Naturally, I couldn't get myself to do any real work during the weekend. With apologies to my colleagues, I do have my weekends starting on Wednesday afternoon. Nonetheless, there was plenty of fake work to do.
Saturday night was Maroons' victory party. About 20 showed up at various times (i.e. 40% of our cohort, which is pretty good!) and we didn't order enough drinks to cover the minimum charge for reserving space. So we ordered champaigne. Good times.
After the victory parade, I headed over to Regents for a poker game. Better lucky than good: so true, so true. My all in attempt with pocket Qs was, predicatbly, called by A-K unsuited. My lost when a spade came on the river and my opponent made a flush. Sigh. I need to start playing in those higher stakes Wednesday night games. I can swallow $20 easy... but $60...?
Sunday morning, after 5 hours of sleep, I woke up to go play tennis in Hyde Park. Perhaps I will play more this year. Just need the right tennis partner. We played mixed doubles, and there was an interesting game which went to duece #12. I was serving. I swear my arm was falling off at the end from serving so much.
So in the afternoon, I finally started doing some real work... and promptly fell asleep reading articles. It's uncanny. I woke up and finished my reading and went back home... where they were showing the Patriots Bengal game. You can guess what happened in the next 5 hours. haha.
Count
10/02/2006
Goominating the World
I can't believe I never got myself to using the Google reader. What a wonderful piece of technology. On Google Desktop, I have a tool bar that loads all the web clips so I be up to date with different blogs. The only problem is that the fonts are a bit small and I have to scroll up and down to click into new entries. Fear not, the Google reader basically acts as an inbox in your email. Hmmm... an idea for Google, why not just load it in Gmail? Anyway, Google reader will load all the entries on a blog and mark them as read or unread (You see, like emails) and sort them by either date or by author. Awesome tool to help me keep up with some 30 blogs that I frequent.
Speaking of blogs, Blogspot now offers the option to tag our entires. So far, I've made tags for review, movie, book, and food. What else should I add?
10/01/2006
Illusionist
Always liked Ed Norton the actor. Like many movies that he is in, the story is okay and the actors are great. Wouldn't really recommend it though. I keep thinking to myself: you have the woman already, why do you have to rub it in!? It's obvious that the Illusionist doesn't care about his country and what not; why did he have to go through so much to eliminate the prince? Anyway, Ed Norton and Paul Giamatti did a good job in the movie. Wouldn't expect anything else.
A week of school has gone by, and you can definitely differentiate the enthusiastic first years from the lack luster second years. We need a few more weeks to soak it in and return to student mode. Those who have offers are in vacation mode right now; don't force us otherwise.
A week of school has gone by, and you can definitely differentiate the enthusiastic first years from the lack luster second years. We need a few more weeks to soak it in and return to student mode. Those who have offers are in vacation mode right now; don't force us otherwise.
9/29/2006
Guess the Company and Division
In a fancy restaurant in the West loop, there's a crowd of students, dressed business causual, surrounding a middle age white man in khakis and blue shirt. The 50-strong crowd is 95% male. Among the male, it is 80% Indians, 10% Asian, 10% token white guy. For my GSB colleagues,
What's the company?
What's the division?
In this certain presentation/reception, I suddenly thought of my hate for the "Backspace" button. So much raw emotions being censored by that button. Yet so many mistakes avoided. I'm torn. If I write blogs without using "Backspace" but for spelling and grammar, it would be much more entertaining.
Emotions of course triggered by not using the Backspace and making mean language. Should have used that stupid button. Oh well.
What's the company?
What's the division?
In this certain presentation/reception, I suddenly thought of my hate for the "Backspace" button. So much raw emotions being censored by that button. Yet so many mistakes avoided. I'm torn. If I write blogs without using "Backspace" but for spelling and grammar, it would be much more entertaining.
Emotions of course triggered by not using the Backspace and making mean language. Should have used that stupid button. Oh well.
9/28/2006
Classes, baby!
Until my first class, I never realized that I was back at school. Here's what transpired:
1:30 - in class, just in time...!
1:35 - professor starts introducing himself and the course
1:38 - dozing already...
Just kidding. It wasn't that bad, though you'll be hard-pressed to make a good case for me NOT to doze in Corporate Finance. Anyway, it was remarkable that I could have really used this first class in my case work during the summer.
Next up was Negotiations. Again, I could have used the first class material in my summer case. This is going to be a pretty good class. In particular, the first negotiation practice was quite interesting. I'm a seller with a bottom line and my task is to negotiate with a buyer. Since I do not know his bottom line, my strategy going in was to never make the initial offer. I was going to wait for the initial offer and then assess what the buyer's bottom line might be. This was, in fact, most seller's strategy. Whatever I did worked, as I sold 2.4 times my bottom line. Back in class, however, our professor disagrees with the strategy. Instead, we should definitely offer first and make that offer an unreasonable. Thus creating expectations for (anchoring) your counterparty for a high number. This will be a good class.
This morning was Organizational Change. What I hope to get out of class is a toolkit for organizational change that I may be able to use in consulting. The first class was rather promising. Funny thing was I never planned to take the class. Only after failing miserably in bidding for classes did I end up with this class. Class discussions are going to drive the quality, and the professor seemed pretty good at moderating. And hence my three classes of the Fall quarter. M T and W. Th and F off. I think this will be okay. hehe.
I seem to have missed this one class though... would have been worth the tuition for sure.
1:30 - in class, just in time...!
1:35 - professor starts introducing himself and the course
1:38 - dozing already...
Just kidding. It wasn't that bad, though you'll be hard-pressed to make a good case for me NOT to doze in Corporate Finance. Anyway, it was remarkable that I could have really used this first class in my case work during the summer.
Next up was Negotiations. Again, I could have used the first class material in my summer case. This is going to be a pretty good class. In particular, the first negotiation practice was quite interesting. I'm a seller with a bottom line and my task is to negotiate with a buyer. Since I do not know his bottom line, my strategy going in was to never make the initial offer. I was going to wait for the initial offer and then assess what the buyer's bottom line might be. This was, in fact, most seller's strategy. Whatever I did worked, as I sold 2.4 times my bottom line. Back in class, however, our professor disagrees with the strategy. Instead, we should definitely offer first and make that offer an unreasonable. Thus creating expectations for (anchoring) your counterparty for a high number. This will be a good class.
This morning was Organizational Change. What I hope to get out of class is a toolkit for organizational change that I may be able to use in consulting. The first class was rather promising. Funny thing was I never planned to take the class. Only after failing miserably in bidding for classes did I end up with this class. Class discussions are going to drive the quality, and the professor seemed pretty good at moderating. And hence my three classes of the Fall quarter. M T and W. Th and F off. I think this will be okay. hehe.
I seem to have missed this one class though... would have been worth the tuition for sure.
US vs. HK 2
After a very productive day at the Winter Garden (oh yeah, you know what I mean), I headed to Chinatown, which made me realize that I missed some crucial elements of comparing US and HK:
Haircut - that's it, Chinese barbers in the US really suck; all they want to do is to buzz all your hair off... and they don't care what you say. "Not so short, please..." "Buzz"
HUGE advantage: Hong Kong
Dinner at Phoenix - I expect the poor quality, but that 18% for parties over six really kills.
Advantage: Hong Kong.
Hopefully my hair will grow back in time for tomorrow's dinner reception...
Haircut - that's it, Chinese barbers in the US really suck; all they want to do is to buzz all your hair off... and they don't care what you say. "Not so short, please..." "Buzz"
HUGE advantage: Hong Kong
Dinner at Phoenix - I expect the poor quality, but that 18% for parties over six really kills.
Advantage: Hong Kong.
Hopefully my hair will grow back in time for tomorrow's dinner reception...
9/23/2006
GSB Life...
I have classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, which means I don't have classes on the first two days of school. So, what did I do? Go to school.
All those first years roaming the school... about a year ago, I was in the same position. Roaming the student activities fair, trying to decide which clubs I should join. I joined Management Consulting Group and Business Solution Group because I wanted to do management consulting. I signed onto Chicago Asia Pacific Group and Chinese Business Student Association because I wanted to return to Hong Kong for my summer internships. I joined sail club, poker club, basketball club, etc so I can tell myself I have a life outside of school and career.
I don't think I really thought about it that way, but it seems like I did a pretty good job in my first year as far as how I used the student groups. Management consulting in Hong Kong. Poker. Basketball. I miss the sail club event though. Should have gone to Virgin Islands. Also, should have gone to Galapagos Islands.
I can't really believe that a year has already passed.
All those first years roaming the school... about a year ago, I was in the same position. Roaming the student activities fair, trying to decide which clubs I should join. I joined Management Consulting Group and Business Solution Group because I wanted to do management consulting. I signed onto Chicago Asia Pacific Group and Chinese Business Student Association because I wanted to return to Hong Kong for my summer internships. I joined sail club, poker club, basketball club, etc so I can tell myself I have a life outside of school and career.
I don't think I really thought about it that way, but it seems like I did a pretty good job in my first year as far as how I used the student groups. Management consulting in Hong Kong. Poker. Basketball. I miss the sail club event though. Should have gone to Virgin Islands. Also, should have gone to Galapagos Islands.
I can't really believe that a year has already passed.
9/21/2006
My New GF
She's cute. She's beautiful. She's pretty cool. Bold, even. She's a bit heavy, but she has a great body. And I mean GREAT body. She doesn't know I have a blog, so I can pretty much write anything I want.
She let's me decide everything. When I don't feel like it, she'll make all the decisions for me. She's easy to read, yet there's a sophistication that I can't really understand (I'm trying). She's a bit flashy on the outside, but conservative inside. There's obviously a lot that I need to learn about her.
She doesn't really ask for anything, though buying her accessories is going to cost me big time. I think she's quite perfect, to be honest.
Her name is Nikon D80. My new toy. I love her. Maybe I can forget. Oh, and did I mention tomorrow is the first school day?
