greasing the wheels after a long hiatus

My back is soaked with sweat ... it is friggin hot in Toronto. Yes, this is, indeed, how I have decided to start my first blog in over a year. For those that don't know me, I used to be an avid blogger. It all started when I went to Singapore - over 6 months I cranked out 61 posts. Wow! Then I lived in California for a little while and did a little typing here and there...my last blog was March 2009. It has been too long. I love blogging and I also love being hot and sweaty...it just feels right! (Must be the Sri Lankan in me).

So you're probably wondering why I'm posting right now. Or more importantly, why I haven't posted in over a year? In short - I am not inspired when I'm in Toronto. There are too many directions that one gets pulled in, I don't have time to gather my thoughts, and there is already too much information out there, how am I going to add my perspective in a meaningful way? Now that I'm leaving Toronto, I am looking forward to sharing the adventures of the next few months with you. The plan is to work in Cairo for 50 days and Nairobi for 51 days. Join me :).

As a quick introduction, let me tell you what I do for a living. I'm an auditor. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Haha - yes that is what I would think as well. Allow me to explain, though, it isn't that boring! Many of you know that I joined GE Capital shortly after school - my dream company. After three years on the sales side, I decided that I want to take advantage of GE's global presence and reputation for being a management factory. I decided to join the Corporate Audit Staff. In short, it is a group of roughly 400 young professionals who engage in GE businesses around the world. From Healthcare to Energy, from NBC to Capital - we make sure that the numbers are properly stated and also serve as internal consultants. We share best practices from business units and work closely with GE business leader to just make things better. Have I lost you yet? Hahah - yes I did say that I enjoyed this. Anyway, I am lucky enough to be staffed on an audit in GE Egypt and GE Kenya. This blog will hopefully chronicle my experience of working in the Middle East / Africa. I am hella excited (as our friends in Cali would say).

Before I sign off, I have to remark on the Israeli attack on the ships bringing aid to Gaza. Absolutely disgusting, why does the Israeli government get to commit crimes against humanity? Society has a short memory, but not too long ago these idiots executed an assasination in Dubai...remember? In that operation, they actually used forged British and other EU passports. What the hell happened with that story? Nothing. Someone cut someone a cheque and all was forgotten. Is it me or does anyone notice that we always hear about problems in the news but never any solutions? Maybe we should start a TV show that follows hot stories until the bitter end. Almost like Unsolved Mysteries - but for the world. Anyway...I'm boarding my plane soon - I'll be in touch ;)