VIBGYOR

Hands On Argentina Update

Here is a video on Hands On Argentina - a project by IMD MBA 2006 started in 2006. The Video contains an update from the field by Cris, Nicolas and Carolina.

Hands on Argentina has been implemented successfully during the last two years:

• 2 reading centers built and functioning
• the local community very involved and parents being trained to teach on early education
• 280 children and family members participating

Now we are in the decision phase regarding stepping onto the next phase of the program.

Reminder of Inner Strength

Today I was at an IMD Alumni meet. After a long time I was out meeting people other than those at work, interacting with strangers, talking to people I did not know before. The extrovert in me played up, I was my normal self, it reminded me of a me that I thought I was losing - and I found out that it lurked and was quick to come to the surface.

The meet also reminded me about how much I missed IMD, the kind of interactions I used to have there and the essence of not being caught in a psychological prison which in someway is essentially where I am. It is with pleasure I look forward to the next one - to meet new people - to make new friends.

There were 2 prospective students there. What was amazing was the bond that each of us MBAs had with the other ones there. We were 4 there - one from the batch of 2003, 2005, 2006 (me) and 2007. The bond between us and the Professor on hand might have warmed them and the love for the school baffled them. Yet, it is a year to be savoured and remembered - as we go away from those years, these interactions are all we have to remind us of that. A great evening which comes at the right time before I drown - it also makes me wonder why did the reunion have to be that weekend or why did the deadline have to be the weekend of the reunion?

It also made me wonder - what sort of defense mechanism am I using right now? It also made me wonder  about the extent to which I got sucked in - to the extent that no one else would have. Many things to think about - feel like writing a PPIN or a leadership paper tonight.

Bringing back memories

I opened the MBA Diary of yesterday and the video in it transferred me to the fundraising efforts for HandsOnArgentina. While we did not think of simple and innovative ways of fundraising as the class of 2008 is doing, I remembered standing in front of the cafeteria with the posters of the children and the school waiting for someone to donate. The class of 2008 has started early and seems to be doing a great and united job. Kudos to them - I will take a hug from them when I am next in Lausanne.... It was also great to see some of the professors and the familiar grounds again. Makes me think it is time to visit the campus again.

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Thermometer

She: "Oh dear... I feel ill - Can you check whether I have fever".

He holds her wrist, pretends to concentrate and then declares "No. You are fine". A few hours later she is in bed sniffing.

One morning She: "Do you feel cold?"

He bursts out laughing: "I know why you ask. I do not know at the moment - I feel slightly cold but not much. I will know only when we go out".

She: "Ah! You are feeling slightly cold - that means I will not feel cold...."

Once outside, She: "Now are you feeling cold?"

He: "No".

She: "Ah... that explains why I am feeling cold".

He smiles.

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Withdrawal Symptoms

When a concorde breaks suddenly how does one feel. I feel like that now.

Wrapping up...

Today I had my last official session of the PDE. A lot of things were tied up... there were changes noticed and the best dream interpretation. A lot of things really made sense and a good friend gained. With many things to work on, I have my hands full at not forgetting who I am. Easy to say and difficult to implement.

As I continue my career search there is one resolution taken. I am not going to sit back and lead a laid back life for 7 years before I wake up. Once a mistake is made, I will not repeat it. As a result the position in which I go into becomes important as well as the decision I make now. So it is perhaps not too bad that I was selective about things so far.

Small drops make an ocean - You can make a difference

Dear Readers,

This June, the MBA program at IMD took me and the rest of the class to Argentina on a Discovery Expedition to provide a first-hand experience of what it is like to do business in a challenging environment. We left Argentina not only with a better understanding of the country’s business climate but also with an appreciation and empathy for its people and its development challenges.

To make a difference, we are aiming to raise at least CHF 50,000 for LEER, an Argentine nonprofit organization that helps children under the age of five from poor families to get access to education and break the cycle of poverty. The funds will be used to build two alphabetization centers benefiting more than 800 children and 280 families.

As Lausanne is the world’s Olympic Capital and there is no better way than sports to demonstrate commitment, endurance and teamwork, we will cycle, run, swim, kayak, rollerblade and paraglide 560 kilometers across Switzerland over two days (and nights). The intense fundraising relay will start early morning on Saturday 30 September and conclude on Monday 2 October.

