.  I've settled in for the night answering the requsite e-mails and makig sure everyone knows I'll be gone for a while.  As bed time nears, the butterflies in my stomach are grwoing a bit.  This will be my first, truly international experience on another continent.  It'll be 12 hours on the "Houton Express" a charter, business class planr that caters to the oil industry here in Houston and Angola with direct flights.  It looks comfortable and nice but it will still be a long flight.  Another leg in the journey awaits.

My next post will be from Luanda, Angola where the adventure truly begins.  Until then...

Mark, from the IAH Marriott - 10:49 p.m.



At the Airport...on a Mission



Houston



My African Adventure...The Time Grows Near

6/21/2011

 

Welcome to my Blog for My Angolan Adventure.  I'll be posting updates here as my trip to Angola progresses.

 

Some Background:

 

I am a PM Consultant and Trainer in ITC's Project Management Center of Excellence on the Standards & Competency Team.  In short, one of my duties is to help train and develop our IT Project Managers at Chevron.  Sometimes that will take us to the far reaches of the globe.

 

In this case, I will be traveling to Angola to deliver 7 sessions of 5 classes over three weeks.  I'll be leaving on Thursday, June 23rd and arriving in Luanda, Angola on Saturday morning the 25th.  I'll be in Luanda, the capital of Angola, for two weeks.  My colleague, Robin Henry, will join me on July 2nd.  On July 8th, we'll travel to Chevron's camp in Malongo for an additional week of training.

 

This is my first "international" assignment with any employer.  As it so happens, this destination requires a lot of prep to get to...

• Lots of shots (if you're not up to date)
• A letter from your police department stating you're not a criminal
• A long and laboruious Visa process (including asking for and receiving an "official invitation" to the country)
• Logistics, communications, comunications and more logistical communication stuff.

Getting Down to the Wire...

It's Tuesday, the 21st of June.  I'm getting a little nervous.  But one of the things I found is you need to talk to people who have experienced travel to a far off land.  And talk to more than one.  You get different perspectives and they cover a breadth of information.  In doing that, you'll run across somebody who's more than willing to share a lot to make sure you are comfortable (Thanks, Linda D.!).

As the date for departure looms closer, the wife is getting a little more nervous (as am I) and the stress level is rising.  Two things are top of mind:

• Making sure I take everything I need and am prepared for almost a month away.
• Making sure that all the logistaics and arrangements on the other end are getting done so that I can deliver a successful training experience along with my colleague.

I'll keep you posted with updates as I move forward.

Mark Weinmann 6/21/2011 - Concord, CA