My first Sunday in LA was already a travel day - I was signed up for the compulsory 2 day ADP training program which was held at the Accenture office in Reston, Virginia. I found out that a cab from Pasadena to the airport would cost about $80, and since I was travelling alone, decided to try out LAs infamous public transport system. I took the Metro Gold Line to Union Station and from there got a Flyaway bus straight to the airport. Total travel time was about an hour and fifteen minutes, and it was a very comfortable ride both on the train and the bus. Total cost was $4.25 and I had a much improved opinion on getting around without a car in LA!
So I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare for my 12:45 flight to Washington - then they announced that the flight was completely full and they would be giving free tickets to volunteers willing to be bumped to the next flight. I decided to go for it since the next flight would still get me in at a decent hour (just before midnight Eastern time), and so got a middle seat in the back for the next flight 3 hours later and my free ticket for a future flight to the destination of my choice within the 48 states. Flying domestic coach in the US is really no better than taking a Greyhound bus - I'm not sure if I really want to use that free ticket after all!
The ADP training the next day had 7 participants - 3 going to a project in New York, 2 based at the Reston office, myself and Jeni - the only participant who is actually doing a project in a developing country! This is ironic as much of the training is cultural, health and security awareness training geared at those from developed countries working in not so developed countries. Still, it was good fun and great meeting my fellow ADPers slumming it in those not so developed places called New York City or Washington DC! We did some interesting role plays (I really liked the game which simulated how the playing field is skewed when it comes to trade between nations and interactions with the global institutions such as World Bank/IMF etc.) So, despite the fact that I am not going to the field, I got a lot out of the training and it was well worth the long journey.
The 2 days passed by very quickly, and then it was time to experience the delights of flying in the US again. This time the flight was just delayed an hour, so no free ticket and the delay was just enough to make me miss the last Metro to Pasadena. The training came in handy though as I was on full alert state walking around a deserted Union Station in LA at half past midnight. I distributed my cash to various places so that even if I got mugged I would not lose it all. I tried to look like I knew where I was going (unfortunately not very successfully) and finally found the taxi line and paid $33 to get home. That $33 could have sponsored a child for a month, and everytime I take out my wallet to pay for something nowadays, I think in terms of how many months (or years) a child could have been fed, clothed and educated. It is an unfortunate feature of the world we live in that life is so cheap in some parts of the world and yet it is such a challenge to eliminate poverty.
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