Illinois MBA Student Life

Canadian Leadership...

2010-08-02T14:30:00.013-05:00

In May, I was one of 23 students to attend the Tefler School of Management Canadian Leadership Orientation Program in Montreal and Ottawa, Canada.

Through this program, I met with Canadian business professors, politicians, and corporate executives. This experience provided invaluable, first-hand exposure to Canada's economic, industrial, and financial market structures, and helped me become more informed about North American free trade practices. Aside from business, I had a great time as a tourist in Canada as this trip beat any of my expectations. I spent a week in the country prior to the program enjoying the sights: white water rafting, touring Montreal by bicycle, and receiving a personal tour of the Canadian Parliament building. Canada has so much to offer. This was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend a trip to Canada.

By Kyle Pietila, Illinois MBA Class of 2011

MBA2 Internship Update

2010-06-30T15:39:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone!

Many of our students are spending their summer completing their summer internships across the United States and locally. Find out more about their summer internship experiences here.

Matt Lesh – Sales Intern, Cooper Industries

Hey everyone!

I'm working as a sales intern for Cooper Industries – B-Line Division in Highland, Ill. My primary project for the summer is to produce a sales conversion manual for the Cooper sales team. The sales conversion manual will help sales managers accurately identify and execute customer product line conversions from our competitors to Cooper products. As part of my research, I am traveling with Regional Sales Managers throughout the Midwest and Gulf Coast in order to observe and document current sales conversions methods. I am residing in St. Louis for the summer as well. In my free time I have visited many St. Louis attractions including Anheuser-Busch, Busch Stadium, St. Louis Zoo, museums, restaurants, and bars. I look forward to seeing you all in the fall and hope you all have a great summer!

--Matt
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Michael Boryca – Intern, Ford Motor Company

I did a bit of research as far as living arrangements, and found a nice complex out in Euclid,Ohio, which is about a 30-minute drive to and fro, but the plus side is that it’s right on Lake Erie, so I am enjoying the whole “on the water” arrangement.

I’m involved in putting together a preventive maintenance process for the automation tooling used on the press lines, which stamp sheet steel for auto body parts – mostly the Econoline van at this plant. The ultimate goal is to decrease downtime in the long-run due to tooling breakage and set-up. It makes for pretty good work, with the best part being the autonomy I have to go about it as I see fit; while the facet I like least is quite simply the noise of the stamping plant – it wears on a person a bit.

Aside from wandering around a stamping plant during work hours, there’s plenty to do in the area. I’ve found the Warehouse District to be the most entertaining part of Cleveland with a pretty good assortment of restaurants, bars, and the like, so I tend to pass the time relaxing at various locales. One of the most interesting things I’ve done was the 409 and Gasser reunion at the local drag strip. There’s also a 50s-themed diner in Mentor – which isn’t too far from where I live – that makes for a good Saturday morning stop. There is a very good Blues scene in Cleveland, and wherever someone’s playing makes for a good place to grab a drink.

All in all, it’s a slick position, and the most beneficial thing I’ve found outside work is just to get to know the area. There is a lot to do and not enough time to do it all. See you all in the fall!

--Mike
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Anthony Stedillie – Capital Broker

Hello future and present MBA-ers!

This summer I am working as a Capital Broker and raising money for two private firms in Denver, Colo. I’m also working for an animation studio trying to produce a feature-length animation. My bosses are the CEOs of the companies and the producer/director of the film. Each project requires me to collaborate with and advise clients on their business plan, financial analysis, funding and investor strategies, and investor proposals/presentations. My experiences in Illinos Business Consulting (IBC) gave me a solid foundation in how to develop ideas and recommendations and how to present them. I work between home and a shared office space, where meetings and presentations are held. I'm living with my parents to save money and for the peaceful and quiet environment of the country. My favorite thing about this job is that I get to directly advise the CEOs of companies. My least favorite part of the job does not exist, because I like it all.

Because my job allows me so much freedom, some of the most exciting things I have done are traveling across the country and four-wheeling, camping, and cliff-diving in Moab, Utah. My all-time favorite restaurant is 21 Oceanfront and it just happens to be in Newport Beach, Calif., but my favorite Denver restaurant is Tables.

My favorite quote: "Sometimes life's greatest accomplishments happen when you're on the brink of failure." – Anonymous

That’s all for now – enjoy summer, school will be back before you know it!

--Anthony

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Alan Auyeung – Intern, 004 Technologies USA

Hi All! Lucky me – I got an internship in amazing Champaign. I decided to rent a room in a house with other MBA classmates, and we are having a blast!

My summer project covers a lot, including PR/Media, marketing research, and business development. 004 Technologies is a start-up; it's exciting because everything is new. Being in a small office, even though you are an intern, you play a big role in the team. However, the office is a little bit bare bones at the moment – but that will change as the business grows and matures. My favorite parts of the job are the flexibility and the relaxed atmosphere.

When I’m not at the office, the roomies and I like to grill out, and I’ve also taken up salsa dancing. My favorite restaurant in Champaign is the Golden Harbor on Neil St., and I enjoy a cold drink at the Blind Pig Brewery. I haven’t had any crazy experiences this summer – yet. But, since its only June, I am still planning on doing SOMETHING adventurous. I hope you are all having fun this summer and making lots of friends…look forward to meeting you in the fall.

--Alan
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Eric Reside – Project Management Intern, Volition, Inc.

Hey Team MBA! I am working this summer as an intern at Volition in Champaign. The office is above Jim Gould's and Kofusion. I decided to stay in the same off-campus apartment that I live in during the school year – Capstone Quarters.

I am currently working with the Project Management team for an unannounced video game. I handle a variety of tasks including workload balancing, PTO scheduling, and mid-level planning. My team is incredibly laid back and casual. Volition is a very young company with the average age of the employees in the mid-30s. So far my favorite part of the job has been the casual atmosphere and the fact that no one takes them self too seriously.

To be honest, I would have preferred to be in the Chicago area for the summer, but living in Champaign is much less expensive – and there is still a lot to do. When I’m not at work, I mainly hang out with friends that are also down here for the summer. We like to grab drinks at Firehaus and Guido’s, and I have been spending a lot of free time at Farren's (burger joint) and Aroma Café, both located in the vibrant downtown Champaign area.

I spent 10 days in Italy this past May and plan to go skydiving before summer is over. Enjoy your vacation!

--Eric

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Pablo Bonnin – Intern, Studley

Hello everybody! This summer I am in Washington, D.C., working for Studley, a leading national real estate brokerage company. With my background in architecture I decided to try my luck in development and commercial real estate. The internship came last minute, so I scrambled to find housing weeks before my starting date. I currently reside in a George Washington University dorm in Foggy Bottom and have a short commute to work every day.

Everybody in the city seems to be involved in politics and know exactly what is happening around the world day-by-day; just ask any cab driver. I come in to work around 8:30 and collaborate with a team of eight primarily doing research for current and future university housing developments. From there, a teammate and I create proposals and business plans for significant investment deals. After work, which comes around 6:30 in the evening, I’ll enjoy my time at a nearby happy hour or salsa dancing or relaxing to a nice cigar. Weekends in the summer are a fun time to spend at a pool or biking just outside the city.

Now to get back to work . . ..

--Pablo
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John Foley – Strategic Resources Intern, State Farm Insurance

Hi All! I am spending the summer in Champaign working as a Strategic Resources Intern for State Farm Insurance. I am living in the same apartment that I stayed at in school so finding a place to live was not a problem for me!

I am working on two projects this summer. The first is gathering information about each state and producing a report on its current status in a variety of factors: economy, customer base, State Farm Agents, and competitors, etc. Many people within the company use these reports to quickly get up to a speed on the conditions of an area, especially if they are moving or traveling. The second project is part of State Farm’s innovationREADY™ program, and I am leading a team of interns in researching opportunities for State Farm to better use technology to recruit State Farm agents. We are researching the technologies that are available, finding data that indicates how successful implementation of these technologies has been in the past, and determining what could be a good fit for agency recruiting at State Farm.

