Best:
Going out to eat by myself. In my everyday life, a restaurant dinner requires forethought, spousal agreement, and either a babysitter or crayons and a paper placemat. On a business trip, I can eat what I want, when I want, and not have to share the bread basket.
Having two beds to choose among, or a king-size all to myself. Plus, ALL the pillows. Not enough pillows in the room? I'll just call for more.
Meeting new people - or not. On a recent flight, I sat in front of a mom traveling alone with a 9-month-old baby. I played peekaboo with the baby, chatted with the mom, and reassured her that the little coos and whimpers and occasional cries didn't bother me a bit. On my flight home, I read a novel and didn't speak to a soul.
Seeing coworkers in a new way. I can build a good rapport with a colleague through online communication and conference calls, but there's something uniquely powerful about meeting in person. It extends beyond handshakes and body language; there's a basic understanding of what someone is like that comes from interacting in an environment away from everyday work.
Having two beds to choose among, or a king-size all to myself. Plus, ALL the pillows. Not enough pillows in the room? I'll just call for more.
Meeting new people - or not. On a recent flight, I sat in front of a mom traveling alone with a 9-month-old baby. I played peekaboo with the baby, chatted with the mom, and reassured her that the little coos and whimpers and occasional cries didn't bother me a bit. On my flight home, I read a novel and didn't speak to a soul.
Seeing coworkers in a new way. I can build a good rapport with a colleague through online communication and conference calls, but there's something uniquely powerful about meeting in person. It extends beyond handshakes and body language; there's a basic understanding of what someone is like that comes from interacting in an environment away from everyday work.
Feeling important. The company valued my contributions enough to pay for me to be somewhere else. That, in and of itself, is pretty awesome.
Worst:
Missing my family. As much as I enjoy the extra pillows and the in-room coffee and the polite strangers calling me "Mrs. Wiant," it doesn't take long for me to miss my husband's company, my kids' hugs, and the happy chaos of our household. If I go somewhere dull, I long for home. If I go somewhere beautiful or fun, I wish they were along to share the experience.
That guy with the sinus thing. No matter where I go, he seems to always stay in the room next to mine. I'm tempted to call the front desk and ask them to send a box of Kleenex and some cough drops to his room.
Worrying about the expense report. Is it a prudent use of company resources to pay $50 to check a bag on an overnight trip? Did that Clif Bar I stole from the minibar show up as alcohol? Did I remember to get a receipt from the taxi driver? These are the things that keep me up at night.
Waking up in the middle of the night with no idea where I am or why I am there. This doesn't happen on every trip, but it always freaks me out when it does.
There are never, ever enough outlets in the hotel room. And the odds are approximately 80% that I will leave my phone charger plugged into one of them.
There isn't much time. I typically try to keep business trips short, to minimize time away from my family and to be a responsible steward of the company's money. I was just in Kansas City for less than 24 hours. I didn't eat barbecue. I didn't hear blues music. All I saw of the city was the inside of a Marriott and a few nice views from the back of a taxi.
That guy with the sinus thing. No matter where I go, he seems to always stay in the room next to mine. I'm tempted to call the front desk and ask them to send a box of Kleenex and some cough drops to his room.
Worrying about the expense report. Is it a prudent use of company resources to pay $50 to check a bag on an overnight trip? Did that Clif Bar I stole from the minibar show up as alcohol? Did I remember to get a receipt from the taxi driver? These are the things that keep me up at night.
Waking up in the middle of the night with no idea where I am or why I am there. This doesn't happen on every trip, but it always freaks me out when it does.
There are never, ever enough outlets in the hotel room. And the odds are approximately 80% that I will leave my phone charger plugged into one of them.
There isn't much time. I typically try to keep business trips short, to minimize time away from my family and to be a responsible steward of the company's money. I was just in Kansas City for less than 24 hours. I didn't eat barbecue. I didn't hear blues music. All I saw of the city was the inside of a Marriott and a few nice views from the back of a taxi.
Weirdest:
The perfection of ginger ale on an airplane. I don't drink sugared soda very often. I don't even think I like soda. But for some reason, a little plastic cup of ginger ale with cylindrical ice cubes served at 34,000 feet tastes like an effervescent bit of heaven.
The "Stand up or you'll miss it!" people. When the gate agent at the airport says, "We'll begin boarding in a few minutes," I figure I have time to finish a chapter of my book, visit the restroom, and get a snack before they're through with first class, passengers needing extra assistance, frequent fliers, active military personnel, and the 4 zones ahead of me. I am amused by the people who hear the same message and spring to their feet, gripping their bags, ready to pounce on their opportunity to stand and wait 20 minutes.
The aging effect of air travel. No matter how long or short my flight, I always look 10 years older when I step off the plane. My makeup is gone, my hair is flat, I have dark circles and new lines under my eyes.
The inconsistency of plumbing. I have heard that every person thinks him or herself intelligent, until faced with operating someone else's shower. It's embarrassing to call the front desk and ask for an explanation, but still better than showing up unwashed for an important meeting.
The welcome I receive from my cats. Tonight, after I returned from a 1-day trip, my cat Max sharpened his claws on our nicest furniture, jumped onto the countertop, knocked a bunch of picture frames onto the floor, and began aggressively transferring white-and-orange fur onto my black jacket - all within 2 minutes of my walking in the door. I've never had a dog, but I believe they are happy to see their owners come home. Meanwhile, cats are irritated that their owners left.
Do you have a best, worst, or weird experience? I'd love to hear about it.
The "Stand up or you'll miss it!" people. When the gate agent at the airport says, "We'll begin boarding in a few minutes," I figure I have time to finish a chapter of my book, visit the restroom, and get a snack before they're through with first class, passengers needing extra assistance, frequent fliers, active military personnel, and the 4 zones ahead of me. I am amused by the people who hear the same message and spring to their feet, gripping their bags, ready to pounce on their opportunity to stand and wait 20 minutes.
The aging effect of air travel. No matter how long or short my flight, I always look 10 years older when I step off the plane. My makeup is gone, my hair is flat, I have dark circles and new lines under my eyes.
The inconsistency of plumbing. I have heard that every person thinks him or herself intelligent, until faced with operating someone else's shower. It's embarrassing to call the front desk and ask for an explanation, but still better than showing up unwashed for an important meeting.
The welcome I receive from my cats. Tonight, after I returned from a 1-day trip, my cat Max sharpened his claws on our nicest furniture, jumped onto the countertop, knocked a bunch of picture frames onto the floor, and began aggressively transferring white-and-orange fur onto my black jacket - all within 2 minutes of my walking in the door. I've never had a dog, but I believe they are happy to see their owners come home. Meanwhile, cats are irritated that their owners left.
Do you have a best, worst, or weird experience? I'd love to hear about it.
