Travel For Two

Graduation Day

Posted on March 4th, 2008 by k.
Categories: Living Abroad - Life in London, Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School.

Tuesday, today, is graduation day…bringing my MBA programme to a close. The end is here. The dissertations have been graded, the jobs have been secured and now, we’re off to Southwark Cathedral to grasp our diplomas. This may be my final walk across the academic stage.Tonight, I caught up with a friend from the programme who’s visiting from the States to attend the event. She left in late August and thankfully catching up with her tonight felt like she had never left. I love those types of friends. Over 30 countries were represented within our class of 63. So many are traveling from so far to attend and it will be refreshing to see them all again. It’s amazing how close you become as you spend SO many hours pounding through the coursework together.
Following the ceremony, we’ll have a reception at Vinter’s Hall and be done by 4PM–though knowing my class I know things will carry on well beyond late afternoon. Cheers to the end. Cheers to good friends.

Update: We had an action packed day with friends today. Registration was from 9AM for the 10:30 ceremony at Southwark Cathedral (on the Southbank). I registered and G scouted for a suitable guest chair to witness the big event. Following the ceremony we headed to a reception at Vintner’s Hall on the north side of Southwark Bridge. Then off to the pub with friends followed by a Southern Indian meal at my learning group’s favorite haunt. All and all a perfect day. Click here to see a few photos from the big day.

5 comments.

I Passed!

Posted on November 23rd, 2007 by k.
Categories: Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School.

It’s official. The marks are in. I passed…though an inch from distinction (honors) in the end–literally an inch, but it is nice to know and to be DONE! The pomp and circumstance will come at graduation in March.

2 comments.

Cass Alumni Ball

Posted on November 17th, 2007 by k.
Categories: Living Abroad - Life in London, Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School.

Last night, G & I joined my classmates and a few hundred other Cass Alumni for a Ball at the Natural History Museum here, in London. I thought that dinner ON the Great Wall of China would be hard to top, but this event was a very close second.

The space was absolutely breathtaking, yet hard to describe and photograph. Our ball was held in the Great Hall. I’ll let the photos attempt do the job…

0 comments.

All Done!

Posted on September 15th, 2007 by k.
Categories: Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School.

It’s official. I’ve now submitted my BRP (dissertation) for grading. The results of my MBA are now out of my hands.

To celebrate, my class rented a boat to cruise about the Thames last night. While 13 (of 64) classmates have requested 2-week deadline extensions, I’m relieved and excited to be DONE! Our celebration continues today–we’re planning to see Spamalot tonight. And we’re leaving for Germany & Austria this week, as well. We’ll visit Hallstatt, Reutte, Rothenburg, Munich (for Oktoberfest–I’m even buying a dirndl)–and will celebrate our 6th Wedding Anniversary while we’re away. Time flies when you’re having fun…

3 comments.

Successful Presso

Posted on September 11th, 2007 by k.
Categories: Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School.

Many of you will remember that my advisor reviewed a draft of my dissertation a couple weeks ago and said that he would give it a healthy pass as it was. However, as you knew I would, I continued to work on the draft. I’m sure I had previously reached the point of diminishing returns–I’ve probably only increased by score by 3 points or so, but I feel better about the result. That’s what matters. And, having had the client copies printed and bound before we left for the lake district last Friday, I have to admit the finished product looks pretty impressive. My primary findings are supported by a literature review and provide the basis for some sound, actionable steps to move forward.
I arrived at my client site bright and early yesterday morning…although I ran in to a couple IT difficulties with no one in-house to help (IT person quit last week) and the start was delayed due to the previous MD’s late arrival, all else ran smoothly. The 1 hour presso that I had planned lasted 3 hours due to lengthy discussions on how to move forward and use the research to inform their corporate strategy. I could hardly believe I was there until 2PM after a 11AM start. Good sign, I think?

Following the presso, a co-worker took me out to lunch to celebrate and I went for a hair cut. Then, I accomplished nothing until G came home–I guess we’ll call my downtime “rest”. Good day overall.

Today, I’m at home making a few final revisions before submitting the final document to the printer to produce the school’s copies. Nothing major…just polishing and adding a bit more academic “girth” to the report.

As of Friday (or before if the prints are ready), I’ll be done with the program and able to focus on the permanent (rather than project) job hunt and my interim part-time projects/positions. Well, at least until we leave for Oktoberfest…

1 comment.

China’s Charm

Posted on June 18th, 2007 by k.
Categories: Asia, Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School, Travel.

Wow! What a great trip. A wonderful cultural experience with plenty of educational content to make it clear that with China’s expanding GDP and household discretionary income, this country is the next frontier in branding and advertising not to mention international business, in general. That said, would I want to live in China? Perhaps, but the experience would be wrought with challenges:

• 

  While the main avenues are lined with mile high modern, artistic skyscrapers, the side streets expose the true living conditions of the nation’s average man. Cooping, killing and eating pigeons and carrying one’s overnight waste to the communal latrein doesn’t sound too glamourous to me.

