Shiva

Shiva Kumar Ganeshan is the other member of our three person team along with Paul and I.  He is from India and together the three of us managed laugh, joke, and work in our one room office in SASII.  When I pronounce his name several times a day I go (Sheee-va) and say it like a battle-cry.  Why I don't know, but I like the way it sounds and Shiva always seems to have a smile when I say that.  Now that I think of it, Shiva always seemed to have a smile.

Each of us has some quirks, Shiva is no exception but unlike everyone else whose quirks might get on your nerves, Shiva's never did.  I have three favorites from our time together.  The first, is unlike the rest of the team that took pictures with their phones, Shiva took videos and I think I'm probably in just about everyone one of them.   (Hi Mrs. Shiva, Hi Mrs. Ganeshan).  In India, Ganeshan is Shiva's father's name so Mrs. Ganeshan is his mother and you don't say Mrs. Kumar (which is Shiva's last name), you say Mrs. Shiva (you use the first name).  Interesting, different.

The next one is you can guarantee that Shiva is always going to be five minutes late - always!  We would meet at 9:45 in order to walk to work and arrive by 10:00.  OK, Paul and I would meet at 9:45 (usually 9:40) and Shiva would arrive at 9:50, 9:55, maybe the occasional 10:00.  Given that we weren't punching a clock for work it was OK when we arrived, but we busted out laughing when we found out from Shiva that when he holds his meetings with his teams around the world he doesn't stand for tardiness because then it throws off all his meetings for the day.  Really Shiva....

Given that we walk to and from work every day we pass a couple of different markets on the way depending on which way we go.  At least twice a week we would stop on the way home so Shiva could buy a bag of chips and a large bottle of coke.  Hey we all have our vices - mine is wine.  Anyway, Shiva liked the market closest to the hotel and given how often we would stop Paul and I dubbed it "Shiva's Market."  Well somehow that title caught on and we would here other members of the team mention needing to go out to "Shiva's Market."  So here is Shiva at his market.