Back to IC

I'm now back in Iowa City for the last semester of my MBA. There is something so welcoming about life here at the University of Iowa, that it almost feels like I'm coming back home. Which is true in a sense, since I was away for the better part of last year!

One of the first things I intend to do is to spend time at my favorite coffee joint! It is located just a few blocks from the business building and I just love the whole ambience there - the smell of fresh coffee, the comfortable chairs, the music. And it helps that I get more work done in a coffee shop than at home!

It feels good to be back in Hawkeye land! I really wish I didn't have to miss football season last year. Wonder when I will be able to do a Hawkeye tailgate next...

Final call for...

I'm writing this post as I wait for my flight, at the Schipol airport in Amsterdam. My exchange semester at RSM has come to an end, and now I'm going home for my winter break. As I sit here, waiting to board my flight, I cannot help think of the year gone by. As I started out on my MBA, I knew that I wanted a good international experience. Boy, was that wish granted and how!!

The year started on a great note, with my International Marketing course in Hong Kong and China (to read about it, click here). Continuing on with a fruitful semester, it got better with my summer internship in Washington D.C. and Milan, and has now culminated in an exchange semester in The Netherlands. Wow! That was waay more than I ever expected and I'm feel really fortuntate that this year turned out the way it did.

I'm now ready to go home after what has been a long period of absence from family. Another 2 flights and a 45 minute drive will get me home! Can't wait!

This will be my last post of the year. So here's wishing you all happy holidays and a very Happy New Year!

3 weeks left in Europe

Today it dawned on me that my stint at RSM comes to an end in another 3 weeks. It has been a fast paced semester - easily the fastest 4 months of my life! The sheer number of all the new experiences boggles my mind and I think I need a break for all this to settle in. The people, the places, the lifestyle, the experiences, the memories.. and there are still 3 more weeks to go!

Everything has been happening so fast, both personally and professionally, during the last few months that I literally feel out of breath. As one of my fellow exchange students said, "a week during exchange is like a month in real life!". I totally agree!! :)

PS: Last week I spent a few days visiting Paris with a friend. And I just loved the city!! Paris is definitely the most charming city I have ever been to... and now I know why so many others keep raving about this city.



Paris at night, as seen from the 'Arc de Triomphe'. Wish I had a better camera!!

Windmills!

The Dutch countryside is just so beautiful!






As you can see, a 20km bike ride can be tiring!

RSM Symposium

My personal take is that there's a lot more focus on sustainability in Europe, in general, and in The Netherlands in particular. You live here for a while and the differences are quite apparent - the biking culture (bicycles, not motorbikes!), focus on alternative energy, less use of plastic etc. 

Given this context, I think it is but natural that RSM should have a keen interest in sustainable business practices.

The third annual RSM Symposium was held yeterday and it was an excellent event. It was quite reassuring to hear from the corporate world that sustainability is indeed a focus for businesses today. The session with Prof. Michael Braungart, the proponent of "Cradle to Cradle design", was also very informative.

For more info on the RSM Symposium, click here - http://www.rsmsymposium.com/

I'm now more that halfway through my exchange semester and it is amazing how eventful the last couple of months have been. There has been so much packed in the short time I've been here, I'm excited about what the remaining couple of months have to offer!

The RSM Olympics and the German party

Last Saturday, we had the RSM Olympics as well as the kick off to the RSM party season - the German "Oktoberfest" party.

The RSM Olympics was a day filled with sporting events (as suggested by the name!); the highlight being the football game between MBA '09 and MBA '10. Unfortunately for us, the MBA '09s, we could not keep up the initial momentum we had in the game and the MBA '10 team walked away with the glories.

But all was not lost, as we headed to the German party for a night of grilled sausages, "sauerkraut" and beer. It was indeed a rocking start to the RSM party season! Coming up this weekend is the American/Canadian party and then there is... a lot more!

Interrupting my "fun schedule" are details like class assignments and career search! :)

Tomorrow we have the RSM Careers Fair and an quite a few firms will be here for a day to speak with us. Considering the current economic scenario, it is indeed an impressive of list of firms that we are looking at. Time to get those CVs and cover letters in order..

Boat trips & food festivals

The last couple of weeks have been filled with events to welcome the new batch of RSM MBA students. We had the "Spido" boat trip, the RSM Food Festival, the charity auction, the October birthday bash.. phew!

The boat trip was quite a fun time. I guess that was to be expected anyway - put a bunch of great people on a boat, send it on a picturesque ride, accompanied with good food and drinks and you are quite certain to have a fun time!

And the Food Festival... wow! The sheer variety of mouth-watering food from across the world was just amazing - a testimonial to the diversity at RSM.