Just Worn Out

I am back from Paris and it was an interesting experience. Various business schools such as LBS, HEC, Rotterdam, ESADE, IE, Bocconi, Oxford, and Cambridge all decended to the outskirts of Paris on the lovely HEC campus to compete for a variety of sports. Logistically a nightmare with delayed, long bus rides, not enough food or alcohol, long queues to get into a Parisian night club and to get drinks. The best parts were being able to compete in sports since it's really been high school that I've been involved in anything really competitive and the mad cheering fans of IESE. IESE has developed a strong rivalry against the evil LBS as IESE has won 3 times in a row over LBS. It was great fun playing futbol or soccer as we call it in the states. Being one of the rare women have played competitive soccer, I was nominate to play forward. Some of our other good players were involved in playing basketball or running track. I was pleseantly surprised when I scored a couple of goals! Whoo hoo! I admit the level of competition is definitely lower with women who have hardly ever played. I probably looked amazing when in the U.S. I'm really just an average player. It's interesting that futbol is much more popular in Europe than in the states but hardly any women here play whereas most of us have grown up playing soccer. In any case, the best experience was that we had a HUGE crowd (mostly drunk) cheering us on during a semi-final match. After being victorious, we had beer sprayed on us.

I also played rugby which I realized is not that fun in real competition. It's a bit chaotic and honestly women can get really bitchy in the heat of competition. Practices are much more fun especially with the guys. I witnessed the men playing full on rugby (women, of course, only play touch). It was really brutal and violent but it was so fascinating that you just couldn't look away. I don't know how anyone could play the sport!

Saturday night was cool in that we got dropped off by the magnificent Eiffel Tower and had a wondrous and affordable French meal with a good group of us. Then partied til 4AM or so. The most interesting comment made to me over the weekend was from a 2nd year student named Tommy. He was incredibly surprised by realizations about me such as finding out that I (occassionally) smoke and play soccer and rugby. I had to ask him what his impression of me was. He replied that he thought that I was "innocent and fragile." Moi?? It's always eye opening to find out what people think of you.

At the end, IESE won 2nd place to LBS's 1st. BOOOO! But you know what? IESE was definitely the most fun and best spirited. Getting home at 1AM last night and waking up to go to class today was torturous. Tons of work and now I'm procrastinating. I'm truly EXHAUSTED and think I'll have to ditch a day of school this week.

How did James and Grace's wedding go?!?

The Good and Bad of Expat Life

The last few days have been completely EXHAUSTING so I took a 2 hour nap, did all my work for tomorrow, packed a little for my trip to the Paris MBA Olympics (though I'm not really allowed to say Olympics) this weekend where a plethora of business schools are participating in sports (so this is bigger then the IESE Spring Fling). Since I posted the first time in MONTHS I'm on a roll!

To continue with catching you up on my life in Barcelona, I'll include some of the GOOD and the BAD since it's not all happy happy joy joy all the time!

