Nickname: I Love Fishes Cuz' They're So Delicious. That was a ridiculous nickname given to me when I was younger because I LOVED Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers. That's a mouthful of a nickname, so it was sometimes shortened to just "Delicious Fishes". The other day, I had a grocery cart mixup with a woman in the snack food aisle at Kroger. I ended up with her box of whole grain cheddar goldfish crackers, and in the four days since I have finished the entire box by myself. I now plan on buying a case of goldfish crackers because I don't think I'll find them on the other side of the pond. YUM!
In other news, I have discovered LBS' Portal. It's an amazing website that is chock full of useful information and resources. Since my classmates are all over the world and anxious to meet, I'm inundated with daily emails from people. There have been Paris, San Francisco, NYC, Singapore, Mumbai, London, etc. meetups but none in Texas. So, I use Portal to stay connected and stay on top of the 1,001 things that have to happen between now and August 23.
Yesterday, I found the "Items for Sale / Wanted " discussion on Portal. This is basically Craigslist. There were hundreds (maybe thousands) of posts by current LBS students and alums on things up for sale or given out for free. Toaster ovens, tickets to Whitney Houston concerts, Arsenal jerseys, special copies of The New Yorker, etc. I read through the first couple of pages and saw a post from someone who wanted to sell GBP for Moroccan dirham. That was odd. I clicked on it and realized that people use Portal to exchange currency and avoid fees (which can amount to 4%). GENIUS! I searched for "GBP USD" and came up with 50+ hits. I've never used Craigslist but decided to test this practice out. I posted a message saying I wanted to exchange $10K for GBP at the mid-market spot rate published on ft.com. In the 24 hours since, I have gotten five or six responses! I feel like a bookie and am now working out the logistics of making this multi-party deal happen. I love OTC currency markets!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Drumroll...
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” -Samuel Johnson
Well, in that case, I'm going to have a jolly good time studying at London Business School (LBS) the next two years. Yep, it's true. Come August, I'm packing up and moving to what's always been my favorite city to visit. So much has happened in the past year, and I don't understand why or how the course of events have led to this juncture. But, I have to tell myself that God is in control.
It all started last summer. When asked, "what would you do if you could do anything?", my answer was and will always be "to teach." Specifically, at the college level. With my research done and Statement of Purpose in hand, I couldn't pull the trigger on Ph.D. applications.
That setback allowed me to pursue another path however. I was fortunate to be selected for the J. Wayne Stark Northeast trip when I was a junior at Texas A&M. This was an eye-opening experience for me visiting to the top MBA and law programs in the nation. And I knew that I would like to pursue a similar education one day.
Next came the GMAT, which was a royal pain. I specifically remember taking it, walking out excited about my score, and then absentmindedly bashing my car into a pole in the parking garage when reversing. Oops! Applying to business school is expensive, and this only added to that tab. Haha! I was OK, the car was fixed, and everything worked out.
Once the school visits, GMAT, applications, interviews, and anticipation were over, I had the problem of deciding where to go. It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless. It's funny...the things you think about when applying to business school can morph on the other side. I never thought I'd actually go to LBS when I submitted my application. But, things change. Reflecting back on my 26 years, I've marched to my own drummer and taken the road less traveled. I have nothing but respect for all the schools I applied to, and I'm going to follow my heart to London. I consider myself a citizen of this world, so it's fitting to have this opportunity to study in what's commonly regarded as the capital of the world.
This decision was made at the 11th hour, and I'm announcing it now. It's exciting, humbling, and a little scary at the moment. In three months, I will be homeless, friendless, penniless, and jobless. While I love to travel, I've never lived outside of Texas. And, moving to a new country to study adds much more complexity than had I stayed here in the States. New visa standards, new cell phone, the nightmare of finding a flat in London, new student lending regulations, etc. are adding to my anxiety. Think of all the hoops we make foreigners jump through in the US. Now imagine being that person.
I once read that it's only when we operate at the edge of our limits can we exceed them. It's so true. The immediate example that pops to mind is this crazy weightlifting regimen I started last summer to get stronger. The first time I could only bench the bar four times. Now, I can handle four sets of 15 (2x decline, 2x regular)! That saying stuck with me, and I'm adopting it as my M.O.
I predict that LBS is going to be a transformational experience. It makes me giddy. LBS is truly international (91% of students come from outside the UK). My classmate Kunil sent out a voluntary online survey to round II admits and published the results.
Well, in that case, I'm going to have a jolly good time studying at London Business School (LBS) the next two years. Yep, it's true. Come August, I'm packing up and moving to what's always been my favorite city to visit. So much has happened in the past year, and I don't understand why or how the course of events have led to this juncture. But, I have to tell myself that God is in control.
It all started last summer. When asked, "what would you do if you could do anything?", my answer was and will always be "to teach." Specifically, at the college level. With my research done and Statement of Purpose in hand, I couldn't pull the trigger on Ph.D. applications.
That setback allowed me to pursue another path however. I was fortunate to be selected for the J. Wayne Stark Northeast trip when I was a junior at Texas A&M. This was an eye-opening experience for me visiting to the top MBA and law programs in the nation. And I knew that I would like to pursue a similar education one day.
Next came the GMAT, which was a royal pain. I specifically remember taking it, walking out excited about my score, and then absentmindedly bashing my car into a pole in the parking garage when reversing. Oops! Applying to business school is expensive, and this only added to that tab. Haha! I was OK, the car was fixed, and everything worked out.
Once the school visits, GMAT, applications, interviews, and anticipation were over, I had the problem of deciding where to go. It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless. It's funny...the things you think about when applying to business school can morph on the other side. I never thought I'd actually go to LBS when I submitted my application. But, things change. Reflecting back on my 26 years, I've marched to my own drummer and taken the road less traveled. I have nothing but respect for all the schools I applied to, and I'm going to follow my heart to London. I consider myself a citizen of this world, so it's fitting to have this opportunity to study in what's commonly regarded as the capital of the world.
This decision was made at the 11th hour, and I'm announcing it now. It's exciting, humbling, and a little scary at the moment. In three months, I will be homeless, friendless, penniless, and jobless. While I love to travel, I've never lived outside of Texas. And, moving to a new country to study adds much more complexity than had I stayed here in the States. New visa standards, new cell phone, the nightmare of finding a flat in London, new student lending regulations, etc. are adding to my anxiety. Think of all the hoops we make foreigners jump through in the US. Now imagine being that person.
I once read that it's only when we operate at the edge of our limits can we exceed them. It's so true. The immediate example that pops to mind is this crazy weightlifting regimen I started last summer to get stronger. The first time I could only bench the bar four times. Now, I can handle four sets of 15 (2x decline, 2x regular)! That saying stuck with me, and I'm adopting it as my M.O.
I predict that LBS is going to be a transformational experience. It makes me giddy. LBS is truly international (91% of students come from outside the UK). My classmate Kunil sent out a voluntary online survey to round II admits and published the results.
- In the 104 responses, we have 62 countries represented. Unreal.
- 25% female - that's going to make finding Prince Charming much easier :)
- The average age (28) is two years older than me. I was the youngest in my graduate program at Texas A&M, so this aspect won't be new to me.
And, I get to live in London. As a gift from the school, I received a Lonely Planet guide to London. Time to bring out the highlighters and start marking it up!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
