How I Missed the Plane but Got the Deal

First, I want to stress that I don't blame anyone but myself for this. Frankly, three weeks of living out of a suitcase, midnight meetings and strange surroundings have taken their toll. To the point where I didn't realize that I had gotten one numeric day behind with my computer still showing the date in the US. I was sure I was leaving on the 31st, so I had plenty of time to spend a day in a resort. The Maldivians were sure I could even squeeze in one more meeting before going to the airport on Sunday.
Just when I was feeling like the luckiest person on the planet, my dream had a rude awakening when I went online to check in for my flight. It was ALREADY the 31st and the plane was already leaving. Worse, a sudden torrential rainstorm destroyed any thoughts of a mad dhoni dash to the airport island. What to do?
I hit the panic button when the Maldivians and the British Airways help desk in the UK had never heard of Face to Face and weren't sure they could rebook my ticket. Fortunately, BA came through in a huge way, rebooking me on their next flight two days later. There was also the problem of losing the prepaid room I had booked for the overnight jaunt from Gatwick to Heathrow to catch my final flight to Los Angeles. I'll have to pay for another one at last-minute prices, plus two extra days back in Male.
Going back to Male meant another chance to work with the dean of the college to put the finishing touches on the application for a Fulbright grant from the United States to continue the mid-career media training program here. If it's approved, I'll be returning in May and June to focus on improving the relationship between government public relations and working journalists, as well as specialized training for TV stations and others. I also was able to connect with some of the colleagues I hope to work with at the College of Higher Education to help implement their new journalism certificate program.
But this time I'm not taking any chances. I've already checked in and plan to be there early for the flight tomorrow. It's been an awesome trip, but it's time to go HOME.

A Passage through India

Welcome to India, where travelers are immediately ushered to the swine flu checkpoint. They have infrared cameras, which I guess can tell if you are unusually warm. This basically involved filling out a form saying you aren't sick, which the immigration officer later threw on a big pile that looked like it was destined for the trash.
If anyone from British Airways is reading this blog, you should know that the elegant hospitality of the first leg of the trip isn't carrying over to the rest of the journey. No British Airways staff seem to have heard of the Face to Face contest, much less the possible upgrades and use of lounges that were offered when we booked our tickets in the US. Checking in at Heathrow, the agent seemed very inexperienced and didn't know what to make of my ticket to Chennai without a visa for India, because I am only a transit passenger going to Sri Lanka, for which I have a visa. After many phone calls to supervisors, she checked my bag to Chennai and said I would have to figure out how to pick it up when I got there for the connecting flight. She couldn't check it through. I then enquired about upgrades, and asked again when I found a "senior" agent at the lounge desk. "That would be a no," he said snootily, even though the lounge was empty. Face of Opportunity? "Never heard of it, dear." They really should have given us lounge vouchers or something, instead of leaving it up to local discretion.
Anyway, I had a very civilized flight in World Traveler Plus and a helpful flight attendant from Chennai assured me everything would be okay. Sure enough, I was waved out of the immigration line, not having a visa, and have waited in a series of interrogation-type rooms, until finally being escorted to a "transit" area under lock and key. There's nowhere to change money, I can't use the Sri Lankan airlines lounge because I have an economy ticket, British Airways hasn't offered me use of their lounge, but there's at least wifi in my empty waiting room and a very friendly mosquito trying to bite me and tell all his friends about the tasty American transit passenger. A helpful British Airways agent named Aditi has walked off with my passport and assures me I will soon hear from a Sri Lankan agent who will rescue my bag, return my passport and print my boarding pass. I know I'm in India because of the Hindu decorations in the hallways, but I'll be very glad when I'm reunited with my bag in Sri Lanka!

