What I don't want to do when I grow up...

Last weekend I had a lovely time heading to London for a Not for Profit recruitment fair. I found it to be a bit lacking but I got a chance to talk to a few not for profit recruiting firms and they told me about the current job prospects (at least in the UK) and critiqued my resume (called a CV here). I am realizing that I probably won't be working in not for profit right away upon graduation - unless i find my dream job, but would rather gain more experience (and perhaps more money to pay off that little LOAN I have) working either in consulting or industry. And in business school terms, industry means anything outside the realm of finance, consulting, or non profit/public sector. Maybe public sector would be ok - pays a BIT more than non profit. Ok, I'm rambling now. But you can see where my mind is. On careers. Yes, 4 weeks into our program I'm already stressed about jobs. But they have trained us to be this way already. They say that the 'hidden' 7th course that actually gives us the most work is careers.

There have been a slew of networking and info nights. Nearly every evening the caterers are coming into our common area, setting up tables and getting the wine & olives & brownies out. I dont' go to as many events as others - most of them have actually been finance-based lately - although sometimes I sneak over for free food if I am studying in the MBA syndicate room. We have our own little room with a foos ball table (I think it has only been used twice and both times it was me), computers, printers, couches, a microwave & kettle and then cubicled study areas. I pretty much live in there. Today I was at school for 13 hours. By the end, there were 5 of us in the syndicate room just going mental and laughing at nothing. It is usually pretty productive though and I find it better to study there than at home (both for peer pressure to study harder as well as having the other people there to unwind with).

When I was in London I got a chance to visit my lovely friend Dave who I went to high school with. We had a belated Canadian Thanksgiving dinner with some of his friends and even had turkey (breasts) and pumpkin pie. Delicious. It was great to escape Cambridge for a few hours. I love it here and everything, but stepping away from it was a bit of a relief. It's like a little bubble from which you sometimes forget about the rest of the world. All consuming at times.

Tonight after classes I went to a JP Morgan recruiting session just to check out the investment banking prospects and was thoroughly put off. I think I was right to assume from the beginning that finance is not my thing. The guy presenting was a Cambridge Alum who came across as the biggest jerk of all time. Telling us about how JP Morgan is so work-life balanced compared to other firms because they only work about 11 hours a day. Also completely crapping upon a bunch of other firms that had recently been to recruit at our school. And this is the guy they send to convince people to work there? The scary thing was talking to some of my classmates afterward and hearing about how they thought he was great and how much they want to work for that company. Did we see the same presentation? Toward the end he was talking about positions as Fund Managers. I made a note to the friend sitting beside me and wrote that I think I found my dream job at JP Morgan - FUN MANAGER! From there we got the giggles and couldn't look at each other until the talk was done.

Rowing is still part of my life although it is tough because we are so terrible. I didn't realize how hard it would be for 8 new rowers to row in unison. I think it will be weeks before we get the hang of it (at very least). But for now our cox just screams her head off at us. I'm not a natural. That's all I'll say. My Olympic dreams are dashed. Such is life.

Diving into icy water

Things have been busy. I feel like a broken record already and it has only really been 4 weeks. Classes are tough (although the tons of team work actually helps me because I have 2 people in my team with finance backgrounds who can explain things to me) although I'm still really having a great time.

A typical day:
7am - wake up
8am - arrive at school to do readings for an hour in the MBA syndicate room- also make my tea or coffee so I can stay alert for the first class
9am - classes start - until 12:30 (there is a 20 minute tea break half-way through
12:30 - 2pm - lunch and usually a team meeting or else this is the only time to do running around while shops are open for regular business hours.
2 - 5:30pm - more classes with another break. the only day we dont' have a full day is Wednesday but that is the day we often have career workshops.
5:30 - 7:30 I usually stick around and read for a while until my stomach is about to consume itself.
7:30 - 10:30 - go back to my college to prepare dinner and then do internet! then i study some more!!
10:30 - 12 - if I am not doing work or talking on the phone I might go for a drink at my college pub.
12 - 1am - I actually usually clean my room up and prepare things for the next day - then I collapse! :)