In addition to raising funds, we are sending a message: fighting poverty requires not one development aid but also international cooperation. That is why we will begin our challenge at the venue of the annual World Economic Forum in Davos and end it in front of the World Trade Organization in Geneva, where we will deliver an appeal to WTO Deputy Director Valentine Rugwabiza.

Please join our challenge by making a donation. You can use bank transfer:

IMD international (MBA charity event account) 
UBS SA
Address: UBS SA, Case postale, 1002 Lausanne
Account :  243-FS138841.0
IBAN :    CH36 0024 3243 FS13 8841 0
BIC :      UBSWCHZH80A   

Alternatively, you can use your credit card through PayPal. Go to the challenge web site to find the details: http://www.hands-on-argentina.org/ (click on “Donate”) Return to this site for the latest news on the fund raising drive over the next few days—more info and photos will be added.

Our partners in Argentina:
http://www.leer.org.ar/ (project beneficiary)
http://www.helpargentina.org/ (project administrator)

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch!

Thanks a lot, Colours.

Download help_us_make_a_difference_12092006.pdf

Home coming

The train drew across the Basel SBB across the Rhein. My heart beat faster as the train crossed the river symbolizing the border. As it flew past the brown and the green fields, the feeling of homecoming was strong. The last leg of the journey is always the longest. Sometimes I wonder how it can take an S bahn so long to go from the Karlsruhe station to the Wiesloch-Walldorf station – it seems like ages. Not having lived in any place for more than 4 years before, the 5-years at Walldorf marked the longest I had stayed in any place in my life continuously. As I look for opportunities, this tug of the heart worries me – am I developing roots and that too away from India? It is almost as if I am scared of doing it.

6 years back when the option to go to Germany first presented itself and we were told that we will be away for 1.5 years and yet they wanted us to take a transfer. It was with trepidation that I accepted this – something told me I would not come back to India in 1.5 years. As years passed and we enjoyed this life we were living out the fear and yet not feeling bad about it. As I am about the take the next step, I wonder what sort of career I should take up. There are opportunities which can take me back to India immediately, in a short term and in the long term.

My classmates are as confused about my decisions regarding which companies I want to apply to as I am- and my husband is waiting for the drama to unfold to experiment – where is this girl going? It becomes even more difficult when one has to take the decision oneself.

It becomes easier when companies start rejecting you because you wrote about your grandparents in the cover letter – ok! I just wanted to experiment whether they were creative enough… and really believed in “feelings” as they said. Perhaps they do – but the feelings were different from the feelings which I believed in.

well... there are academics as well

If I gave the impression that life was a long holiday and party here, let me correct the feeling ;).Here are a few pictures...

Now that classes are all over they are a huge source for nostalgia

This week also saw the first job offer that will surely be taken up - My good friend Maria is all smiles after the offer came through. We need to see whether we travel long distances to meet each other or whether we are close enough to meet once a week at least.

Many things happening - Argentina, friends galore...

A lot has happened in the last few days when I have been away from the blog.

First the grades are in and I have to meet my professor regarding my accounting abilities. Though I knew it when I finished the exam, I always hoped that things would work out differently. However, in a way it has been a blessing in disguise. This adversity has brought forward a renewed feeling of bonding. I had half a dozen people coming up to assure me of all the help - after sometime I started wondering how I could have not approached all these people when I was struggling with the subject. Many of them came forward with books and suggestions on books. All of them were insistent on one thing - they wanted to see me through getting through this crisis. The day I got the grades I got the nearest to getting drunk as two of my classmates were bent on making me forget my sorrows.

A few have even offered to tutor me and one is diligently doing it - policing me on my flight to Argentina, in the bus trips we have though he feels sick when reading in the bus. Thank You dear friend, I know you do not know I have a blog but incase you do find out one day, then you know who I am talking about. Now I know I have to do it for him if not for myself though that is hardly a reason. We used to compete for procrastination number 1 spot - so he knows my exact weakness and ensures that I do not fall into the trap. Well, what am I doing blogging here? He is off on his study group dinner and I think I need to blog to concentrate. Well, he will say "Oh! Sure! You mean you need to procrastinate".

So did you hear me say Argentina? Yes, I am in Buenos Aires sitting in my hotel typing on a strange keyboard yet again.

Unfair

Life is so unfair. Here I am trying to balance assets and liabilities/equities and people are walking around with their children enjoying the sun and the Luna Park outside - walking relaxed !!!! I hate exams...