Daddy's Little Princess

So on the way back from Bejing, I stopped in Singapore and visited Dhana's family. I have worked with Dhana for almost 3 years now. Our friendship is based on mutual trust and respect and the fact that we'd both fail in our jobs if we did not get along. Dhana manages new account transitions - all the new accounts are happening in my region. I am his main customer, he is my right hand.

Anyway, given our close association, I've heard all about his family, and his family knows all about me. But this was the first time in 3 years, that I was going to be in Singapore the same time that Dhana was there. To be accurate we both arrived in Singapore at 6am that Saturday - me from Bejing, Dhana from India - where he'd been working on another new account for me.

Dhana has 2 kids - a little boy about 6 months old, and the cutest little almost 3 year old daughter. His wife made CIO in a multi-national and juggles home and work while Dhana goes globetrotting. They picked me up from the airport, and we travelled into the city to take the 3 year old to drama and elocution class. Why ? I asked Dhana - "oh because she speaks Singlish (singapore english) and we need her to speak properly" - reminded me of my childhood where my family spoke to me in English cos they wanted to be sure that I spoke well.

On the way back, she was acting up, and Dhana and his wife tried to get her to settle down. Dhana's favorite line was "You are my little princess aren't you. That is not what Little Princesses do..." It worked a couple of times, until the little one piped up with "I don't want to be a princess". There was a stunned silence. She had not been known to be quite so rebellious.

...I want to be king!!

Of all the things I had expected, that wasn't one of them. We were all thrilled, and marvelled at her being able to grasp the nuance and know exatly what she wanted. Yes little girl - may you grow up to be king! No doubt the kingdom will be better off for that.

No More Shopping Please !!

They say that "Never is a very long time" and you are only limited by your own imagination. The truth of both of those hit me hard yesterday as I arrived in Singapore on my way back from a memorable trip to Bejing.

There are great sales going on in Singapore, which until recently I had considered to be the haven of shopping and spas. All I wanted to do was sit in a cool spot, drink a tall cold glass of water and have a conversation with Dhana's family. I never thought there would come a day when I was all shopped out and all massaged out. And it was a good feeling!

So what did I get in Bejing one might ask - pearls, rolex (or colex) silk jackets, olympic memorabilia, a teapot, jasmine tea.. and a great eye-opening , propaganda reversing education on modern day China and an organized approach to managing large scale and volume.