My car is fifteen years old and has over 198,500 miles on it, but I still love it. My check engine light has been on for seven years, but last week the light started flashing when I drove over 40 mph. I was kind of afraid that my car was going to explode or something, so I needed to find a mechanic. After asking a couple of locals and looking on the internet, one mechanic received higher reviews than anyone else, so of course I had to find out what was so great about him.

According to my management book, this mechanic had implemented a differentiation business-level strategy. Differentiators provide services that customers perceive as being different in ways that are important to them. So what was the big difference about this mechanic? As soon as I walked into the shop, I was greeted by one of the friendliest men I have ever met. He quickly took my information and wrote down all of the problems I told him I was having with my car. He then explained some of the possible causes of my car’s problems and gave me a rough price estimate.

Being friendly and efficient was only the tip of the iceberg. A large portion of their clientele is students, so their lobby is student friendly. One half of the lobby consisted of leather recliners facing a TV, while the other half was more secluded for studying. They also had free Wi-Fi and soft drinks. Since the shop is kind of far from campus, they even offered to drive me back for class and to drive me home.

The only problem with buying from a differentiator is that you have to pay a premium for their special services. Because of the recession, many consumers are looking for cheaper alternatives to meet their needs. Some differentiators are being forced to break away from their strategy to try and regain market share, while others haven’t really been affected. This is because of strong customer loyalty. My car now drives like it is ten years younger, and my new mechanic has a customer for life.

OR living in Texas for 2 more years and possibly start saving money for graduate school.

Of course, my primary objective is to line up job offers first. I have already submitted some applications that have already ended their application deadlines. However, some companies are telling me to wait until Spring semester to apply. That just seems way to late for me, especially since I have already started thinking about what I want to do in the summer.

Like many others, I want to travel the world after I graduate. However, I’m not sure if I’m going to enjoy the “sitting around doing nothing” time in between school, my travels and starting my new job. Somehow, my Dad got an idea into my head about interning in Hong Kong. I’m not really sure where to begin looking for a Hong Kong internship. However, it would be such a great opportunity and so much fun to experience the city.

So … I have a lot of work and job/internship hunting to do! It will be an interesting process …

This is technically only the beginning of my third year at Texas A&M, but thanks to many dual credit hours and summer school, I got to order my ring a year early. After I ordered my ring, the Association of Former Students gave me a calendar that counted down the days until Ring day. I went ahead and threw it away because 1) counting down the days would only drive me crazy and 2) I already had the countdown going in my head.

On Ring day my family and I stepped off of the Aggie Ring Shuttle to see a sea of Aggies eagerly waiting to get their rings. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity (probably about 30 minutes), I was finally the next person in line. When my mother gave me my ring, I tuned out the rest of the world. The ring lady told me to inspect my ring to make sure that my name and class year were correct, but I just stared at the eagle and number twelve right below it.

After I got my ring, I took a ton of pictures and ran into a lot of people that I knew. It was amazing how many people were getting their rings or attending a friend’s Ring day. The Aggie Ring is much more than a shiny chunk of metal; it is a symbol that shows that you are part of the Aggie network.  From now on, I can proudly wear my ring and let everyone know that I am an Aggie.

As our tour van left the airport, I did not know what to expect. I did not do any research online on Bali, so I knew nothing about our new destination. Organized chaos best describes what I saw. The roads were crammed with cars and motorbikes. Motorbikes were zooming past our van and driving around oncoming traffic. Mothers were holding their children with one hand and driving with the other. We even saw a man holding a ladder under his arm while steering his bike. As a tourist, I was amazed by what I saw, but for the locals this was just their daily commute.

Indonesia is a predominantly Islamic country, but over 90% of the population of Bali is Hindu. The island is home to many Hindu temples and is nicknamed the “Island of 1000 Temples.” Our group was led by a professional tour guide, so we got to visit a lot of the major attractions. To be honest I have too many stories and pictures of Bali to cram into one blog, but thankfully my friend Wenet made a five minute video that pretty much summed up the entire trip.

