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IMBA 2006 Blogs
posts from 2008/2009 IMBA students around the world

Recently Posted…

  1. Ben's first haircut 31 Aug 2010 | 12:32am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Kristen, Josh, and Ben

    Before:






    After:


  2. Epilogue 3 - Awesome Beer Pour 23 Aug 2010 | 2:03pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on Finding Japan

    beer.jpg

    So I sat down this evening to get my Logic setup all ready for another podcast, and I just couldn’t sit down and belt out some audio tonight. So instead, we do a video.

    A co-worker join myself and Linda for dinner the other night at a fabulous german beer hall restaurant in Hamamatsu-chou on Friday night. The beer was great, and the sausage was fantastic. And the beer was poured very stylistically. Enjoy!

  3. Two Job Interviews This Week 3 Jul 2010 | 4:29pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on Scott Laronge

    Companies are located less than a mile apart, both are in tech manufacturing, and the job responsibilities are quite similar.  Let’s hope one of these two goes well enough.

  4. The Brown Family Cookie Decorating Contest Awards, December 2009 13 Jun 2010 | 10:01pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on Uploads by sbrown3585

    This cracked me up when I looked back at it....had to share it online for the other fambly members!
    Views: 34
    1 ratings
    Time: 01:23 More in People & Blogs
  5. Epilogue 2 - Video Coffee Machine 13 Jun 2010 | 5:59am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Finding Japan

    Picture 1.jpeg

    You can be in Japan for many years and still see something new every day. This was the case when Linda and I recently noticed a new type of coffee machine at our local hospital here. Apparently this coffee machine shows a multi-angle live video feed of how your coffee is being prepared inside the machine. We’re quite sure its legit too since my coffee cup had a different color than the customer before me.

    And the coffee itself? Amazing! If you are ever in Saint Lukes hospital in the Tsukiji area, hit this machine up!

  6. Mommyblog post 29 Apr 2010 | 6:21am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Scott Laronge

    матрациSo about a month ago my parents bought a new stove/oven from Sears.  It’s nice to have five functional burners that don’t need a match to start the flame, but the company forgot to include a broiler pan along with the unit.  Dad ended up calling the company twice to get one shipped off, apparently the first agent just placated us and put in a phantom order that the second couldn’t find.  And the second agent took us quite literally and shipped us the broiler pan itself, and not the grill that goes on top.

    Instead of calling to get some other runaround, we decided to visit the Sears store.  The lack of personnel on the floor was an advantage to us, as the only salesdude working was off to try to find a manager for us and help the other two couples out shopping.  While he was doing that, I was going through the floor models looking for the top half of a grill pan.  After finding one, we swapped out the half-product we were given for the full-product we should have gotten and was walking out when the salesfellow tried to flag us down and tell us a manager would be there shortly.

    Instead, we just waved him off and walked out the door before they could figure out what happened and try to get some sort of security to stop us.  I think I’m finally learning that dealing with call-center agents and just taking what I need when no one else is around to help is actually the most productive method.

  7. All That Glitters 28 Apr 2010 | 12:37am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Scott Laronge

    Long before I became a stockbroker, I was interested in the markets.  And thankfully I had a grandfather who grew up during the Great Depression and worked as an engineer.  When he retired, he focused his energies on learning the stockmarket.  He sent me a letter when I was a kid once, and I eventually photocopied it and hung it up at my cube.  It said “When you buy a stock, you buy it because you think it is going up in value.  But remember that you’re buying it from someone that doesn’t.”

    This seems to be a lesson that Senator Levin is missing due to his Goldman Sachs hearings.  This isn’t even a caveat emptor situation, there were plenty of people that thought the housing market is going up.  And trying to blame GS for finding a way to sell that product is misguided.  But that it’s a Congressional matter that someone lost money when someone else made it is absurd.  I sure as hell hope the guy that bought my first house doesn’t have some political friends, because I don’t fell like testifying why I sold my house at the peak to someone else that was willing to buy it.

