I'm still with Stupid: 2009

2009-12-20

End of Term 3

Amazing how time flies. I'm already done with my 3rd term of school and that means one more term and I will be done and graduating (hopefully!) This term was supposed to be easier in terms of classes and workload but I somehow managed to load up on so much work that I eventually had to drop a class.

This term my school offered French classes which I decided to take. In addition, I was the Events Manager (VP of Events) for my school's Net Impact Club. As a fairly new club, it meant a lot work for the leadership staff. For me it meant an extra challenge as I had no knowledge or prior experience in the field of CSR and sustainability. In a little over 3 months, our team managed to propel the club into one of the most active and most well known clubs at ESADE. We have built and are still building a good range of contacts and relationships with professors who are expert in this field. Although it took a lot of my time, it was a very good learning and networking experience for me and also a very enjoyable one.

As many of you know, I went back to school to get my MBA because I wanted to switch functions and go into the field of CSR and sustainability. I had no experience or any knowledge so I had to fully rely on classes and on any opportunity that would allow me to learn and get some experience in this area. The Net Impact Club was one and them and then another opportunity came along. One of my professors is currently working on a book on CSR and needed some help with research. I jumped on the opportunity and that meant a more loaded schedule.

Overall, this term has been good. Jeremy was able to find some work teaching English. He also has learned how to cook eatable food (amazing, I know!) In addition, he's learning Spanish at my school and working on his school applications.

The laberyth

Fiestas de Gracia

Fiestas de Sarriá

Brian and Travis' visit

Wig Party

2009-11-30

Meeting up with some old friends in Madrid

Two of our college friends, Tim and Christine, came to Spain the week of Thanksgiving for a conference. They were staying in Madrid for the weekend so we took a plane down there on Friday afternoon and met up with them. It was really nice seeing them again since the last time we saw them was about 2 years ago at their home in Austin. We spent Friday evening walking around downtown and grabbed some good tapas. The next morning, we meet up with Tim to go running. He took us around the sites that he and Christine have seen the previous days and after the run we all met up again to visit the Palace.

The trip went by very quick and we had to say "good bye" to our friends as they head back to the States and we to Barcelona. Although we only got to spend 1.5 days in Madrid we saw quite a bit, but the best part was seeing our old friends from college.

Tim & Jeremy during our run

El Palacio Real

Christine and I during our walk around Madrid

Christine & Tim

2009-10-04

First half done!

It’s been a little over 6 months since I have moved to Barcelona and I’m already half way done with school. It’s amazing how quickly time is going by. It seemed not so long ago that I was nervous about starting school again and worry about living on my own without Jeremy. Well, I made it…we both made it. School was tough, especially in June and July, but it seems like I have passed all the required courses. I have also made many close friends whom I missed very much during our month off for summer vacation. School was much tougher than I ever thought it would be with many 12+ hour days spent at school, either working on some type of homework or doing a group project. My classmates and I did find some time to relax and have fun by having birthday parties, ethnic potlucks and random BBQs just to take a much needed break from all the work.

In Paris for MBAT (MBA Tournament)

Dinner with the girls
One of many birthday parties
Japanese Dinner:

End of Term 2:

Just as quickly as the end of the 2nd term came by, the month of summer vacation was over in a flash. At the beginning of September, I along with 43 of my classmates, travelled to Beijing to start our week-long course at the Beijing University. This not only turned out to be a wonderful learning experience but also a very emotional trip for me. As many of you know, I was born in China (Southeastern part) but left when I was around 1 years of age. I have never gone back and this was my first trip back to my country of birth. Obviously, it was neither the same city nor the same province for that matter, but it was still the same country. It was very emotional to see the people and to see what my life would’ve been if my parents would have never left the country. Would I have had the chance to travel the world like I have been doing the past year or would I have never left the small town where I was born?

Although my class only spent a week in Beijing we managed to take classes and also do some cultural things. Overall it was one of the best and most memorable times of my MBA career.

Beijing University Campus