October, 2006

I'm excited to accept a new position as a Sr. Software Engineer with WalMart.com.  I'll be on the ESM team responsible for the tools and infrastructure used by the Site Operations and Engineering departments, for the day-to-day operation of the Walmart.com Web site. Responsible for working with internal customers to understand their business requirements, and specifying, building and implementing the required products and solutions. Monitor and analyze production database platforms, UNIX servers, IP networks and mission-critical systems. Script (Bash, Korn and other scripting languages), code (SQL, Perl, Java, C) and work with TCP/IP based protocols.  Nicky and I are moving to the S.F. Bay area.  We're very happy and thankful for this wonderful opportunity.

July, 2006

I recently returned from a trip to Brazil. I was there for one month working on an outsourcing project. It was my first trip to Brazil and hopefully not my last. I was with an extremely talented, professional group of people. Brazil is a wonderful country. Everyone was so gracious and kind ... a real joy to work with.

The pressure was high and the timelines were tight. I really worked hard to transform the message flows and routing of infrastructure alerts from our old business process model to the new.  I am proud to report success.

Although the hours were long and the pace was rushed, we all managed to have fun after work and on the weekends.  Every night we explored a new restaurant together.  On a couple of occasions we had the chance to visit, "the largest mall in Latin America," and it was impressive.  On the weekends we explored the town of Campinas and shopped the local craft fairs.  One special weekend we flew over to Rio and enjoyed an extended weekend there together. 

In Rio, we got to spend time on their famous beaches; took a train trip up to see The Christ Statue and a cable car up another mountain called Sugar Loaf.  Of course there was lots of trying different restaurants; shopping and having fun together. On our last night in Rio, we even got to visit the home of one of the executives and meet his wife and daughter.  It was a real privilege to experience the life of Brazil in someone's home.

The flight to Brazil and back, though long, was smooth and comfortable.  We got to fly first class.  That was a real treat for me, too, since I had never experienced first class travel before.  I think I'm spoiled now.

The final thing I really enjoyed about the trip (and probably the most valuable of all) was spending time and bonding with my colleagues, many of whom I'd never met before.  It was great to put faces to names and grow the relationships.  I miss spending time with the new friends I made during my month-long stay there.