The reading and assignment thing - I really read that much. I am so proud of myself! But at the same time, as assignments are starting to build up as well as my obligations as social officer increase (attending many social events- DARN), some readings may go un-read. but I guess that's all just part of it. The deputy director of our program came for drinks tonight. They all keep mentioning how important it is that we all go out and socialize this year. I was really impressed that we had a turnout of 35 people for pub night tonight considering we are in the middle of finance recruitment week and we all have readings coming out the wazoo - but our class has a real sense of team and hopefully it lasts for a while.

One really fun thing that happened tonight was that there was a pub quiz! We did terribly, mostly because my team was me, a Nigerian, a Kiwi, and a South African-born, British raised doctor who has been living in Antarctica for the last 2 years. And most of the questions were all about UK politics and entertainment. Luckily we still came third. But next time I might pick my team a little more carefully.

The weather has still been really nice. Although in the mornings, it's killer. SO COLD. And hopping on the bike and pedalling out is SO TOUGH those first few minutes before I warm up. But what a way to wake up in the morning!

Net Present Value

Oy, this week has been hectic. Our 'real' classes began on Monday with finance and management strategy. The learning curve is pretty steep but I think I'm somewhere in the middle of the pack as far as understanding everything goes. Or so I hope! Considering that 30% of our class come from an Engineering background and 20% from Humanities - there are quite a few of us who are having the same problems bending our minds in new and interesting ways. And some are not as interesting as others (accounting). We have succumbed to entertaining ourselves with finance jokes. Very lame. But after a full day of lectures and even more hours of reading and case studies - almost anything is funny.

My fear coming into this program would be that I might not fit in with the class. That I might not have anything substantial to offer. I realize now that I was wrong. I think I fit in rather well. I think I have quite a bit to offer. I look around me and see people who I would totally be friends with outside the classroom. What a relief! And some of us open up we find out that we had the same sneaking fear.

There is so much to do here. Never mind the work - there is too much of that to even think about. But then there is rowing. That will be my exercise and my networking within my college. There is also something called the Cambridge Union which organizes major debates and speaker series. Incredible speaker series! You can buy a lifetime membership and have access to attend events like: Stephen Hawking!!! Muammar al-Gaddafi!!! Cambridge's own James Watson - hello DNA structure!! Then there is the Cambridge Business Society's events - so far I'm the only one running for social coordinator. Hmmm. What am I getting myself into!?!? But how do I say no to these things? You just can't. You only live once, right?

Things that I am hating about here: going shopping takes forever because they have all different products than I'm used to so I'm constantly trying to find the brands and things I like. Banking is ridiculous - it took them 3 weeks to send me my bank card. Everything is WAAY too expensive. I save money by making all my meals (including packing a lunch most days of the week) but sometimes you have no choice but to buy that 3pound sandwich.

One good thing - everyone knows how to pronounce my last name! Thank you Vanessa Paradis (known in Canada only as Johnny Depp's wife)! Joe le Taxi - her hit in the late 80's made her a huge name here and everyone knows her and the song! Now I do too. Pure cheese. But it's french cheese so it's not quite so bad. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p032PIKdp7A

Longer Boats

Where to begin. My precious bike "the millennium falcon" got a flat tire after I took a sweet jump off the curb. Ok, it wasnt' a sweet jump, I was just riding on the sidewalk for a bit so that I could pass a bus and when I came around and off the curb my bike was suddenly very difficult to pedal and I had no idea why. I got to school and looked down and saw that my rear tire was completely flat and a little bit damaged. Unfortunately, that was a very busy day and I was unable to bring it in to the Bike Man to get it fixed. Friday night I was walking all over the place (home to read finance - not my favourite topic) then to a pub where one of my classmates is working. From there my original plan was to go home but was convinced to check out a "Hollywood Bop" at a nearby college (a bop is what they call an organized party in the UK). Everyone was dressed up in some glammed up clothes (except for the 50 MBAs who showed up) and the music was a total mix with some movie theme songs mixed in. Considering I really hadn't wanted to go out that night - I had a great time. And it was a crazy night. Most of my class had been partying since school ended (around 5) and I hadn't joined them until 9:30 so they were all pretty crazy. Apparently most people were out until 4 - I wasn't one of them as I had rowing the next morning.