She let's me decide everything. When I don't feel like it, she'll make all the decisions for me. She's easy to read, yet there's a sophistication that I can't really understand (I'm trying). She's a bit flashy on the outside, but conservative inside. There's obviously a lot that I need to learn about her.
She doesn't really ask for anything, though buying her accessories is going to cost me big time. I think she's quite perfect, to be honest.
Her name is Nikon D80. My new toy. I love her. Maybe I can forget. Oh, and did I mention tomorrow is the first school day?
9/19/2006
Hong Kong vs USA
Well... since a big part of my career decision depends on geography, what can beat a HKG vs USA list!? Here goes, in no particular order:
Food: ...... nah, no need to compare
Advantage: Hong Kong
Work culture: HK - work hard, play hard; US - work hard, play harder
Advantage: Hong Kong
Hours: HK - til you drop; US - til dinner
Advantage: USA
Friends: HK - a lot, probably reached max; US - a lot, room for growth
Advantage: I can't really tell
Family: HK - there's some; US - there's none
Advantage: Hong Kong
Weight: HK - you need a diet; US - you lost weight
Advantage: Okay, I think I like US better.
Facial hair: why does my facial hair grow faster in HKG!?
Advantage: USA
Size matters: HK - I am Moses when entering the packed trains; US - my neck hurts from looking up
Advantage: Hong Kong
Air: HK - smog; US - blue skys
Advantage: US
Water: HK - needs to boil; US - ready to drink
Advantage: US
Poker: HK - many games, low stakes; US - some games, high stakes
Advantage: Hong Kong
TV: HK - no ESPN (but possible, I hear); US - ESPN
Advantage: US, slightly
Basketball: HK - size matters; US - go play in the kiddie court
Advantage: Hong Kong
Hiking: HK - any time; US - depends on location, far away anyway
advantage: Hong Kong
Photography: HK - smog; US - many places
Advantage: Europe =)
This is fun... but I need to sleep. Today was the first company presentation for me. Standing outside of the circle of students surrounding the recruiter who may or may not have the power to make a difference in you being interviewed or hired, I can't help but think why am I still standing there. There's an easy way out: sign on the dotted line! (Oh I really don't enjoy this recruiting thing!)
I have genuine concerns, that's why. The presenter today left one impression with me: go with your gut because you will never regret it; even if you fail, you will learn something about yourself; go with your head over you gut, you will regret if you fail. I just have to check all the obstacles to what my gut is telling me.
Do I need to count which place wins the advantages?
Food: ...... nah, no need to compare
Advantage: Hong Kong
Work culture: HK - work hard, play hard; US - work hard, play harder
Advantage: Hong Kong
Hours: HK - til you drop; US - til dinner
Advantage: USA
Friends: HK - a lot, probably reached max; US - a lot, room for growth
Advantage: I can't really tell
Family: HK - there's some; US - there's none
Advantage: Hong Kong
Weight: HK - you need a diet; US - you lost weight
Advantage: Okay, I think I like US better.
Facial hair: why does my facial hair grow faster in HKG!?
Advantage: USA
Size matters: HK - I am Moses when entering the packed trains; US - my neck hurts from looking up
Advantage: Hong Kong
Air: HK - smog; US - blue skys
Advantage: US
Water: HK - needs to boil; US - ready to drink
Advantage: US
Poker: HK - many games, low stakes; US - some games, high stakes
Advantage: Hong Kong
TV: HK - no ESPN (but possible, I hear); US - ESPN
Advantage: US, slightly
Basketball: HK - size matters; US - go play in the kiddie court
Advantage: Hong Kong
Hiking: HK - any time; US - depends on location, far away anyway
advantage: Hong Kong
Photography: HK - smog; US - many places
Advantage: Europe =)
This is fun... but I need to sleep. Today was the first company presentation for me. Standing outside of the circle of students surrounding the recruiter who may or may not have the power to make a difference in you being interviewed or hired, I can't help but think why am I still standing there. There's an easy way out: sign on the dotted line! (Oh I really don't enjoy this recruiting thing!)
I have genuine concerns, that's why. The presenter today left one impression with me: go with your gut because you will never regret it; even if you fail, you will learn something about yourself; go with your head over you gut, you will regret if you fail. I just have to check all the obstacles to what my gut is telling me.
Do I need to count which place wins the advantages?
9/17/2006
Little Miss Sunshine
I feel shameless if I leave comments on my own blog. Therefore, I will reply to your comments here: one can of course have different group of friends; my questions is if you have many groups, you may have less of a friendship than if you only hung out with one group. Especially among new groups. I know that I don't have to spend time with my middle school friends and they will continue to be good true forever friends.
I guess a Chicago way of asking the question is whether time spent with person (measured by some unit of time - either in hours or in frequency or both) is correlated to degree of friendship (measured by... uh... I don't know... money - how much are you willing to lend Eric without assurances he will pay you back), adjusted for current wealth and generosity (damn, can't measure that though!). Sorry, couldn't resist.
Just saw the movie Little Miss Sunshine. I loved it. Unfortunately, the moment of simple joy can never persist in real life. You always get sucked back into troubles in life.
Also on the list of movies I want to see but probably won't: Thank You for Not Smoking, Illusionist, An Inconvenient Truth, Hollywoodland, This Movie is Not Yet Rated (I think that's what it's called - too lazy to do background research)...
The Departed, starring an improbable cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Nicholson, will be on Oct 6. I'm very much looking forward to the American remake of the HK hit movie. I doubt that the replication can match the original, only because the emphasis on collectivism will probably not ring any bells among American audience. Or maybe they will heavily edit the movie, which actually won't be a bad thing at all!
I guess a Chicago way of asking the question is whether time spent with person (measured by some unit of time - either in hours or in frequency or both) is correlated to degree of friendship (measured by... uh... I don't know... money - how much are you willing to lend Eric without assurances he will pay you back), adjusted for current wealth and generosity (damn, can't measure that though!). Sorry, couldn't resist.
Just saw the movie Little Miss Sunshine. I loved it. Unfortunately, the moment of simple joy can never persist in real life. You always get sucked back into troubles in life.
Also on the list of movies I want to see but probably won't: Thank You for Not Smoking, Illusionist, An Inconvenient Truth, Hollywoodland, This Movie is Not Yet Rated (I think that's what it's called - too lazy to do background research)...
The Departed, starring an improbable cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Nicholson, will be on Oct 6. I'm very much looking forward to the American remake of the HK hit movie. I doubt that the replication can match the original, only because the emphasis on collectivism will probably not ring any bells among American audience. Or maybe they will heavily edit the movie, which actually won't be a bad thing at all!
9/16/2006
Good point, Shmoo...
I guess the question should be if I am not fully committed to a circle of friends, can I truly make good friends out of them?
TNDC...!
Good times, good times...
I do miss all my buddies in business school. Half of them I can see at TNDC; the other half I can see at Chinatown. Which brings me to some of my thoughts on making friends.
When I applied to college, I wrote about how I hoped to find a true identity for the boy who counts in Chinese but speaks in English. Ten years later (!!!!), I could write the same piece. I still count in Chinese, and English is still my default language. Just take a look at my circles of friends. At Chicago, I have, on one hand, the American friends. The crew hangs out at bars, talks (real talking) in school, studies moderately, and always has fun doing whatever. On the other hand, I have the Chinese crowd, separated into China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These crews hang out at each other's homes, says hi and bye in school, studies hard, and always seems to be serious.
Makes me wonder a bit... if you are not committed to one crew, can you still make true friends out of both groups? If on Thursday night I choose not to go to TNDC (hence missing my American friends at the bar) because there's a poker game (or killer - arg, I hate that game) at a Chinese friends' house, or vice versa, would either group think less of me? Surely it makes some difference, right?
Hm... just writing this makes me feel young.
I do miss all my buddies in business school. Half of them I can see at TNDC; the other half I can see at Chinatown. Which brings me to some of my thoughts on making friends.
When I applied to college, I wrote about how I hoped to find a true identity for the boy who counts in Chinese but speaks in English. Ten years later (!!!!), I could write the same piece. I still count in Chinese, and English is still my default language. Just take a look at my circles of friends. At Chicago, I have, on one hand, the American friends. The crew hangs out at bars, talks (real talking) in school, studies moderately, and always has fun doing whatever. On the other hand, I have the Chinese crowd, separated into China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. These crews hang out at each other's homes, says hi and bye in school, studies hard, and always seems to be serious.
Makes me wonder a bit... if you are not committed to one crew, can you still make true friends out of both groups? If on Thursday night I choose not to go to TNDC (hence missing my American friends at the bar) because there's a poker game (or killer - arg, I hate that game) at a Chinese friends' house, or vice versa, would either group think less of me? Surely it makes some difference, right?
Hm... just writing this makes me feel young.
9/15/2006
Safety alert....!?
The following is a safety alert released by the U of C police:
Between 6:45 and 7:05 a.m., Monday, September 11, (reported on September 12) on South Kenwood Avenue between Hyde Park Blvd. and 52nd Streets, a woman was leaving her residence when she was confronted by a man who forced her against a gate and fondled her. He fled with the victim's lunch container when a passerby happened on the scene. The offender was described as an African American in his 20's, about 5'10", with a strong body odor and bad breath, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Police are investigating.
Man, the States is awesome. Not.
Between 6:45 and 7:05 a.m., Monday, September 11, (reported on September 12) on South Kenwood Avenue between Hyde Park Blvd. and 52nd Streets, a woman was leaving her residence when she was confronted by a man who forced her against a gate and fondled her. He fled with the victim's lunch container when a passerby happened on the scene. The offender was described as an African American in his 20's, about 5'10", with a strong body odor and bad breath, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. Police are investigating.
Man, the States is awesome. Not.
Back in Chitown...
It feels good to be back home... ops, did I say home!?
Anyway, my first night back was already greeted by Bain returnees. They're hosting a dinner for all the Chicago Bainees. And tonight? Same thing of course. Bain returnees plus potential GSB Bainees (I think - there are so many Bain events I'm forgeting which one is which... all have free food though, so they do know my weakness).