If you watched the video, you probably noticed the dark colored “frisky” animals at the coffee plantation. At this point you may be asking yourself “why are there dark colored “frisky” animals at the coffee plantation?” These animals are actually Asian Palm Civets and are basically mini-factories. Coffee beans go into the Civets as “input”, are “processed”, and then a few hours later you gather the “output”. The newly transformed coffee beans are then washed, dried, roasted, and brewed. This crazy concoction is called Kopi Luwak and is considered a delicacy. After seeing the Civets at work, I made sure to drink an “unprocessed” cup of hot chocolate.

After a long day of sightseeing, two of the other students and I went to a fish spa. Basically, at the spa there are large tanks with many small fish inside called garra rufa, or doctor fish. After paying a small fee, you put your feet inside the tank and the toothless fish nibble at your skin. The fish slowly eat away your dead skin and leave a nice smooth layer. It’s kind of hard to describe the feeling of hundreds of fish biting your feet, but it is actually very nice. Be warned: if you are ticklish, you will laugh the entire time. When the spa is over, your feet will feel as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

On our last day in Bali, we stayed on the beach most of the day and took surfing lessons. Our instructor was a local and was a very nice guy. In fact most of the people in Bali are rather hospitable individuals. Sadly, the tourism industry in Bali took a huge hit after the bombings several years ago, but things are starting to look up. I definitely wouldn’t mind returning to the island one day and since the exchange rate is $1 = 9,015 rupiah, it may be one day soon.

I signed up for Mktg 489 elective very last minute. I was enticed by what it had to offer, an opportunity to participate in an individual fashion case study competition against other schools called the Fashion Scholarship Fund.

Actually having the professor go through the syllabus was even more exciting. I can’t believe that I am actually getting graded and getting school credit for something that I would like to do for fun regardless of the class.
For example, it is required that I subscribe to Women’s Wear Daily and do reports on current happenings in the fashion business world or other realms that effect it. I already was subscribed, but now that I get a great yearly rate … it just makes it all the merrier.

Apparently, we will receive our case in the next 2 weeks and have everything finalized and submitted to NYC by December. The  judges will pick 5 winners from all applicants in the participating schools around the nation to win $5,000 scholarships and advance to the second round.

My other class I am pretty excited about is the random class I picked to fulfill my international credit – a graduate class on Asian government and politics. It sounded interesting, so I hope I’m not getting too ahead of myself.

Rashid:  So how much does a ho_se cost in Texas?

Pritesh: Uh a house? It depends on how big of a house and where you…

Rashid: No no. A horse. How much does a horse cost?

Pritesh: Oh a horse. Pfft, I have no idea. That was a really random question.

Rashid: I thought that there are a lot of cowboys in Texas. Don’t you have a horse?

Pritesh: Wow, if you ever visit Texas you are going to be pretty disappointed.

Rashid:  :( [Looks like a child who was just told that Santa Claus does not exist]

I couldn’t give Rashid a hard time about his misconception of Texas because I had actually done the same thing with Singapore. Singapore and the United States are surprisingly similar, but there are a few subtle differences that I have noticed.

If you go out to eat at a Malaysian restaurant, you will notice the usual cutlery: a fork and spoon. It’s what’s missing that might surprise you; there are no knifes. I was pretty confused the first time I had lunch with my host family because I had a large chicken thigh with rice and nothing to cut it with. I slowly nibbled at the rice and tried to figure out what everyone else was doing with their chicken. Apparently you hold the chicken down with the fork and then scrape the meat off the bones with the spoon. After doing this for the past four weeks, I must admit it is a lot more efficient. You can hold a lot more chicken and rice with the spoon, so you can eat a lot faster (especially when you have a really short lunch break).

Another difference is that in Singapore you drive on the left side of the road. You wouldn’t think that this really affects me since I don’t drive anywhere, but the same rules of the road apply when walking. Usually the subway stations are packed with people, so you have to be careful not to run into anybody. Twenty years of living in America have taught me to step to the right when someone is in front of me, which doesn’t work in Singapore. I either smash into the other person or we do the awkward “two step”. On escalators the right side is for walking and the left side is for standing. I usually get these two backwards and someone has to tap on my shoulder to remind me to keep walking. Driving on the left side of the road really complicates crossing the sidewalk. Your instincts tell you to look left, but the cars are really coming from the right. It is a miracle that I haven’t been run over yet.