  8. Epilogue 1 - Long Overdue Update 11 Apr 2010 | 2:51am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Finding Japan

    episode65.jpeg

    Hey everyone. Thanks for writing and for all of the comments and support. I figured it was well overdue and time for me to provide an update for what has been going on. In this episode, I take some time to address the gaps, give a brief update on our lives and adventures, and explain why things have been taking so long. We talk a bit about the last year and what’s changed and what is to come. Enjoy!

  9. OK, so it's not the end... 8 Apr 2010 | 8:36am GMT
    [ Open article ] on New Perspectives...

    I don't live in China for the time being, so it felt strange to write on a blog address called "Experiencing China." Here's where you can read all my posts, both new and old!


    http://watchorlive.blogspot.com/
  10. Happy Easter! 4 Apr 2010 | 8:06pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on Kristen, Josh, and Ben


    Easter egg hunt!

    Ben's pal Steven...


    Picking up eggs...

    and putting them in his basket.





    All this stuff for me?!

    Ben loves books!



  11. Happy Friday 2 Apr 2010 | 3:21pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on Kristen, Josh, and Ben


    If you need me, I'll be sipping tea out here while Ben toddles (is that a word?) around the yard picking up leaves and sticks, pointing at squirrels, and stomping on my pansies (his new favorite activities).

    Followed by lunch in the garden enjoying this beautiful weather.

    Cheers!
  12. Quality of Life Index 2010 19 Jan 2010 | 2:44am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Welcome to Dave's Journeys

    I ran across a list that was recently published. It shows which countries have the highest quality of life, based on several factors. Check it out: Quality of Life Index 2010.

    You may have guessed that the US is not at the top of the list. France, Australia, and Switzerland come in at the top, while the US came in at 7th place. Compared to the top countries whom placed ahead of us, we scored lower in: Leisure & Culture, Economy, Environment, Freedom, and Health. Certainly the Europeans have more vacation, have better awareness of their actions on the environment, and have universal health care, but I was surprised at the lower scores on Freedom and the Economy. First, their economies suffered just as badly as ours in the recent crisis, so I am not sure what makes it better. Also, since many citizens and foreigners look at the US as a "free" nation, I am little surprised at the lower score for Freedom, but then I am reminded of the Patriot Act or other measures that our government has taken in the last several years that have taken away some of our privacy and freedom.

    I think the end of the list is just as interesting as the top. Make sure you scroll to the bottom to see which countries we probably would never even want to go visit. They are fighting an uphill battle.
  13. Transcending in love..... Transformation or Metamorphosis? 16 Jan 2010 | 6:34am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Palmetto Boy


    Is it possible to talk out LOUD! my personal transformation after marriage.. Would my better half be happy about it... My perplexed life transcending in love... asked millions of questions before making this blog entry..I realized a lot about myself after marriage.. It is like you are walking in front of a mirror that speaks.. reveals your true self "Niravana!!"hmmmm not bad.. I realized so many things after marriage about myself.. some pleasant some not so.. what do it.. I guess it is a transformation cannot be a metamorphosis!!

    I realized something that surpass my deeper thoughts of imagination.. to be honest power of love transforms any soul!! i guess it is a destiny that is predefined for everyone.. no matter who you are where you are from... every time you commit something STUPID! it starts like small prick in heart.. slowly these voodoo of needles pierce so hard that it doesn't hurt anymore.. something happens in your fundamental behaviour.. A PARADIGM.. shift.. A trasformation... like a butterfly out of PUPA!! you mature into love.... it is never a metamorphosis...... a PAINFUL but sweet transformation to a better Human!!.. I Loving it!!!
  14. Winter 2009 11 Jan 2010 | 1:53am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Welcome to Dave's Journeys

  15. Aunt Net's Birthday 13 Nov 2009 | 12:00am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Uploads by sbrown3585

    Views: 46
    0 ratings
    Time: 01:01 More in Travel & Events
  16. Haymed and Enka Lake Triathlons 3 Jul 2009 | 12:45am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Welcome to Dave's Journeys

    This year I have been training for various races and having a bunch of fun. About a month ago, I ran a 22 min. 5K, which is the lowest I have done in 10 years or more. Here are some pictures of the two triathlons I have done this year.