• GOOD: I am just discovering this adding pictures to blog thing so I'm going to keep doing it! GOOD: Seeing friends like Chris trying a fried green pepper from Catalona Ceveceria (see photo)
• BAD: Not being there for my family when sad things happen. My grandmother in Hong Kong died and my mom received the news on my birthday =( I haven't seen my grandmother in years so it's sad I didn't get to see her more recently. I was planning on going to Hong Kong next summer. What bad timing! I was really sad for my mom. She is there in Hong Kong now for the funeral. Please send good vibes towards that side of the world.
• GOOD: IESE's Doing Good Doing Well Conference. We bring in speakers from all over to speak and debate on such topics as social responsibility, health, renewable energies, economic development. It was great but tiring! Maybe you can come next year? Save the Date: March 2-3, 2007. I will be involved in organizing! I am also a co-president of the Responsible Business Club. Whoo hoo! We joked around that next year it'll be called the Looking Good Doing Well Conference - makeovers and THEN you can do well in the world!
• BAD: Missing good friends' weddings such as Gracie and Jamesie's this weekend! Good luck you two! I am upset at missing your wedding but I hope you understand!! I wish you the VERY best because you guys are great!!! I hear you have a layover in Madrid on your way to Italy. Call me if you can!!!
• GOOD: Seeing the world. I mentioned all the places I've seen this year. Now this weekend is Paris and next weekend is IRELAND! This crazy cool Irish girl is hosting a group of us in her hometown of Derry. My first trip and I'm really excited. One of those places I really wouldn't go on my own initiative but I couldn't pass up the chance to go with an actual Irish hostess! I'll be insanely tired with travelling 2 weekends in a row with finals and projects due BUT I am young only once!!!
• BAD: The workload and stress. My skin is shit. I feel and look my age. I don't get to workout as often as I would like.
• BAD--->GOOD: I was crying a couple of weeks ago because I applied to internships for the summer but hadn't heard ANYTHING! Then before you know it I had 3 interviews and 3 offers!
• #1 CHF International in Serbia. They promote economic development in various countries. PAID.
• #2 E.D.E. Consulting in Guatemala. A German coffee distributor decided to do some good in the world and so uses their consulting group to implement projects in Latin America to help coffee growers with their business processes and general business knowledge. My family is freaked out that it is unsafe which it is -- I have to be careful. PAYS travel and living expenses.
• #3 Charity Bank in London/Tonbridge-Kent. A small organization that lends money to charities and entities that do charitable acts. PAID.
• Decision: I am DEFINITELY doing the Guatemala coffee thing because it's exactly what I set out to do this summer. I can maybe reach an awesome level of Spanish!!! I can't do the Serbia thing cuz it's 12 weeks....but I'm trying to see if Charity Bank will let me work 6 weeks instead of the minimum 8 weeks. Cross your fingers for me! Barcelona --> London --> middle of nowhere GUATEMALA---> Chicago by the end of September --> back to Barcelona for classes!!! It would be so cool to get paid and have travel expenses paid. I hope, I hope it works...
• BAD: I screw Sylvia who is visiting in July. Mia as well but at least she has her sister Rose here. Lisa will also be here studying Spanish. So a bit of juggling will have to take place to ensure BUT hopefully she'll understand about the opportunity. I'll make it up to you, Sylvers ;) LESSON LEARNED: Don't committ to anything if plans are pretty up in the air.
• BAD: Missing the great friends in the states. It's very hard to keep in touch I've realized. I really appreciate the e-mails I do get and hope you understand how crazy it is!!!
• GOOD: Making new ones abroad. I was extremely touched during my birthday. It can be very lonely abroad if you don't make good friendships. So it was great turning 29 -- eeek the last year of my 20's! My section sang happy birthday to me while Noelle wrote "Finally Carol is 18!" on the blackboard...I'm legal, baby!! I went out to a lovely lunch with some friends. Then I had to study for midterms which sucked but Lindy was great! She cooked me dinner and bought an ice cream cake. My favorite!!! Then Anders and Natalia sang birthday songs in their native languages, Danish and Spanish the Mexican way! Natalia gave me a nice turquoise bracelet. Ali had given me chocolates and a Pez Dispenser! Sweet! Oh and plenty of BESOS but on the cheeks...DRAT!
• GOOD: Seeing your best friends abroad. Lisa came to visit me to celebrate the birthday and brought me funky Polish dishes and a mug. What a sweetie! Although I felt bad - I had midterms til Friday afternoon and then Chinese class (I'm taking Mandarin with Ali, Huy, and Chris with this amazing teacher) so couldn't really hang out with her until 9PM on Friday!
• BAD: Meeting strange expats. We went out for Mexican with a good group from school; on to Brilliant for drinks with some of the girls...and Ryan. Then Ryan picks up these weirdos from the U.K. (figures). This one guy is trying so hard to impress. He has dyed blond hair in a trendy style and is making the DUMBEST comments. Ryan somehow invites them to OttoZutz with us. At the club I hand Ryan my jacket that my mom just sent in a cool birthday care package LAST week. Next thing I know he doesn't have it anymore. I ask, "Ryan where's my jacket?". Ryan points to the crazy obnoxious guy and says, "He has it." WHAT?? The stupid guy is wearing my jacket and would NOT take it off. IDIOT! Finally Lisa rips it off of him. THANK YOU! Ryan, you're dead. Then on the dance floor Insane Man asks Ryan if we're available and he says Yes! Ryan, you're dead AGAIN. Then the guy starts sidling up against Lisa...YUCK! Oh he also asks Ryan to hold his drink while he does this weird dance move. PSYCHO! Finally he leaves because his super quiet friend...got kicked out. Yeah, that makes sense.
• BAD: Losing shit. I've lost TONS of shit in this stupid country. My lovely Club Monaco jacket, a wallet full of credit cards and cash, my gym bag that contained cleats, workout clothes, and my glasses!!! Well, I can certainly add to the list---> my NEW jacket and my favorite Club Monaco cardigan. We leave our jackets on the railing at the club for 10 minutes and go back...yup, GONE. Well I feel worse for Ryan because he had his iPod and keys in it. Sucks. Finally go home at 5AM or so.
• BAD: Being late to your own party. Lisa and I spend the afternoon shopping and hanging out with Ali and Joanne. Finally get back and rushing to get ready...bad traffic...and finally arrive at my dinner party AN HOUR LATE. 14 other people waiting at Shoko - this Asian style restaurant/club by the beach. I had a blast at dinner, a Swedish private party with singers, shots, and partying at Catwalk til 7AM.
• BAD: Losing more shit. I'm more tired then drunk and forget my phone in the taxi.
• BAD: Getting into fights with locals. So Lisa is a bit tipsy and tends to be more agressive when drinking. Some guy says "Japones (Japanese)" to her and she retaliates. And then he pushes her!! Crazy that this would happen! A man pushing a woman! Luckily no one got hurt and everyone just walked away. LESSON LEARNED: Don't provoke people who may be drunk, coked up, and/or high at 7AM outside of clubs.
• GOOD: More presents!! My flatmates surprised me with gifts from a group of people: cool Indian-style sandals, 2 pairs of silver earrings from my favorite Barcelona designers, tea bags, and yummy chocolate. They're the best!!!!!!!!
• GOOD: Getting ahead in Spanish! I just passed my module 11 out of 12 Spanish exam! Which is awesome because I think my Spanish is crap. Very close to passing the DIEN test and then I can take business classes in Spanish! Whoa......