Yes - rowing! We were told to meet at the back gate at 11am and from there they told us we had to bike to the boathouse. One problem - I still didn't have my bike back! Luckily a girl from the boat club had an extra bike. A children's mountain bike. Like for teens I think. It was small. I am not small. Riding it KILLED ME! My knees were practically up to my chest as I pedaled and I realized that there was hardly any air in either tire so it made it even harder to control & pedal. I was having serious doubts as to whether or not I would even make it to the boat club, never mind actually be able to summon up the strength to row. But I did.

Rowing is a team sport. We are in boats of 8 - started out mixed - eventually it will be guys in one and girls in another. Practices will be a few times a week in the mornings before school (on the river by 7:30 and at class by 9). But if this is my sole means of exercising, then I think it will be fine. Plus this is giving me a way to get to participate with the other people in my college. And get fit (rowing is GREAT exercise). And have fun. Plus it's rowing! At Cambridge! How cool is that?!

A few things about rowing that I didn't know before. Your shoes are attached to the boat. The cox person tells you what to do and you are referred to only by seat number (I was #5) or if you are in the stern 4 (back of the boat) or bow 4 (front of the boat). And she yells alot. And you have to do everything at the same time as everyone else. It's interesting. I like it. So far. Ask me next time I have a 7:30am practice and it is raining and I might have a different answer.

Last night a group of us had dinner at someone's apartment. Chinese food prepared by our friends Steffi (Chinese girl) and Penny (Singaporean guy). Great food and good friends. I like the people in my class. I'm pretty lucky.

Ok - update on the "should I run for president thing". I'm just going to go for Social Coordinator because I want to have time to do things like row and also not be the one responsible for delegating tasks like fundraising. I just want to plan the parties!

Also, good news! The Economist Business School ranking has placed Cambridge - Judge Business School in 7th overall worldwide! Not too shabby! Although these rankings mostly have to do with return on investment and how much money you are making in 5 years compared to how much your tuition was, so it is rather meaningless to someone like me who just wants a job I like, not to be a millionaire, but at least it is good press for the school and everyone seems pretty pumped about it.

Just a fool to believe...

We had this presentation by the Cambridge Business School Association about the club they have and a bunch of people started saying that I should run for president! So i was thinking about it and even found a running mate! (a girl from Nigeria named Maxine). Then as word got round that i was thinking about it suddenly people were coming up to me trying to convince me to run for other things (like social coordinator) which i would be good at but from talking to much of the class i think i actually have a chance to win as president! so what do i do? because president could actually lead me to have less friends - isolation from the top, you know? yet it looks great on a resume and I love to get involved. but social coordinator could be fun too -but not as high profile and why not go for pres if I have a chance of winning because at very least people will learn who i am and why I am interested in participating! I'm confused. And being led in many directions. And I started this day by feeling like I would never be able to make my mark in this program, but perhaps today I discovered that I can! I just have until the weekend to decide. Not sure what to do...running would mean going against a popular South African girl, an Italian guy, an American guy, and a Dutch guy (who is my friend). how do I get myself involved in these things... I really don't know.

Freak Out Averted

Wow, things get complicated fast. Suddenly I had a group meeting, 3 things due, and a special interest group meeting (for consultancy) to attend and I was kind of freaking out. On top of that we had a seminar on effective CVs (resumes) and were given the dates when ours were due. We have one on one sessions coming up with the careers team and they are putting together a profile book which they will distribute to like 500 top companies around the world. I didn't realize the job search was starting from day one. A guy in my group already has an interview in a couple of weeks. Although the difference between him and 65% of me and my classmates is that his background is in finance and consulting whereas the rest of us are coming from a variety of backgrounds and are looking to do a change in career or at least sector.