Meanwhile, I've received several emails (uh... okay, the big 3 + Booz) about various consulting companies as well as a couple of phone calls on whether I'm still interested in management consulting. Reality checks in quick!
I finished the book Guns Germs and Steel. Shmoo mentioned that it was repetitive. He was right. Still a pretty good book that I would recommend though. The premise is noble -history, on a grand level, is basically science - but a bit too aggressive. To establish a theory that would explain all of human history would surely invite criticisms in form of exceptions. As I read the book, I nodded in my mind and I kept thinking of exceptions to the author's rule. And I could find many. This of course does not dilute his theory of how the current world is shaped. What I would be most interested in finding out is whether the theory is still relevant for the future.
Started "The End of Poverty" by Jeff Sachs. The book quickly refers to Guns Germs and Steel. So far so good. Sachs thinks we can end poverty (i.e. where people cannot survive on their own income) by 2025. Good luck.
Anyway, my first night back was already greeted by Bain returnees. They're hosting a dinner for all the Chicago Bainees. And tonight? Same thing of course. Bain returnees plus potential GSB Bainees (I think - there are so many Bain events I'm forgeting which one is which... all have free food though, so they do know my weakness).
Meanwhile, I've received several emails (uh... okay, the big 3 + Booz) about various consulting companies as well as a couple of phone calls on whether I'm still interested in management consulting. Reality checks in quick!
I finished the book Guns Germs and Steel. Shmoo mentioned that it was repetitive. He was right. Still a pretty good book that I would recommend though. The premise is noble -history, on a grand level, is basically science - but a bit too aggressive. To establish a theory that would explain all of human history would surely invite criticisms in form of exceptions. As I read the book, I nodded in my mind and I kept thinking of exceptions to the author's rule. And I could find many. This of course does not dilute his theory of how the current world is shaped. What I would be most interested in finding out is whether the theory is still relevant for the future.
Started "The End of Poverty" by Jeff Sachs. The book quickly refers to Guns Germs and Steel. So far so good. Sachs thinks we can end poverty (i.e. where people cannot survive on their own income) by 2025. Good luck.
9/13/2006
Since my last post...
A very good friend of mine got married... and we did not have a proper bachelor party...
I went hiking... for the first time this year, as sad as that sounded... and it wasn't even a real hike...
I felt really bad for a person...
I almost cried at the wedding...
I met a very pretty medical doctor...
I finished Guns, Germs, and Steel...
I started Say No to Poverty...
I felt really good for another person...
I vowed to blog more...
I became roommates with my old roommate from almost 10 years ago...
I was woken up at 625am by a conference call from Japan...
I was woken up at 900am by an insurance agent...
I played basketball...
I worked out...
I watched football... American Football...
I watched baseball...
I do miss the States, I guess.
I went hiking... for the first time this year, as sad as that sounded... and it wasn't even a real hike...
I felt really bad for a person...
I almost cried at the wedding...
I met a very pretty medical doctor...
I finished Guns, Germs, and Steel...
I started Say No to Poverty...
I felt really good for another person...
I vowed to blog more...
I became roommates with my old roommate from almost 10 years ago...
I was woken up at 625am by a conference call from Japan...
I was woken up at 900am by an insurance agent...
I played basketball...
I worked out...
I watched football... American Football...
I watched baseball...
I do miss the States, I guess.
9/08/2006
SF now...
I've come to my friend's wedding... instead, we seem to be in a perpetual bachelor party... good times all around. (G, I hope you're not reading... and if you are... this is just a big fat lie)
Japan was a lot of fun... enough fun that it warrants a dot on my website. =) stay tuned
I can't wait to get back to Chicago.
Japan was a lot of fun... enough fun that it warrants a dot on my website. =) stay tuned
I can't wait to get back to Chicago.
9/04/2006
Yokohama day...
Let's see... what exactly did I do in Yokohama? Nothing much, really... just walking around and aimlessly taking pictures. Yes, I have turned into a Japanese tourist. With no schedule and no rush though, so I do pride myself on that.
While going through a huge indoor mall searching for food, I did see Cold Stong Creamery. Yummy. There was a line outside so I didn't really bother. One thing different though... the ice cream packers started to sing and dance in symphony every now and then. I thought it was quite funny. The Japanese customers loved it.
1000Y to go to the top of Japan's tallest building... look, I've been to Japan's highest spot, Mount Fuji, already. No thanks.
Took a bus to the Sankaien Garden (三溪園). Got off at the wrong station but nonetheless managed to get to the Garden (By the way, the "en" in Sankaien means garden already, so the translations don't really work out). Beautiful garden with some awesome Japanese houses. Had a very Zen feeling to it. Meanwhile, Japanese tour groups whisked by at high speeds. The phenomenon of Japanese tourists is quite ironic actually: Japanese emphasizes patience and spending a lot of time on your craft (For a really bad example, see Tom Cruise's The Last Sumarai). There's something Zen about everything the Japanese do. I distinctly remember Alan admiring some Japanese video gamers who have made their play more of an art than entertainment. Anyway, Japan is also about JIT production and efficiency.
Back to the tour groups: Japanese tour groups seem to have become some manufacturing production line. They are fast and efficient. Ironically, at the Sankaien Garden, where peace and tranquility rule, where people are supposed to be quiet and enjoy the environment, where I reflect on life a little bit, tour groups drive by and snap their pictures and leave. Quite amazing.
These are areas where no one speak English... so when I left, I had no idea where to go. I didn't want to go back the original route, so I took another exit and spent the next hour walking beside a highway... until I finally hit the railroad station that I thought was a couple of minutes away from the garden exit.
While going through a huge indoor mall searching for food, I did see Cold Stong Creamery. Yummy. There was a line outside so I didn't really bother. One thing different though... the ice cream packers started to sing and dance in symphony every now and then. I thought it was quite funny. The Japanese customers loved it.
1000Y to go to the top of Japan's tallest building... look, I've been to Japan's highest spot, Mount Fuji, already. No thanks.
Took a bus to the Sankaien Garden (三溪園). Got off at the wrong station but nonetheless managed to get to the Garden (By the way, the "en" in Sankaien means garden already, so the translations don't really work out). Beautiful garden with some awesome Japanese houses. Had a very Zen feeling to it. Meanwhile, Japanese tour groups whisked by at high speeds. The phenomenon of Japanese tourists is quite ironic actually: Japanese emphasizes patience and spending a lot of time on your craft (For a really bad example, see Tom Cruise's The Last Sumarai). There's something Zen about everything the Japanese do. I distinctly remember Alan admiring some Japanese video gamers who have made their play more of an art than entertainment. Anyway, Japan is also about JIT production and efficiency.
Back to the tour groups: Japanese tour groups seem to have become some manufacturing production line. They are fast and efficient. Ironically, at the Sankaien Garden, where peace and tranquility rule, where people are supposed to be quiet and enjoy the environment, where I reflect on life a little bit, tour groups drive by and snap their pictures and leave. Quite amazing.
These are areas where no one speak English... so when I left, I had no idea where to go. I didn't want to go back the original route, so I took another exit and spent the next hour walking beside a highway... until I finally hit the railroad station that I thought was a couple of minutes away from the garden exit.
9/03/2006
Lost in translation
I finally left Hong Kong.
I didn't really properly say goodbye to Hong Kong because my mind wasn't really on it. Nor did I plan for my trip to Japan. Pre-occupied (still) by the break up... uh... the being dumped... I just never quite got my act together to plan things that weren't urgent.
Anyway, here I am in Tokyo's Asakusa area... happy that I got internet access, yet beating myself up for getting it in my room. Now I may just stay in all day to revamp my website! um... not.
I spent the last three days hanging with KB, an old friend from college who used to be my summer roommate. Somehow, she and I became good friends despite having very different personalities. My prudent party style has served her well in her wilder days, I guess, looking out for her all the time. We both liked to be around friends and organize events (less so for me now, I guess)... so there was the connection. Anyway, we went to her summer vacation house with a bunch of her friends.
The beach was really nice, the onsen was unbelievable. It's just that everybody spoke Japanese. They all speak English, but of course Japanese is the default language. Immediately I thought of Lost in Translation... thing is, I've been around enough Japanese people to recognize words here and there, but not knowing what they mean entirely. For them, it was a gathering of friends to talk about what they have been up to and stuff. For me, it was like watching a movie, only I didn't really understand what was going on the movie and that the movie sometimes called on me. =)
Nonetheless, I found myself more amused than frustrated. Japanese is a very cute language to learn.
Back in Tokyo, I checked into the hotel and first took a hot bath. Then it was dinner time. Here was our conversation:
Josekin (yes, I need a better nickname... how's about HKG, or Hong Kong Guy, in a tribute to SG, the Sports Guy?)...
HKG: Sumimase... (excuse me, aka the phase you use all the time at any place when you are talking to someone else) I'm looking for a restaurant to have dinner, do you have any recommendations?
Hotel girl: McDonald-u. Turn right-do, then turn left-do (using sign language with broken English to guide me)
HKG: Japanese restaurant-u?
Hotel girl: Gomene (sorry), restaurants all close Sunday night.
HKG: I can walk further away to find a better restaurant?
Hotel girl: Gomene (sorry)... (thinking)... Denny's, only 3 minutes walk away
HKG: ...... arigato (thank you)
Hotel girl: Turn right-do, then right-do... 3 minute walk
HKG: hurrying out before she walks me to Denny's and makes me eat there
I love Japanese who are trying to help. They keep thinking what is best for you and will do everything in their power to make it happen.
I ended up at a Japanese restaurant where I have to purchase my meal ticket from a vending machine outside the restaurant (can't read the Japanese, but can connect pictures to words), then go in and be served, return ticket to cook as he executes the orders from the vending machine, then eat standing up, then leaving, all done in 15 minutes. I tell you, Japanese are the most efficient.