Most Singaporeans speak British English, so a few words and phrases are different.

• A line of people is called a queue.
• If you pay for something using a credit card, it is called using netts (yes I looked pretty stupid when I asked what netts were at the accounting firm).
• Any older person is called Auntie or Uncle.
• If an electronic device breaks, then it has spoiled.
• Gasoline is called petrol.
• If you are dating someone then you are attached.
• A bathroom/restroom doesn’t necessarily have a toilet, so you have to specifically ask for a toilet.
• Carrot cake is not the dessert.
• If someone tells you to follow them, they actually mean that you can go with them.

So besides the differences I have listed and the countless other differences that I haven’t noticed or failed to mention, we are all pretty much the same.

I am really going to miss living in the city and office life … but I know I’ll be back there soon.

I am excited to see what this upcoming year has in store for me.

Since I’m done with all the business and university course requirements — all the classes I am taking this fall are the ones that truly interest me.  For example, I am enrolled in a new marketing course that involves a fashion business case study. Also, I somehow managed to fit in 15 hours on a MWF schedule.

It’s crazy to imagine that in less than a year — I will have a new job, be working in a new city, have my own apartment and start going through piles and piles of ‘adult type’ paperwork … (insurance, dental, retirement, etc.) …

As expected, I’m going to ‘GO ALL OUT’ this year!

I hope College Station is ready for me (and my rabbit fur vest).

As I finish my time here, I want to borrow a technique from that first summer to share 6 roses and 3 thorns from my time in Aggieland–some related to Texas A&M, but most tied to my unique, personal experience.  So that I can end positively, I’ll start with thorns.

Thorns:

1.  There is an excessive amount of politicking that goes into things as simple as student leadership.  Sometimes people become disproportionately kind when they know you’re in an “in” group and unfairly cruel when you fall out.  People ought to treat one another well because we’re all human, not because we’re in a pecking order.  2.  Large classes really suck.  They are not for  anxiety ridden souls.  3.  City and campus wide construction is a pain.  With technology growing to support virtual classrooms, more time, money and resources should be spent on creating the real ties between people that don’t rely on additional built space.

Roses:

1.  The Bonfire Memorial is beautifully done and is my current favorite spot on campus.  Reading about fellow Ags’ legacy helps put life in perspective.  2.  Campus dining is refreshingly delicious, and the Tomato Bar makes some of my favorite food around, bar-none.  3.  The network of former students is real, powerful, delightful and effective.  Aggies seem to be everywhere I want to be, and each and everyone I’ve spoken with has been willing to help me on my way.  Kudos, especially, to Britt Harris, Kenneth Spencer, Jordan Baucum, David Clayton and Payal Patel.  4.  Traveling with students, formally and informally, has come really naturally and has produced some great college experiences.  5.  There are readily apparent ways to serve A&M students, the Bryan/College Station community, Texas and the world.  Service challenges and changes people, and that’s what college should be about.  It is here.  6.  Relationships built over vision setting and the day-to-day chores of managing a student organization can run deep.  Some have, and the value of those friendships is irreplaceable.

It’s hard, sometimes, to talk about the mingled joy and frustration of life, or even a simple experience, because an over emphasis on one aspect or the other can quickly lead to cynicism or naivete.  Still, to leave either out would be to neglect the raw and striking beauty of life without her make-up on. A&M, you’ve been an authentic sort of beautiful.

As the camp song goes, “My friend, I will remember you, think of you, and I will pray for you….”  You, too, Ags.

Although every interaction with the spunky, energetic Mrs.  Linda Muhl feels like a one-on-one adventure, she has taught thousands of teenagers over the course of her 28 year career in education—and each one has probably claimed, on some occasion, to be her favorite.

Muhl claims not to have favorites, though, and not to love any one person in her life more than another.

