martes, 20 de enero de 2009

Obama's Inauguration


Today was the inauguration party for President Obama hosted by the Barcelona Democrats Abroad. The event was held at Le Meridien Hotel, and I picked up my tickets early, because the venue was overbooked. A few IESE students and staff were there, and most people just arrived after work and were nicely dressed. IESE was having it's own party at Twins, but I wanted to be more involved in Democrats Abroad events.

Obama's speech was humble, simple, but wonderful. Very classic. And after, the Star Spangled Banner played, and I felt nostalgic, and a proud to call myself an American again. It has been a long 8 years. It's not that I hate Bush, I just wish he would have been more intelligent. But whatever our future, I'd be lying if we said that I wouldn't miss him, even just a little.

Letterman's Top 10 Bush Moments

lunes, 12 de enero de 2009

My First Day of Class in Spanish

Most of my Spanish-speaking friends had their first class entirely in English somewhere around the age of 12 or 13. I had mine at 26. I just really wanted to learn Law. It so happened that the only classes with legal topics were in Spanish, so I passed the DIEN in order to take them.

There's a scene in Legally Blonde that depict's Elle Woods' first day of Law School. She comes in, sits in the front row, pulls out her heart-shaped notepad and feathery pencil while everyone else whips out laptops. Everyone has read the case before class except her, and the teacher stands formidably before her and asks about Gordon vs. Steele. What comes out of her mouth then is absolutely embarrassing, and she gets kicked out of the class for not being prepared.

That's how I felt my first day of Spanish Law class. I felt like I stood out like a sore thumb. The teacher kept coming around to me, standing right in front of me (I was in the front row) and talking directly at me until I froze. I must have looked terrified throughout class because one time, he stopped and asked me something. I had no idea what it was. I thought for sure he knew I was English and was trying to frighten me out the class.

So I started talking about Contract Law.

We weren't even talking about Contract Law. That's when I felt like Elle Woods, with her little heart-shaped notepad.

The whole class started laughing. It turns out he was just asking if I understood him and why I was looking at him with a strange face. At that moment I knew I had 2 choices: I could take the easy way out like I always do to avoid embarrassment and challenges -- drop the class and go for something I don't really like as much but in English. I don't have to take any class in Spanish, or in Law for that matter. Or I could force myself to learn more about Spanish and Law than I ever thought, and suffer. I know my level of Spanish, so I know I'll suffer a lot. If I choose the second, I'm going to have to drop my pride and ask for help from my Spanish friends. And I was probably going to get embarrassed again.

But I also know that if I drop the class, I'd be very disappointed in myself. I came to Spain in part to become fluent in Spanish (it has been a challenge so I have been avoiding it). And, I took the DIEN just so I can take these Law & taxation classes. If I gave up, there is a good chance I'll regret it forever, not knowing how far I could have gone...

domingo, 11 de enero de 2009

Tomorrow

Tomorrow I have my first MBA class... in Spanish: Derecho Mercantil. Directly after that I have another class in Spanish: Introduccion a la Fiscalidad Personal del Directivo y del Empresario. I wonder what this will be like. Hope I can overcome the challenges...

jueves, 8 de enero de 2009

Samba Show Dance

Excellent short clip of ballroom Samba (not the type local Brazilians dance).

Bryan Watson and partner Carmen dancing in a Latin showdance
.
And I thought, when looking for my job this year, one important criteria in my selection will be to have time to dance and perform. I love salsa but I always wanted to learn samba. So why not start now? My goal for the next few days is to try to find samba classes in Barcelona. If anyone knows a good studio let me know.

viernes, 2 de enero de 2009

MBA 4Q08 Progress Report and Next Quarter Guidance

So 3 quarters have gone by and I haven't updated this. Truth is, a lot has happened since then. Had my internship in Switzerland with an activist investor, worked on some PE deals, some investment management techniques. Good summer. Albeit boring. Barack Obama won the US elections and I finally found something to believe in. First term of second year in IESE was remarkably easy, and I found myself content with life for the first time in years. Happiness, I'm gaining on you. :)

And now, for the status report.

YE Guidance vs. Actual Results:
- Try to make the most out of the second years. Soon they will graduate, and I know I'll miss them, so I have to be conscious to hang out with them as much as possible before they leave.
Check. Even hung out with more second years than first years in Switzerland over the summer.
- Get a strong salsa program ready for the MBA Olympics & enjoy performing in front of a crowd. I love being in front of an audience, but I have to remember to just have fun.
Check. We won second place.
- Get a job.
Check. Was a great job, probably my favorite so far, learned so much about managing a fund and private equity relationships. But the most important thing I learned, was that it wasn't what I am meant to be doing. :)

>>>OUTPERFORM.

Wow, that was easy. I always believed that when things were right, they'd flow naturally and easily. Life wouldn't be a struggle. And it's not anymore. Wow. I think I am happy.

And in other news, I passed the DIEN!! Also I have signed up for 2 Spanish business classes next term. If I pass these classes, I will be able to graduate with a bilingual degree. And I always wanted to have command of another language. Speaking Spanish has built up significant self-confidence.

1Q09 Guidance
Goals for next quarter:
- Take self defense classes
- Start samba lessons
- Join Toastmasters Barcelona
- If the opportunity arises, must sing a karaoke song in Spanish
- Have a blast at Multi Culti! Appreciate and indulge in everything.
- Narrow down job opportunities and selection criteria.

If you're wondering why the my guidance has become much less substantial, it's because I have come a long way from the first one. Now that I have the operating system set, I can start adding applications ;)

Excellent article from the TraderFeed blog