Ticket to Ride

At the final Face to Face breakfast, I had a moment to chat with Simon Talling Smith, The British Airways America Exec. VP who is as witty and charming one-on-one as he is at the podium, and would be a brilliant host if this enterprise is ever made into a reality show. I'd like to help make that happen. The Amazing Race meets The Apprentice meets Deal or No Deal. Then, it was time to leave the comfy cocoon of British Airways hospitality and head out on my own. The first thing I learned is that if a Londoner tells you something will only take 15 minutes, triple it, then triple it again. First, the hotel shuttle bus was delayed by an accident. Then, I split a cab with some of my fellow Face to Face contestants. The cab driver dropped us off at the wrong Heathrow terminal, but with heavy luggage in tow we doggedly marched on until we found the Heathrow Express. Using our free tickets from the Face to Face program, we zoomed into London. As promised, there were cabs available right outside Paddington station, but no one mentioned the gigantic waiting line. Add another hour, plus the actual cab ride to my hotel. But the transport troubles had an unexpected dividend: meeting some amazing women I might otherwise have missed. We learned in the business forum that entreprenuers are overwhelmingly men (90%) and among the women, few break the million dollar mark in annual sales, due to the juggling act most women perform and their fear of growing their business so much that they wouldn't have time for their families.


Spring Opara could very well break the mold. The military vet and working mom has designed premium greeting cards for the gay/lesbian (LGBT) market and she has been networking with the US Commerce Department to develop overseas markets.
The wacky train ride was also an opportunity to chat with real estate expert and her associate, who works with kids on the autistic spectrum. Those familiar with my reporting will know this is a subject close to my heart. I wish them all the best as they continue on to Spain.

Face to Face Time

Another benefit of the trip is the opportunity to promote my business, and the group's every move is documented by photographers and a video crew. Everyone has been asked to tell his or her story, and tonight it was my turn to talk about my wish to return to Maldives to look for a way to continue training broadcasters there. The trip has already paid off in terms of the invitation from the US Embassy in Sri Lanka to do a workshop for TV reporters in Colombo. But before I hit the road... three days in London! Stay tuned.

A Civilized Flight

Notice that our 747 is identified with the Face of Opportunity. My seat was in economy, with two empty seats next to me, so it felt roomy and the service was great. A few party people overdid it, and one guy even passed out in the row in front of me. I actually managed to get some sleep!

Networking Around the World

Theoretically, it's an entirely business class flight, but the big topic of conversation is... who got business class? One attorney from Seattle is offering $400 for anyone who will give up their first class seat! Awesome networking opportunities abound in the One World lounge, as the 200 small business entrepreneurs meet and greet. There's a sizable group from EO, an organization that is well represented with members from all over the West Coast. The Seattle bunch collectively accounts for $1 billion worth of annual business. The official welcome from British Airways spoke of the awful economic climate and how the the airline decided to "give the seats away."
Representatives from the British consulate, and London and LA business development also spoke of their high hopes for this group.

The Face of Opportunity

Last summer, an invitation to enter the "Face of Opportunity" contest popped up in my Linked IN mailbox, so I took a moment to dash off a little essay about the Maldives Media Training Project, the impact it made on so many lives, and the end result of a free and fair democratic election with equal access to media for all sides. I wrote about my wish to continue the training program under the new government, and how it would help me to have a little face time with the new officials of the reorganized state TV and radio stations. Out of 6,000 entries... I'm one of the lucky winners of a free ticket on British Airways! And all beause I was Linked IN!
My travels will take me to London, where I hope to make a few new contacts before going on to Sri Lanka. Colombo was an unintended stop, because British Airways doesn't start flying to the fabulous resort destination of Maldives until the November chill hits London... so they're only taking me as far as Chennai India. Fortunately, the cultural affairs officer at the US Embassy in Colombo was willing to make a small grant to bring me the rest of the way, and also invited me to do a one-day workshop for Sri Lanka's TV reporters. Then... it's on to Male, capital of the Islamic Republic of Maldives. No resort time for me, just networking with dear friends from the last two trips and -- hopefully -- finding a way to come back for more.