Fitting a square peg in a round hole
My flight out of Auckland was delayed by 90 minutes, which meant I missed my connection to New York, so now I'm waiting at the Admirals Club at Los Angeles International Airport waiting for a later flight. The reason for the delay: Qantas had leased a British Airways plane for the Auckland to Los Angeles sector, but the catering company in Auckland hadn't been told. As a result, they'd prepared all the meals to fit the compartments of a Qantas 747 which is apparently slightly different to a British Airways 747. Aaaah, the beauty of outsourcing.
Thursday, August 29, 2002
New Zealand wrap-up
Well, it's about an hour to go before I fly out to the U.S. I'm in the Qantas Club in Auckland, catching up on emails, and getting a few things organised for next week. Today is a looong day of travel. I started at 4:15 this morning in Queenstown, having had just 2 hours sleep. Seven hour drive from Queenstown to Christchurch, send-off lunch and hug session with Saj, Gretel, and Stephenie at Christchurch airport, quick flight to Auckland, three hours at the Qantas Club in Auckland, then I fly to Los Angeles, and connect through to New York. All up, I think it'll be a 32-hour day. Here's hoping I can get some sleep on the long flight across the Pacific.
Well, it's about an hour to go before I fly out to the U.S. I'm in the Qantas Club in Auckland, catching up on emails, and getting a few things organised for next week. Today is a looong day of travel. I started at 4:15 this morning in Queenstown, having had just 2 hours sleep. Seven hour drive from Queenstown to Christchurch, send-off lunch and hug session with Saj, Gretel, and Stephenie at Christchurch airport, quick flight to Auckland, three hours at the Qantas Club in Auckland, then I fly to Los Angeles, and connect through to New York. All up, I think it'll be a 32-hour day. Here's hoping I can get some sleep on the long flight across the Pacific.
My week in New Zealand has been absolutely incredible. The mountain scenery is absolutely stunning - snow-capped peaks for miles around, beautiful sunsets, and shimmering lakes. The snow is impeccable - over a metre deep at The Remarkables, awesome powder which made for pleasurable skiing. I don't know how I've survived all these years putting up with the Australian ski-fields. New Zealand is in a class of its own. Of course, the experience was complemented by the fact that I was staying in a nice hotel, dining out for breakfast and dinner every day, and sharing the experience with three of my closest friends.
Now it's off to New York to begin a new chapter in my life. This will be the first time I have ever *lived* overseas. It should prove to be a very interesting, and hopefully rewarding, experience.
Tuesday, August 27, 2002
New Zealand rocks!!
I'm in New Zealand this week, staying in Queenstown and skiing at the Remarkables. The weather has been a bit up and down, but we've had some incredible skiing, tubing, luging, dining, and drinking. Alas, it's nearly over, but I'm comforted by the fact that my next destination is New York City!!
I'm in New Zealand this week, staying in Queenstown and skiing at the Remarkables. The weather has been a bit up and down, but we've had some incredible skiing, tubing, luging, dining, and drinking. Alas, it's nearly over, but I'm comforted by the fact that my next destination is New York City!!
Thursday, August 22, 2002
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Tuesday, August 20, 2002
After the Bubbly Days, the Financial Hangover Sets In
[Financial Mail - South Africa 19.07.2002]
"Didata's share price has declined sharply in recent weeks, bringing its losses for the year to more than 60%. It has collapsed by 93% since its peak in 2000, when it was SA's third-largest listed company by market capitalisation (it is now barely in the top 40). Didata's misfortunes are a classic tale of the excesses of the technology bubble, where companies used expensive paper to buy other companies at premiums that look ludicrous today."
[Financial Mail - South Africa 19.07.2002]
"Didata's share price has declined sharply in recent weeks, bringing its losses for the year to more than 60%. It has collapsed by 93% since its peak in 2000, when it was SA's third-largest listed company by market capitalisation (it is now barely in the top 40). Didata's misfortunes are a classic tale of the excesses of the technology bubble, where companies used expensive paper to buy other companies at premiums that look ludicrous today."