The atmosphere where I work is relaxed. There are about 60 interns working here in Champaign at State Farm Research and Development Center. I work on a team with four other interns, all undergraduate students, with very different educational backgrounds (i.e. computer science, actuarial science, marketing, MBA). The management at the RDC is doing a very good job in promoting a fun learning and working environment. They have really made an effort getting to know the interns and spending some time with them. My project sponsors at corporate have also been very receptive to interns and done a good job of communicating with us and showing interest in the work we are doing.

The thing I like most about my job is the people that work at State Farm and the perks that they provide for their employees. The only thing that I do not really like about my job is that one of my projects is fairly repetitive and dull while the other is much more organic and creative. At least the projects are keeping me busy!
When I’m not in the office, I play and watch sports, golf, and enjoy my summer vacation. I’ve also had more time to visit home this summer, so spending time with my family has been a definite plus. Also, State Farm has a park for its employees, with a water park, miniature golf course, a lake, and a variety of sports fields and courts. I have spent some time there and really have fun.

Finally, for those new students who need a great restaurant and a nice bar to grab a drink, try Alexander’s Steakhouse and Firehaus – two of my favorites!

See you all in the fall!

--John
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Kristen Lisa – Product Marketing Intern, Advanced Micro Device, Inc. (AMD)

Hey Everyone!

This summer I am in Austin, Tex., working as an Intern on the Product Marketing Launch team at AMD. I have one fairly large project to work on – and it is certainly a challenge! I have been asked to look at the entire marketing organization, as it relates to the launch of a new product, and identify points of cross-functional collaboration and process breakages. Essentially, I will create a “bird’s eye view” of the marketing processes in place to identify pain points, duplications of effort, and areas in need of development. Then I will prioritize the problematic areas and make recommendations for process improvements to drive efficient communication across all marketing teams and consistent work flows throughout the launch process. I have really enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with key stakeholders in each marketing division. Having the chance to spend one-on-one time with senior managers has given me great experience not only in communication but also in building relationships. There isn’t really anything that I don’t like about my gig, however, there have been a few days when the work load seems light and I have extra time to kill – drives me nuts! I like to stay busy and have a lot to do, which makes me feel productive!

In my spare time I have been enjoying all the things that Austin has to offer – great food, live music, beautiful weather, and the lake! I saw Passion Pit at the famous Stubbs BBQ last weekend and have gotten the chance to see a lot of local bands play. The music scene here is amazing and I’m totally taking advantage! I have also taken a deep dive into the amazing cuisine here: everything from gourmet BBQ to sushi to Texas-style cheesesteaks! Everything is so delicious . . . it’s hard to choose just one favorite. But, if I was forced, Madam Mam’s Thai is my favorite restaurant with Hyde Park’s famous French fries as a close second. I have also spent a lot of time outdoors – wave running on Lake Travis, getting the perfect tan at the pool, and running whenever I can (after 8 p.m. when it’s only 85 degrees instead of 100!). Austin is amazing – it will be so hard to leave when my internship is over!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer vacation and looking forward to the fall semester! I can’t wait to meet all the new MBAs and reunite with all my friends!

Best wishes!

--Kristen

My two cents on a job search when hiring is weak...

2010-05-13T17:56:00.002-05:00

It has been a hectic two years at the Illinois MBA and with that I have realized a long-cherished dream to earn my MBA. I consider myself fortunate that I landed a job in exactly what I wanted to do after my MBA. My job search has been intense, and I would like to share what I have learned from my experience of successfully completing a job search in this difficult economy, and that too as an international student. Let me go ahead and explain each and every aspect of my job search in detail.

Business Career Services

I would suggest everyone to work very closely with the Career Services team. I kept talking to my career advisor and taking advice on a regular basis. Make sure you know what your advisor expects of you in your career search. They are here to facilitate your career search, but ultimately you need to be in charge of your job search. Both of my internship interviews came through opportunities created by Career Services, and I finally accepted one of the internship offers. Whether you become successful in an interview or not, always share your interview experience with them. They might have some valuable feedback based on how your interview went. In fact, they often have the opportunity to get direct feedback from on-campus recruiters regarding the interviews.

Career Fairs on Campus

The next big resource for a job search is the various career fairs offered on campus. Initially I could not differentiate what strategy I needed for campus job fairs vs. nationwide job fairs like NSHMBA, etc. Both require some amount of planning in terms of how you are going to talk to the company representatives. Consulting companies are highly sought after, and one has to wait for long hours before actually getting to talk to a company executive. I think that the main aspect of a campus job fair is to go ahead and talk to the person from the right department in the organization. Different departments are looking for students of specific interest to them, and it pays off much better to talk to the right person from the area of work you are interested in. After I utilized this strategy, I actually received an interview call for a full-time position thanks to a contact I made at the business career fair.

National Career Fairs (such as NSHMBA)

National career fairs are a great opportunity for a job search, and the NSHMBA (National Society of Hispanic MBAs) Conference was a good experience for me personally. I highly advise that you go to these fairs with a significant amount of preparation. They can be extremely overwhelming because of the sheer number of companies and students attending. One needs to start applying for the jobs at the companies represented at the career fairs well in advance so that you have at least a couple of off-site interview calls when you go. And once you get there, try talking to as many executives as possible from the companies you are interested in. I had an interview with a company for a full time position, and I can’t be certain, but I do attribute it to the fact that I had struck a chord with most of the executives present at the career fair. One of my classmates got her full-time offer from NSHMBA by adopting a similar strategy.

It needs to be mentioned here that the MBA program sponsors up to a certain amount (around $300) for attending such job fairs and conferences. So these conferences are a must-attend for anyone in the program.

Networking – What is it?

From the moment you join the MBA program, you will be asked to network. But what is networking and what is the correct way to go about it? The whole idea of networking can be very difficult to get started with. A good way to start would be to get to know your classmates from different countries. Catch up with them after class and try and talk to them as much as possible. This is a great way to get comfortable talking to strangers and finding ways to find a common connection or interest.

Professors

We have a great faculty team here, and they have great industry connections. Do not shy away from reaching out to your professors for help for your internship and job search. Most of them will be more than happy to help you in your career search. One of my classmates got his internship through the connections of one of our professors. So connecting to our professors is always a good idea, and is something that a lot of my classmates did not consider.

Guest Lectures

Many professors get external speakers from the industry to speak during class hours. One should always look at these opportunities to connect to the speakers and talk to them. Most speakers are usually top executives, and it always helps to connect with them and build a relationship. I had a couple of interviews by networking with organizations of the guest speakers and have accepted a full-time offer from one of them. So never miss out on any opportunity to connect with guest speakers.

LinkedIn

This is a great online resource to get connected to people, especially alumni of the Illinois MBA. Furthermore, most big executives are on LinkedIn and are fairly active. This is a platform where you can actually reach out to anyone of interest. And let me tell you, some people are really very responsive and willing to help. I reached out to many top executives from various companies and even met a couple of them for informational interviews. Some of the top executives are really willing to help and appreciate the fact that you have been proactive in reaching out to them. My suggestion would be to start using LinkedIn early in your MBA and dedicate at least one hour per day to reach out to people.

Websites (online applications)

Most companies you talk to at job fairs suggest to go and apply online. Also, there are a lot of jobs posted online by most companies. I realize many of the applications submitted online usually end up in a black hole, but I have on a number of occasions received emails from HR asking further details about my online application. A few in my class received internship offers from their online applications. So you should not write off online applications. They do work in your favor if you are persistent.