  17. PERHAPS THE BEST NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO EVER 9 Jun 2009 | 3:38pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on My life in pictures


    PERHAPS THE BEST NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO EVER
    Originally uploaded by adifromusa
    Adrian Rusu
    www.linkedin.com/in/adrianrusu
    akilliano.blogspot.com

    "3rd law of thermodynamics: things go worse under pressure."

    >
    >

    Adrian Rusu
    Moore School of Business
    University of South Carolina
    IMBA Chinese Track, Class of 2009
    adrian_rusu@moore.sc.edu
  18. PERHAPS THE BEST NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO EVER 9 Jun 2009 | 3:38pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on My life in pictures


    PERHAPS THE BEST NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO EVER
    Originally uploaded by adifromusa
    Adrian Rusu
    www.linkedin.com/in/adrianrusu
    akilliano.blogspot.com

    "3rd law of thermodynamics: things go worse under pressure."

    >
    >

    Adrian Rusu
    Moore School of Business
    University of South Carolina
    IMBA Chinese Track, Class of 2009
    adrian_rusu@moore.sc.edu
  19. Testing 31 May 2009 | 1:47pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on My life in a blog

    Just trying to see how this works. I am back on the blogging scene.


    These are some great tepaniakki prawn shrimps i had today. The guy was peeling them off with a knife. Wow!

    -- Post From My iPhone
  20. The End! 17 May 2009 | 4:58pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on New Perspectives...

    I've left Beijing and I don't know when I'll be back...and that is so hard to say out loud. Leaving Beijing was one of the toughest and most emotional things I've done in a long time. An intense outpouring of love from my friends made me realize how much I loved the city, the people I met there, and how I had more friends in that city than in any other single location in the world. As Rory reminded me, "Don't be sad that it's over, just be glad that it happened!" We are all made of different chapters, and they open and close with the flow of life. My Beijing chapter has just finished, but I know that China will always beckon me back and I will find time for it again and again. Thank you, thank you, thank you to China, Beijing and every person that I have grown to know and love there! I can't wait to see you all again!

    For now I am closing the "Experiencing China" blog, as I would be doing it injustice because I am no longer living there. I graduated with an International MBA degree and accepted my first job in the United States. However, it is with a global company so I will definitely be able to enjoy various cultures and seek out the new perspectives that so often drove this blog. As an ending note, I've included some of the graduation pictures. So long for now, it sure has been fun sharing life with all of you! 再见朋友们!


    These are most of my classmates that did the Chinese track of the IMBA!


    My Family (minus Kelsey)


    And my Aunt and dear friend Courtney that also trekked to Columbia to watch the graduation!
  21. End of April 2009 in Beijing 14 May 2009 | 12:31am GMT
    [ Open article ] on New Perspectives...

    The end of April in Beijing brought with it beautiful weather and fun outside! First stop: Boating with Rory and the gang!

    We got 10 people on the electric boat!

    And puttered around the lakes in Houhai, all is green in Beijing!

    It was also my last month to enjoy some of the favorite Chinese foods! This is what a typical spicy soup for Hot Pot looks like! You cook the raw meat and vegetables in the red pot, dip it in the peanut sauce in the front and enjoy! Mmmm.

    Rory's adopted Chinese family also invited us for a lovely homemade dinner!

    And last but not least...flowers! Everything started blooming so it was time to trek out to the many parks in Beijing and take pictures with the flowers!
  22. Spring into....something. 29 Mar 2009 | 5:53pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on And...I'm Out.

