My first “Business Trip” to Kerala

Posted originally on May 20, 2018

This is my one of hardest situations that I faced very recently I’d like to share my experience.

Well I should be happy first let you know that I’m selected as an ‘Feet On Street’ Crew member at Dell. My Objective will be to visit the colleges across India and explain about Dell Campassador Program 3.0.

Wah, At Dell — That exclamation is what people know.
Few Facebook updates.
Few ‘Congrats’.
Then ‘THE END’

My work as a part of that was

• To cover 7 colleges across Kerala.
• Two cities. Calicut (5) & Kottayam.(2)

This is my journey.

I was at Guntur. It was informed earlier as week upon my objective.

Plan

1. Dell will provide me tickets.
   Guntur -> Chennai
   Chennai -> Calicut
   Cover 5 colleges, 2 days.
   Calicut -> Kottayam
   Cover 2 Colleges, 1 day.
   Kottayam -> Chennai
   Next day.
2. This was all provided for me by Dell.

What actually happened,

1. I travelled from Guntur to Chennai. Reached Chennai next morning.
2. By afternoon I got a call from Travel agency that, Evening’s Bus to Calicut has been cancelled. We provide you another ticket which is 1 hr late.
3. I went to CMBT bus station(2 hrs far from my place.) 2 hrs earlier upon my suggestion from my dad. Then called the travel agency.
4. I was informed that the bus stop isn’t CMBT, its somewhat nearby — Arumbakkam metro station. Again I booked a cab then went there. Bus will leave at 11:45 pm.
5. Once I was in waiting room the Kerala Atmosphere began. I looked at the people around me. None knew, Hindi or Telugu.
6. Anyways got into bus. I asked the person beside me for the colleges that I have to visit. He knew nothing. I was alone. It was 13 hrs journey.
7. Early morning, the bus driver dropped me on some road, it wasn’t any bus stand.
8. I don’t know the language. Opened ‘Ola app’ — no cabs.
9. No one around me is getting me and my language. I had to struggle to look for an hotel. Luckily, two students from KL University joined me as they were for some other work in calicut.

Very well had an meet up with young entrepreneurs all around.

• I called to the colleges which I had to visit next day. I had the addresses of the colleges. I called them. Most of college HOD’s said they didn’t expect Dell executive (myself) will be interacting with students.
• Every college I visited. I had take permissions, and start all arragement from the scratch.
• I was very tensed. I didn’t know. I used Google maps. There was no cab services for me to reach all the campuses. I didn’t know what to do. I was tensed. I feared I couldn’t compete my objective.
• Most of the time, I felt alone. Very alone. It was like I’m living on another planet. Anyhow, My Uncle helped me as he had some connection here at calicut. They personally, came for me for two days, and took me to colleges and beared all travel expenses for cab. approx 5800 INR for two days.
• There, As it is tourist place, travel agency prices were heavy. If I use public transport, I know I couldn’t reach every college on time.

• I went to that small hotel nearby.
  Hot Water — That was actually used of General drinking.
  All the day, it was like dim atmosphere. I felt strange.
• Atlast got a room nearby for just 500 Rs. a day which saved me while sharing with others who helped me stay for a day.
• I did my spend my time very hard but learnt and understood lot of things. Meanwhile at the end I was a Calicut and now I had to travel to Kottayam.
• My bus was scheduled at 9:30 PM at some particular private bus stop, I went there after talking to a Auto and I reached 1 hr before.
• But exactly at 9:30 PM a bus stood on place. I showed by ticket to the conductor and he ever showed me the seat to get seated. After 30 mins, as I don’t know about the future objective I asked the person beside me regarding Kottayam, but he told the bus is travelling to Cochin and not Kottayam. I was shocked.
• I ran to the Driver panel and asked him for help, he couldn’t understand my English/Telugu but showed him the ticket again. He called the other driver of my Actual Bus.
• Few mins later when I was worrying, he gave me a piece of paper in which the phone number of the Actual driver was written. I was on the Road alone.

This was my view.

• When I called to the number in the piece of paper he gave, It sounded: Wrong Number
  What is the worst thing than a 18 yr old at some unknown place on a Highway standing alone with only one hope can listen to?
• I almost cried, then I looked up to my mail on mobile where I called for the help number. I called it he gave me the number of driver. The driver who left me on the road (Which was the plan between the drivers as a meeting point) gave the phone number one digit wrong. [7 instead of 1]
• Driver then picked up the call, told me its a white color travels bus. We are on the way, you please wait at the same spot where previous driver dropped.
• I lost both my Charger and earphone in journey. Early morning I had to complete tasks of 2 other Colleges.
• As soon as I got down at Kottayam, I found a Auto wala who was able to understand hindi. I took his phone number and asked for hotel and called him when ever I had to travel. I have the money whatever he asked for as I felt helpless.
• However I’ve completed the colleges according to the plan and Dell Made all the arrangements to return home. I did return.

This is my one of the Hardest times I’ve ever experienced in my life. Which when I realised and learnt lot of outside world.

After that program, my work as Feet on Street Crew member ended and within in few months, I was selected as a Dell Campassador of Sathyabama.

Today, I stand in the top 5 Campassadors across India.