Distressing weekend, stressful mondays

As a good little Asian boy, I spent the majority of my time last week getting all my shit together and finishing some assignments.  What do I get rewarded with? Being done early, so I rewarded myself a nice night out at the bars with social/club/team what have you. I can call it a successful night, I finally let loose and had fun actually.  The next day wasn't the best, but I can't complain too much.

So then it was Saturday, I decided that since I had a great night out at the bars on Thursday that I would continue the fun at friend's surprise 21st birthday party, and once again bars. Besides the drinking and games, I had the most delicious cake I've ever consumed.  Green Tea Cake with some kind of icing, literally I fell in love with the baker of the cake.  I want to marry her, so for my birthday every year I can have this cake.  Literally if you like green tea ice, you will love this cake.

After a weekend of fun and delicious cake, I had to come to the reality of finals, and getting ready for a presentation that I'm sure that sucks and my research was not thorough enough. But, on the bright side I'll be leaving in exactly 3 months, the countdown begins.

Good luck with finals everyone! 逢考必过！

-MC

Down the final stretch

So if you weren't already aware its dead week, which means only one thing. Massive Cramming at the library.  I've been here everyday since Sunday, its been packed. How packed you may ask? There are not any parking spots, besides the handicap or reserved spots.  Yesterday I actually stole a parking spot from someone else.  I felt kind of bad, but I signaled and according to my drivers ed class, I think I'm entitled to the spot because I followed the rules. 

This week has been the 3 P's: papers, projects, and presentations.  Anyone in Kelley will tell you dead week is the worth cause everything seems to get piled up this week, aside from I-Core kids who are already finished for the semester. 

China is a little over three months away, and I can hardly wait for it get here. Finals and I-Core, then China I go.


Good luck everyone with all your presentations, papers, projects and finals.

-MC

Dead Week, you mean Death Week.

Dead week is near approaching, so what's that mean?  Technically its the week before finals, where professor just review and go over what going to be on the final.  WRONG!  I think they believe dead week is myth; papers, projects, quizzes, tests, etc. are assigned during this week.  If all department have this mentality of  "Oh, its dead week, I can give out a quiz cause no one else is going to assign anything." Guess what, you're wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong (Dr. Cox voice).   With this new concept of "dead week," finals week seems to be extended an extra week.  

I bring this up because I planned ahead this year, out of pure necessity and lack of interest to participate in little 5 activities. I've used little 5 week as my dead week, seeing that students don't go to class and teachers know it, so they sometimes lighten up the load for the week. With that being said, it still isn't enough to get everything done. Especially, when you have to pick up the slack for teammates who want to go out and drink and party.  I don't want to brag saying I have a much heavier workload, but if you look at my class schedule it all upper level classes.  

I think I'm done with my rant now.  I wish everyone good luck with their studies and finals.

-MC

Bathroom Dilemma: Man Law

Guys have you ever ran into the problem where there are only two urinals, and someone is already at one of them.  What do you do? Break man law/code or what have you, or you go to the stall?  It such a tough call sometimes.  On hand you don't want to be the weirdo creep, that might be trying sneak-a-peek, but on the other hand you don't want to coward man-boy that uses the stall.  What am I getting at? Opportunity cost.

Everything can be associated with an opportunity cost, and I think most of us don't think in terms of opportunity costs.  If we do think in terms of opportunity, we tend to think of the immediately costs and not long term.  So what do you do?  Well, in the case of the urinal, just go with the flow, but much more serious decisions we can't be so impulse.  We need to be calculated and well thought-out.

This is something I'm trying to implement into my daily routine, to think like an economist!  

So in the spirit of my topic today.  Thank you for choosing to read this, among the infinitesimal other alternatives you could have chosen.  Again opportunity costs.

-MC 

The Green Light

Hello hello,

It's Little 5 week, so that means I'll have the library all to myself! (haha)

If you love American literature or you're a fan of F. Scott Fitzgerald or just that awesome, you'll understand my headline.  For those who don't get it or didn't read their 11th grade assigned readings.  

The Green Light is a symbolic element in the book The Great  Gatsby, my all time favorite book.  It symbolizes a dream/goal that we all are chasing after in life.  I saw a that the new movie is about to come out and I thought about the book and what it means to me.  Gatsby's green light was Daisy, and doing whatever it took to achieve that dream.  Gatsby was wrong to embody his green light into a person. Why? Because people change, and how can you follow something that is changing, you'll never be on a straight path to your dream, your goal.  