Tomorrow I go to Yokohama.
I didn't really properly say goodbye to Hong Kong because my mind wasn't really on it. Nor did I plan for my trip to Japan. Pre-occupied (still) by the break up... uh... the being dumped... I just never quite got my act together to plan things that weren't urgent.
Anyway, here I am in Tokyo's Asakusa area... happy that I got internet access, yet beating myself up for getting it in my room. Now I may just stay in all day to revamp my website! um... not.
I spent the last three days hanging with KB, an old friend from college who used to be my summer roommate. Somehow, she and I became good friends despite having very different personalities. My prudent party style has served her well in her wilder days, I guess, looking out for her all the time. We both liked to be around friends and organize events (less so for me now, I guess)... so there was the connection. Anyway, we went to her summer vacation house with a bunch of her friends.
The beach was really nice, the onsen was unbelievable. It's just that everybody spoke Japanese. They all speak English, but of course Japanese is the default language. Immediately I thought of Lost in Translation... thing is, I've been around enough Japanese people to recognize words here and there, but not knowing what they mean entirely. For them, it was a gathering of friends to talk about what they have been up to and stuff. For me, it was like watching a movie, only I didn't really understand what was going on the movie and that the movie sometimes called on me. =)
Nonetheless, I found myself more amused than frustrated. Japanese is a very cute language to learn.
Back in Tokyo, I checked into the hotel and first took a hot bath. Then it was dinner time. Here was our conversation:
Josekin (yes, I need a better nickname... how's about HKG, or Hong Kong Guy, in a tribute to SG, the Sports Guy?)...
HKG: Sumimase... (excuse me, aka the phase you use all the time at any place when you are talking to someone else) I'm looking for a restaurant to have dinner, do you have any recommendations?
Hotel girl: McDonald-u. Turn right-do, then turn left-do (using sign language with broken English to guide me)
HKG: Japanese restaurant-u?
Hotel girl: Gomene (sorry), restaurants all close Sunday night.
HKG: I can walk further away to find a better restaurant?
Hotel girl: Gomene (sorry)... (thinking)... Denny's, only 3 minutes walk away
HKG: ...... arigato (thank you)
Hotel girl: Turn right-do, then right-do... 3 minute walk
HKG: hurrying out before she walks me to Denny's and makes me eat there
I love Japanese who are trying to help. They keep thinking what is best for you and will do everything in their power to make it happen.
I ended up at a Japanese restaurant where I have to purchase my meal ticket from a vending machine outside the restaurant (can't read the Japanese, but can connect pictures to words), then go in and be served, return ticket to cook as he executes the orders from the vending machine, then eat standing up, then leaving, all done in 15 minutes. I tell you, Japanese are the most efficient.
Tomorrow I go to Yokohama.
8/30/2006
Flash
Wow, after 4 hours of trail and error, I just published my updated website. For some odd reason, www.josekin.com doesn't work, but the movie starting page does. Anyway, prior to today, I had to email the designer to tell him what type of change I want and then he would make it. Now I can do it myself. Sort of. I'll keep trying!
Anyway, a bit of mixed success and failure. I got tired of trying to make some of the boxes smaller. I got tired of adding dots. I got tired to typing enough to fill the boxes.
So this is what you are going to get. I plan to update this a bit more often though!
Anyway, a bit of mixed success and failure. I got tired of trying to make some of the boxes smaller. I got tired of adding dots. I got tired to typing enough to fill the boxes.
So this is what you are going to get. I plan to update this a bit more often though!
8/29/2006
Family Dinner
There's not quite an English phase that spells 幸福. Here are some of the words I can think of: satisfying, gratifying, happy, fulfilling...
So last night my friends and I had a family dinner at one of our homes. Why? Ironically, one is to cheer me up, and the other is that we have two birthdays to celebrate! Anyway, two of us made most of the dinner. I did the dishes. It was a funny feeling where all six of us where sitting around the table, feeling the full effects of food coma, and then moving over to the TV set to catch the latest shows, only to be so bored that we again chatted about life.
That is 幸福. It's that simple. It's that easy. =)
J commented that my life is blue. Not true. Lately, I blog when I am blue. And now, I blog when I feel 幸福 as well.
So last night my friends and I had a family dinner at one of our homes. Why? Ironically, one is to cheer me up, and the other is that we have two birthdays to celebrate! Anyway, two of us made most of the dinner. I did the dishes. It was a funny feeling where all six of us where sitting around the table, feeling the full effects of food coma, and then moving over to the TV set to catch the latest shows, only to be so bored that we again chatted about life.
That is 幸福. It's that simple. It's that easy. =)
J commented that my life is blue. Not true. Lately, I blog when I am blue. And now, I blog when I feel 幸福 as well.
8/28/2006
聖保羅
偶然 (還是無意?) 之間, 看了英雄好漢. 中間有一段對白, 以前沒有注意到:
黑社會大佬: 我的女兒不聽話, 喜歡去Disco玩...
黑社會大佬的朋友: 我的兒子就好多了, 在聖保羅男女讀書, 每一年都是頭三名的!
Haha!
黑社會大佬: 我的女兒不聽話, 喜歡去Disco玩...
黑社會大佬的朋友: 我的兒子就好多了, 在聖保羅男女讀書, 每一年都是頭三名的!
Haha!
8/27/2006
Hero
"死, 要死的其所."
"你為甚麼不擋...?" "(因為) 這樣你就信了."
I watched the movie again. Will explain why in a minute. Anyway, rediscovered how a beautiful language Chinese is. Here are two memorable quotes. And, if you know Chinese, a bit closer to my heart.
After finishing my internship, I had to move out of the corporate apartment. I foolishly did not ask for more nights (beforehand, I felt bad asking in the last week since I do have a home to go to), haha! Anyway, I moved back to my parents... they are in the Phillippines right now, so I have all the space for myself. Since poker night (more on that later) started at 9, I decided to stick any DVD in our new 50 inch TV - dad had commented that he's never used the DVD machine; so I was determined to check it out. =)
Wow.
Poker night was a productive one. I took a cute friend of mine to the game since she loves to gamble and she has never played poker. I taught her some basics (Yup, I consider her the second student of mine) and started the cash game. The fellas were obviously pleased. And both of us won money at the end. Good times all around.
I also drove from home to Happy Valley to Kowloon to Kowloon Tong to Cheung Kwan O to North Point to home. If you know Hong Kong, you'll appreciate how much distance I covered. Anyway, driving is still a very convenient thing even in HK where cabs are cheap... maybe I will buy a car at some point.
"你為甚麼不擋...?" "(因為) 這樣你就信了."
I watched the movie again. Will explain why in a minute. Anyway, rediscovered how a beautiful language Chinese is. Here are two memorable quotes. And, if you know Chinese, a bit closer to my heart.
After finishing my internship, I had to move out of the corporate apartment. I foolishly did not ask for more nights (beforehand, I felt bad asking in the last week since I do have a home to go to), haha! Anyway, I moved back to my parents... they are in the Phillippines right now, so I have all the space for myself. Since poker night (more on that later) started at 9, I decided to stick any DVD in our new 50 inch TV - dad had commented that he's never used the DVD machine; so I was determined to check it out. =)
Wow.
Poker night was a productive one. I took a cute friend of mine to the game since she loves to gamble and she has never played poker. I taught her some basics (Yup, I consider her the second student of mine) and started the cash game. The fellas were obviously pleased. And both of us won money at the end. Good times all around.
I also drove from home to Happy Valley to Kowloon to Kowloon Tong to Cheung Kwan O to North Point to home. If you know Hong Kong, you'll appreciate how much distance I covered. Anyway, driving is still a very convenient thing even in HK where cabs are cheap... maybe I will buy a car at some point.
8/24/2006
Whenever I feel sad, distressed, stressed, frustrated, etc etc, I seem to get very busy at everything I do. Take now for example, it's 1:30 am and I'm typing a blog at home. I just got home about half an hour ago from work, my second night in a row working pass midnight. And I have a breakfast meeting at 8am this morning. Anyway, it did get me wondering about the correlation.
Being occupied is nice when you are having emotional problems. The brain doesn't have to think about the sad stuff and focuses on the task at hand.
This isn't a very organized blog. Um... I was thinking whether I deliberately make myself busy.
Then I thought more.
And more.
Oh... this is how it works: mind isn't focused on anything in particular, not even work, it's wandering around, and it takes longer to do everything... until things need to be done. I guess it's better to not be distressed.
Being occupied is nice when you are having emotional problems. The brain doesn't have to think about the sad stuff and focuses on the task at hand.
This isn't a very organized blog. Um... I was thinking whether I deliberately make myself busy.
Then I thought more.
And more.
Oh... this is how it works: mind isn't focused on anything in particular, not even work, it's wandering around, and it takes longer to do everything... until things need to be done. I guess it's better to not be distressed.
8/23/2006
I'm the chair.
I took this picture in May while in Michigan... I'm the chair. Sit on me, and you'll be alone looking out at sea too. Walk away, and you'll be back in the vacation house, looking out at the stationary me. Sigh...
Would love to type more about my current mood, but the irony of blogging kicks in. It's private, yet public. It's not exactly my tell-all personal email to my best friend...!
Would love to type more about my current mood, but the irony of blogging kicks in. It's private, yet public. It's not exactly my tell-all personal email to my best friend...!
8/18/2006
Asian Youtube
I have sort of a love hate relationship with Youtube, as you can see.
I think I blogged about this a while ago... silent library
I also blogged about 美女廚房 (Beautiful Cooking)... there's a lot of episodes here... I'm not sure which one I would recommend though.
Here's the Japanese version of Beautiful Cooking. The best part is at the end...
Why HK education is perverted.
I think I blogged about this a while ago... silent library
I also blogged about 美女廚房 (Beautiful Cooking)... there's a lot of episodes here... I'm not sure which one I would recommend though.
Here's the Japanese version of Beautiful Cooking. The best part is at the end...
Why HK education is perverted.