“I love them differently,” she once said in class, “because each one makes an essential contribution to my life, no matter the size.”  As many young people clamored to find and be identified as best friends, Muhl’s wisdom expressed the power of love and its ability to bring everyone into the circle of friendship.   This spirit of inclusiveness came with me to Texas A&M, and I learned here to identify it is an element of the effective leadership that marks an Aggie.

Whether embarking on cross country trips with her 120 member family of students each Spring Break or planning photography workshops at the Dallas Arboretum, the now-retired Muhl never took the easy route when it came to doing her job as an Advanced Placement English teacher. If she could dream up a better, more fun, or more effective way to teach a lesson than sitting in a classroom would allow, she willingly jumped through hoops to make her vision a reality.  Her drive to innovate against complacency, and sometimes tradition, makes her stand out among educators. It is also an example to those who aspire to differentiate themselves from peers, at Texas A&M and in the world.

Constantly challenging students to write in to local newspapers, Mrs. Muhl taught that silently allowing government officials and community members to behave unethically is as reprehensible as committing the acts personally.  Often writing her own passionate letters, her ability to synchronize belief and action sent a clear message to everyone in her path.  As such, her passion for maintaining integrity is a hallmark of her legacy in the lives of her students—this Aggie included.

For these reasons and many more, it is a great privilege to recognize a teacher whose life’s work made a difference in mine.  Thanks, and gig ‘em, Mrs. Muhl.

For more information about Student Government Association’s Inspiration Award, including past winners, how to nominate a teacher as well as selection criteria, visit http://sga.tamu.edu/inspirationaward

To read more about Mrs. Muhl’s life, leadership, teaching philosophies and anecdotes, check out  a copy of her recently released book, Under the ”Muhlberry” Tree.

I am so glad that I was able to intern at Michael Kors. The company is still significantly young in comparison to many fashion houses that have been around for decades and decades. Thus, I have been able to see how a company manages growth and progression at such an accelerated rate.

I have 3 main bosses that I work with. One deals with direct marketing – billboards, magazines, in-store promotions, marketing research, etc. My second boss has more technology based projects. She works a lot with new marketing technology such as Facebook, Twitter, websites, etc. My third boss works with EVERYTHING marketing. I find it really fun and interesting because you never know what project you are going to work on next.

The other interns that I have worked with in my department have been really great too. This honestly has been the easiest and most relaxing group of people I have worked. I felt that we really meshed well together. If I am able to work with people like this in the future, I wouldn’t mind staying in the office past 8 or 9pm.

The discount hasn’t been too bad either. I’m not really sure if College Station is ready to handle my new recent purchases … I’m not even sure if I AM ready to handle my new recent purchases. All I know is that, if you spot someone on campus with a rabbit fur vest. It is more than likely going to be me …

I have one more week to go! I am going to make the best of out it. I’m ready to see all my friends and family back home, but will definitely miss the routine I have going on here.

Walking around campus in the evenings to exercise, I get hit with this nostalgia that’s different from my midday desire to just be done with school and class and everything that goes with it.  I realize how many obscure memories I have–not all “big” moments like getting my Aggie ring–in random corners of main campus.  I think about people who have graduated and people I used to spend time with, then lost track of as we all got more involved in school.  It’s strange to see the MSC with a work-in-progress look about it, but cool to see the Military Walk that wasn’t here when I was a freshman. ( I really like what they’ve done with it.  I kind of gawked when I heard it was being done in such a rocky economy, but it is awesome.  Check it out sometime.)

The look and feel of campus has changed so much over 3 years, even as some places feel exactly the way they always have for me–like Eppright Hall, where I lived freshman year.  Passing anywhere near it, my legs are almost programmed to walk the same paths I did as a fish.  I’ve been tempted more than once to go meet the lucky soul who lives in old room 337…

But alas.  Time passes and college flies by, and that’s the way it’s supposed to happen, I think.  In 11 days I’ll walk the stage and be finished with my time here for a little while.  Kind of a strange thing.

