Believe it or not, exams are just 2 days away! Gotta say that the number of people "camping" in the library over the past week has increased exponentially. Sometimes there aren't even any free desks at the library. Guess that "last minute panic" is a great motivator.
A strange phenomenon when it comes to studying: I end up being motivated to do ANYTHING else but study (like update this blog for example). If you think that P1 is crazy intense, you ain't seen anything yet. We will have 1 less week (7 in total including exams) in P2 compared to P1 and we will have 2 more classes (7 in total). It's going to be INSANE. O_O
The other main thing that has been dominating the water cooler chat on campus is the outcome of the campus exchange bidding. We're all given 200 points to bid for your place either in SGP or FBL for P3-5. Your home campus (the place where you started) is your default campus should you choose not to bid or if you don't successfully make the cut off. It all depends on demand and supply for places and in general people want to be in SGP during P3 (when it's winter in FBL) and in FBL when it's P5 (when it's summer there). Due to the introduction of 50 extra points for people who are keen to commit to 3 periods in a row to the other campus than the one you started at, the number of points needed for SGP in P3 (175) and FBL in P5 (149) shot through the roof this year. Needless to say, many people were really frustrated/disappointed this past week when their desired campus exchanges didn't work out because they hadn't bid enough. Personally, I was hoping to get the option of going to FBL in P5 but severely underestimated the number of points needed. Oh well. Hopefully this will be a useful data point for future generations.
Alrighty. Enough procrastination. I've really gotta try to figure out Accounting.
As we learnt in Organisational Behaviour: Take deep breaths through your nose and regulate your breathing and think happy thoughts (okay, maybe we didn't learn about the "happy thoughts" part). 4 more days till the end of period party. =)
Saturday, 23 October 2010
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Day 37: Section BBQ and thoughts about campus exchange
Nothing quite like a section BBQ to really kickoff the 2nd half of P1. Can't believe we're more than halfway through P1 already!
It's the first time that we've organised a section only BBQ but I think it's great idea as it's a less intimidating way for partners to mix and mingle and for us to really get to know each other outside of class. As mentioned before, I do feel like I'm missing out on getting to know people due to my lack of participation in weekend trips to date and the simple fact that I don't live 10 mins walk from school like most of my classmates.
I was particularly impressed by how well planned it was. There were a total of 3 BBQ pits fully cooking away when we arrived. We ended up with waaay too much food and beer but that's hardly a bad problem to have to deal with. ;)
I had initially thought that I would start in France for 2 periods then stay in Singapore for the last 3 but as fate would have it, I've started in Singapore and am tempted to just stay here all the way now. People have been trying to convince me to go to France for at least a period and I can see why it would be a good idea (despite the hassle) because a chance like this only comes around once in a lifetime. That being said, I don't think it's such a clear cut decision (it never is). Something to really think about over the next few days as the deadline for decisions in in little over a week's time.
It's the first time that we've organised a section only BBQ but I think it's great idea as it's a less intimidating way for partners to mix and mingle and for us to really get to know each other outside of class. As mentioned before, I do feel like I'm missing out on getting to know people due to my lack of participation in weekend trips to date and the simple fact that I don't live 10 mins walk from school like most of my classmates.
I was particularly impressed by how well planned it was. There were a total of 3 BBQ pits fully cooking away when we arrived. We ended up with waaay too much food and beer but that's hardly a bad problem to have to deal with. ;)
I had initially thought that I would start in France for 2 periods then stay in Singapore for the last 3 but as fate would have it, I've started in Singapore and am tempted to just stay here all the way now. People have been trying to convince me to go to France for at least a period and I can see why it would be a good idea (despite the hassle) because a chance like this only comes around once in a lifetime. That being said, I don't think it's such a clear cut decision (it never is). Something to really think about over the next few days as the deadline for decisions in in little over a week's time.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Day 35: You blink and a week goes by...
I knew before I started this course that it would feel like an express train, but boy oh boy is it ever!
Haven't been able to keep up with updating this blog as often as I would like due to the sheer amount of activity always happening on and off campus and not wanting to miss out on them (by sitting in front of a computer and typing!).
Last week was Lebanese week, my first National Week at INSEAD. What is National Week you ask? It's a week during which a country (or region) showcases its cultural heritage. My one advice now after experiencing my first week is to buy the complete package even if you're not 100% sure you'll want to go for all the events (at least be sure you want to attend the dinner or the party). It's a better deal than buying each individually and there are always people willing to buy individual event tickets from you at face value (are you smelling an arbitrage opportunity?)
Most weeks, the social events planned by the social reps are on Monday and Wednesday but during the National Weeks, it's totally up to the organisers of the week.
The Lebanese dinner at Al Qasr in Holland Village on Tuesday night was a blast. We pretty much booked out the entire restaurant and it was a raucous atmosphere of belly dancing and shouts of "Yalla Habibi!" Great night to remember even if the food wasn't necessarily something to write home about.
I thought that was it for me but I ended up convincing myself (while convincing someone else) to go for the Lebanese party on Thursday evening at New Asia Bar. Never mind that I've been there just about every week since school started. It really seems like that place and Attica are the hot spots for the INSEAD crowd at least in my promotion. Perhaps it's different for each promotion? Great party though. Definitely glad I went. ;)
Friday usually comes with a fancy dress theme and this past week it was "Arabian Nights". I was actually quite surprised how few people bothered to dress up. I certainly had the impression that people in general were pretty sporting about such things. Turns out, I was the only person in a full head to toe outfit thanks to a friend who had something he had bought in the Middle East. Hopefully I've inspired others to do the same for future themed Fridays!
As for the weekend? Let's just say I'm glad to be able to catch my breath over the weekend because before you know it, it's another action packed week again!
Haven't been able to keep up with updating this blog as often as I would like due to the sheer amount of activity always happening on and off campus and not wanting to miss out on them (by sitting in front of a computer and typing!).
Last week was Lebanese week, my first National Week at INSEAD. What is National Week you ask? It's a week during which a country (or region) showcases its cultural heritage. My one advice now after experiencing my first week is to buy the complete package even if you're not 100% sure you'll want to go for all the events (at least be sure you want to attend the dinner or the party). It's a better deal than buying each individually and there are always people willing to buy individual event tickets from you at face value (are you smelling an arbitrage opportunity?)
Most weeks, the social events planned by the social reps are on Monday and Wednesday but during the National Weeks, it's totally up to the organisers of the week.
The Lebanese dinner at Al Qasr in Holland Village on Tuesday night was a blast. We pretty much booked out the entire restaurant and it was a raucous atmosphere of belly dancing and shouts of "Yalla Habibi!" Great night to remember even if the food wasn't necessarily something to write home about.
I thought that was it for me but I ended up convincing myself (while convincing someone else) to go for the Lebanese party on Thursday evening at New Asia Bar. Never mind that I've been there just about every week since school started. It really seems like that place and Attica are the hot spots for the INSEAD crowd at least in my promotion. Perhaps it's different for each promotion? Great party though. Definitely glad I went. ;)
Friday usually comes with a fancy dress theme and this past week it was "Arabian Nights". I was actually quite surprised how few people bothered to dress up. I certainly had the impression that people in general were pretty sporting about such things. Turns out, I was the only person in a full head to toe outfit thanks to a friend who had something he had bought in the Middle East. Hopefully I've inspired others to do the same for future themed Fridays!
As for the weekend? Let's just say I'm glad to be able to catch my breath over the weekend because before you know it, it's another action packed week again!
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