Power of email

Finally, my biggest learning has been to never underestimate the power of your email. Do not hesitate to shoot emails to anyone you think can be of any help to you. The worst that can happen is that you will not get a reply. But always remember one thing – once an email reaches someone’s inbox, no matter how busy that person is, he/she will read it eventually.

These are all based on my experiences and learning during my job search. I think there are many things that I could have done better, but the fact that I kept trying and did not lose hope in the midst of a tough economy is what enabled me to eventually attain a tremendous position. I look forward to utilizing my MBA education as I start my post-MBA career. I hope these ideas will be helpful in your successful job search and that you will realize your dreams for a highly successful career.

Illinois MBA teams up with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank

2010-04-28T13:24:00.005-05:00

The Illinois MBA is teaming up with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank to help alleviate hunter. This month-long service project is part of an initiative sponsored by The Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) called TeamMBA which was created to celebrate, promote, and publicize the outstanding community and volunteer work that is performed by graduate management programs.

Here's some thoughts from first-year MBA, Kyle Harshbarger, about one of the activities during the month coordinated by the MBA Service Association.

The Illlinois MBA Service Association teamed up with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank this past Saturday to help hungry people in and around Champaign County. After a tour of the facilities, a dozen Illinois MBAs bagged, boxed and stacked six pallets of dry beans which will be shipped to food pantries and soup kitchens. After taking care of one ton of beans, they tackled mixed green can labeling and boxing. Two and three-quarter pallets later, the mixed vegetables were ready for distribution.

Students learned how the foodbank is essentially a not-for-profit distribution center for foods, but also learned about it's financial structure. The bagging and packaging processes gave thema first-hand experience in manufacturing processing, bottlenecks and experience curves. Thanks to the MBA students efforts, Comcast will be donated an estimated $2,500 to the foodbank. Because of their ability to purchase bulk food at discounts, this is equivalent to $25,000 in retail food.

MBAA Spring Picnic

2010-04-19T13:08:00.008-05:00

This past weekend the MBA Association hosted a spring picnic at Hessel Park in Champaign. It was an opportunity for everyone to gather and socialize. Not only were the students present at this event, professors also came with their families. Our Associate Dean, Stig Lanesskog, also join in on the festivities helping us barbecue the meats.

People also brought their families and friends and join in on some friendly touch football games. We also took this opportunity to talk about community involvement as the MBA program is currently working to raise money for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.

Events like this gives us the opportunity to see classmates we don't meet very often. This is especially true for the MBA2s because by the time we are in the second year of the program, we often only see the classmates who have the same degree concentration. It was really great to catch up with some old friends!

Illinois MBA in India

2010-01-15T10:04:00.028-06:00

During the winter break seven members from the second year MBA class, including myself, were in India to conduct field research for projects from the course Sustainable Product and Market Development for Subsistence Marketplaces. We visited Chennai, New Delhi, Agra, and Hyderabad. There are four different projects from the class and they focus on sanitation, vision, health, and education. Each team conducted interviews with members from the urban areas and villages in Chennai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad to gather information vital to developing products and business plans. Everyone also had the chance to visit local organizations including the Sulabh International Social Service Organization in New Delhi, Tata Consulting, and Infosys.

It wasn't all work as we got to sample the Indian cuisine and culture. We visited several amazing sites, including the Shore Temple in Chennai, the Red Fort, and the Taj Mahal. We also got to taste the various types of curries from the cities. I really enjoyed the spicy curries from Hyderabad! All of us also went shopping in bazzars and some of us were really amazed by the Bangle Street in Hyderabad.

The trip was short but very rewarding. We were able to gather the information we needed for our projects while sampling India's lively culture. I am certainly looking forward to my next trip!

Net Impact Annual Conference

2009-12-14T13:18:00.012-06:00

Net Impact is an international non-profit organization that links corporations from all over the world together to create positive impact on our environment through business. The Illinois MBA has a chapter of Net Impact on campus and strive to implement Net Impact's goals by working with local non-profit and businesses. We provide these businesses the expertise we learn from the MBA program and help them make the positive impact they seek for our community.

Companies that are closely linked with Net Impact includes Intel, Honest Tea, Starbucks, Sodexo, GE, Dell, and many others. Each year, Net Impact hosts an annual conference that brings all of these companies together along with members of both student and professional chapters of Net Impact. This year's conference was held at The Johnson School of Business at Cornell University. The Illinois MBA Net Impact chapter had seven representatives attended the event this year.

The conference ran for two days. It included panels and workshops along with a career expo. One of the panels I attended discussed how Fortune 500 corporations address corporate social responsibility (CSR). The panels were Senior VPs from Intel, Sodexo, and BT America. Each of them spoke about their responsibilities and challenges along with the importance of CSR in day-to-day operations.

I truly enjoyed the two day conference and believe that these type of events and topics are vital as we become leaders. The Illinois MBA program recognizes the importance of addressing CSR and sustainability. The program has a CSR, sustainability, and/or public affairs concentration in place for students who wish to explore and become experts in this area. I feel fortunate to be at a program that acknowledge the importance of these issues, especially in our current economic environment.

GMA/NET Impact Marketing Case Competion

2009-12-10T14:24:00.002-06:00

The Graduate Marketing Association (GMA) and the Illinois MBA Net Impact hosted the first annual Marketing Case Competition last month. The goal of this year's competition was for current MBA students to provide expertise to a local non-profit organization. This year, GMA and Net Impact worked closely with the Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA), a local organization started by U of I alumni. The organization seek to help businesses in the Champaign-Urbana area green their organization through areas such as operations.

This year's winners were Jennifer Schmidt (MBA '11) and Nick Timpone (MBA '11).

The MBA program was happy to provide our personal and prior knowledge about small businesses and environmental practices to assist the local Illinois Green Business Association. Though it was a competition, we recognize that the combined contributions of all the teams will greatly assist this valuable student lead organization in fulfilling its mission. Fortunately for us, Jennifer’s expertise in environmental consulting and Nick’s knowledge within the local small business community combined to provide several “valuable ideas and concepts.” Anthony Santarelli – Director of Program Development for IGBA – said that he greatly appreciated all the teams hard work and creative ideas. He particularly liked Jennifer’s idea of “using recycled materials to construct the IGBA certificates.”

This was a great opportunity for us to represent the IMBA and apply academic concepts learned in the classroom into real-world solutions for an organization doing such important work. Best of luck Illinois Green Business Association in “greening the community one business at a time” and thanks again to all those who participated!

Study Abroad Opportunities

2009-10-23T14:10:00.014-05:00

Here at the Illinois MBA we have a lot of different learning opportunities. Not only do students have access to a variety of courses, students are also offered the opportunity to study abroad. This includes taking week long seminars in Europe and Mexico City, Mexico. Each winter break, students take a week to interact with other MBA students in other countries. This year, students will be doing the same, spending a week in Mexico City at IPADE Business School. The week long seminar will focus on the economic, social, and cultural aspects of Mexico along with the tourism industry of the country. Illinois MBA students will work with IPADE student on team projects. Just like the Illinois MBA program, IPADE uses the case method in its business courses which provides a very hands on experience on business topics.

Students will also have the opportunity to explore the various social and cultural activities in Mexico City. This includes wine tasting, attending bull fighting events, tasting great food, and visiting museums. Students will also be able to experience the rich culture history of Mexico through its pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern architecture.

The study abroad program is very unique. We currently have two exchange students from IPADE studying in our MBA program. We are all looking forward to them hosting us in Mexico City. It will certainly add to the Illinois MBA experience.

My First Year at the Illinois MBA

2009-10-15T11:08:00.016-05:00

When I first started at the Illinois MBA program I was very eager to involve myself in everything that the program offered. Everyone met during the week prior to starting classes where we all participated in team building activities. As we entered into the semester, I find myself quite busy with team meetings, classes, weekly social events, and MBAA club activities. I remember feeling overwhelmed with assignments and classes. We often did our assignments in teams which can be challenging as there were many different personalities, working styles, and schedules within the team.

