Hello world! A little bit more on I, me and myself- I think I got the I syndrome.

On my way to learning the ropes. Still making up my mind about why i need to do that.

While my passion for flying took over and I decidedto become a pilot, 15 years back I decided to divert into academics. I started with a MA in Personnel management, which was followed by a PG Diploma in Business Administration from Symbiosis Pune. Not being satisfied with this I went on to complete my MS in Strategic studies from Madras University. Training and Development is something close to my heart hence I also gained a Diploma in Training and Development form Indian Society for Training and Development. The academics bug bit me again when I learnt that University of North Bengal permitted Research Scholars to register for a Ph.D. in management. It was a long and ardous journey but I did manage to complete the doctorate in a little less than five years(10 days short from being debarred) with a good review from all five examiners.

Around this time I joined the United Nations on Deputation for a period of one year. All this while I thought I had a reasonable knowledge on diversity managemment but this was beyond my limits of understanding. However soon I got into the groove and there I was in Democratic Republic of Congo. Took me a while to understand the working of the United Nations but soon I was a master in diversity management. There were embarrasing incidents where one gesture could mean nothing to one person, while the same would offend another. One simple example is offering to shake hands with someone. While it was absolutely normal with a lady from the west there were embarrasing moments when the hand shake was refused by a recently inducted UN volunteer from middle east.

Based on my academic qualifications I was additionally tasked to take lectures on Human Resources and Psychology. Stress management, motivation, operating in diverse work environment, training issues, management of resources, TA and decision making were the favourite.

Life in the UN is quite tough. I thought i had a fair idea of the challenges involved in working for the UN, but looks like its going to be far more difficult than i imagined. There are things that happen out here. If any of you folks seen the staffing system of UN where the staff is full with bright people who are the best in their field. There is no rie-raf and each one is a thorough a professional. However the difficult conditions lead people to take tough decisions to leave UN inspite of a good pay pack due to continual stay away frrom their families and burnouts in the field. I see that happening to some of us too. Hope that teaching will keep me networked with some of the best people and help me keep focus for rest of my stay here.

An interest in academics made me to tilt further towards learning methodologies and training and I decided to go all out into teaching. Or maybe I will get into the management side of some really big voluntary organization like OCHA/OXFAM(influence of UN). I definitely want to make money doing what I like best.