One of the big differences between America’s and Singapore’s conservation effort is that in the US “Going Green” is a movement whereas in Singapore it is a way of life. Singapore is a very small island that doesn’t have many natural resources, so they have learned to make do with what they have. One day Megan, another Aggie intern, and I ate lunch at a busy hawker center (open-air food court). When we left our table to go pay our bill, I accidentally left my half empty bottle of water next to my seat. While we were waiting in the line to pay, a random local walking down the sidewalk grabbed my water bottle, put it in a plastic shopping bag, brought it to me, and then told me not to waste. I thanked him and tried to explain that I had accidentally forgotten it, but he just stared at me like I was a spoiled American and then told me again not to waste. He then continued on his way along the sidewalk.

In Singapore owning a vehicle is a very big deal because it is quite expensive. The certificate to purchase a “cheap” car cost about S$30,000 and that doesn’t even include the cost of the car. The reason it is so expensive is because the government wants to limit the number of vehicles on the road to reduce congestion and carbon emissions. The other transportation option is the relatively cheap public transportation system, which includes buses and subways (MRT).  I ride the MRT everyday and everyday it is an adventure. When you hear the announcement “the train doors are closing” a new race begins. You can usually see a few people flying down the escalator, skipping steps, and pushing other people out of the way. They run across the platform with a last-ditch diving effort, only to have the doors close before them or on them.

Singapore is also very energy efficient. On our first night it took us forever to figure out how to turn on the lights of our hotel room. Apparently as soon as you walk in you are supposed to put your cardkey into this card reader which turns on the power to the room. When you leave the room, you have to retrieve your cardkey from the reader (in order to re-enter later), which turns off all of the power and you can’t waste any electricity. Another way Singaporeans save electricity is by using tankless water heaters that only warm the water when you are showering. My host family uses one of these devices, so I have to turn on the hot water switch before I take a shower. The switch is inconveniently located in the kitchen and I often forget to turn it on. I usually remember around the time that I jump into the shower and am hit with ice cubes. My family normally eats breakfast in the kitchen when I showering, so I am usually too embarrassed to walk back out and hit the switch (or it could be that they turn the switch off whenever I am in the bathroom for their daily game of freeze the American). Either way my icy showers are my way of helping turn the world into a lime greener place.

I was speaking with a woman I admire for her role at A&M earlier this semester and she said she “just keeps her mouth shut” about questionable things she knows that go on because doing so enables her to “keep her job and do more good that way”.   The conversation left me disillusioned–a little numb–then very, very angry.  Lyrics to one of Brooke Fraser’s songs kept popping into my head and all I could think for several weeks sounded something like this:  “Now that I have seen, I am responsible.  Faith without works is dead.”   Ignorance can be an excuse for passively allowing injustice to continue, but once awareness is involved, silence becomes an active force of evil.

I don’t know what that woman in leadership knows or if it has anything at all to do with how stifled I feel walking around campus.   I do know that I have to hold myself to the same standard I expect of her: once a problem is spotted, actions ought to be taken to create better outcomes.  Perhaps I can’t single handedly change a dynamic, but I can speak–and I must.  I don’t know how to undo the fact that the women in historic photos of Texas A&M were mere visitors to students, and that the looks on their faces tell a better story about starry eyes and butterfly-filled stomachs than gazes of steadfast intention and fire of the gut.  Perhaps those women did just want a big, strong military man to make their decisions for them so they wouldn’t have to fret about them.

But I don’t.

Here are five things I have learned–some first hand and others vicariously through observation– about pursuing leadership as a woman at Texas A&M.

1.  Don’t apologize for your ideas.

2. Don’t flirt to get your way.

3. Don’t ask permission for your feelings.

4. Don’t play the doe-eyed fool.

5. Don’t settle for recognition when there’s still work to be done.

I could expand and attempted to, but any more words just cloud the clarity of these simple truths. My purpose and prayer is that future Aggie women would take note and continue blazing a trail that I’m just writing about in retrospect.  Rise up, Aggie woman, and lead.

Ever read the books of Corinthians or Ephesians? in the Bible? The apostle Paul wrote these books to ancient churches in their respective towns.

I recently had the amazing opportunity to visit Greece with a group of Aggies for a five week period to learn about Greek culture.  The trip was fantastic, the food was delicious, and I made some amazing Greek and Aggie friends for life.