Last night I went out for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations with the majority of the Chinese contingent of our class, as well as a bunch more (46 in total) to a Chinese restaurant for a 7-course delicious meal (including one moon cake per table) for only 10pounds each! Then a bunch of us took out Penny (a guy from Singapore) for drinks to thank him for organizing the event. The Eagle (where we usually end up congregating for at least part of the night) is a historic pub where Crick and Watson announced they had discovered the structure of DNA back in 1953 Coming home at 11:30 and realizing the work I SHOULD have been doing was actually a great little shocker to push me to work my butt off today and feel a little more caught up and in control. It's all about the work/social balance though. They keep stressing that to us. That networking with our classmates will actually be the greatest thing we can do this year. So I am allowed to go out sometimes. And I will. But I will also spend countless hours at my desk, in the library, at the school, or with study groups to counter those "networking" hours. :) I mean, if Crick and Watson can enjoy a pint once in a while and still discover how DNA works, why can't I once in a while?

The rain has really started today. It has rained for a few hours the last couple days but always when I have been inside and then it turns sunny again. Today it was nice until about 3pm and then rained and rained (and still is). Time to break out the rain coat!

Long days

Today we waited 2 hours for the CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi to show up. He was late and stuck in traffic and then showed up to basically make jokes and teach us that: we should scrap the life work balance, CEOs know nothing, and that leadership is better than management. Radical. Advertising people make me tired though - a lot of crap surrounding very little packets of insight.

Then we went to play a "beer game" which involves no real alcohol. Rather dealt with supply chains and how lack of communication and a bad system can really screw everyone up. My team came in second. It was fun.

Everyone is starting to get sick. I am trying to sleep as much as possible so I can avoid this. We'll see.

It rained this morning but was lovely in the afternoon. I'm telling you, Cambridge is the sunniest place in the UK!

Blue Skies

I have to say I have been a bit shocked by the weather. It has only rained once and I have seen the blue sky for long periods of a time every day since I've been here. I'm sure I'll be eating my words in a few weeks but it has been a really pleasant surprise that there has been enjoyable weather for the first few weeks.

I keep going on and on about this city, but it is really beautiful and fun to explore and be in. Aside from the city, I am really enjoying being back in school again. I feel really privileged to be here. The other students are great and not at all what I would have expected from business school students (which about 50 percent are not typical because they don't have a background in business, but rather come from other specialties such as engineering, medicine, law, science and even entertainment - a former MTV China host is one of our classmates).

I also forgot how exciting it is to be a student - you suddenly see that your life is full of all this potential. Once you are working, it always seems like opportunities are so limited or not even existent, but now, there are so many potential paths. It is also refreshing to know that at least 50 percent of my classmates don't really know what they want to do after they graduate. And I thought I was going to be the only one!

But the other day we had a lecture series to attend in which the president of an experiential marketing consulting firm told us about her experience putting together the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympics. After listening to her speak and watching a very inspiring video, I think I at least have one company I am interested in doing my internship with. Or at least a new area in which to potentially explore for job opportunities.

Another lecture last week was focusing on team building and what makes a good team. The lecturer, our upcoming strategy professor, had worked with the Cambridge rowing team for the past few years (both as a team building consultant and to do research on their work as a team which he has just completed a book on) and talked to us about the challenges the team faces, and how good teams operate. I think his talk also perked my interest in rowing - which I am in the process of checking out. Hey, if you're in Cambridge and you have the opportunity to join a college rowing team, why the hell not!?

Anyway, so there are some interesting things going on. Already just having been here for a week, I'm amazed at all that has happened. A lot in one week, yet that week flew by. I'm a bit shocked and have a feeling this year is going to be over before I know it. I find that idea both exciting and upsetting. More than anything, I have come to realize there are a lot of great people here and they will be the ones that make my experience a memorable one.

To the left, to the left....