I'll keep y'all posted on the summer and this weekend in Paris. IESE has won 3 times in a row...so hopefully we can live up to high expectations!!! Besos para todos!!!

Michael Duncan Clark in Barcelona??

Hello, there! Soooooooooo it's been awhile!! I know most of you have forgotten that I still exist. Not only have I been CRAZY busy but also I was wondering if anyone reads this damn thing. I guess a few people have mentioned the lack of updates so as long as more than 2 people read it I feel someone is reading!

A LOT has happened naturally! Some highlights include:

• Snowboarding in Andorra! My FIRST skiing experience in REAL mountains. I really enjoyed snowboarding and got the hang of it. I did fall on my ass quite a lot but the rush is amazing when you are doing it right. I can't wait to go snowboarding more often next year. Anyone care to join me?!? Andorra again for sure!!
• The Chi-Town Boys visiting me - Roy Boy and Dave from Chicago and Chris from London. I realized how much I missed seeing people from home. So relaxing to chill with people you know and are comfortable with. I have to say - they are the most impressive travellers I have seen! All day sightseeing and all night partying. They're the energizer bunnies!!
• 6 GRUELING final exams in 3 days...the worst was Cost Accounting on the last day. THE most difficult exam ever experienced. I was completely dead and then had a loooooooooong weekend of partying and sports during the IESE Spring Fling - a sports competition with several European business schools participating --> INSEAD, HEC, ESADE, and IE. I played futbol which we won handily and rugby which I just started to play. Rugby practices are so much fun and a really good workout. Futbol practice is a bore because there are not that many girls who play...so we cancel a lot...BOOOOO
• THEN the bastards at this school make us start the 3rd term right away. Everyone is so burnt out they could hardly care less!
• Visiting Valencia in the south of Spain to celebrate 3 classmates' birthdays. I really liked it here! Beautiful architecture with a great combination of modern and the traditional European style. Awesome nightlife with plenty of people milling about.
• In the same weekend jetting off to Madrid for an IESE Women's conference. Conference was a snooze but I had a great time bonding with Luz, Ali, and Carolina. Drinking vino until 4AM and girl chatting! By the end of the day, I was flat out sleeping I was so tired from the weekend!
• THEN the following weekend after that was SPRING BREAK! Thank the Lord! I never needed a break so badly as this! It's been non-stop since coming back from the holidays. I went to Budapest for a few days with Kathy. It was great fun. Budapest is an amazingly beautiful city. Extremely romantic! Too bad I was walking the lovely riverbanks at night with Kathy...and Gary?? Budapest is BEAUTIFUL and surprisingly trendy in some areas. Oh, God - I ate SO well in this city! Every place I ate at was delicious..yummy ghoulash!!! The one place I didn't like was actually recommended. We also went to get Thai massages and relaxed in the traditional bath houses. I was a total loser that I was so tired I didn't party at all in the city. That's how tired I was!!! Then back to Barcelona for some much needed R&R time. It's been too much travelling! It was great - most people were in the South of Spain, Morocco, Romania, Italy, etc...so I could relax with no one around. I biked all the way down to the beach and around...without a helmet! If I can do something stupid like that why not get a moto!? So I think I will! Then one of my favorite married couples came to visit...Sara & Tony! Yay!
• It was fantastic hanging out with the 2 of them! I didn't realize they were such foodies as they took me to the best places to eat in Barcelona. I did take them to Cerveceria Catalana for the best tapas in town. If you come visit me, I'll take you there, too! We also saw Michael Clark Duncan from such movies as "The Green Mile" at the IESE favorite club Universal! We boogied down him! See the pic above! I loved it when he said "Venga! (Come!)". See pic to the left!
• They also made me walk A LOT so it was good to get my lazy ass moving. AND a great CAROL story:
• Sara and Tony had been to Madrid, Sevilla, and Cadiz before arriving in Barcelona. Tony was fried like an egg in Cadiz and so Sara asked me for some lotion. I handed her a bottle that I bought in Spain and had been using for MONTHS. I told her I didn't like it because it didn't absorb quickly and it was a bit sticky. She took it and a couple of days later she told me that when she was rubbing it on Tony's back and tell him about how I didn't like it, the lotion started becoming suds....They looked at each other and exclaimed, "It's not lotion! It's BATH GEL!!!" I almost fell on the floor I was laughing so hysterically. I had grabbed it in a rush because it looked like lotion...I should have known...it says "Gel de Bano". DOH!!! A good expat story huh???
• And more to write about...my birthday and my summer plans!!!!!!