I'm sure all of us have done something like this before put our dreams into a person, but once we realize we've been misguided or lost, we can always find a new green light, within ourselves. We can stir the course of action into what we deem most appropriate and never be lost or misguided again.  Find the green light within yourself, whether that be a career goal, retirement, or what have you, just make sure it's something you can control and that you are the only one who can influence how bright the light glow and how it will direct you.

Happy Little 5 week,

-MC

Inconsistency: Bloomington Weather

Hello

For those who live in Bloomington, or understand mid-west weather, you'll get the title.

The ever so changing weather in Bloomington has really taken a toll on my health, if it makes sense I have season changing headaches from warm-cold and versa weather patterns.  Its a very Chinese way of looking at sicknesses.  I hope everyone is a taking the appropriate precaution in staying healthy for the little 5 weekend.  

Speaking of little 5, I will not be partaking in any of the events or the typical events of drinking and partying. For the fact that I have a presentation on Monday, 2 papers, and a getting ready for finals.  I may have a day to myself and go grab a drink with a couple of friends but nothing hardcore.  I got that out of my system my freshmen.  I've learned my lesson.  For those who are partaking in the glorious week of wonderfulness.  Three things to keep in mind: 1. Look out for undercover cops 2. Don't skip all your classes. 3. Don't be stupid.  I think those are simple rules to follow.  I hope everyone enjoys your little 5 whatever you choose to do.  

China Update:

So I've been so excited about my year aboard in China, I've been looking at potential flights. I think I'll be leaving July 31ish. I'll start a new blog then, even though I think only 2 people really read this. I'll also be starting a Video blog (Vlog), so be on the look out for that.  

Stay healthy and be safe everyone in the upcoming week,

-MC

China Progress and Current Troubles

Meow meow,

So good news, I got funding to go abroad next. Its just one step closer to leaving ole America for the land of new opportunity.  The only thing that is separating me from the land of my ancestors is 1. Finals and projects, and 2. I-Core, then its off to Shanghai and who knows some in country traveling?
 I also got a position at my Chinese program, as a program assistant I believe. I'll be in Bloomington spending my entire summer going to school and working.  Fun Fun.

So off on a tangent...

How is it that someone who says one thing and decides one something, trying to find the "middle road," can just switch gears and do something completely unpredictable.  I guess it my fault for not seeing it earlier.  I should have gotten out while I had the upper hand, but how she draws me back is completely unknown to me.  Maybe it pretending to be vulnerable and needing me.  I think its bull, she's obviously really good with her words and even better actor.

I just can't comprehend how twisted and mess up has to be to realize how much someone cares for you, but you just throw it away like its nothing.  Its like a love value-added chain, but not the good kind.  I'm at the end, so I'm the one who gets hurt the most?  I think I'll cut my losses now, so I think I'm done now.  This is my proof and evidence that I'm done.

Yeah, that's what's been going lately in my life.


-MC

Duke-UNC CLS and Update

So this past weekend I was at the Duke-UNC China Leadership Summit, in the three days I was there I was in the car 23 hours, but it was well worth.

The Duke-UNC executive team it a extraordinary job of coordinating and organizing the event, overall I can't say how impress with the professional-ness of the event. I feel extremely fortunate to have heard so many great speakers discuss a sustainability in China, something I'm extremely passionate about.  

It was a good opportunity for me to network, and meet many like-minded individuals.  I would highly encourage everyone who see this to apply next year.  

The only drawback to attend this meeting is that I came back to a pile of homework and projects. I've never been so stressed in school.  It is honestly the hardest semesters I've had here at IU.  Luckily, it almost over then I'll have a 3 day break until summer school starts (yay!), and after all that its China time!

-MC

Business School: What I feel like I'm lacking

Hello Hello,

Yesterday was a April fools day, and a fool I was.  I seem to be spreading myself out too thin lately, physically and emotionally, but I was really fortunate to have listen Dr. Vuylsteke talk about Americans working abroad in China, and really work in general.  

It really got me thinking that as a business student, what can I really do? Spreadsheets, simple modeling, t charts?  I've been worried this past year about that I'm learning in B-school, all the hard skills that most business kids know now a-days, I feel like I don't know.  I'm not cutting-edge, and I really don't know what I'm going to do.  It's never too late to learn they say, but I just feel like I'm way too behind.  

The one thing he focus on wasn't these hard skills, well besides that most people in business wish they knew more accounting, but rather soft skills and interpersonal skills.  I feel like there is where I can excel at, because 1. I think because I can control my nervousness, and being quick on my feet speaking and communication comes easy, 2. I can easily relate to people, and 3. I really am kind of that typical person, or maybe broad interests kind of guy.  I think if I can maintain these skills or traits, that business maybe wasn't a bad choice for me after all.  

I wonder if anyone else has had the major panic-scare?

-MC