• It’s likely that I would only relate to expats living there. We went out every night while in China and seldom ran into locals. Probably because very few Chinese citizens currently have adequate discretionary to visit the area’s nicest clubs and restaurants. Hate to say that my standards for cleanliness, recent health and food safety scares (blue ear? and bird flu) etc. wouldn’t allow me to patronize the “local” restaurants, etc.
• 

  It’s not what you know…China’s all about who you know. As would be expected, the system’s cripled by censorship and the government’s will.

• Pollution. With such rapid growth rates within the country’s main urban centers, inadequate public transport systems to support the demand (especially in Beijing), a thriving manufacturing industry and lax environmental mandates, it’s not difficult to understand why the sky is brown with haze. Beijing was the worst, Shanghai did boast blue skies and clean air. However, I fear that it may be the next Beijing as plans for growth have been set to increase the city’s size and population significantly by 2015.

Of the two cities, Shanghai was my favorite (much cleaner…the air in Beijing burned my eyes and lungs). But Beijing is the country’s historic roots. With the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace), the Great Wall and other sights that we were unable to see during our time (the Summer Palace, etc.), Beijing makes up for its negatives with culture and history.In contrast, Shanghai acts as the country’s financial center and, as such, attracts influential business people from around the world. Hence, the reason for all the European expats and business travelers. While in Shanghai, business seminar activities took up the bulk of our time. But, we did venture out at night and when we had moments here and there to get a feel for the city and to have a bit of fun. We had a great time in the city’s dance clubs and had Saturday afternoon to venture out on our own. My friend Lottie and I went out to the Yu Gardens and Bazaar, had tea in the local tea house, and roamed the old city with our own walking tour.

The school kindly housed us in posh hotels (China World Hotel in Beijing and Pudong Shangrila in Shanghai) and hosted a number of events to introduce us to local business leaders. Among the highlights:

• Welcome Dinner ON the Great Wall of China
• 

  Riverside Gala Dinner in Pudong, Shanghai–overlooking the Bund in the distance

• Alumni Networking Dinner and Drinks on the Hotel’s Garden Terrace overlooking the River and the Bund (complete with impromptu fireworks and the MetLife blimp–of all things?)

We also ventured to a few nightclubs as a group (as we didn’t see very much by day during the busy week):

• Zapatas. Our entire class went to this dance club following our Riverside Gala. Unfortunately, no locals…all expats.
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  Jade. On the 36th floor of our hotel. Overlooking the River and Beautiful city scenery.

• BATS. In the Basement of our hotel. Great silly, but enjoyable dance music, especially if bringing your own party as part of a large group.
• Bar Rouge. On the roof of a historic building along the Bund. Great fun. Lots of expats. Amazing outdoor terrace overlooking the city. Crowded dance floor inside.
• Cloud 9. On the 88th floor of one of Pudong’s newest and highest buildings. Known for its’ views, the cloudy, rainy weather allowed us more cloud views and city views, but the company was good and we had a great time.
• Park 97. Another expat club (hmmm…seems to be a theme, right). Very modern. Funny thing, the Chinese love bars and clubs that feature cheeky cover bands that play American and UK tunes–with Chinese accents. Bizarre, but fun.
• Suzy Wong in Beijing. We were there on Sunday night and, hence, it wasn’t busy. Not bad for us since we travel in 100’s rather than in pairs. We took over the club and had a great time on the outdoor terrace and dancing to the mod music downstairs. Great time.
• 
  

  Hao Hai. A little lakeside village with posh expat bars and a place called “Funky Bar”…our only experience of rubbing elbows with the locals along one of the cavernous side streets. On our first night in Beijing, Lottie, Shaun and I ventured out independently to see a bit of the city. Had a great time in a little shanty bar called “Funky Bar” where we sat with the locals on “elementary school chairs” and had great conversation by stenciled radiators and crepe paper cutouts. A bit strange and surreal, but quite enjoyable.

As our coursework is now complete, our China travels acted as a “last hurrah” for our class. By now, we’ve all developed our “core group” of friends–those you know you’ll keep in touch with. But, this was a great opportunity to re-acquaint yourself with others who you may never see again…though, I must admit that I spent the majority of the week having fun with my existing friends. Great time! Learned a lot. China’s a force to be reckoned with.

Click here to see additional photos from Shanghai…And here for Beijing.

3 comments.

China

Posted on June 12th, 2007 by k.
Categories: Asia, Studying Abroad - MBA at Cass Business School, Travel.

Hey guys. I’ve uploaded a few photos from Beijing. No captions yet, but you’ll see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the view from the hotel window, and the Imperial Palace (ie the Forbidden City). For those who are curious as you page through the photos, I did climb the wall (883 meter staircase straight up) in dress shoes and a skirt, but for very good reason
More later…

5 comments.