8/13/2006
8/12/2006
Awesome!
Cash game is pretty fun as well. This is my first time playing it seriously. The strategy is a bit different and the games, in my opinion, are a bit more challenging. You have to be much better at reading your opponents.
Winning money is cool, but this is awesome. I've been to all of them. How about you!?
Got at b3co.com!
Winning money is cool, but this is awesome. I've been to all of them. How about you!?
Got at b3co.com!
8/11/2006
Are you okay...?
The depends on the timing, really. Sometimes I feel great, sometimes I don't. Long term, of course I'll be okay! Meantime, just have to deal with emotional swings. Oh yes, the male sometimes isn't so different from the female. I told TGF that I am 90% logic and 10% emotion. The 10% creeps up every now and then... I can't really control it. Or can I?
Maybe use the logic? Oh, but I haven't got any basis for anything! Maybe use imagination? A very dangerous art (not act)... in fact, in the midst of anger and dispair, I wrote a pretty compelling piece of story; as I re-read my little piece, I was surprised at how far the mind can go when it lacks answer. I'm not sure if it was imagination or logic. Maybe both.
And you know what the ironic thing is? There are so many possibilities that whatever imagilogic comes up with is surely a thousand miles from the truth. I guess we all want to know why when sh!t happens... oh well.
I'll be okay... in the long term. (nope, I can't tell you what the long term or short term is)
=)
Maybe use the logic? Oh, but I haven't got any basis for anything! Maybe use imagination? A very dangerous art (not act)... in fact, in the midst of anger and dispair, I wrote a pretty compelling piece of story; as I re-read my little piece, I was surprised at how far the mind can go when it lacks answer. I'm not sure if it was imagination or logic. Maybe both.
And you know what the ironic thing is? There are so many possibilities that whatever imagilogic comes up with is surely a thousand miles from the truth. I guess we all want to know why when sh!t happens... oh well.
I'll be okay... in the long term. (nope, I can't tell you what the long term or short term is)
=)
8/08/2006
Alternative reviews!
Beautiful cooking - local HK TV game show invites beautiful stars to cook hard core chinese dishes. Wildly entertaining show. The guests are all male and they have a trash can behind them in case they need to puke. It's all very sexually degrading, but you can't deny that the premise is funny. The next step is the have HK male stars demonstrate how to fix up stuff around home. But... back to the gals. The "Iron Chef" lookalike is extremely well done with tricky ingredients; not so much because the ingredient itself (octopus, sea urchin, anything that is slimy and in general repulsive in live form), but because, as I said, they are all alive to begin with. The starlet has to grab the incredient while it's moving, kill it, and then cook it. One of the best moments was when an octopus latched on and refused to let go it its tenticles. Another is when ALL the guest stars had to puke upon one dish. There's a negative score too, so the poor gal got -110 (max is +120) score. Good times all around.
Death Note - Japanese comic about a kid who picked up a notebook from the Death World in which he can write names and kill people. He battles a detective who is determined to arrest this kid, who slowly thinks that he is god (not capitalized intentionally) and that his deeds will lead to a better world by killing criminals. Very underrated at first but quickly gained a cult following. I shall not spoil the ending for you (not that you'd ever read it)... but the comic does raise a very interesting point as to what is right and what is wrong. The kid who plays god against criminals that police cannot pin? Or the detective, a kid as well, clasically Japanese, who thinks the very act of not using the justice system is criminal? In the end, I think the author has a pretty clear view of who can play god. In fact, the author questions the authority of god and whether god can ever exist. Good comic book. There's a movie coming out as well; I wonder if we can show that movie at school or something.
Death Note - Japanese comic about a kid who picked up a notebook from the Death World in which he can write names and kill people. He battles a detective who is determined to arrest this kid, who slowly thinks that he is god (not capitalized intentionally) and that his deeds will lead to a better world by killing criminals. Very underrated at first but quickly gained a cult following. I shall not spoil the ending for you (not that you'd ever read it)... but the comic does raise a very interesting point as to what is right and what is wrong. The kid who plays god against criminals that police cannot pin? Or the detective, a kid as well, clasically Japanese, who thinks the very act of not using the justice system is criminal? In the end, I think the author has a pretty clear view of who can play god. In fact, the author questions the authority of god and whether god can ever exist. Good comic book. There's a movie coming out as well; I wonder if we can show that movie at school or something.
Distance
After my alone-lonely post, this is an interesting article.
In other news, I broke up with TGF. Last night was an interesting swing of emotions. Sometimes it felt very alone, looking inside myself; other times it was just plain lonely, not knowing whom I should talk with. I found the article quite fitting.
In other news, I broke up with TGF. Last night was an interesting swing of emotions. Sometimes it felt very alone, looking inside myself; other times it was just plain lonely, not knowing whom I should talk with. I found the article quite fitting.
8/07/2006
High Low
From my weekend trip
High: Heading to Shanghai!
Low: Dragon Air information on delayed flights...
High: None!
Low: Cancelled and delayed flights...
High: Shanghai!
Low: Hot...
High: Shanghai office!
Low: Shanghai office "offsite"...
High: Food!
Low: Price...
High: Internet access everywhere!
Low: Expensive Internet access everywhere!
High: Xintiandi! Park 97! RenJian!
Low: Same places next weekend... if I stayed...
High: Catch the Red Sox live on ESPN from my hotel!
Low: Javy Lopez grounds into DP with bases loaded with one out in the ninth...
Low2: Woke up at 8am to do so...
Low3: Woke up because phone ran out of batteries and charger needs a different plug for China...
Low4: Oh come on, it's not that bad...
An eventful weekend... not really given that its Shanghai and it should have been much more interesting.
High: Heading to Shanghai!
Low: Dragon Air information on delayed flights...
High: None!
Low: Cancelled and delayed flights...
High: Shanghai!
Low: Hot...
High: Shanghai office!
Low: Shanghai office "offsite"...
High: Food!
Low: Price...
High: Internet access everywhere!
Low: Expensive Internet access everywhere!
High: Xintiandi! Park 97! RenJian!
Low: Same places next weekend... if I stayed...
High: Catch the Red Sox live on ESPN from my hotel!
Low: Javy Lopez grounds into DP with bases loaded with one out in the ninth...
Low2: Woke up at 8am to do so...
Low3: Woke up because phone ran out of batteries and charger needs a different plug for China...
Low4: Oh come on, it's not that bad...
An eventful weekend... not really given that its Shanghai and it should have been much more interesting.
8/04/2006
Bathroom again!
Nah, just kidding. I noticed that the most comments were left on my bathroom posts. I want to talk about Lebanon instead.
Here's betting that nobody leaves a comment besides those who just want to spite me. hehe.
What is the "root cause" of the conflict, as the US and UK says and commend to eradicate? How's about going back way back when someone... um... US and UK... drew lines on a map of the Middle East and created the state known as Israel? Now... I'm a am a big fan of dealing with what is now, so I shall not go back to the root cause. But the irony is certainly not being touched by the mass media. Oh, while I'm at drawing maps: Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, etc were all drawn up.
As Spiderman's uncle once said, with great power, comes great responsibility. What the great power has done so far in his 6 years of governance is great responsibilities forgotten.
In asymmetric warfare (i.e. two sides of very different levels of capabilities), the smaller force has to find gaps to strike the bigger force. And because it cannot afford to line up troops on the same field and get run over, it has to attack where the larger force fears. Civilians, therefore, come into the line of fire. There is no justification for this, obviously, but as a smaller force in asymmetric warfare, they may not have much of a choice and will face defeat if they do not resort to these tactics. I am not defending organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah; merely stating an obvious that I learned from Fletcher a few years back.
On the other hand, the larger force has to eliminate where the small force can inflict damage. That means pushing back Hezbollah from the borders. Airstrikes are very much necessary. Facing a almost guerilla enemy, blanket bombarding might be a viable tactic that will cost little in terms of military lives. Then again, I'm not defending the IDF.
What happens is naturally both sides have civilian casualties. One incident has stood out so far: the bombing of a Qana village in which many villagers seeking shelter were killed in an airstrike. I don't want to get into whether Israel was justified to do what it did... but consider this: what if this happened in Israel? A Hezbollah rocket hits a building with Israel civilians, killing many including children.
What would the great power with great responsibility do?
What hurts me most is that we claim to be civilized and with values that terrorists are trying to defeat, we sometimes employ terrorist tactics and mentalities: that it's okay to bomb them because we're defending ourselves. True, perhaps... but the enemy is thinking the same thing. In order to defend themselves (a.k.a. poverty, says Colin Powell), terrorists need to make potential recruits believe that they need to join a terrorist organization. Every time the great powers act in favor of Israel (or anything against the Islam world), it is fuel for the terrorist.
Please use the great power for greater responsibility.
Here's betting that nobody leaves a comment besides those who just want to spite me. hehe.
What is the "root cause" of the conflict, as the US and UK says and commend to eradicate? How's about going back way back when someone... um... US and UK... drew lines on a map of the Middle East and created the state known as Israel? Now... I'm a am a big fan of dealing with what is now, so I shall not go back to the root cause. But the irony is certainly not being touched by the mass media. Oh, while I'm at drawing maps: Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, etc were all drawn up.
As Spiderman's uncle once said, with great power, comes great responsibility. What the great power has done so far in his 6 years of governance is great responsibilities forgotten.
In asymmetric warfare (i.e. two sides of very different levels of capabilities), the smaller force has to find gaps to strike the bigger force. And because it cannot afford to line up troops on the same field and get run over, it has to attack where the larger force fears. Civilians, therefore, come into the line of fire. There is no justification for this, obviously, but as a smaller force in asymmetric warfare, they may not have much of a choice and will face defeat if they do not resort to these tactics. I am not defending organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah; merely stating an obvious that I learned from Fletcher a few years back.
On the other hand, the larger force has to eliminate where the small force can inflict damage. That means pushing back Hezbollah from the borders. Airstrikes are very much necessary. Facing a almost guerilla enemy, blanket bombarding might be a viable tactic that will cost little in terms of military lives. Then again, I'm not defending the IDF.