As I looked back to my first year, the one item that I wished I had mastered prior to entering the program was time management skills. With the amount of activities the MBA program offered along with the many assignments and classes, I did find myself over stretched at times. However, my classmates and the professors were extremely supportive. You can always expect them to help and go to them for various advice.

Now that I am in my second year I am able to form my own schedule. In the first year, the MBAs are required to take core classes. These classes give you a perspective on a wide range of subjects and provide an opportunity for students to explore new topics. These classes range from marketing, finance, organizational theory to strategy.

The best way to start the MBA program is to keep an open mind. Don't narrow your choices and be open to all the opportunities presented to you. I can't even begin to explain the amount of new skills I have acquired in the past year. I just know that I wouldn't trade my experiences and new knowledge for anything else in the world.

Sustainability in the Illinois MBA

2009-09-28T13:36:00.013-05:00

One of the highlights of being in the Illinois MBA program is having the opportunity to choose classes from a wide variety of subjects. As a second year MBA student I am currently enrolled in a class that addresses marketing and product development in subsistence marketplaces. Each week we take a look at the lives of those living in poverty stricken environments. We aim at identifying key elements that affect the day-day living and develop products that would enable better living standards and situations. The course is taught by Professor Madhu Viswanathan, who has been involved in this field for more than 15 years. By the end of the year long class, students will recieve a Certificate for Excellence in Sustainable Management and Technology. The best part if this class is the opportunity for students to take a trip during the winter break to India. I am very much looking forward to this trip where I will experience firsthand the operations in subsistence marketplaces.

The Illinois MBA program is very active in integrating sustainable topics into its courses. Our new business building certainly reflects our core belief that we can effectively and positively impact our world through best business practices.

I hope that I have been able to show you a different side of the Illinois MBA. I am having an exciting start to the new semester and I look forward to sharing more insights with everyone on this blog!

MBA Women in Business Tailgate

2009-09-15T10:42:00.006-05:00

Football season has finally started! It's that time of year again when students gather early in the morning to begin their tailgating rituals. Last weekend was our first football game, Illinois vs. ISU, and the MBA started the season off with the Women in Business tailgate. With over 75 students and their family and friends showing up, we had a great turnout and a ton of fun! With food catered from Blues BBQ, thanks to our gracious alum Leah Pettit, games and beverages provided by WiB everyone had a great time!

Average Monthly Expenses

2009-05-12T10:50:00.002-05:00

Now that we are done with exams and wrapped up our first year, and I have some time at my hand, I thought of writing down this stuff which might be of help to the incoming students, especially the international ones who continue to speculate as to what the average monthly expenses are going to be.

As part of the admissions package, you must have received a form which states the first year expenses to be around some $50000+, inclusive of the monthly expenses. And this leaves many worried every year. Well, this is a standard university form and is just a reflection as to what the maximum expenses might be. But here is what you would actually land up spending on a monthly basis:

Accommodation - $400-$500 including utilities (electricity, water, heating, internet in come cases)
Food & all SPIRITual commodities - $150-$200
Books/Course Packs - $100(assuming about $400 per semester)
Cell Phone - $50-$75
Miscellaneous - $100

These would be the likely expenses for a student without his/her own car and uses the bus service. So in any case, on an average, one would land up spending about $700-$800 on a monthly basis for living and other related expenses. These are just approximations based on my personal experience as an international student.

So, I hope I have been able to do away with some of your apprehensions about the monthly expenses. The summer is getting beautiful here and we all are looking forward to meet each one of you. Trust me, it is a great place to be and have fun! Till my next post….Aloha Comrades !

Business Instructional Facility

2009-03-25T15:52:00.004-05:00

When I was about to join the Illinois MBA last fall, I was truely excited about the new Business Instructional Facility. I had read and seen pictures of it, but did not get a chance to know about it all before I came here.

While browsing the UIUC media site, I stumbled upon this video about our BIF and thought of sharing it with all of you.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-24T01:42:00.001-06:00

I’m now back in Urbana and, after a long week of classes, have finally had a chance to post the remaining blog entries from the Study Abroad trip to Berlin. I really enjoyed myself in Berlin and greatly appreciate the opportunity to have visited such a unique place. Our hosts at the Freie Universitat were very gracious and our accommodations at the Best Western Premier Hotel Steglitz International were great. I hope you all have enjoyed the blog!

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-23T23:27:00.007-06:00

01-17-09 (Saturday)

This morning I took my time getting ready. It’s Saturday so there was no class to worry about. CH and I are staying until tomorrow morning, while most of the students are leaving today. I know of one other group of part-time MBAs who are renting a car and driving to Poland to see the Auchwitz memorial. CH and I are not so adventurous to rent a car and drive 5 hours to Poland, but we did visit the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin.

The Holocaust Memorial was nothing short of sobering. There are four main rooms in the memorial, each one more heart wrenching than the last. Perhaps the hardest exhibit to deal with contained excerpts taken from diaries or letters of victims of the Holocaust just days before they were killed in one of the Nazi concentration camps (I have included a picture below of this exhibit). The memorial, although very hard to deal with, is worth seeing if you have the opportunity to visit Berlin.

After visiting the Holocaust Memorial, CH and I had some lunch and decided to explore the area a bit. The Holocaust Memorial is near the Brandenburg Gate and the nearest U-bahn (subway) station is Unter Den Linden. Unter Den Linden is also a major street in Berlin and leads up to the Brandenburg Gate. While walking around we noticed a very strong police presence and they seemed to be preparing for an event of some sort. There were barricades being set up and streets closed off; something big was in the works but we had no idea what. So we walked around for another 20 minutes or so and finally decided to ask someone what was going on. The person told us that it looked to him like a protest of some sort. No more than a minute later the first of about 2,000 Palestinians began marching by us in protest of the Israeli attacks in Gaza (rather ironic considering that we spent the first part of the afternoon at the Holocaust memorial).

Considering that Israel and America were the objects of the protest I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. CH and I were probably the only Americans on the block and while I could probably pass for a German, it didn’t ease my tension much. The demonstration, however, turned out to be fairly peaceful.

After leaving leaving the area where the protest took place, we headed back to the hotel for some rest. Later we got dinner at a traditional German restaurant called Schildkrote (where the waitress drank more beer than we did) and on the way home were harassed by a sketchy Russian at an intersection trying to convince us to visit the cabaret down the street. All in all, it was a pretty eventful day.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-23T23:16:00.003-06:00

01-15-09 (Thursday)

Today we made another corporate visit, this time to Deutsche Telekom’s (T-Mobile in the USA) T-Labs. T-Labs is basically the experimental technology lab for Deutsche Telekom and was probably the best of our corporate visits. Our guide was great and he showed around the very technologically advanced office and also showed us some of the projects that were being developed. One project worth noting is the “Kitchen of the Future” (that’s my name for it, I can’t remember the actual name). The “Kitchen of the Future” is a high tech kitchen where all of the appliances are networked together (they are also networked with TVs throughout the house) and everything is voice activated. It was pretty cool to see.

After visiting the T-Labs, we went back to the university to take a test. Note: If you are a prospective student or a current student considering going to Berlin for Study Abroad next year make sure you prepare for the test! It is not easy and requires more than a quick glance over of the materials from class (I wasn’t the only one who figured it would be easy).

