India > Party Time in the Yolo club

Breakfast and then off to the campus. The daily rhythm is starting to feel familiar. I am greeted with the same enthusiasm as on previous days by the team. Today’s program begins with a presentation on the possibilities with robotics. It’s interesting to hear examples of where robotics has already been successfully implemented. I try to imagine how we could integrate robotics within our own team. Afterwards, we continue with yesterday’s program and resume the discussion on Agile. We start the session with a game related to the cultural principles. Under the theme “be a Columbus”, each group receives twelve cities. These cities must be arranged in order from north to south. This is followed by a discussion on the remaining scrum sessions. During the review-session discussion, several improvement suggestions come up. The involvement of stakeholders is a concern. It’s nice to see that almost everyone actively participates in the conversation. The whole team clearly considers this important.

India - Everyone gathered in the meeting room

Because of the open discussion, it becomes evident that we need more time. We decide to skip the next block and the concluding game. The Agile topic is far more important. By adjusting the program, we manage to start lunch more or less on time. Today, a few team members join us for lunch—different people each time. After lunch, there is time to attend the daily calls. The call goes less smoothly than yesterday. The video connection freezes, and we decide to continue via audio only. Fortunately, the video returns during the meeting. Meanwhile, the afternoon program gets delayed. Tomorrow morning we need to leave for the airport on time. There is construction on a tunnel along the route, which could cause significant delays. Therefore, it is decided to move a part of tomorrow’s program to this afternoon. Each team gives a presentation on the business values they have achieved in recent months. When you look at it every two weeks, it may not seem very impressive, but when listed on a single sheet, it is quite remarkable. Meanwhile, I try to dial into the daily call of my other team in the Netherlands. I manage to call the Dutch dial-in number directly. Perhaps not the cheapest option, but at least I make contact. It feels a bit strange to hear substantive updates again, after having focused mostly on personal interactions with the staff in the past few days. At 5:30 p.m., we wrap up the presentations. We decide not to return to our accommodation but to go straight to the restaurant in Pune. Tonight, we have invited the entire team to join us for dinner. I take a taxi to the Yolo Club. The bar has a rooftop terrace on the eighth floor in the center of Pune. While I have a beer at the standing tables, appetizers are served. My team encourages me to try everything, watching curiously to see if I like it. I confirm that I do. Inside, the music starts. The DJ plays Western dance tracks. Soon the entire team is on the dance floor, dancing and jumping. It’s not even half past eight. I alternate dancing with breaks at the standing tables. From ten o’clock, the DJ switches to Bollywood music. The dance floor is packed, and everyone sings along at the top of their lungs.

India - Dancing in Club Yolo in Pune

It’s quite special to see such a full dance floor on a weekday evening. I understand that weekends are even busier. Around midnight, “Leef” by André Hazes plays through the speakers. The Indians look a bit surprised but soon join in dancing to the Dutch music. I do too. Luckily, the next song is familiar to them again. Someone comes in to announce that the main meal is ready. Could it really be that people eat around midnight? I watch in amazement as people help themselves generously to the food and enjoy it fully. I’m no longer hungry, but I take a few bites. Shortly after 12:30 a.m., it’s enough. I take taxis back to the campus. Although I am quite tired, I quickly pack my suitcase. I definitely won’t feel like doing this tomorrow morning. At 1:45 a.m., I turn off the lights.