Facelift for Columbia Business School - Students website
Alas, it's just a front. Once you follow any of the links, you're back to the old, ugly, inconsistent content. I get the feeling there's a lot of manual work involved in producing the many parts of the CBS website. Perhaps I could instigate a big IT project while I'm over there, and help them revitalise the entire site. Pity IT spending is waaaay down in organisations this year.
Alas, it's just a front. Once you follow any of the links, you're back to the old, ugly, inconsistent content. I get the feeling there's a lot of manual work involved in producing the many parts of the CBS website. Perhaps I could instigate a big IT project while I'm over there, and help them revitalise the entire site. Pity IT spending is waaaay down in organisations this year.
T minus 3 days...
This is my last 'day off' before the transition to New York begins. I say 'day off' in that I haven't got any exams today, so I have the full day available to study and prepare for New York. I have two exams tomorrow though, and their probably going to be the most difficult out of the four this week, so it's going to be a fairly intensive day of study. The excitement associated with my upcoming ski trip in New Zealand and the prospect of studying at Columbia are making it difficult to focus on this week's MBS exams though. Perhaps I should leave the computer lab, and head for the library...
This is my last 'day off' before the transition to New York begins. I say 'day off' in that I haven't got any exams today, so I have the full day available to study and prepare for New York. I have two exams tomorrow though, and their probably going to be the most difficult out of the four this week, so it's going to be a fairly intensive day of study. The excitement associated with my upcoming ski trip in New Zealand and the prospect of studying at Columbia are making it difficult to focus on this week's MBS exams though. Perhaps I should leave the computer lab, and head for the library...
Monday, August 19, 2002
Sydney photography
In preparation for my big trip to New York, I've been scanning hundreds of my photos for electronic storage and viewing on my laptop. Here's two of my favourites from recent visits to Sydney:
View from Stephenie's apartment, July 2002
View from Point Piper, August 2001
In preparation for my big trip to New York, I've been scanning hundreds of my photos for electronic storage and viewing on my laptop. Here's two of my favourites from recent visits to Sydney:
View from Stephenie's apartment, July 2002
View from Point Piper, August 2001
2 down, 3 to go
Valuation & Financial Analysis exam went okay. Way too much maths though, and not enough opportunity to provide insight. There was only one question that I couldn't answer, so hopefully I'll end up with around 85-90%. Should be enough to balance out the mediocre marks that I'll end up with in Economics and Law. Next exam: Wednesday morning. (4 days 'til I leave the country)
Valuation & Financial Analysis exam went okay. Way too much maths though, and not enough opportunity to provide insight. There was only one question that I couldn't answer, so hopefully I'll end up with around 85-90%. Should be enough to balance out the mediocre marks that I'll end up with in Economics and Law. Next exam: Wednesday morning. (4 days 'til I leave the country)
Sunday, August 18, 2002
Playing with the BOSS
Subject selection at Columbia uses a fairly involved bidding system known as BOSS (Business Online Subject Selection). Each student is allocated 2250 points, and we have to distribute them amongst the five subjects/professors for which we'd like to enrol. The catch is that some subject are very popular, requiring 1000 points to get in, whereas for others a mere 1 point is required. I can't reveal my points allocation yet, since the bidding is still open and I don't want to be outbid, but the subjects that I've put myself down for are:
It's very finance dominated, I know, but that's intentional. Columbia is pretty much the centre of the finance universe. The people that I'm reading about in the articles and textbooks for my VFA course here in Melbourne actually teach at Columbia (as well as working on Wall Street). If all goes well, I'll come back home a financial genius.
Subject selection at Columbia uses a fairly involved bidding system known as BOSS (Business Online Subject Selection). Each student is allocated 2250 points, and we have to distribute them amongst the five subjects/professors for which we'd like to enrol. The catch is that some subject are very popular, requiring 1000 points to get in, whereas for others a mere 1 point is required. I can't reveal my points allocation yet, since the bidding is still open and I don't want to be outbid, but the subjects that I've put myself down for are:
- Advanced Corporate Finance
- Debt Markets
- Options Markets
- Investment Banking, and
- Introduction to Venturing
It's very finance dominated, I know, but that's intentional. Columbia is pretty much the centre of the finance universe. The people that I'm reading about in the articles and textbooks for my VFA course here in Melbourne actually teach at Columbia (as well as working on Wall Street). If all goes well, I'll come back home a financial genius.