Following the test we had a class about the German economic system and then had a guest speaker. The guest speaker was an Illinois MBA alumnus named Robert Hein. Mr. Hein is from the USA, but lives and owns his own business in Germany. He spoke to us for about an hour and a half and talked about how he got started with his business in Germany. He also discussed the differences between doing business in the USA and in Germany. It is also interesting to note that he has recently employed a handful of current Illinois MBA students and they are helping him to possibly bring his business stateside. He seemed excited to continue to have a strong relationship with the Illinois MBA program and is just one example of some of the great alumni the program has produced. A link to his company’s website can be found below.

http://www.004gmbh.de/en/

Later on we met up with some master’s students from the Freie Universitat at the Gaffel Kolsch for dinner and then went with them to Trompete Discotheque. It was an interesting experience as the discotheque was crowded with patrons dancing to American hits circa 1980. I had Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” playing in my head for the rest of the night.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-23T23:09:00.004-06:00

01-14-09 (Wednesday)

This morning we had another corporate visit, this time to Siemens AG. Siemens AG is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy, and healthcare sectors (I got this description from their website. I probably would have never thought of the “global powerhouse” adjective on my own). We got a two hour tour of their facilities and they were very impressive. Our tour guide was a retired Siemens employee and was very informative. He also told us exactly what he thought in response to our questions (some of his answers were not so politically correct, but in a refreshing kind of way). Our guide took us through several different buildings including the manufacturing and testing buildings. The testing facility contained equipment capable of simulating a lightning strike (I didn’t know that was possible). Each building we saw was remarkably clean and the employees all seemed to be very involved in what they were doing. Overall it was a good experience.

After leaving Siemens Brad, CH and I followed our classmates to the U-Bahn (subway) and got on the train. Before leaving Siemens the three of us had decided, since we had a few hours to eat lunch and then get back to the university, that we would get off at a random subway station and find somewhere to eat. We forgot to mention it to anyone else though, so you can imagine the looks of confusion and panic on some of our classmate’s faces when we exited the train ten stops before we were supposed to. Anyway, we found our way to a mall near the subway stop and had lunch at a food court inside the mall. I don’t quite remember the name of the restaurant, but it was German fast-food. I had currywurst on a bun (basically a pork sausage, a hot dog in this case, with curry sauce...see the link for more info) and it was delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I ordered another.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currywurst

We arrived back on campus at 2:00PM and had two classes. The first was Marketing, Media and Consumer Behavior in Germany and the second was People Management: Balancing Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivations. The first class was very interesting as Prof. Dr. Alfred Kuss discussed Germany’s unique marketing situation after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The second class, however, was even more interesting. Prof. Dr. Antoinette Weibel, an Austrian with a strong resemblance to my girlfriend’s mom, discussed the psychology of pay for performance. Spoiler alert...while most companies think pay for performance is great, the data shows that it only serves as positive motivation for people working certain types of jobs, mainly those that include simple and/or boring tasks. For jobs that include complex and/or interesting tasks, pay for performance tends to reduce performance. There’s more to tell, but I’m hoping the teaser will cause you to look into it yourself because it’s a lot to type.

Our day concluded with dinner at a restaurant called the Rathaus Cafe. Word to the wise, do not order salmon from a German restaurant. Do, however, order a Schofferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen Mix beer. Admittedly, it’s not a very manly beer, but it is delicious. Below is a picture of the Alexanderplatz U-Bahn station near the restaurant.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-23T23:03:00.002-06:00

01-13-09 (Tuesday)

This morning we had our first field trip/corporate visit to the Daimler (formerly DaimlerChrysler) Building near Potsdamer Platz. We also found the remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall!

With regard to the our corporate visit, two gentlemen from Daimler’s Society and Technology Research Group gave us a two hour presentation about their group and its role in the company. The group is made up of individuals from a very diverse range of disciplines including, philosophy, math, psychology, economics, and many more. Its main function in the company is to analyze the role of the automobile in society and to serve as a guide for the company to incorporate new technologies into its line of vehicles. It was a very interesting presentation.

After the presentation we found our way back to the university and from 1:00 to 4:00 attended a class called Relationship Management in Business to Business Marketing. The class was taught by Prof. Dr. Michael Kleinaltenkamp and was not unlike our Marketing class at the U of I. He spent the first part of the class lecturing and then we discussed a case dealing with relationship management in business to business marketing.

After class we went back to the hotel to rest and then went out for a bite to eat. After dinner Brad and I (roommates for the trip) read the materials for Wednesday’s class and had a two hour discussion about politics and North and South Korean relations.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-23T22:06:00.009-06:00

01-12-09 (Monday)

This morning we had a very cold walk to class at the Freie Universitat (Free University). The whole campus was covered in snow and ice, so the university wasn’t as aesthetically pleasing as I had imagined it would be, however I could see its potential. The link below contains pictures of the university (probably taken in the summer) that do it far more justice than my frozen hand pictures do.

http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/tour/galerie_neu/index.html

The history of the university is quite interesting. In short, the University was founded by German students after the Second World War with the help of the United States. The link below contains the details.

http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/tour/geschichtsausstellung/index.html

We had four classes today including a class called German-American Negotiating. The class was taught by Prof. Dr. Rudi Bresser (the Germans are very formal hence both Prof. and Dr. titles) and was, in my opinion, the most interesting class of the day. Prof. Dr. Bresser discussed prevailing American stereotypes of Germans and vice versa and then talked about ways to overcome these stereotypes in order to negotiate more effectively with one another. The list below shows the main differences (according to Prof. Dr. Bresser) between German and American negotiating styles.

American Negotiating Style:
Informal negotiating style
Negotiate only with decision makers
Straight and to the point
Lay all cards on the table

German Negotiating Style:
Formal negotiating style
Have limited authority
Long winded
Tend to withhold information

In order to be an effective cross-cultural negotiator, Prof. Dr. Bresser discussed some helpful skills people should possess (see list below). For what its worth, I would argue that these skills apply to any cross-cultural situation, not just negotiations, and that we all should work to incorporate them into our lives.

Skills for Cross-Cultural Negotiation:
Tolerance for Differences
Open-mindedness
Non-judgementalness
Tolerance for Ambiguity
Flexibility/Adaptability
Communicativeness
Curiosity
Empathy
Sense of humor
Warmth in human relationships
Strong sense of self
Ability to fail

Our day in class concluded at 5:00PM and we then had the night to do as we wished. Brad, CH and I decided to try to find the remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall. Although we had a basic understanding of where the pieces were, we weren’t exactly sure. In addition, our track record of finding things over the past few days has been pathetic at best (it’s a good thing we don’t have to read maps for our classes). So, as you might have predicted based on my foreshadowing, we didn’t find it. We did however, get our first glimpse of the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial and had our first real German dinner at a restaurant in the same area.

Study Abroad - Mexico City

2009-01-18T21:41:00.003-06:00

I have safely returned to Illinois and have had a chance to reflect on the last week. It was truly an amazing and wonderful experience and opportunity. I have learned, in one short week, so much about Mexico and its people. It is a wonderful country and, in my opinion, has yet to fully capitalize on the opportunities that are available to it. Its rich heritage and great people are two tremendous assets. I hope that Mexico can continue to grow and succeed in the coming years. Like the United States, there will be challenges and difficulties, but I believe both countries will emerge stronger and better than before.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the University of Illinois MBA program for making this trip available to me and my colleagues. In addition, I owe a huge thanks to IPADE Business School, its staff, students, and faculty. They made us feel at home and welcomed us to their country with open arms.

If you have any individual questions, please don't hesitate to email me at lefriedm@illinois.edu

Best wishes to all.

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 3) (Pictures)

2009-01-18T12:06:00.016-06:00

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 2) (Pictures)

2009-01-18T10:47:00.015-06:00

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 1) (Pictures)

2009-01-17T23:16:00.012-06:00

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 5) (Pictures)

2009-01-17T23:02:00.007-06:00

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 5)

2009-01-17T12:07:00.003-06:00

Day 5, unfortunately, was the final day of the study abroad program. It is amazing to me how quickly the week has gone. I have enjoyed every moment and could not be happier with how everything went.