What happens is naturally both sides have civilian casualties. One incident has stood out so far: the bombing of a Qana village in which many villagers seeking shelter were killed in an airstrike. I don't want to get into whether Israel was justified to do what it did... but consider this: what if this happened in Israel? A Hezbollah rocket hits a building with Israel civilians, killing many including children.
What would the great power with great responsibility do?
What hurts me most is that we claim to be civilized and with values that terrorists are trying to defeat, we sometimes employ terrorist tactics and mentalities: that it's okay to bomb them because we're defending ourselves. True, perhaps... but the enemy is thinking the same thing. In order to defend themselves (a.k.a. poverty, says Colin Powell), terrorists need to make potential recruits believe that they need to join a terrorist organization. Every time the great powers act in favor of Israel (or anything against the Islam world), it is fuel for the terrorist.
Please use the great power for greater responsibility.
7/30/2006
Donnie Darko and Guns, Germs, and Steel
Donnie Darko - fascinating movie. I liked it. Can't really recommend it though, since the movie would only suite those with the taste for sci fi. You can, however, see Jake Gyllenhaal of Brokeback fame in his first starting role (I believe). Destined to be a good actor, for sure. He's younger than me.
Guns, Germs, and Steel - I'm into Part 2, and it's a really really really good book. So far, I would rate it above the much more heralded Freakenomics. To be honest, I'm very intrigued by the assertions in the book... especially the preface about very "backward" people learning new technologies with relative ease. (i.e. anybody can do my job)
My life is being rocked these few days.
Guns, Germs, and Steel - I'm into Part 2, and it's a really really really good book. So far, I would rate it above the much more heralded Freakenomics. To be honest, I'm very intrigued by the assertions in the book... especially the preface about very "backward" people learning new technologies with relative ease. (i.e. anybody can do my job)
My life is being rocked these few days.
7/29/2006
Alone vs. Lonely
I usually feel alone every now and then. Lately I've been feeling more lonely.
Feeling alone, to me, is a good thing. Time to look inside and see what is going on. Evaluate what's going on. Ask yourself questions. Wonder about the world. Care about the people you love. Think about life. Or just relax. It depends on the current mood. I control the moment. That's alone.
When the moment controls me, that's lonely. And I suddenly feel lonely. Last night and today.
This picture was taken in Limerick, Ireland. It is a tiny piece of sculpture stuck on the outside wall of the museum. If I hadn't looked out the window (due to bad ventilation - I needed some fresh air), I wouldn't have found him.
He. is. alone. Or so I think.
Feeling alone, to me, is a good thing. Time to look inside and see what is going on. Evaluate what's going on. Ask yourself questions. Wonder about the world. Care about the people you love. Think about life. Or just relax. It depends on the current mood. I control the moment. That's alone.
When the moment controls me, that's lonely. And I suddenly feel lonely. Last night and today.
This picture was taken in Limerick, Ireland. It is a tiny piece of sculpture stuck on the outside wall of the museum. If I hadn't looked out the window (due to bad ventilation - I needed some fresh air), I wouldn't have found him.
He. is. alone. Or so I think.
7/23/2006
Peaking... when!?
Interesting article thanks to the dirty canuck... I wonder if the same applies to businesses that require creativity.
7/22/2006
Signs
Anyone seen the movie Signs, starring Mel Gibson and director M. Night Shyamalan (and the always under-appreciated Jaoquin Phoenix)? There are signs around me these days as July 23rd rolls around.
I dream a dream... I can't remember the details, but at some point I was hanging off some barb wire on some building. On the other end was Alan. I wasn't strong enough to hold on to him. I wasn't upset when I woke up or anything. It was a bit weird though.
Friday night went to Chris Poon and Vivian Tsang's wedding. After the wedding, I went to a club to meet up with some friends. There I met Francis, one of Alan's best friends at CMU. He told me he got kicked out of school and is now studying to finish his degree elsewhere. And he commented that Alan would have probably been kicked out too. =)
Saturday, I went to play ball with friends. It's more like helping my friend set up a basketball tournament business. Not sure if it's going to work. The logo certainly doesn't (don't ask, I don't know). But the business has potential. Anyway, at the court were a couple of Alan's classmate, one of them who used to be pretty good friends with Alan.
Signs. They are everywhere when you look for them. And they are nowhere when you are not. And they are everywhere when you try to avoid them.
I dream a dream... I can't remember the details, but at some point I was hanging off some barb wire on some building. On the other end was Alan. I wasn't strong enough to hold on to him. I wasn't upset when I woke up or anything. It was a bit weird though.
Friday night went to Chris Poon and Vivian Tsang's wedding. After the wedding, I went to a club to meet up with some friends. There I met Francis, one of Alan's best friends at CMU. He told me he got kicked out of school and is now studying to finish his degree elsewhere. And he commented that Alan would have probably been kicked out too. =)
Saturday, I went to play ball with friends. It's more like helping my friend set up a basketball tournament business. Not sure if it's going to work. The logo certainly doesn't (don't ask, I don't know). But the business has potential. Anyway, at the court were a couple of Alan's classmate, one of them who used to be pretty good friends with Alan.
Signs. They are everywhere when you look for them. And they are nowhere when you are not. And they are everywhere when you try to avoid them.
7/17/2006
More bathroom
Don't worry, Huckle Cat, this isn't another I poop you poop entry... but still pretty entertaining.
So, I was having dinner with my friend V at this Mexican restaurant in Central. Tacoloco was the ultra creative name. Food was pretty good - I had a Chili Verde Chicken buritto. The fresh lime juice was good until the last two sips - too much sugar left in the bottom.
Anyway, the key is the bathroom. V was answering a phone call, so I took the opportunity to use the bathroom. Typical small toilet door in Hong Kong. But this one was different. It didn't open all the way, cus the washing basin was in its way. Me being larger than most Hong Kong men, I had to slip into the bathroom sideways. Then the difficulty begins... I need to turn the other way sidways so I can close the door behind me. And so I did. The next thing I can't even put in words... but I will:
I fit myself into the... um... corner. There was no space really. My shoulders barely squeezed by the walls on both sides, I hit the washing basin on my back. By tilting a bit, I avoided the walls on both sides and was able to take good aim. Getting out of the bathroom was everything in reverse... turning the other way to slip through the door. What an experience.
TMI? I think not.
So, I was having dinner with my friend V at this Mexican restaurant in Central. Tacoloco was the ultra creative name. Food was pretty good - I had a Chili Verde Chicken buritto. The fresh lime juice was good until the last two sips - too much sugar left in the bottom.
Anyway, the key is the bathroom. V was answering a phone call, so I took the opportunity to use the bathroom. Typical small toilet door in Hong Kong. But this one was different. It didn't open all the way, cus the washing basin was in its way. Me being larger than most Hong Kong men, I had to slip into the bathroom sideways. Then the difficulty begins... I need to turn the other way sidways so I can close the door behind me. And so I did. The next thing I can't even put in words... but I will:
I fit myself into the... um... corner. There was no space really. My shoulders barely squeezed by the walls on both sides, I hit the washing basin on my back. By tilting a bit, I avoided the walls on both sides and was able to take good aim. Getting out of the bathroom was everything in reverse... turning the other way to slip through the door. What an experience.
TMI? I think not.
7/16/2006
Good and Movie
Woohoo, a review!
Kiku (贺菊) in Landmark. Very good Japanese sushi place. We (Kaleen and I) had toro sushi so good that we thought it was beef tartar sushi. Also had thin sliced beef: the US imported beef was half the price of the Japanese import. It was pretty good, which made me quite intrigue at the difference between the two products given the price gap! Would recommend to go back there for Japanese food.
Apparently, we were sitting beside the richest family in Macau. I had no idea who they were, except that they were quite rude and classless. Thankfully, Kaleen recognized their faces.
Food in Hong Kong is awesome. We paid a price for the nice meal... but my lunch was a $1.5 noodle (沾仔记) that was also very good! I'm going to be a sad man when I go back to Chicago.
Saw Superman Returns after the meal. TGF says it's 行货. Boring. Don't go see it.
Kiku (贺菊) in Landmark. Very good Japanese sushi place. We (Kaleen and I) had toro sushi so good that we thought it was beef tartar sushi. Also had thin sliced beef: the US imported beef was half the price of the Japanese import. It was pretty good, which made me quite intrigue at the difference between the two products given the price gap! Would recommend to go back there for Japanese food.
Apparently, we were sitting beside the richest family in Macau. I had no idea who they were, except that they were quite rude and classless. Thankfully, Kaleen recognized their faces.
Food in Hong Kong is awesome. We paid a price for the nice meal... but my lunch was a $1.5 noodle (沾仔记) that was also very good! I'm going to be a sad man when I go back to Chicago.
Saw Superman Returns after the meal. TGF says it's 行货. Boring. Don't go see it.
7/15/2006
And another week gone by
I'm trying to comapre whether the GSB went by faster or the summer internship went by faster. I'm leaning towards to internship right now. I've been really busy and always find myself behind on personal (read: conference) stuff.
Blogging while working is not nearly as interesting. Nonetheless:
The keyboard situation is really frustrating. I use the standard Lenovo laptop at work. I use a Dell at home. At work, the F1 button is below the ESC button; At home, they are next to each other. This is VERY annoying because I keep accidentally hit the F1 (Help menu) button while at work. At home, Ctrl is right below the Shift button; at work, the Fn button is below the Shift and Ctrl is beside that. All the Ctrl+C/V/etc is delayed at work as I struggle to hit the right button. Ah, all those little things. With any luck (and PC), I will purchase a new computer to replace my 3 year old Dell soon.
I'll be having my midterm review soon. To be honest, I've been trying to gauge how I am doing and I really have no idea. The biggest question is that I don't know what the expectation for the summer intern is. Do they expect us to contribute like a new or fairly new consultant would? Or are they doing a personality and basic ability test? I don't know, so I can measure myself. Will seek help next week by talking to other consultants in the office.
