My Big Fat Diverse Wedding…

Yesterday was the big day. I have been planning it with the help of 16 other people since June. Food and drinks for 350. Indian food from Iravat and Akbar, Greek food from Greek Isles, Caribbean food from Taste of Islands, and the list goes on…

Texas Instruments has a Diversity Fair every year to showcase the importance of Diversity in the workplace. What is interesting to note is that TI really does a great job of catering to various cultures and religions. We even have a “Serenity Room” where Muslims, or other people of varying religions, are allowed to go and pray.  I bring up this point because recently I was supporting the TI Diversity Leadership conference and they played a sound clip of a man who was talking about his internship at TI and how he was afraid that his religion, which required him to pray 5 times a day, would interfere with his job. On his first day at work he met another Muslim that told him about the Serenity room.  When his internship was over he left TI and for 10 months worked at another company that did not have a place for him to pray and was not as accepting of his religious requirements. He left that company and came back to TI.

So making a point to bring Diversity and cultural awareness to all of TI is important on many levels. TI wants everyone to feel included because when you feel like you are accepted and part of the team you are happy and happy people are productive people.

This year was our 6th annual diversity fair and every year I have been a part of it. Normally I do a dance routine for the talent show and last year I did a skit with the new employees and a dance routine. This year, I led the Diversity Fair, did a dance routine and wrote and directed a skit and thankfully all three of them went well.

So now that the fair is over I feel like I am free. I am on my honeymoon without a care in the world. I can finally get back to reading, working out, and in general living my life.