The morning session consisted of a presentation by Mr. Gordon Frederick Viberg, former President and CEO of Presidente InterContinental Hotels Mexico. His presentation was regarding the current international financial crisis and its impact on the Mexican tourism industry. Mr. Viberg’s intimate knowledge of the issues currently pervading the world economy, as well as the Mexican tourism industry, provided a level of insight into the current climate within Mexico and the future likelihood of success and growth that we had not yet received. Mr. Viberg’s candor and honesty, filled with optimism, left all of the Illinois students with a nice conclusion as to issues we had discussed and considered all week.

Following Mr. Viberg’s presentation, all ten student teams made their presentations (see Day 1). They were all wonderful presentations and very enjoyable to view. I was struck by the consistency in the analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for Mexico City tourism. It led me to believe and hope that if those particular areas were properly addressed by the community, private industry, and the government, Mexico City could become a significant international tourist destination.

After a farewell lunch in which we shared a heartfelt goodbye with our IPADE friends, many of the Illinois students, including myself, took a field trip to Teotihuacan, where the Pyramid of the Sun, the third largest pyramid in the world, and the Pyramid of the Moon are located. Both pyramids were a sight to behold. In particular, the Pyramid of the Sun, from which we walked the narrow steps to the top of and had an opportunity to view Teotihuacan and its vast landscape. I will include pictures in a forthcoming post.

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 4)

2009-01-17T11:54:00.004-06:00

Day 4 provided the unique opportunity to meet and hear from two major executives in Mexico: Mr. Enrique Calderon Fernandez of Grupo Posadas and Mr. Xavier Lopez Ancona of Kidzania.

Mr. Fernandez is marketing and sales manager of Grupo Posadas. Grupo Posadas is similar to Starwood Hotels in that it is an “umbrella” for numerous hotel operations. Unlike Starwood Hotels, Grupo Posadas concentrates its hotel operations in Mexico and South America. The hotels under Grupo Posadas’ “umbrella” include Fiesta Americana, Fiesta Inn, Aqua, Cesar Business, Cesar Park, and others. Mr. Fernandez’s presentation was particularly interesting because it provided a perspective of hotel operations that I had not previously been exposed to in my education, with a particular focus on the marketing strategies employed by hotels to engage travelers of all demographics. It was clear that Grupo Posadas is a world class operation. The website to Grupo Posadas is http://www.posadas.com/portal/landingpage/WebsitePosadas/index_en.htm

In the afternoon, we had an opportunity to visit Kidzania in Mexico City (Santa Fe Mall). Launched in 1999 by Mr. Aconia, Kidzania was “the representation of a typical city at a child’s scale and was divided in three main areas: airport, suburbs, and main city.” La Ciudad de Los Ninos case, Page 6. In Kidzania, children are given the opportunity “to play being grown-ups” and “imitate what adults do, from the most complex profession such as that of a doctor in medicine to the most simple task like sweeping or cleaning, . . . to the scale of a child.” Id., Page 2. Sponsors, who provided financing for Kidzania, set up the pavilions and created a tremendous sense of realism for the children. For the sponsors, it provided a “marketing medium in which children lived amazing experiences linked to each sponsor.” Id., Page 5.

After the reading the referenced case, it was truly amazing to see Kidzania in practice. It was a tremendous success as seen by the long lines to enter on a Thursday (numerous school trips) and the smiles on the children’s faces.

Following our tour of Kidzania, Mr. Aconia made a presentation to us regarding Kidzania, with a specific focus on the concept, the business model employed, the financing and pricing strategy, the results to date, and the expansion plans. It was an amazing experience to hear from an individual who started with an interesting and exciting concept and carried it out to fruition and great success. He was truly an inspiration. The Kidzania website is http://www.kidzania.com/

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 2) (Lucha Libre)

2009-01-15T20:06:00.005-06:00

Due to personal obligations, I was unable to attend Lucha Libre, Mexican professional wrestling, on Tuesday evening. Lucha Libre is similar to American professional wrestling, but is famous for the wild crowds, funny wrestling characters, colorful wrestling masks and outfits, and acrobatic moves. I learned from my fellow classmates that the event was a great deal of fun and wanted to share their wonderful experience at this local event.

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 3)

2009-01-14T23:34:00.003-06:00

Day 3 of the study abroad trip was primarily dedicated to travel outside of Mexico City and provided an opportunity to visit Cholula and Puebla, two historically significant states. It was a wonderful opportunity to see two culturally important locales within Mexico, while gaining a deeper grasp of the Mexican society and culture. With regard to the theme of the program, it opened my eyes to two unique opportunities within Mexico for tourism, and at the same time, the inadequacy of the development, the promotion, and the marketing structure to facilitate success as a tourist destination at these locales.

With regard to Cholula, we were able to examine the Great Pyramid of Cholula. It is the largest pyramid by volume in the world, as it houses seven distinct structures. The ingenuity and intelligence that was employed to develop such structures is truly amazing. Pictures from Cholula will be forthcoming in a future post.

Within Puebla, we had the opportunity to visit the numerous churches. Of particular significance to me was the Santa Maria Tonanzintla church, which was built to honor the Virgin Mary. The church was built above a pyramid that was created to similarly honor the mother of the gods. The baroque style of design and the heavy use of gold created a very distinct and beautiful church. I will post pictures of Santa Maria Tonanzintla church in a forthcoming blog post as well.

We also visited the famous Amparo Museum in Puebla. The Amparo Museum houses numerous exhibits that provide a historical view of Mexico through its art. The pieces provided a perspective of the culture and heritage that I had yet to see. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take pictures within the museum. Thus, I am including a link to the museum’s website. It is www.museoamparo.com

While in Pueblo, we had dinner at Mural Poblanos Restaurant Tradicional. The food was delicious. I ate the chicken mole, a traditional Pueblan meal. Mole is a sauce that "is prepared with dried chili peppers, ground nuts and/or seeds, spices, Mexican chocolate (cacao ground with sugar and cinnamon and occasionally nuts), salt, and a variety of other ingredients including charred avocado leaves, onions, and garlic.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(sauce). It is a sauce that is very common in Mexican dishes. The website for the restaurant is www.elmuraldelospoblanos.com

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 2)

2009-01-13T21:54:00.002-06:00

The morning session for day 2 was primarily focused on Mexico's desire to become a "player" in the active senior living market through the development of communities that are tailored to and directed at Americans and Canadians. Based on the presentations, it was clear that many felt as though the emerging trend of baby boomers reaching retirement age and desiring to live in communities amongst others of the same demographics provided an opportunity for Mexico. The primary attributes that were stressed by the presenters were the Mexican climate and the cost savings that the baby boomers would achieve if they retired in Mexico. It was a very interesting subject and brought about a spirited and lively debate amongst all.

In the afternoon, I had the pleasure of visiting the Museo Nacional de Antropologia. It is a beautiful museum that provided me with tremendous amount of insight and knowledge as to the history of Mexico through an analysis and review of the country's archaelogical finds. The study abroad program was kind enough to provide us with a tour guide who was able to focus our visit and maximize our time. In that regard, our visit focused on the rooms dedicated to the Mayans and the Aztecs. The pieces that I observed were breathtaking and gave me a great deal of insight as to the ingenuity, passion, and intelligence of these peoples. I was particularly amazed by the Aztec Calendar, the Tizoc Rock, carved with the history of the wards of the Aztec Culture, and the Tomb at Palenque. I will be sure to include my pictures in a future posting.

Study Abroad - Mexico City (Day 1)

2009-01-13T20:51:00.006-06:00

Day 1 of the study abroad program in Mexico City was wonderful. It provided for education, travel, and most importantly, the opportunity to meet and associate with the wonderful students from IPADE.

