My Musings

I have been wanting to write to you for the last 2 months. I was so incredibly busy doing nothing that I just could not make it. Just like 2007 year end post this has to be a review of 2008, the year that went by. For most part 2008 was the way I had expected. Unbridled optimism and Zest for life ruled the mood. There was a lot of travel that was to happen. In the 2nd week of Jan I went to Shanghai and witnessed the first snow fall. After wrapping up the last semester in Hong Kong I was to fly to London to study at LBS! The four months was nothing short of being spectacular. I truly witnessed what world class elite education was all about. I had also started feeling like a global citizen by then not bound by any boundaries. Then I was to fly back to Hong Kong and the anxiety of job hunting was looming large. Had a fair share of regret letters, rejections etc. Later a bank job in Vietnam with an incredible pay was the highlight of the 2nd part of the year. I came back to India in Augus...

I have been meaning to right here for a very long time.. Most of you would know that I have moved on from the "those were the best days of my life" phase to a more mundane and routine job of a banker in a not so mundane & routine country. This country has a history that was the tumultuous, Geography shapeless & economics ridiculous! Good morning Vietnam – Factiva for the uninitiated This is my 3 rd month in Vietnam. On the exterior Vietnam would remind you of India in more ways than one but the façade is misleading! Through the best part of the 20th century the country's main occupation was to fight. Vietnam is the only country that can boast of warring 3 permanent members of the UN Security Council and "Supposedly" winning all of them. Vietnam was America's first nemesis. The story of the Impossible – "Yes we can" Vietnam was the Afghanistan of the 1980's. Predicted to be in the darkest doldrums of the world civilization forever...

It's an Ordinary life Its not difficult to guess. The LBS chapter has come to an End. I am flying to Hong Kong tomorrow . The last 4 months were truly spectacular. I enjoyed the classes, seminars & conferences thoroughly. I don't know of any other community that could have been more diverse than London Business School in particular or London in General. Through classes, seminars and other events, LBS continuously proved its desire to be known as an pre eminent business school. My favorite classes were undoubtedly Raman Uppal's International Finance and Markus Reitzig's Strategic Innovation. Raman made an unforgettable speech about "living an ordinary life". Since then my thought and worry has not been about getting a job and settling down but it has been about not living an ordinary life. However on the downside, I still don't feel a part of the LBS community. I don't think I would be very involved with the LBS's outstanding Alumni ...

I am back after a tidy break. Lof of water has flown by in the last 1 month. I can only claim to have thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the freshness that is London. LBS is situated right opposite to Regent's park. There is greenery as far as your eye can set its sight. The climate is a little moody but that adds to the London life.Most of my expectations are well met, I should admit. As it is I am quite impresionable but even the not so easy to please fellas were floored by what London Business School had to offer. First the Campus, albeit not big but clean and beautiful. I love the lawn opposite the school and the view to the duck Pond from the school. The profs were worth all the hype that I had created with in me. The quality of class discussion I guess is a few notches above what we had seen at HKU. The diversity is in the air. Wont harp on it too much but to make a case in point. My team consists of a German, Mexican, Russian and Filipino. By the way I am the only male in the tea...

Dear loved one's back home, Last few weeks of this MBAttle has been melodramatic to say the least. There had been enough time to introspect and reflect the roller coaster ride. The last day of the class was as usual touchy. The usual Yada-wada on "it was great knowing you" " I am sure you will have a bright future" and so on. However there was another dimension that only a global MBA could offer "If ever you come to Beijing you know you have a friend to call" replace the city with Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels, New york, Taipei and Bangalore. You get a kick in knowing that your network is quiet stretched. But all you really want is at the end of the day catch these guys for a drink down the street (Only Coffee!). An Anonymous student distributed(Through the MBA Office) roses to all the girls in the class. My bet is it has to be a European student. Nobody has the geniality, grace and touch with women as the Europeans do....

Dear loved one's back home (This is the easiest line to write!) Countdown for HK party has begun. We have another 27 days to leave Hong Kong. There is palpable excitement in the class. Some of us have put London Business School in the Altar and are near worshipping it. Chinese are actually nervous since for many this will be the first time they will be going to an English speaking country. We had a few speakers (Britishers) who have given us a talk on life in London, how to behave, how to eat, what to talk and what not to talk. If that was not enough, some LBS Profs have emailed introducing them and instructing us on the course outline. From whatever little I have seen the faculty at LBS has some class! Did I mention that LBS was ranked no 2 B School in th world by financial times? Forgive me I have this tendency to sound a little repetitive, and whoever spoke about modesty, forgive me I dont understand the meaning :) The China and India Factor The world over, there is this cur...

Dear loved one's back home, I have just returned from Shanghai and feel compelled like many other travellers before to become a self confessed chinophile. The university arranged a 1 week tour to visit Shanghai and learn about business in China. China has been a nemesis for many western business investors. Many of them with dollars in their eyes have burnt their fingers doing business in this sea of little people . I am so sorry, I am a vegetarian I am now quiet capable of writing a book on the life of a vegetarian in China. On my trip to Shanghai I was literally treated like a handicap. A special needs person. I was given a small chit by the faculty coordinator that said in Chinese "I am a vegetarian, I only eat vegetables, grains, plant, fruit and rice." Do look at the photo attached. She simply said you MIGHT survive with this! While my Prof. and others assured me, "don't worry you will be fine". For the people who didn't know th...