We are organizing the WACA conference in India and need volunteers, said my father. How much am I going to be paid? was the only question I had and he said I don't know, but we will see.
Little did I know that this one week would change my life forever!!
So in September 1989, I was introduced to Delhi Interline club's board members (My father being one of them as well) and told that I would be working as a Volunteer to assist the 300+ people who would be coming to India to attend the World Airlines Clubs Association (WACA) meet. So along with Divya (daughter of the then President Gayatri Aunty) who was scared and hadn't a clue what to expect we formed the 2 people team of Volunteer. Divya asked me sheepishly if I knew what the work was all about?? and not wanting to appear completely foolish I said "Yeah Sure" we help people around and stay here in the Hotel and order room service and have fun.
Divya thought this was gonna be fun, and I became the defacto Leader in our 2 people gang.
Were we Stupid or Ignorant, I guess both, but what I had said was so far from true. The next few days were probably the hardest that I have ever worked in my life and I realized that I enjoyed every minute of it.
From Organizing check in's to Breakfast's for those who had missed it, ensuring that all meeting rooms had enough stationary to evening Gala parties I did it all. The best thing was that it was not alien, being born in a family of Airliner Father and a Mother who was a great organizer some things came naturally, while others I learnt on the fly.
2 More volunteers from Air India came and assisted us, but let me be in charge. These were 2 of the Kindest ladies I had ever met, Anjana and the other name i cant remember were too happy to accept me as the leader of the Gang and ensured that I was well looked after. I could not escape out to smoke, so Anjana always brought Cigarettes and something to eat. She was kind of the elder sister who was more concerned about my well being that the meets.
One week long, I had a free reign in Ashoka Hotel, terrorizing the Travel Agent (who was responsible for the Transport and Sightseeings) the Hotel Employees and everyone I could terrorize. (My father at one stage said Young man relax you are only 19 years of age and inexperienced) Got drunk every day on cocktails that I didn't know had existed, got Divya drunk and the other 2 as well. Ensured that we all had a Single Room to stay in and there was never a want for food. The moment of Joy came when on the farewell day Gayatri aunty was called on the stage to make her Thank You speech as the event was one of the best organized in the WACA history, She made it a point to call me and Divya on the stage and thank us for the 18-20 hours a day we had put in, The President of WACA was so impressed that he took of his cap and gave me. "What a delightful experience for a 19 year old"
7 days of 18-20 hours work day, a chance to practice my German, travel with the various groups for Sightseeing and excursions, made me realize that Travel is what I wanted to do.
After the meet was over we were paid Inr. 1000 for a week.(US$ 50) which became my very first income as well. Wow I was paid for being shown the way to what I am still doing 23 years later.
Little did I know that this one week would change my life forever!!
So in September 1989, I was introduced to Delhi Interline club's board members (My father being one of them as well) and told that I would be working as a Volunteer to assist the 300+ people who would be coming to India to attend the World Airlines Clubs Association (WACA) meet. So along with Divya (daughter of the then President Gayatri Aunty) who was scared and hadn't a clue what to expect we formed the 2 people team of Volunteer. Divya asked me sheepishly if I knew what the work was all about?? and not wanting to appear completely foolish I said "Yeah Sure" we help people around and stay here in the Hotel and order room service and have fun.
Divya thought this was gonna be fun, and I became the defacto Leader in our 2 people gang.
Were we Stupid or Ignorant, I guess both, but what I had said was so far from true. The next few days were probably the hardest that I have ever worked in my life and I realized that I enjoyed every minute of it.
From Organizing check in's to Breakfast's for those who had missed it, ensuring that all meeting rooms had enough stationary to evening Gala parties I did it all. The best thing was that it was not alien, being born in a family of Airliner Father and a Mother who was a great organizer some things came naturally, while others I learnt on the fly.
2 More volunteers from Air India came and assisted us, but let me be in charge. These were 2 of the Kindest ladies I had ever met, Anjana and the other name i cant remember were too happy to accept me as the leader of the Gang and ensured that I was well looked after. I could not escape out to smoke, so Anjana always brought Cigarettes and something to eat. She was kind of the elder sister who was more concerned about my well being that the meets.
One week long, I had a free reign in Ashoka Hotel, terrorizing the Travel Agent (who was responsible for the Transport and Sightseeings) the Hotel Employees and everyone I could terrorize. (My father at one stage said Young man relax you are only 19 years of age and inexperienced) Got drunk every day on cocktails that I didn't know had existed, got Divya drunk and the other 2 as well. Ensured that we all had a Single Room to stay in and there was never a want for food. The moment of Joy came when on the farewell day Gayatri aunty was called on the stage to make her Thank You speech as the event was one of the best organized in the WACA history, She made it a point to call me and Divya on the stage and thank us for the 18-20 hours a day we had put in, The President of WACA was so impressed that he took of his cap and gave me. "What a delightful experience for a 19 year old"
7 days of 18-20 hours work day, a chance to practice my German, travel with the various groups for Sightseeing and excursions, made me realize that Travel is what I wanted to do.
After the meet was over we were paid Inr. 1000 for a week.(US$ 50) which became my very first income as well. Wow I was paid for being shown the way to what I am still doing 23 years later.
I told my father that I Travel is what I want to do, and all he could say was "Cause Trouble is what you want to do"
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