My last post spilled over a bit into this week, but I'll try to elaborate a tad on the CCNA experience. Over the past month our manager Badri Krishnamurthy has been helping me prepare for the test by introducing us to people in the specific fields of technology that are found on the CCNA, such as wireless, routing, switching, etc. Most of my preparation has been by using TestOut Labsim or reading Todd Lamle's book, but this kind of training was much more enjoyable. Not only did we go over the material, but we got much more in-depth knowledge than we could have otherwise. Some concepts we covered on a CCIE level, far outside of the scope required for the exam at hand. Coming to these people for CCNA training was akin to asking Warren Buffet for advice on how to manage your piggy bank. Thanks to these experience support techs and my other studies I passed the exam this past Monday, renewing my certification which had lapsed 3 years prior.
With the Cisco internal audit approaching many people are becoming anxious about the state of the lab. Compared with other TAC labs the Cisco lab is in great shape. It isn't a model of cable management, nor is it absolutely perfect in inventory management, but we do a great job of ensuring that we know what is in the lab and who is using it. As should be expected, Cisco is very strict on their internal audits, and the team wants to be absolutely prepared for it. The result of this is a part-time extension of our current assignment. A few hours of every day will be spent in helping the TAC lab admins either with the recreate requests or helping ensure the lab is in the required condition. If you've followed my blog, you've read how manpower is readily available in the country. I've learned that Cisco has a team of "boys" that can be called upon and set on any task required, such as reorganizing the store room, which Sagar has been overseeing.
Last weekend was a great experience, but it left me wishing for a day off. This weekend provided that. Saturday I went out with my friend Swetha, who showed me some more parts of Bangalore and helped me find some things for my family I was looking for. Family, pretend you didn't read that, it's supposed to be a surprise. We grabbed some lunch at a subway where I ran into a friend from 2nd branch, who is preparing to go into the MTC in September. For a city of six million people, running into people you know happens with a strange frequency.
Sunday also has been a very relaxing 4th of July. Fast & testimony meeting was great, we got to hear from the new mission president and his wife, President & Sister Funk. The teacher had prepared a lesson on the psalms; a collection of quotations from the book which we took turns reading, explaining how we felt about them, and saying which hymn the quote reminded us of. It was a different kind of lesson, and a fun activity. It prompted a lot of discussion, most of which was relevant.
Tickets have been booked for our 3-day trip to New Delhi, in which we'll be seeing the Taj Mahal in Agra, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, the Presidential Home, the Lotus Temple, along with many other sites. We'll be leaving the morning of the 23rd, and returning the 25th of this month.
In closing, there has been a 3-rupee increase (6c) in gas-taxes, which has prompted BJP, the ultra nationalist political party, to call a general strike across the entire country. From what I understand, the BJP stands little to gain from this other than some popularity of siding with the people against the decision of the Congress Party controlled government. We're not talking a Gandhian hunger-strike here. Strikes in modern India consist of all shops being closed down, rioting, transportation coming to a complete halt, and people setting alight tires and anything else that looks flammable. Several companies have given their employees the day off, especially if they have to travel a long distance to get to work. Since we are so far away from the center of the city, and Cisco practically next door to us, we'll still be going in to work. If I'm lucky maybe I'll be able to see some of the stuff going on! On the other hand, I don't like gas prices going up either, perhaps I'll go join them, feel some riotous camaraderie, roll a flaming tire down the road for a belated 4 of July display. Sounds like a blast!
-Scott
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