While in Greece, I had the marvelous opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Paul and visit the very places he visited, taught, and wrote to. Seeing these places brought them to life because I have been intently studying these books the last few years. For this post, I have nothing profound to write, I would just like to share some pictures of the places we visited.

Corinth

The following three pictures are from Corinth (Greek: Κόρινθος). The top is of the temple of Apollo in the center of the ancient city.

Mars Hill in Athens

Mars Hill, also known as the “Aeropagus” (Greek: Άρειος Πάγος) is near the Acropolis in Athens. When Paul visited Athens as outlined in Acts 17, this is where he presented the gospel to some of the greatest thinkers of the time.

Below: View of the Acropolis from Mars Hill.

Our group got to read Act 17 as the sun went down over the city of Athens

Ephesus

We packed up our bags and headed over to Turkey to visit the ancient city of Ephesus (Greek: Ἔφεσος). I didn’t know that at one time, Ephesus was the 2nd largest city in the world. The remains of this city were vast and were even more impressive those of Corinth. Below is a picture of their library, which held 12,000 scrolls.

This is the stadium in where Paul met great opposition from the local craftsmen who riled up the townspeople against him (Acts 19). In front of it is part of a gladiator graveyard.

It was more convenient that I had expected. Few people had tickets, instead everyone held up their phones that had their e-mail confirmation to get on board. The bus left at 6:30am on Saturday and took about 3.5 hours (not including a 10 minute stop in Delaware). It was not bad at all and there was free wi-fi, which was a relief since I am practically addicted to the internet.
It was good to get away from the city for a little bit, and of course it was wonderful to see my friend. When I got off the bus, I was instantly greeted with sweltering heat. I felt like I was very similar to walking around downtown Houston during the summer, which you know is completely ridiculous. Even more ridiculous was trying to catch a cab to bring me to Georgetown’s campus. Perhaps, I am too used to cabs fighting to get to you and have zero amount of patience.

I eventually got a cab after waiting for about 15 minutes and was pleasantly surprised when the cab fee was just $8. I really need to stop comparing things to New York City prices. I’m ALWAYS pleasantly surprised.

I am obsessed with the Georgetown. It seems like the perfect fusion of Hogwarts and the Hamptons. The campus buildings look like castles, and outside are small boutiques and restaurants.

I could not get over the humidity, but I’m quite jealous of how this place must be during all the other seasons.

Last, but not least … An Aggie picture with the Obamas ! Gig’Em Barack & Michelle.

About halfway through my first day on the job I finally met my supervisor, Madam Harlinah. She was in a hurry so she quickly introduced herself, explained my first task, and then disappeared somewhere in the office. I was so focused on listening to her instructions and not looking stupid, that I didn’t quite memorize what she looked like. In my defense, she was wearing a head wrap (hijab), so I didn’t have a complete view of her. After working on my project for a few minutes, I realized that I needed her to log into the system for me. After looking around the room, I realized that two-thirds of the employees were wearing hijabs and facing their computers! After a few minutes of nervous contemplation, I built up the courage to go up to a woman who was about Madam Harlinah’s size and was wearing the same color outfit. While she was faced away from me I said, “Excuse me. May you log me into the system?” The woman turned around with a puzzled look on her face and said “Why are you asking me?” I guessed wrong. I came up with some lame excuse and got away as fast as possible.

After the anxiety from the first day subsided, I had a lot more fun around the office. I have gotten to know some of the other interns who are mostly from Singapore. One of my friends is an Indian girl who I like to call Sally Salon. She speaks with an interesting British accent (though she has never been to the UK) and we have had some peculiar conversation:

Bizarre Foods

Sally Salon: Have you had a fat sandwich?

Pritesh: No. Is that a Singaporean sandwich with fat in it?

Sally Salon: No, I had it in New Jersey. It is a large sandwich with fries in it. Imagine…a sandwich with fries in it. That is so weird.

Pritesh: Hmmm I guess. Did you see that the restaurant across the street serves baby squids?