The IPADE business school is located on a secured, grand complex that, as one IPADE student told me, used to be the home of a famous Mexican dignitary. Though older in style, the school is as maintained and as beautiful a campus as I have seen. The amount of greenery and open spaces takes you away and creates a sanctuary like experience. In addition, it has all the state-of-the-art technologies one would expect from a premier university. It truly is an impressive campus and a wonderful locale to participate in the program.

The theme of this year’s study abroad program is “Mexican Tourism: A Worldwide Concept.” As I understand it, the theme serves as a subject matter through which we are able to enjoy and understand Mexico, as well as serves as a mechanism to carry out financial, operational, marketing, and management analysis. On day 1, we attended presentations and lectures that provided an overview of Mexican Tourism industry, the ongoing financial crisis in the United States and its impact on tourism in Mexico, Club Med and the issues that pervade this particular tourism locale, as well as a short lecture discussing our final class presentation.

The final class presentation requires students to consider and develop a worldwide strategy to encourage tourism for 10 specific locations within Mexico City. In that regard, the IPADE students and University of Illinois students have been placed into 10 teams for the purposes of making the presentation. Each team consists of approximately 8 IPADE students and 3 University of Illinois students. I was introduced to our teammates over breakfast and quickly developed a very nice relationship with them. The IPADE students’ warmth and kindness came “shining through” immediately. They embraced me and my fellow classmates and made us feel at home. Of all the things that I have experienced in Mexico so far, it is this warmth and kindness of the IPADE students, as well as faculty and staff, that has impressed me the most. They are truly wonderful people.

With regard to the presentation, my team was assigned to the Tacuba area. The Tacuba area is located in the center of the city and is in close proximity to the Archbishop of Mexico’s home, as well the Presidential quarters. It is primarily a retail area that has some wonderful restaurants. To conduct a thorough presentation, my team made a trip to Tacuba to investigate the area. The trip provided us an opportunity to associate with the IPADE students, as well as experience the city atmosphere first hand. It was very enjoyable and very interesting to see the city from the eyes’ of its residents. It was abundantly clear that they were very proud of their home. We also shared a wonderful meal at the famous Café de Tacuba and had a lot of laughs. All in all, it was a wonderful day.

I will be sure to provide the pictures of the afternoon visit to Tacuba in a future posting.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-13T17:03:00.003-06:00

01-10-09

Our day in Prague was quite fun…very cold, but fun. We had stayed at a hotel called the Art Deco Imperial the previous night. It was a bit extravagant, but when three people are staying in one room it becomes affordable. Hotels.com describes the hotel as perfect for Honeymooners or Retirees. Obviously the three of us (Brad, CH and myself) are neither…we picked the hotel based on its location and the pictures that we found on the Internet.

The complimentary breakfast at the hotel was outstanding and a great way to start out the day. Also, a representative from Delta Airlines called me at the hotel and informed me that my luggage had made it from Paris to Berlin and that they could have it delivered to the hotel that I would be staying at in Berlin on Sunday. I was hoping that my luggage would be delivered to me in Prague so I could get out of the clothes that I’d had on for 3 days straight, but no such luck. I was, however, glad to know that it had made its way to Berlin.

We decided that the best approach to seeing the Prague (or Praha as it is known in the Czech Republic and most of Europe) was to just wander about and then see a few major landmarks. The landmarks we chose to see were the National Museum and Charles Bridge. We also saw plenty souvenir shops as CH was on a quest to find a winter hat that said Prague on it (which he finally found later on that night). After walking around for an hour or two we ate lunch and then headed over to the museum.

We spent about an hour and a half at the National Museum where we viewed the zoology exhibit (I skipped the spider section of the exhibit only to be laughed at by Brad and CH), the Czech Hockey exhibit, and the featured exhibit called Republika. The Republika exhibit contained information and displays about the history of the Czech Republic and was the most interesting thing that we saw at the museum. We also spent a lot of time sitting on benches in the museum because Brad and CH are both pushing 30 and their old joints can’t handle the cold weather and the excessive amount of walking we did that day. When I made fun of them they reminded me that I was only three years away from 30 myself.

Here is a link with info about the Czech National Museum:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_(Prague)

After leaving the museum we stopped at a few more souvenir shops on the quest for a Prague snow hat. Souvenir shops are all over the place in the tourist area of Prague and are all basically the same. When you first walk into one of the shops you are almost blinded by the light reflecting off of the crystal objects situated on the shelves. It appears that the Czechs are obsessed with crystals or they think that tourists are obsessed with crystals. I’m not sure which it is, but believe me when I say that the amount of crystal objects in each souvenir shop is astounding. In addition to crystals, there are plenty of t-shirts, magnets, coffee mugs (I added another to my ridiculous collection of mugs from different places), and bottles of real absinth (apparently the Czech Republic is the only country in the EU where it is legal). There are also plenty of shop owners and workers who seem to dislike tourists, but know that tourists are their only source of business so they put up with them, but look miserable all the while.

When we finally found a Prague snow hat we started to make our way over to Charles Bridge. I won’t bore you with the historical details (you can find those by following the link below), but let me say that the bridge is well worth seeing. The view of the city from the bridge is brilliant. The architecture of the bridge and the many statues lining either side of the bridge are also quite brilliant. The city is situated on both sides of the Vitava River and looks great at night. Again, if you are in Prague then Charles Bridge is a must see.

Here is a link to info about Charles Bridge:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_bridge

Our day concluded with dinner and a stay at the Hotel Josef. We booked a different hotel for each night we were in Prague and you will be happy to know that the Hotel Josef was recommended for young singles and not retirees or honeymooners.

That’s all for now…Gute Nacht!

Study Abroad - Mexico City

2009-01-11T20:24:00.004-06:00

This afternoon I safely arrived in Mexico City. As we were making our final descent, I was struck by the size of the city and its grandeur. I was expecting a large and vibrant city, but to see it from the window of the airplane reinforced how lucky I was to have the opportunity to study and visit such a city. My excitement for the program has grown further and I intend to fully "throw myself into" the program.

In that regard, I read a book on the airplane entitled "Management in Two Cultures: Bridging the Gap Between U.S. and Mexican Managers," written by Eva S. Kras. The book did a wonderful job of comparing and contrasting the U.S. and Mexican society and business practices. It was very interesting and gave me a great deal of insight. I believe and hope it will prove to be valuable with my interactions with the professors and Mexican classmates, as well as the subject matters we will be covering in the coming week.

I would be remise if I also did not discuss the accommodation and the hospitality that has been afforded to us. We are staying at the the Camino Real Polanco Mexico. It is as nice a hotel as I have seen and provides for all the needs any traveller and/or student could desire. It has a beautiful pool, state-of-the-art health club, and numerous top-rated restaurants, including China Grill, Bice Bistro, and Le Cirque. I have attached a link to the hotel for your review. http://www.caminoreal.com/mexico_i/main.php It really is awesome!

Finally, tomorrow promises to be a very exciting day. I will be sure to post my experiences on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-11T16:31:00.006-06:00

01-09-09

The flight to Berlin went fairly well. I slept most of the way there and read for the rest of the time. However, when I got to Tegel Airport in Berlin, things started to go badly. I waited for about 45 minutes for my bags and only got one of them. My other bag (with all of my clothes) somehow found its way to Paris. Alisa, the girl sitting next to me on the plane, was kind enough to stay with me while I waited and then helped me deal with the guy at the lost and found desk. She was from Toronto and had been living in Berlin and teaching English for the past nine months. She had been home for the holidays and, thankfully, ended up on the same flight as me. She was able to talk to the guy at the lost and found and get him to send my luggage to Prague once it arrived in Berlin. She said you have to be forceful with the Germans and tell them what you want otherwise they will not help you. Again, I am very thankful she was there to help because I tend to be a little too nice sometimes.

While I was waiting for my luggage and then dealing with the lost and found guy, CH had been sitting and waiting for me. His flight arrived about an hour before mine and our plan was to meet up somewhere near an exit at the airport. Once I got the luggage situation straightened out, I found him wandering the airport halls.

