Stories from Matt.

Insights.

1, Too much service?

Coming from Japan to India shields you from one of this country's major shocks, at least to a certain degree.

There are people literally everywhere - all the time.  

Japan, while only having one tenth as many people, also has less than a tenth of the land mass. People in Japan mostly live in cities, crowded together, so you get used to seeing other folks around when or where ever you go.

India doubles down on this. It would be an absolute shock, coming from a country like Australia, to see the number of people who are about the place in New Delhi, at all hours, in all places, doing all manner of things, and often nothing.

Any main street, any day in New Delhi.

People have to work, the Indian economy has always been based in trade, and yes, begging is a legitimate occupation.

What that means for people with money in their pockets is great service. Many of the businesses I've visited over the past weeks share one (unusual to me) feature. Often there are actually more - some times two or three times more - staff / attendants / service personnel than there are customers / diners / guests.

Of course, with so many people eager to serve, the competition for your Rupees can get a little annoying.

I can't walk 10 meters down the street without being offered a ride by an auto-rickshaw or bicycle rickshaw driver. Hawkers are always knocking on the car windows, while you wait at the traffic lights, we've been offered everything from boxes of facial tissues to automobile accessories, and ball point pens.

Why are people always trying to sell me pens?

I brought my own pens (a lovely gift from some former students) with me from Japan.

One great positive example of India's workforce in action.

Yesterday morning, I telephoned the cable TV service. I booked a new cable account and ordered a new control box.

THREE HOURS LATER I was sitting in front of my TV, trying to work out which of the 500 or so channels I actually wanted to watch.

The cable company called me three separate times to make sure I was home when the technician arrived, and again later to make sure that I was happy with his work.

The cable guy. No Jim Carey. Arrived exactly on time, went about his job quickly - even climbed up to the roof to check the reception - helped out with a minor domestic crisis, gave me his card, and quietly showed himself out.

Unbelievable service.