Bring on the exams
I had a take-home exam last week for my Project Management intensive subject, which took me a total of 35 hours to complete! Real exams start later this morning, and run through to Thursday. Here's the basic schedule:
I've spent most of the weekend studying for the VFA exam, plus doing some reading from the EPP textbook, and analysing the case study for Business Strategy (I'll reveal which case it is after I've completed the exam). Business Law is the subject that's been suffering from lack of study attention. I'll put in 5 hours tonight, and maybe another 5 hours tomorrow, and that'll have to suffice.
I had a take-home exam last week for my Project Management intensive subject, which took me a total of 35 hours to complete! Real exams start later this morning, and run through to Thursday. Here's the basic schedule:
- Mon 9:00am - Valuation & Financial Analysis (60%) (closed book)
- Wed 9:00am - Economics & Public Policy (60%) (closed book)
- Wed 1:30pm - Business Law (45%) (open book)
- Thu 9:00am - Business Strategy (40%) (semi-open book; we've already received the case study, and we're allowed to write all over it)
I've spent most of the weekend studying for the VFA exam, plus doing some reading from the EPP textbook, and analysing the case study for Business Strategy (I'll reveal which case it is after I've completed the exam). Business Law is the subject that's been suffering from lack of study attention. I'll put in 5 hours tonight, and maybe another 5 hours tomorrow, and that'll have to suffice.
When worlds collide
Ok, so I've been really slack keeping the site up to date these past few weeks. I hope you'll forgive me. I've been running at 110%, studying, preparing for exchange, and flying back and forward to Sydney. I've probably been averaging around 4 - 5 hrs sleep. We're at T minus 5 days now, and with the exception of exams, I'm pretty much ready for my move to New York.
But "it's all good". I'm enjoying every minute of it, and I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Ok, so I've been really slack keeping the site up to date these past few weeks. I hope you'll forgive me. I've been running at 110%, studying, preparing for exchange, and flying back and forward to Sydney. I've probably been averaging around 4 - 5 hrs sleep. We're at T minus 5 days now, and with the exception of exams, I'm pretty much ready for my move to New York.
Life has been pretty amazing these past few weeks. In essence, my worlds have been colliding.
- Melbourne Adrian and Sydney Adrian are becoming one, with my Sydney-based girlfriend recently meeting up with my Melbourne-based friends.
- Online Adrian and Melbourne Business School Adrian have been revealed as the same person, with various students and faculty from MBS finally discovering my website.
- Family Adrian and relationship Adrian have come together with my Auntie recently joining a group of friends (including my girlfriend) at a dinner in Sydney, and
- 1980s Melbourne Adrian, early 1990s Darwin Adrian, and late 1990s/early 2000s Adrian all got together for a big farewell/birthday dinner in Sydney last Thursday.
But "it's all good". I'm enjoying every minute of it, and I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Friday, August 09, 2002
T minus 14 days....
Two weeks to go!! Woo hoo!! Life's about to get very interesting. I've received my accommodation allocation for New York. I'll be living on the corner of 113th St and Broadway, just one block from the Columbia campus. The building I'll be living in is over 100 years old, and I'll have my own furnished room with a shared bathroom down the hall. Move in scheduled for August 30th, although I've booked a hotel room through to the 31st just in case. Visa, plane tickets, insurance, accommodation - looks like I'm all set now.
Two weeks to go!! Woo hoo!! Life's about to get very interesting. I've received my accommodation allocation for New York. I'll be living on the corner of 113th St and Broadway, just one block from the Columbia campus. The building I'll be living in is over 100 years old, and I'll have my own furnished room with a shared bathroom down the hall. Move in scheduled for August 30th, although I've booked a hotel room through to the 31st just in case. Visa, plane tickets, insurance, accommodation - looks like I'm all set now.
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