Work Culture

During a video conference today with the US office in DC, our connection was dropped.  This, of course, is not uncommon here, and until the connection goes back up, you are often left staring at your own image on a very large TV screen.  Now, generally, I am acutely aware of how I look on camera (though, I can never seem to get past the "is that what I really look like?" feeling).  What I did not realize was how acutely aware my colleagues were of how I looked on camera.

Colleague: Oh!  Your face looks fat!

Sharon: My face looks fat on video conference?!?!?

Colleague: Yes.

Sharon:  Hmmm... well, in America, they say that the camera adds 10 pounds.

Colleague: (laughter) Oh. Really?  I have not heard that before.

Sharon: Does my face look 10 pounds heavier?

Colleague: I think so. (no laughter)

Sharon: (also, no laughter) ....well, I guess I was a fat baby.

Colleague: Ah!  That means that when you have a baby, you will also get fat.

Sooo..... clearly this conversation went from bad to worse.  But I don't believe my colleague was aware of that.  Haha.  Whoever said that Ugandans are too polite and will not tell you what is on their minds is a  B I G  F A T  L I A R!!!! (probably because they were lying on video conference)

On a happier note, I had a lovely dinner at Haandi.  The local food isn't very inspired, but the Indian food is fantabulous.  Take a gander.

Vegetable Samosas

  Paratha (in place of my usual go-to garlic naan)

Rojangosh (Mutton Curry)

I enjoyed this fine representation of North Indian fare over the musical stylings of George Benson, as performed by what I could only guess is the Indian version of Muzak.  As I listened to the serene twang of the sitar, I had to marvel at the vast, sweeping musical influence of the 80's and it's crowning achievement -- the schmaltzy love ballad.  Immediately after came fellow 80's ballad brethren Phil Collins (Groovy Kind of Love) and Air Supply (Making Love Out of Nothing at All).  Oooooooh yes!  And you'd better believe I was sitting there by myself singing along.  It was like I never left America.  =)