    The real question is how many blogs I can start with "still in limbo"? I keep thinking things can't get weirder, but they do. This week we had one person, ONE, on vacation and it was nuts at work keeping up with his work and my work. It's a scary vision of the future if one more person leaves. Unless that person is me:) Just kidding. Even though I would be excited to start something new or move somewhere new or you know, actually KNOW what my life would be like next month, I would feel awful to leave my team with all the extra work. At this point, if someone else leaves the work would be almost insurmountable.

    The lady who sits in the cube next to me got let go on friday. The mood was not what you would expect. She was ECSTATIC. She was jumping up and down and whooping. It definitely made getting let go seem like more of a reality. Anyways, the rumor is that more people are getting let go in April. scary.

    The good news is I may have convinced my boss to let me move to either Dallas or DC and continue doing my current job. He has to figure out if it's legal for me to work at a verizon office if I'm technically working for both verizon and alltel. The other good news is I'm having lots of interviews with verizon for other positions, so hopefully one of those will come to fruition soon.

    In non-work related news, my 10 mile cherry blossom run is next week! I get to go to DC and visit with my friends natallie and kate whom I love to death. It should be really fun minus the body beating I'm going to take at the race. I think I'm ready though. Then, after that I work for a few days and then leave to go visit the Lequires and see their beautiful new baby and play at the beach in charleston. It should definitely be a great time!
  23. In limbo - still 23 Feb 2009 | 12:51am GMT
    [ Open article ] on And...I'm Out.

    Who knew that my life would be in limbo for the entire time I've lived here?

    It's really interesting to be on the inside of a merger. I randomly took a class in grad school about mergers and aquisitions. We analyzed completed mergers and labeled them successful or unsuccessful and decided whether "synergies" were acheived. I never thought I would be on the other side as an employee. It's absolutely insane. Every single day is different. Some days I have nothing to do and I get two emails, but other days I am running around trying to get info for verizon and run the alltel side of the business. My media content team went from 12 to 5. Everyone has left and it feels like a ghost town on my floor. Friends who used to work next to me have been divested, moved to another building and no longer have access to my building. I have to be careful about what I say. I am classified as a shared resource which means I work for alltel and verizon. I can't tell verizon about alltel info and I can't tell alltel about verizon info. It gets really complicated when you have alltel, shared and verizon employees all in the same meeting.

    The worst part is I have no new information besides that I am now a verizon employee and my benefits are changing. I still have no idea when or if my job is going away. I have heard everything from may to september to you'll be an employee forever if I have my way. It's incredibly disheartening. How are you supposed to plan your life? How do you even sign a lease? make vacation plans? know how much you need to save? How do you establish relationships if you're leaving?

    As I said before, people are dropping like flies. Members of my team are now handling the jobs of three people when they were already super busy with the one position. My boss is leaving, her boss left already, and my new boss lives and works in dallas. So who do I even report to right now? It has been difficult to engage our counterparts at Verizon, but it seems to be coming together finally. Emails are getting answered and phone calls have been set up.

    The good news is my fear has grown into apathy. I have accepted that I don't know my future at all. I'm trying to just take it day by day.
  24. Write Chinese, 写中文 18 Feb 2009 | 5:14am GMT
    [ Open article ] on My life in a blog


    我今天发现了，我的博客有几个月没有写最新的信息了。对我博友来说，可能只有一个或者两个人，真不好意思。今天我们班的老师强迫我们写一篇文章，放在我博客上。真好...她给我一个好机会：继续跟大家谈谈我最新的历险记。我现在打算每周写一篇。

    是这样，你们已经理解：不是我没经历过新的情况，就是安排时间的问题。

    我现在在新加坡，是新加坡国家大学的交换学生。我准备今年五月底毕业南卡罗莱纳大学的MBA。还差几个月，我还没决定我以后要做什么。我不紧张，慢慢来。。。

    It's been a while since I last wrote a Chinese or blog entry. I planned to start again, but somehow I never found the right time, resources or inspiration. When I had inspiration, I didn't have time and so on... Today, our Chinese professor pushed us into keeping a blog in Chinese. I though this is a good chance to get back into the blogging mood so here I am. Sorry to all the readers out there, one or two of them, who still read this... I am back and plan to write once a week at least.