I went to karaoke with my colleagues last night. All the way till 4am. I'm not 21 anymore, I know, I know... but hey, it was still fun!
Blogging while working is not nearly as interesting. Nonetheless:
The keyboard situation is really frustrating. I use the standard Lenovo laptop at work. I use a Dell at home. At work, the F1 button is below the ESC button; At home, they are next to each other. This is VERY annoying because I keep accidentally hit the F1 (Help menu) button while at work. At home, Ctrl is right below the Shift button; at work, the Fn button is below the Shift and Ctrl is beside that. All the Ctrl+C/V/etc is delayed at work as I struggle to hit the right button. Ah, all those little things. With any luck (and PC), I will purchase a new computer to replace my 3 year old Dell soon.
I'll be having my midterm review soon. To be honest, I've been trying to gauge how I am doing and I really have no idea. The biggest question is that I don't know what the expectation for the summer intern is. Do they expect us to contribute like a new or fairly new consultant would? Or are they doing a personality and basic ability test? I don't know, so I can measure myself. Will seek help next week by talking to other consultants in the office.
I went to karaoke with my colleagues last night. All the way till 4am. I'm not 21 anymore, I know, I know... but hey, it was still fun!
7/12/2006
You poop, I poop.
How weird is it that I bump into the same person in the bathroom 4 times in a day!?!? I finish my business and he walks in while I'm washing my hands. That happened 3 times. The forth was as I walked out of the stall... he enteres the adjacent stall!
We have the same peeing and pooping schedule, which is quite amazing...!
Anyway, it's quite busy at work. My case is about to end this week (yes, I've been here for about 3 weeks), and we'll see if it rolls - consultant jargon for continuing a case.
But I had to mention the poop schedule.
We have the same peeing and pooping schedule, which is quite amazing...!
Anyway, it's quite busy at work. My case is about to end this week (yes, I've been here for about 3 weeks), and we'll see if it rolls - consultant jargon for continuing a case.
But I had to mention the poop schedule.
7/10/2006
How to fix the world cup...
Actually, here's why I like watching the world cup more than any other sporting event.
1. Flow. Any sports game is most fun to watch when there is flow. One team attacks, attacks, attacks, looses the ball, back on defense, defense, defense. No annoying TV time outs, no instant replays, no TV ads in between CRUCIAL moments in the game... just a game that is free flowing according to the players. I love it that way. Why can't the NBA be like that? We shouldn't have to go through 15 minutes of ads for 1 minute of playing time, watching teams shoot free throws after free throws.
2. Passion. I'm watching the games in Hong Kong, where groups of strangers congregate in empty shopping malls (it is, after all, 3 am in the morning when the games start) and cheer for their respective teams. Nuff said.
3. Worldly. Of course the Red Sox can claim themselves as World Champions when teams from only one country (okay, we'll count Canada as a second one) can compete. Makes perfect sense. Hong Kong has no respectable football team; but that doesn't stop us from liking the sport. Aside from America, the sport is loved by all.
4. Simple. Goal in net. That's all. Otherwise, the most complicated rule is offsides, which I learned when I was 6 watching a Japanese comic.
Anyway... it hurts to see the 2006 World Cup be marred by inconsistent refereeing, boring PK shootouts (still nerve wrecking though), and constant diving. Here's how I would fix them... actually, just the last two points. I can't fix refs.
Diving: everytime a player goes down, the player has to be moved to the sidelines and then wait for 2 minutes (I'd prefer 5). Sort of like a penalty box for the injured. If you are truly injured, 2 minutes is good for recovery. If not, you stand there and wait. This should eliminate some diving. Other new rules I would consider:
a. you can only roll over 3 times (if you've witnessed Argentine players roll over 8 times after they are tackled, you'll know what I mean)
b. no holding your face and smiling under your hands (Italian specialty)
c. no stretcher - players have to carry their sweaty teammates out themselves.
As for PK shootouts, here's why it needs to be eliminated. Generally in sports, you want the best team to win. In PK, it's a coin flip (unless it's the English squad...). I want to know which team is the best team, not which won the coin flip. How to fix it? I don't know. Keep adding to OT while allowing one extra substtution? Make them play only seven players with free substitutions?
Alright. I'm officially intrigued now... but, before I go, I just want to point out that a pair of Chinese ladies have captured their second grand slam title (Australia and Wimbledon). It barely held any weight in even the Hong Kong news as World Cup craziness was on the same night. A big big step for Chinese tennis.
1. Flow. Any sports game is most fun to watch when there is flow. One team attacks, attacks, attacks, looses the ball, back on defense, defense, defense. No annoying TV time outs, no instant replays, no TV ads in between CRUCIAL moments in the game... just a game that is free flowing according to the players. I love it that way. Why can't the NBA be like that? We shouldn't have to go through 15 minutes of ads for 1 minute of playing time, watching teams shoot free throws after free throws.
2. Passion. I'm watching the games in Hong Kong, where groups of strangers congregate in empty shopping malls (it is, after all, 3 am in the morning when the games start) and cheer for their respective teams. Nuff said.
3. Worldly. Of course the Red Sox can claim themselves as World Champions when teams from only one country (okay, we'll count Canada as a second one) can compete. Makes perfect sense. Hong Kong has no respectable football team; but that doesn't stop us from liking the sport. Aside from America, the sport is loved by all.
4. Simple. Goal in net. That's all. Otherwise, the most complicated rule is offsides, which I learned when I was 6 watching a Japanese comic.
Anyway... it hurts to see the 2006 World Cup be marred by inconsistent refereeing, boring PK shootouts (still nerve wrecking though), and constant diving. Here's how I would fix them... actually, just the last two points. I can't fix refs.
Diving: everytime a player goes down, the player has to be moved to the sidelines and then wait for 2 minutes (I'd prefer 5). Sort of like a penalty box for the injured. If you are truly injured, 2 minutes is good for recovery. If not, you stand there and wait. This should eliminate some diving. Other new rules I would consider:
a. you can only roll over 3 times (if you've witnessed Argentine players roll over 8 times after they are tackled, you'll know what I mean)
b. no holding your face and smiling under your hands (Italian specialty)
c. no stretcher - players have to carry their sweaty teammates out themselves.
As for PK shootouts, here's why it needs to be eliminated. Generally in sports, you want the best team to win. In PK, it's a coin flip (unless it's the English squad...). I want to know which team is the best team, not which won the coin flip. How to fix it? I don't know. Keep adding to OT while allowing one extra substtution? Make them play only seven players with free substitutions?
Alright. I'm officially intrigued now... but, before I go, I just want to point out that a pair of Chinese ladies have captured their second grand slam title (Australia and Wimbledon). It barely held any weight in even the Hong Kong news as World Cup craziness was on the same night. A big big step for Chinese tennis.
7/08/2006
Boring entry...?
I'm sure you've heard about the Pepsi Coke secret debacle. Here's one look at it from the economists' (read: U of Chicago) point of view. Couldn't agree more.
Anyway, a little recap of my week. It’s been relatively busy at work, mostly because I’m trying to catch up to my team rather than piles of work or real urgency. Anyway, I made my first presentation to the client on Friday. It went smooth, though there were a few points I could improve on. I did feel like I was auditing for my own job… and that feeling was scary.
Anyway, a little recap of my week. It’s been relatively busy at work, mostly because I’m trying to catch up to my team rather than piles of work or real urgency. Anyway, I made my first presentation to the client on Friday. It went smooth, though there were a few points I could improve on. I did feel like I was auditing for my own job… and that feeling was scary.
7/07/2006
Picture from Ireland... and more
This is an interesting look at India. Amazing stuff.
Picture from Ireland... this is Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland. I have yet to update my website on my trip though. Life is quite busy...!
World Cup Baby!
Picture from Ireland... this is Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Ireland. I have yet to update my website on my trip though. Life is quite busy...!
World Cup Baby!
7/04/2006
PC...
Pay Check, mind you, not politically correct.
So what did I do with my first pay check in one year? Use it all on one item! Oh yes, you heard me. I bought my dad his TV just in time for world cup finals. Cost me a bit more than my first PC! haha! Well, not quite, since there's interest free monthly payments. Feels good to spend money on big ticket items though, even though it wasn't for myself. Compared to its predecessor, the 50-inch baby is almost twice as big and infinitely better. It'll be serving dad this weekend. And hopefully me too. hehe.
Can't wait till my second PC!
So what did I do with my first pay check in one year? Use it all on one item! Oh yes, you heard me. I bought my dad his TV just in time for world cup finals. Cost me a bit more than my first PC! haha! Well, not quite, since there's interest free monthly payments. Feels good to spend money on big ticket items though, even though it wasn't for myself. Compared to its predecessor, the 50-inch baby is almost twice as big and infinitely better. It'll be serving dad this weekend. And hopefully me too. hehe.
Can't wait till my second PC!
7/02/2006
6/28/2006
This feels like...
My second day in Hong Kong...
7:30 - I'm up due to jet lag... at least they are playing some good plays from the world cup
8:00 - complimentary breakfast at corporate apartments
8:50 - leave apartment
9:00 - arrive at Bain office and start filling in forms for corporate card
9:15 - powerpoint training starts
9:16 - wow, this is mind blowing... and to put this into a little bit of context, the CEO at my former employer used to ask me to man the laptop when it was in the final edit phase. I was quick and I was accurate with powerpoint, rarely using the mouse and always knowing all the shortcuts. And this training at Bain is completely blowing my mind.
9:25 - I'm still being amazed!
11:00 - Excel training now... haha, now it's my domain. I went out to do something more useful, such as setting up my voice mail and getting my cell phone set up
12:30 - Lunch on Bain. DIM SUM, finally!
1:30 - More training...
3:00 - Manager explains all the potential projects, ending with "I can't tell you what you are working on until tomorrow because I am really busy and I can't meet with you one on one"
3:10 - I start looking at prior cases just in case...
