Mumbai to Marlborough

The Prep Week

I just had one week to settle all my project related work and prepare myself for the on-site assignment at Marlborough and believe me one week is nothing if you have to get ready for a long term on-site assignment. Luckily for me I had few people around me who helped me a lot.It wasn't the project related stuff that worried me I was more worried about the Shopping,Clearance from all Dept. and Documentation that was needed.
I got the confirmation that I was going for to Marlborough on 20th Sept and I had till 27th to get ready.The same evening me and Kiran went to Anil bhai he and bhabhi helped us prepare a exhaustive list of things to buy.

Shopping for OnSite

I started shopping for the trip on the next day[21st Sept] as this was the only day available.Kiran my room partner was of immense help with the shopping.We started early from home[Thane] after breakfast,boarded a local and went to Dharavi first to get the most important thing a "Leather Jacket".When we got there there were around 200 leather product stores I was preparing myself for a long day of shopping fortunately it did not take long probably on our third attempt we found one that I liked. If it wasn't for Kiran I would have spent quite few Rupees more.He bargained well and we got the jacket for a very reasonable price.

Next Stop was Kanjurmarg where we thought we'll buy cloths and one of my friends Niteen was also going to meet us there.This was supposed take time and it was already 1PM so we had lunch at a hotel near to the Huma mall there and started our shopping again.I got the cloths after a few deliberations but they needed alterations and the shop owner was saying he can give the cloths after alterations only on Monday evening. I did not have that much time so we requested and he agreed to get that done the same day around 3 PM.
So we had around 2 hrs to kill so we were roaming around and then Niteen called , he was already there I met with him and his 2 friends who had come with him.Then we went to the baggage store[Geordianno] to buy bags.I had to buy 2 big bags [check-in] and one smaller cabin bag.For Rs 10,000 they seemed costly to me but Kiran was very adamant that we take those bags, I thought what the heck lets take it basically there wast much time to think.Jacket,cloths and baggage was done then we went to Big bazaar to get the other items in my long shopping list.

In all we finished most of the shopping stuff that day apart form the food items and medicine and winter cloths those things I could buy any time.

My only regret during all this frenzy was that I could not go home to meet my family before going abroad.I knew I wouldn't be able to meet them for at least another year.Once I told my family that I was going to Marlborough for a one year assignment and I wouldn't be able to come for Diwali my mother would cry on every phone call I make. So I thought to call my mother to Mumbai instead and one of my uncles was also ready to accompany her.

Travel Clearance

So i was almost all set to FLY except for few things my clearance was not getting done from my company I had to go to each of the departments I had to get clearance from. But all things ultimately worked out by the next Friday I was all packed-up and ready to FLY to USA baby.