    Latest news: I'm in Singapore, exchange student at NUS, bound to graduate from USC in May with an IMBA degree. Still unsure where the period after May will take me, but I am not worried as I know something good is going to happen.

    Please excuse my broken Chinese or English for that matter.
  25. Next Step in my life - Marriage.... 17 Feb 2009 | 2:50pm GMT
    [ Open article ] on Palmetto Boy




    I always wondered whether I will have love marriage or traditional indian arranged marriage

    Yes! I am having arranged marriage. I know you all must have million question how does it works How can you fall in love for someone whom you have never met. How can parents choose? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I understand all the questions.. but I just want to tell u that I know for sure when I talked to Vidyaa for the first time.. she is the one.. dont ask me how why.. but it is the way I felt.. I did try a bit of western along with Indian.. i did partially surprise her with an engagement ring... :-) She loved it!!! I will try to update this blog from now on about my journey to next Orbit!! bachelor to married man! :-)
  26. Video- Food market Phuket 19 Jan 2009 | 7:18am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Uploads by sbrown3585

    A brief walk-through of the Phuket Town Night Market in Thailand. I just enjoyed the colorfulness and the variety of each stall!
    Views: 605
    1 ratings
    Time: 02:41 More in Travel & Events
  27. At Aunt Fay's Request... 15 Dec 2008 | 11:22am GMT
    [ Open article ] on And...I'm Out.

    So, apparently some people (at least within my family) actually read my blog and at aunt fay's request, I am going to start blogging again....starting NOW.

    This has been a crazy six months. I graduated in may, moved the dog and my stuff to little rock, started a new job, made new friends, got adult furniture, learned new things, the usual life changing ridiculousness. Of course as my luck goes, three days after I started working it was announced to everyone's surprise that we were getting bought. That kicked off a whirlwind of emotions and very few actual answers. I have heard a dozen different dates, but it seems now that Verizon has the financing to move forward and that the date of the merger close should be sometime in january.

    Initially, the idea of merging was scary and it will never be ideal, especially in light of our economic status and rampant layoffs across the country. But, after you've mulled over your impending doom and joblessness for six months, you start to come up with a life plan. I don't know if I'll have a job with Verizon, I don't know if I'll lose my job in Little Rock (although it seems pretty likely), I don't even know when anything will actually occur or when I'll even know what my future will be. Yikes! That is the part I'm trying not to dwell on. The good news is that I'm educated and mobile and I have to think that things will be ok. I have a good job right now and a little time to save up for possible joblessness. I have decided that if I do lose my job, I will pick a new place to live and find a temp agency and work until I find something permanent. Franklin may have to adjust his taste for stuffed animals and doggy day care, but other than that, I think we'll be alright.

    The sad part is that I really love the people I work with and I truly enjoy my job. It's interesting and challenging and I have a boss that cares about her workers. I've been impressed with how willing everyone at work has been to help each other out. We pass around job postings and trade contacts, offer reccommendations and send out resumes. It remains a good atmosphere to work in and it is only slightly annoying when teams that are not as busy as mine hold fooseball tournaments by the elevators. It is nice, afterall, to have the option of playing fooseball, pacman and asteroids, if you ever need a break from work.