This is my bike - it's called "the Falcon". Looks cool from far away but is rather ghetto. But at least no one will steal it. Behind "the Falcon" is where I live. Just kidding. It is actually King's College.

I have been riding my bike everywhere and while it has taken a slight bit of getting used to, I must say I am liking it quite a bit. I am used to walking or public transporting myself and having a bike gives one a certain amount of freedom! Plus riding to school in the crisp mornings is a nice way to wake myself up.

The one thing that is tough is the fact that those crazy Brits drive on the wrong side of the road. And they have roundabouts. And as a bicycle rider, you are expected to follow their rules. Imagine. So far so good. And watching the other experienced riders helps me to know what to do.

The only problem that I have had so far with my bike was the other morning, riding through a lovely meadow on a bike path and my chain jammed and made a huge noise just as I was coming up alongside the stream. There was a flock of about 20 geese (actual white and grey geese - no canadian geese I am afraid) sleeping with their heads tucked into their feathers when I woke them all up with my bicycle commotion. So they all started squawking so loudly that I jumped and nearly fell off my bike into the stream. But I didn't. Close call.

Jolly Good

Ok, so I have been a delinquent lately and not posted for a while but I have an excuse - I've been seriously busy. And here I am now... all moved into my residence in Cambridge, England. To re-cap the last month - my job finished late August, I packed and moved my things to storage at Uncle Roman's :), I said goodbye to all my friends and family and boyfriend and hopped on a plane with Michele.

We arrived in London and spent some time catching up with my old friend Davey. We stayed in a terrible hostel (yes, i believe I am now at the age where I am officially too old to stay at a "youth hostel" regardless of how much money it will save me), we ate expensive food, and strolled around the fun and dynamic city of London (which always smells a bit musty to me).

From there we hopped on a plane to Malta and spend 4 days in the sun, walking on cobblestone, eating gelato every day (I sampled 10 flavours - watermelon, lemon, coffee, amaretto, strawberry, mixed berry, orange, cherry, coconut and pistachio), swimming in the salty sea, getting bounced around taking boat trips, experiencing Maltese night life, trying to avoid staring directly at old men in speedos and having a lovely time. We also took a day trip to Sicily (Mt Etna and Taormina) although it was more "bus trip-y" than I would normally like, travelling with Michele made it bearable. The high lites were the gnocchi, red wine and gelato. The low lites was the non-air conditioned bus (although they said it was), Mt Etna being completely fogged in, and our crazy tour guide who insisted on playing "Amazing Grace" several times over the loud speakers of the bus! Amazing indeed.

Then we flew back to chilly England (which was surprisingly sunny - although brisk) and went our separate ways. I hopped on a train to Cambridge (with my 44kilos of luggage in tow) and took a taxi to my new digs - in residence. A lovely porter (old man who is in charge of letting people in and out of my college (they are all gated and you need to sign in if you wish to visit or come in) gave me my key and I settled in my room which is bigger than I thought it would be.

My bathroom is also bigger than I though but the toilet leaks. So that's gross. Hopefully they get around to fixing it sooner than later. I have a bell tower outside my window - luckily it starts ringing only at 8am and stops at 10pm. It will act as a secondary alarm clock for me (as all my classes begin at 9). I bought a bike (another post and photos to follow) and met some of my classmates. This city is beautiful. Breathtaking. Amazing. I love it. I really do. The air is so crisp. The buildings are gorgeous, old, and fascinating. this is truly the nicest city I've ever visited. There is a cow pasture with bike paths running through it that I can pass on my way to school. You can see the stars here. It's just really nice.

There is so much to write about but it is hard to put it all down. School is fine so far. The people all seem really great (very interesting and diverse group - all very intelligent and nice). There are 149 of us in the class representing 48 countries! About 33% are women. The business building is amazing and we get 500 free pages of photocopies and 4000 pages of prints. Why this excites me, I'm not sure. The work load isnt' heavy yet but looking at our upcoming schedule things will get crazy very quickly.

I have taken a few photos and will post them soon. It's going to be a wild ride - I can tell.