walkabout + xmas break

it's my first day for the christmas break and it seems rather lonely than happy. i spent most of the day sleeping and planning what to do for the next three weeks. my main problem now is looking into what my Walkabout would be. it is a requirement for my HBO course and i'm at a loss on the possible projects to take. there are a lot of possible projects to make just for the sake of passing. i'm looking for something that is new to me, something challenging -- perhaps out of this world.
i'm looking forward to going home this xmas. i havent spent much time in the province (live a week) in 4 years. although im not looking forward to our high school reunion. most of my friend aren't gonna be there anyways. plus i'm gonna need to review finance if i plan to pass the next 12 months of b-school. i do hope i can go on a land trip going home, from manila to mindoro to cebu then to iligan. i can go through a roll-on roll-off barge then go around in buses and boats.

the week before the break

i've been quite busy. lots of things have happened. my recurring tonsilitis (i'm gonna have my tonsils removed soon, i hope). WACs... i realize Managing Costs and Profits can be VERY ambiguous. the AIM xmas party... it was fun but i invited my girlfriend to the party so i
ended up bringing her home instead of getting drunk but i've gotten over drinking a long time ago. smoking... i havent gone more than 6 sticks a day... that's a BIG improvement for me. my ibook seems to be slowing down more and more. i think i may need to optimize my hard disk utilization. xmas shopping... there's a lot of sale going on but im a wantin-and-savin my money from work. i'll be workless for a year more and i don't have any backup dough. although i'm gonna buy my kid an nba jersey from greenhills. it would be nice for him because he runs and run around... oh well, they say its the 'terrible two' stage. i just got my texas instruments financial calculator, it doesn't look well. but the warrior is gauged by the way he uses his weapon and not how fancy it is. i've been jogging for over a week now. around an hour everyday, rain or shine. i hope this continues. i need physical training, the mental part is already excruciating :D
i was contemplating last week for my HBO walkabout wherein we undertake a self-made process which has managerial, instructive, unfamiliar, experiential, challenging and risky qualities. but the important thing is that i get to learn something based on those qualities. or it may be based on some objectives i set beforehand. the guide basically asks me my strengths and the gaps or weaknesses. and there goes my problems what are my strengths? and weaknesses?
i have 2 more exams coming. one in finance and one in operations management. then there is that QA project. my only concern so far is finance. i was looking into amazon.com for the Bluffer's Guide to Finance and it was pretty cheap except for the shipping part. now i have to study my financial ratios...

after 4 months

i just realized that it's december already. 2 more weeks to go before xmas break. and the last 4 months of B-school was ended by another failed mutiny by the Magdalo Faction of the Philippines. It seems this group is keen on taking over hotels. :D it was a bit shaky for an afternoon that was scheduled for another WAC. i was napping when my room mate stormed the room saying that everyone was to be evacuated. luckily, the issue was resolved within 2 hours. but i went out anyway to my friend Tony's place. the confusion in Makati was too crazy for me. I ended up watching the most recent Heroes movies.
im coping with my finance well. though i might not be able to pass, i guess i learned a lot compared to previously. (a.k.a. i can not make educated financial B.S.)

B-school woes... and dancing

i just got feedback from my professors through my mentor. i expected pretty much the same. i haven't been participating much in our class case discussions. i feel that, although enlightening, most of the ideas shared are too straightforward and easily derivable from the case facts. there is no value addition in terms of industry insight based on experience. my reason for not being the person to input insight on the other hand would be... none. right now i just am not, i don't really know. it seems im more of a listener at the moment. but i do inderstant i have to step up. after 3 months of b-school i'm still in a way, slacking off. so i need to step up.
i went to a reunion with my dance organization in college. i was expecting to meet my old friends but unfortunately very few came to the event. most of them were of the newer batches. i did win the impromptu swing competition with one of the new members. :-) some of my friends from India are looking into Salsa lessons. i'm hoping we can schedule them right so it won't interfere with our cases.
the schedule seems to be better now in B-school. it seems everything is fine. although i need to read a lot more about finance if i want to get the most of my education. everything seems to be converging with finance. it is something inescapable here in AIM. and so i must read again.