    The next month should definitely be interesting. I'm heading to the remote carribean island of Bequia to celebrate my Mom's recent graduation/departure from the grueling hell that is working and going to school at the same time. It will be great to spend time with my family and explore a new part of the world. I will keep you updated on the merger and my state of mind throughout the transition and the next phases of my life. I do know that everything will be ok, no matter what happens. At this point, my sanity remains intact - hooray!
  28. Linux on the iPhone 29 Nov 2008 | 4:55am GMT
    [ Open article ] on My life in a blog

    I was just doing my regular internet browsing today when I ran into a cool video about the iPhone. This very smart guy was able to run a Linux kernel on the iPhone 3g, by changing the bootloader and sending in commands from his old-school keyboard. Very interesting video, check it out here: http://www.vimeo.com/2373142.
    Maybe one day, we will have this:


    Happy belateed Thanksgiving to everyone!
  29. 9 Nov 2008 | 6:20am GMT
    [ Open article ] on La vie en rose


    OK, so i've been a little slack about updating my blog. seriously, a lot has gone on in 2008.


    1) i moved back to the US (for the 3rd time). leaving france was sad, but i know i'll go back. i miss sitting by the seine, reading a book in park, people watching at cafes - i miss it all really, but a chapter has closed so that a new one can begin.


    2) i graduated!!! IMBA Class of 2008!! i finished my last semester at USC and officially have an international MBA... sounds much cooler that it actually is, but given the current economy i'm sure it will be an asset.


    3) i got a job!! l'oreal wanted me so much in paris that they decided to help me out with getting a job in NYC! i'm currently working on the matrix brand - they make biolage shampoo if you're not familiar with them. work can be stressful at times, but i love it!


    4) i moved to NYC! (obviously, since i'm working in NYC.) it's not paris, but it's pretty cool. i haven't taken any weekend trips bc i've been exploring this great city! it's huge and uber diverse. you can walk 10 blocks and be in a completely different neighborhood with it's own unique feel. not to mention, the shopping and food are fabulous!




    so that's it for now. i promise i'll update more frequently. thanks for reading!
  30. What do I want ? 7 Sep 2008 | 11:31am GMT
    [ Open article ] on Palmetto Boy



    I was deeply daunted with a zillion dollar question... What do I want?

    hmmmmm most of the time it is very easy to say what we don't want. wants & dont wants list grows long but when we scavenge it and mine for ONE THIG...it is very simple : I want happiness....endlesss....anandham..meaning happiness per anandham..meaning endless blissful happiness. Will making a billion or getting media fame I could reach this state of happiness! yes I said state of happiness... hmmmmm not sure because we need to go by our perspective... I dont see rich fame are the most happiest people. I was traveling in India last Christmas with my friend from west. He observed something that I never noticed... Dude! People in India are so poor.. they don't know their right..they have no clue whats happening but still they all are happy...I see them smiling..running around..inspite of all this cows on street.. poverty in the way they look.... gosh! he nailed me right there.. Yes dude we all are happy because we all believe in something great.. Every soul willingly or unwillingly believes in Karma! They are all believe in reaching their destiny in the spiritual journey...

    So what is spirituality..

    Spirituality is a human capacity to have a certain kind of experience, just as you can have all kinds of experiences mentally, physically, emotionally.

    How do we experience spirituality? Spirituality is our ability to interact with a great mystery and to do so in ways which honour that intrinsic mystery. A true mystery can only be known by its effects, the phenomenon that results from its actions.

    We are surrounded by all kinds of mysteries: in nature, in our personal life, in the arts, and in religious and spiritual life, and we often don’t respond to these appropriately.

    The appropriate way to respond to an intrinsic mystery is to be open to its revelation, to welcome that revelation, and to honour it as it shows itself in its own way and on its own terms. To meet such a mystery we must be willing to live with ambiguity and to be able to interact with it, leaving what is fully understood and comfortable behind.


    A quick search gave me definition of four different experiences..

    Ecstatic experiences — Personal epiphanies and “callings”
    Ritualistic experiences — Tribal and cult experiences often derived from oral tradition
    Formalized experiences — Highly structured experiences often adhering to a doctrine
    Spiritual living — Spirituality as a constant, day to day experience

    Whooooooooooooo... too much to digest in this blog entry... let me leave the rest in the next...