5:00 - Time to go home!! SWEET!!
7:00 - Arrive at parent's to have dinner
7:30 - Reading my family tree... which my dad retrieved from some temple up in China. I'm the 25th generation. Every step of me was retraced! The first Lam was a provincial official sent to 福建 (FuJian) in 宋朝 (Song Dynasty) in about 960 to 1279 AD.
10:30 - Leave home to go home... so weird, yet so normal
11:00 - World Cup!
And... this feels like home.
7:30 - I'm up due to jet lag... at least they are playing some good plays from the world cup
8:00 - complimentary breakfast at corporate apartments
8:50 - leave apartment
9:00 - arrive at Bain office and start filling in forms for corporate card
9:15 - powerpoint training starts
9:16 - wow, this is mind blowing... and to put this into a little bit of context, the CEO at my former employer used to ask me to man the laptop when it was in the final edit phase. I was quick and I was accurate with powerpoint, rarely using the mouse and always knowing all the shortcuts. And this training at Bain is completely blowing my mind.
9:25 - I'm still being amazed!
11:00 - Excel training now... haha, now it's my domain. I went out to do something more useful, such as setting up my voice mail and getting my cell phone set up
12:30 - Lunch on Bain. DIM SUM, finally!
1:30 - More training...
3:00 - Manager explains all the potential projects, ending with "I can't tell you what you are working on until tomorrow because I am really busy and I can't meet with you one on one"
3:10 - I start looking at prior cases just in case...
5:00 - Time to go home!! SWEET!!
7:00 - Arrive at parent's to have dinner
7:30 - Reading my family tree... which my dad retrieved from some temple up in China. I'm the 25th generation. Every step of me was retraced! The first Lam was a provincial official sent to 福建 (FuJian) in 宋朝 (Song Dynasty) in about 960 to 1279 AD.
10:30 - Leave home to go home... so weird, yet so normal
11:00 - World Cup!
And... this feels like home.
6/24/2006
Off to Hong Kong
Bain's training ended with a blast yesterday. How much did I learn from 2 days of training... a lot, perhaps, but I don't think what I learned will stick around. One thing I did learn that will last: Bainies are a great bunch to be around. It's sort of like the start of business school, when I meet amazing people after amazing people... only this time they are all nice. Bain seemed to have filtered out all the nice people. How do you even do that!?
Anyway, it's 4 in the morning right now, and with a bit of nervousness and excitement, I'm off to Hong Kong. It'll be about 20 hours of travel and I will arrive in HK at about Sunday 10pm, 10 hours before I have to be at the office. Yes, Bain is already testing whether I can withstand cross-pacific travel.
With my name tag saying Eric Lam, Hong Kong, U of Chicago, fellow Bainies are invariably interested on whether I intend to stay in Hong Kong. Not so fast, I say, let's see how that fulltime offer comes along. All kidding aside, I did start to wonder what I am trying to accomplish this summer. The answer I finally got was surprisingly profound. True, Bain seems like a great opportunity and I will evaluate it as much as it evaluates me... but even more true is this: I'm trying to figure out WHERE IS HOME.
Let me just repeat that for emphasis: where is home. I had said that without much thinking at a bar event. And it has struck me and stuck with me. While most people are trying to find out whether they are made for consulting, I'm trying to evaluate my life. Where is home for you? I bet most people have one or two solid answers. Me? Not quite. Hong Kong? Haven't lived there for 11 years. Boston? Fun for undergraduate, fun for working... but the complacency I feel there always kills me. Chicago? No yellow food. West Coast? Sounds good, but I've never lived there. America? China? I mean, I just realized at a bar that the summer is a HUGE process for me. Who does this kind of thing at a bar? Well, me.
And with that, I'm off to Hong Kong for my Bain summer internship, trying to find out if consulting is right, if Bain is right, if family is right, and... if Hong Kong is right for my life.
Anyway, it's 4 in the morning right now, and with a bit of nervousness and excitement, I'm off to Hong Kong. It'll be about 20 hours of travel and I will arrive in HK at about Sunday 10pm, 10 hours before I have to be at the office. Yes, Bain is already testing whether I can withstand cross-pacific travel.
With my name tag saying Eric Lam, Hong Kong, U of Chicago, fellow Bainies are invariably interested on whether I intend to stay in Hong Kong. Not so fast, I say, let's see how that fulltime offer comes along. All kidding aside, I did start to wonder what I am trying to accomplish this summer. The answer I finally got was surprisingly profound. True, Bain seems like a great opportunity and I will evaluate it as much as it evaluates me... but even more true is this: I'm trying to figure out WHERE IS HOME.
Let me just repeat that for emphasis: where is home. I had said that without much thinking at a bar event. And it has struck me and stuck with me. While most people are trying to find out whether they are made for consulting, I'm trying to evaluate my life. Where is home for you? I bet most people have one or two solid answers. Me? Not quite. Hong Kong? Haven't lived there for 11 years. Boston? Fun for undergraduate, fun for working... but the complacency I feel there always kills me. Chicago? No yellow food. West Coast? Sounds good, but I've never lived there. America? China? I mean, I just realized at a bar that the summer is a HUGE process for me. Who does this kind of thing at a bar? Well, me.
And with that, I'm off to Hong Kong for my Bain summer internship, trying to find out if consulting is right, if Bain is right, if family is right, and... if Hong Kong is right for my life.
6/21/2006
Starting... finally!
Today, I will start at Bain in Boston... that's where their training is. I'll be flying back to Hong Kong on the weekend and report to the office Monday first thing in the morning. Exciting indeed.
Bain Hong Kong. My top choice firm, my top choice location. I wonder to myself why I got so lucky in the process... and I do actually have an answer for you. It has something to do with the dollar bill showing the twin towers on fire, or that 9+1+1 = something related to the flight numbers.
Bain's Address? 233 S Wacker
My Address? 233 E Wacker
Bain's floor? 44
My floor? 44
Bain's fleece jacket? Landsend, bright red, black zipper
My fleece jacket? Landsend, bright red, black zipper
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and so I start. Finally.
By the way... I watched a bunch of movies on the plane:
King Kong: one benefit of seeing movies on the plan is that they are "edited to suit viewers on the plane" (or something like that). That means two things: no swearing and shorter. So glad I saw the short version of Kong. Boring. I can't believe someone paid $10 to sit in a theater for this crap.
Wimbledon: Laugh all you want... here's my defense... I literally watched it on someone else's screen when I was watching Kong myself. I still don't like Kristen Dunst. Nobody can convince me otherwise.
Firewall: what a dumb movie. Harrison... your time is up. I hope they make Star Wars: Han Solo's Greatest Moments.
Forth movie: I can't remember it... which means I should and then tell you so you don't see it.
Bain Hong Kong. My top choice firm, my top choice location. I wonder to myself why I got so lucky in the process... and I do actually have an answer for you. It has something to do with the dollar bill showing the twin towers on fire, or that 9+1+1 = something related to the flight numbers.
Bain's Address? 233 S Wacker
My Address? 233 E Wacker
Bain's floor? 44
My floor? 44
Bain's fleece jacket? Landsend, bright red, black zipper
My fleece jacket? Landsend, bright red, black zipper
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... and so I start. Finally.
By the way... I watched a bunch of movies on the plane:
King Kong: one benefit of seeing movies on the plan is that they are "edited to suit viewers on the plane" (or something like that). That means two things: no swearing and shorter. So glad I saw the short version of Kong. Boring. I can't believe someone paid $10 to sit in a theater for this crap.
Wimbledon: Laugh all you want... here's my defense... I literally watched it on someone else's screen when I was watching Kong myself. I still don't like Kristen Dunst. Nobody can convince me otherwise.
Firewall: what a dumb movie. Harrison... your time is up. I hope they make Star Wars: Han Solo's Greatest Moments.
Forth movie: I can't remember it... which means I should and then tell you so you don't see it.
6/20/2006
Nostalgic in Boston
Arrived in Boston Sunday afternoon. Since touchdown, it's been pretty nostalgic... starting with me remembering how much I hated the "T".
Sunday night was dinner at Shanghai Gate... I MISS YELLOW FOOD!
Monday morning, I was reminded again how much I hate the "T"... the crowd on the "T" wasn't crazy or anything, but there were certain points that I was looking for an escape route.
I spent some time back at Analysis Group. Actually, I spent the whole afternoon there. Lunch was, predictably, at the food court. I continued to boycott (Melman will be proud) the Indian place for their complicated pricing. I settled on rotisserie chicken. The lunchroom had the World Cup games on. Sweet.
I made my rounds at AG, talking to most people rather than just a simple hi. I didn't realize how much I missed people at AG. Just a wonderful bunch to be around at any time. We talked about my year at Chicago (AG just opened an office there), my summer plans, how the company is doing, how some analysts are heading to different MBA schools, how some are preparing for GMATs... very nostalgic. I left at 7pm!
Dinner at OSushi... not even close to Oiishi... but... I MISS YELLOW FOOD!
Sunday night was dinner at Shanghai Gate... I MISS YELLOW FOOD!
Monday morning, I was reminded again how much I hate the "T"... the crowd on the "T" wasn't crazy or anything, but there were certain points that I was looking for an escape route.
I spent some time back at Analysis Group. Actually, I spent the whole afternoon there. Lunch was, predictably, at the food court. I continued to boycott (Melman will be proud) the Indian place for their complicated pricing. I settled on rotisserie chicken. The lunchroom had the World Cup games on. Sweet.
I made my rounds at AG, talking to most people rather than just a simple hi. I didn't realize how much I missed people at AG. Just a wonderful bunch to be around at any time. We talked about my year at Chicago (AG just opened an office there), my summer plans, how the company is doing, how some analysts are heading to different MBA schools, how some are preparing for GMATs... very nostalgic. I left at 7pm!
Dinner at OSushi... not even close to Oiishi... but... I MISS YELLOW FOOD!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)