The following is a very special guest blog spot by Mr. CH himself:

CH speaking. I started my journey with one full hour of sleep and arrived at John Wayne Airport after a night of last minute packing. My first connect flight to New Jersey was relatively comfortable as I had an entire row to myself. I was able to put my feet up, kick back, and relax. My connecting flight to Germany was a different story. There was a couple sitting next to me who would not stop making out, and two rows back, there were two babies that cried throughout the entire flight. When I arrived in Germany I was able to claim my baggage and get out of customs relatively easily. The customs officer inspected my passport for quite some time, flipping through the blank pages over and over. I guess that is partly my fault and can be an excuse for me to look into filling up my passport with more trips/stamps from other countries. So that in the future, I do not get the same weird looks from the customs officer. Being the smart MBA student that I am, I figured I did not need to write down Brett’s flight number, and that I could find it on the big board when I arrived. For some reason, the big board left out that information and I had to get it from the information desk. It turns out Brett’s flight arrived early and nearly 40 minutes had gone by since his plane landed. I searched the gate area for Mr. Pearce but he was nowhere to be found. I began doing what I do best, thinking of the worst possible outcome. So I began asking myself what should I do if I did not find Brett in the next hour or two? What happens if he could not find me either and thought I would naturally think to meet him at the hotel in Prague? Would Brett really leave me??? Luckily, I found Brett and he met a fellow English speaker on his flight that helped us in purchasing our bus ticket to the train station. Brett will now continue to entertain you further with more pictures and stories detailing the rest of our day.

Brett speaking again. CH and I found our way onto the bus and so did an attractive German girl. CH gave me the “wow, did you see her?” look. I nodded and proceeded to forget about my luggage for the rest of the ride to the train station. The bus ride lasted for about 20 minutes and ended for us at the Berlin Hauptbahnhof station. The station was just recently built and was quite spectacular.

Link to Berlin Hauptbahnhof Station...
http://www.hbf-berlin.de/site/ber lin__hauptbahnhof/en/start.html

We made it to the station about 15 minutes before the first train to Prague left for the day but we hadn’t purchased our tickets for the train yet. The person at the information desk informed us where the ticket booth was but we couldn’t find it. The location remained a mystery to us until after the train left. Basically the ticket booth was right in front of us the whole time but neither of us saw it. When we did find it we were able to purchase tickets for the next train that was set to leave two hours later. In the meantime we perused a few shops (the train station is more like a mall than anything else, not unlike the Gare Du Nord in Paris) and had some lunch.

The train ride to Prague went smoothly aside from a few minor details. The seating arrangements for the first part of our trip were a little odd. We were with three other people sitting around a table. It was a bit cramped, but CH didn’t seem to mind. There was a middle-aged German woman next to him who fell asleep and her head kept drifting toward his shoulder. Unfortunately for him she got off at the station in Dresden. Fortunately for the two of us though an older German man informed us that we had to switch train cars before the train left the station because they would be disconnecting our car and leaving it behind. From the train station Dresden looked to be a pretty cool city and had we not been told to switch cars we probably could have found something to do. Brad, however, would have been stuck in Prague, alone, wondering where we were.

About an hour later another disaster was averted when CH and the ticket inspector convinced me not to get off at the train station about an hour north of Prague. I remembered seeing the names of two train stations in Prague while I was researching the city and I thought we had stopped at one of them.

We finally arrived at the Holesnovice train station in Prague at about 7:30PM. At night the Holesnovice station isn’t the most comfortable place to be. It’s the smaller station in the city (think of it as Chicago Midway Airport but not as nice) and consequently gets less attention than Hlavni Nadrazi (it’s nicer older brother). The two of us played it cool though and found our way to a cab. We showed the driver the address for the hotel and he took us there. After 30 hours of traveling we were finally at our destination. Dinner, a shower and sleep capped off the night.

Study Abroad - Berlin, Germany

2009-01-10T16:12:00.004-06:00

01-08-09
Part One

It’s early…too early for me at least. I’m running on two hours of sleep and for some reason I can’t stop singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer to myself. Currently, it’s 7:50 AM and I’m sitting at my gate at Metro Airport in Detroit ready to depart for New York and then it’s off to Berlin for the MBA Study Abroad program. I’ve been anticipating this trip for quite some time.

I’m 2.5 hours early for my flight (highly unusual, but it’s nice to be able to relax at the airport). My brain doesn’t usually function well before 10:00 AM, but combine that with two hours of sleep and too many holiday cocktails over the last couple of weeks and you can imagine that it will be a long trip. I’ve been to Europe before (England, Scotland, and France), but never to Germany. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I only wish I could remember more from the German language class that my brother and I took when we were in elementary school. I can count to ten in German and then my memory fails me. My statement above about being nervous about the trip is a reference to the latest conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. There seems to be a heightened sense of distaste abroad for the US as a result of our unwavering support of Israel. So for the next ten days I’ll be masquerading as a Canadian (I did grow up close enough to the border and I do know the words to the Canadian National Anthem so I think I can pull it off).

When I travel to another country, or even a city or state I’ve never been to, I love to simply walk around or sit at a café and observe my surroundings. It’s a great experience to just lose yourself in another culture and see how other people live. You also get a chance to see how others feel about your country and its culture. It puts a lot of things into perspective and it has always challenged me to think differently.

When I get to Berlin tomorrow, my stay will be short-lived as I will be traveling to Prague, Czech Republic for two days before going back to Berlin. I will be meeting my friend CH (also in the MBA program) at the airport in Berlin and then heading to the train station. From there it is about a five hour trip to Prague. Once in Prague we will be meeting up with our friend Brad (another fellow MBA). We’re not quite sure what we’ll be doing once we get there, but that, of course, is half of the fun.

01-08-09
Part Two

It’s now hour four of my seven-hour layover at JFK in New York.
One of the worst things about my seven-hour layover is listening to the constant stream of announcements over the PA system. I’m not sure who Matthew Thomas is, but if he doesn’t find his parents at gate number 11 soon I might go crazy. There is also a guy who left his cell phone in the arrival section of the airport and they’ve been announcing it for at least an hour. I’m pretty sure he’s gone by now.

You might be asking yourself what I’ve been doing to keep busy at the airport for the last few hours. It’s not all that exciting, but I’m bored so I will divulge. I’ve walked from one end of the terminal to the other twice. Once for exercise and the other to find a bottle of Gatorade, which apparently they don’t sell here. I’ve also done a little reading but my lack of sleep has hindered my ability to get much enjoyment out of my book. I had some orange chicken for lunch and ate it with a fork because my lack of sleep wouldn’t allow me to handle the chopsticks very well. I’ve also messed around with a trial version of iWork 09 that I downloaded yesterday and I think I like it. That’s about it aside from blogging, which I’ve found enjoyable so far!

I think Matthew Thomas finally found his parents! On that note, I will stop writing and pick up again from Prague.

NOTE: I've had limited internet access so I was unable to post this the other day. Prague trip details to follow tomorrow.

Study Abroad - Mexico City

2009-01-10T11:20:00.005-06:00

It is now less than twenty four hours before I fly to Mexico City from Chicago for my one week study abroad trip at IPADE Business School in Mexico City. The prospect of being able to visit such a wonderful international city and have the ability to take business classes at a top-notch educational institution is something that I have been eagerly anticipating. In addition, the fact that I will have the opportunity to share the experience with my fellow classmates makes it all the more exciting.

This past week I have been reviewing the classes and activities that have been planned for us. I am particularly excited about the number of educational excursions that are associated with the diverse classes as well as the opportunity to associate with business students from Mexico City. I know that it is going to be a wonderful experience and a trip I will never forget.

I have enclosed a link for the IPADE Business School for your review.
http://www.ipade.mx/html/home.html