First off, looks like the Regina Fire Dept needs my driving skills
I recently return from a two day business trip to Winterpeg , and this will likely be my last business trip for sometime… maybe ever. Early in my career I found it quite exhilarating to go on a business trip. Having your company pay for flight, meals, hotels, pretty much everything is a treat, but I after doing it a few times the novelty wears off quickly.
I was always surprising to me how many people travel on business. I think the majority of flights within Canada contain more business people than people traveling for personal reasons. Maybe this doesn’t surprise most of you, but for me, when I went on my first with RBC I thought I was special in a way, a fortunate soul who was getting a bit of a benefit getting to travel, but then I looked around most others we also the business type, traveling alone, wearing a suit…I was just a face in the crowd, not special at all. What a blow to my ego.
The reasons not to enjoy traveling are many:
First and for most are Airplanes and Airports. You have to arrive a hour early (or more), then stand in line to check your bags, then stand in line at security, then you wait at the gate, then stand in line there, then you wait to get in your seat, wait to the plane taxi’s to the runway, wait until you arrive, wait until you taxi to the gate, wait to get off, wait for bags, wait for taxi’s…and so on. I am not a patient person and I do not enjoy waiting. Especially in an airport where everyting seems to be hurry up and wait. There are delays – especially in winter. Nothing like spending two hours sitting in an airport waiting for your flight to leave. Serious Boredom. On your luckiest days you manage to strike up a conversation with an interesting stranger. I don’t fit on planes either, there is no head room and no leg room. I literally can’t even stand up straight on the Air Canada Jazz flights, my head hits the roof. I’m also not a big fan of flying period; it makes me a little nervous. I don’t trust the airlines that they would ever tell me if there was something wrong, and when I don’t have any control it bugs me. If I could drive the thing I’m sure I would enjoy it much more.
Cabs – well let’s face it, I am one of the biggest back seat drivers on earth. I would much rather be behind the wheel then letting some two bit cab driver get me around. Plus they are dirty and expensive- and I have to wait for them.
Hotels – I don’t have a huge issue with hotels, I’m not picky, but I just can’t sleep in them. Often they are too hot, too bright, and too noisy. Thus I always feel tired when I’m traveling. Having to get my drinking water out of the bathroom tap also disgusts me a little. For some reason I also relate hotels to hangovers – I always seem to wake up in a hotel room hungover, which is not a good thing.
Eating – it’s pretty much impossible to eat healthy on the road. Eating in restaurants you usually eat to much, it’s possible to order reasonably healthy food, but I just eat too much. It’s dificult to eat between meals so I am too hungry when it comes time for the next meal. When at the hotel, unless you pack something, the only food available is junk food. And not that I should complain, but every meal seems to come with beer or wine, and while enjoyable, not good for my waistline. All this causes me to get indigestion and feel like a large bag of poop. Yes, I’m sure with the proper planning and will power I could eat better on the road, but it is mighty difficult thing to do.
I’m sure someday I will miss the chance to get out of the city once in a while on an all expense paid trip somewhere, but not for a while. Maybe the problem is that I never really got to go any where cool. All my road trips have been to Calgary, Winnipeg, or Saskatoon…not exactly my list of top destinations. I went to a conference in Banff, which may have been cool if I hadn’t been there 5 times before. Lots of people in my company went to places like Vegas, Vancouver, Toronto, Nashville.. all places I would like to go someday, but never got the chance to do it while employed in the corporate world.
Somehow I doubt the fire department sends many people on business trips to Vegas. Maybe if more hotels keep lighting on fire...
I recently return from a two day business trip to Winterpeg , and this will likely be my last business trip for sometime… maybe ever. Early in my career I found it quite exhilarating to go on a business trip. Having your company pay for flight, meals, hotels, pretty much everything is a treat, but I after doing it a few times the novelty wears off quickly.
I was always surprising to me how many people travel on business. I think the majority of flights within Canada contain more business people than people traveling for personal reasons. Maybe this doesn’t surprise most of you, but for me, when I went on my first with RBC I thought I was special in a way, a fortunate soul who was getting a bit of a benefit getting to travel, but then I looked around most others we also the business type, traveling alone, wearing a suit…I was just a face in the crowd, not special at all. What a blow to my ego.
The reasons not to enjoy traveling are many:
First and for most are Airplanes and Airports. You have to arrive a hour early (or more), then stand in line to check your bags, then stand in line at security, then you wait at the gate, then stand in line there, then you wait to get in your seat, wait to the plane taxi’s to the runway, wait until you arrive, wait until you taxi to the gate, wait to get off, wait for bags, wait for taxi’s…and so on. I am not a patient person and I do not enjoy waiting. Especially in an airport where everyting seems to be hurry up and wait. There are delays – especially in winter. Nothing like spending two hours sitting in an airport waiting for your flight to leave. Serious Boredom. On your luckiest days you manage to strike up a conversation with an interesting stranger. I don’t fit on planes either, there is no head room and no leg room. I literally can’t even stand up straight on the Air Canada Jazz flights, my head hits the roof. I’m also not a big fan of flying period; it makes me a little nervous. I don’t trust the airlines that they would ever tell me if there was something wrong, and when I don’t have any control it bugs me. If I could drive the thing I’m sure I would enjoy it much more.
Cabs – well let’s face it, I am one of the biggest back seat drivers on earth. I would much rather be behind the wheel then letting some two bit cab driver get me around. Plus they are dirty and expensive- and I have to wait for them.
Hotels – I don’t have a huge issue with hotels, I’m not picky, but I just can’t sleep in them. Often they are too hot, too bright, and too noisy. Thus I always feel tired when I’m traveling. Having to get my drinking water out of the bathroom tap also disgusts me a little. For some reason I also relate hotels to hangovers – I always seem to wake up in a hotel room hungover, which is not a good thing.
Eating – it’s pretty much impossible to eat healthy on the road. Eating in restaurants you usually eat to much, it’s possible to order reasonably healthy food, but I just eat too much. It’s dificult to eat between meals so I am too hungry when it comes time for the next meal. When at the hotel, unless you pack something, the only food available is junk food. And not that I should complain, but every meal seems to come with beer or wine, and while enjoyable, not good for my waistline. All this causes me to get indigestion and feel like a large bag of poop. Yes, I’m sure with the proper planning and will power I could eat better on the road, but it is mighty difficult thing to do.
I’m sure someday I will miss the chance to get out of the city once in a while on an all expense paid trip somewhere, but not for a while. Maybe the problem is that I never really got to go any where cool. All my road trips have been to Calgary, Winnipeg, or Saskatoon…not exactly my list of top destinations. I went to a conference in Banff, which may have been cool if I hadn’t been there 5 times before. Lots of people in my company went to places like Vegas, Vancouver, Toronto, Nashville.. all places I would like to go someday, but never got the chance to do it while employed in the corporate world.
Somehow I doubt the fire department sends many people on business trips to Vegas. Maybe if more hotels keep lighting on fire...
12 comments:
First off, nobody travels to Winnepeg for pleasure or personal reasons - ever. Anybody that claims otherwise is a filthy liar. It's all business up front, no party in the back.
You wake up in hotels hungover because the only way to get a good nights sleep in a hotel bed is to get drunk and pass out. That's my theory.
I also miss work travel. I got to go to Ottawa which was pretty cool, and networking and hanging out with farmers and industry reps from accross the country was fun, but after one or two days the beers and hotel meals certainly catch up to a guy.
I will say that sometimes I don't mind an airport, even on my own. Especially if it's at a real airport like Toronto. It's like it's expected that you drink while waiting. Problem is the $8 heinekins, but that's besides the point.
As for your fitting on a plane issue, well, score one for the short guys.
I forgot about you winning the Cuban game of basketball. Why didn't they give away a jug of rum instead of a jug of Champaign? That would have been better.
It never fails to amaze me how many sketchy people there are in Winnipeg. I'm glad that I am usually with other people when I walk downtown. That should be their city motto- Winnipeg - don't go out alone!
I know this wasn't work related but do you remember the hungoverness (just made a new word) in the Swift Current hotel after the wedding. Not so good times.
I should try and do a top 10 most hungover hotel room experiences. That was a rough day.
I've only been on one business trip, and it was to Las Vegas, but apparently the hotel I stayed at is burnt now. Guess I won't be going back there.
Do firefighters have business trips? Do you get to ride the firetruck to them? Would you get to burn down a hotel for pratice?
Also on winnipeg, I hate to be the one to admit it but it is basically a big regina, that's why we fear it. Their football stadium is the same but bigger and their downtown is happening at night, we have penis envy of winnipeg. And dirty old men do go there for personal reasons and pleasure; they are sick of the hookers in regina, that's what Murdoch tells me.
Yes, fire fighters take the truck everywhere. Otherwise how will people know we are firefighters and make us feel good about ourselves. It's all about the ego.
While I wish I didn't agree with you on the Winnipeg=Regina thing, I know you are probably right. But at least we KNOW we are better than Moose Jaw.
I agree, Winnipeg may be a big Regina, Wintergina some call it. But, our football team is clearly better.
However, Winnipeg, I admit, has a killer great music scene, if your into that type of thing.
It's actually no different than people from Saskatoon saying that city is way better than Regina and looking their noses down at us here. Well, it may be different, cause they're right.
I digress, the point is I wore an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time.
That anonymous was me. murdoch. derek murdoch. nobody likes anonymous people.
I choose not to listen to those people who say Saskatoon is better than Regina. I Love Regina!
I choose not to listen to you Murdock.
Ok, you should not complain about your business trips being to not so fun places. My business trips lead me to Kelliher or Grenfell or Arcola. Life could be worse???
I've never been on a business trip, I'm kind on envious. However I do love to be in airports...especially arrivals. Family and friends anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones. Warm embraces, flowers, old people sharing some tongue, maybe a bum pinch here or there.
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