Sally Salon: Yeah. What’s weird about that?

The Office

Pritesh: What’s up with this hole punch? (Apparently in Singapore they use hole punchers that are only about 4 inches long and create two holes). Am I supposed to guesstimate where the center of the page is?

Sally Salon: Are you serious? What do they teach you in America?

Pritesh: I’m sorry. I failed my International Office Supplies class. In America we use three hole punchers that are idiot proof; you can feed them the entire paper.

Sally Salon: Stop kidding around.

Pritesh: I’m not kidding.

[Shows image of superior American hole punch online]

Sally Salon: That third hole is not necessary…Americans.

Thanks to my brother, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to East Hampton over Forth of July weekend. Although a 3 hour train ride turned into a 6 hour long nightmare due to a holiday weekend, it was worth it. It was a nice juxtaposition to being in a busy city.

There were secluded houses with wooden fences, windmills, trees, water, small boutiques and fresh air. It was nice to see the change of pace — everyone was laying out by the pool, riding bicycles, grilling burgers, etc.

However, my favorite part of the Hamptons was obviously the food. We drove north to Montauk to a place called Surf Lodge. I finally got to try a classic New England lobster roll.

My ultimate favorite was the appetizer — mussels in a coconut curry sauce.

We spent a few hours at the Surf Lodge, eating and hanging out until sunset when a band took the stage on the outdoor deck.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was seeing unexpectedly seeing Pete Yorn live. We went to a random hotel party on the way home.

He played songs we recognized from high school. We all thought it was a random artist covering Pete Yorn music, but it turned out to Pete Yorn himself.

In other recent adventures, I’ve been going to free comedy shows at UCB Theater — short for Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. They are known for their improv comedy and have many connections to SNL, the Daily Show and comedy shows like, 30 Rock.

With a few more weeks to go, I’m still in search of the best rooftop view of New York City.

This weekend I’m taking a bus over to Washington DC … my first trip there in over a decade !

]]> http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1964 0 http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?p=1964 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/maysblog/~3/QW1OOumABS4/ http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?p=1955#comments Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:55:17 +0000 Pritesh http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?p=1955 When I told my friends and family that I was going to Singapore, they usually responded with “Why Singapore?” The answer is simple: I want to be out of my element. I actually enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone and being completely immersed in a different culture. Singapore is a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, and Indian people who bring with them their own beliefs and values. When I stepped off of the plane, I prepared myself for signs with strange markings and restaurants that were serving dishes that I could hardly pronounce. Imagine my surprise when I was greeted by the golden arches, Colonel Sanders, and five dollar foot longs. Where is the Singapore that I was imagining?

With today’s global economy and market place, I understand that many of the companies in America have expanded to countries like Singapore. It makes sense that McDonalds and Coca Cola have a huge presence, but some of the companies I have seen have shocked me. In one mall we went to, there was a store completely dedicated to Legos. I don’t even think we have Lego stores in Texas! When our tour bus was stuck in traffic, I saw a Ford truck (for Ford’s sake they might want to sell a few more of those trucks). The biggest shocker for me was when I turned on the TV. The very first show that was on was a rerun of American Idol! Perhaps Singapore Idol will debut next season?

In foreign countries it is easy to get caught in tourist traps. When you see the familiar signs of restaurants and stores that you have grown up with, you can’t help but to get drawn in. The vendors can usually smell Americans from miles away and once they have you, they won’t let you go. If you confine yourself to familiar establishments, you really miss out and don’t learn anything about the country. To me visiting “fake” Singapore is like camping in an RV. Yes technically you are camping; however, you are simply doing the same things that you do at home but in a foreign setting. Where is the excitement and sense of adventure?

Though there are many Western influences in Singapore, real Singapore is still nestled amongst all of the modernization. For lunch today I went to a food court and I still have no idea what I ate (it tasted kind of like chicken). The menu consisted of pictures and numbers, so I picked the dish that looked the most interesting and ordered it. I also added a green sauce to my enigma of a meal and the whole concoction tasted rather good. The man sitting at the table next to me was eating Popeye’s Chicken (I think he parked his RV in the back somewhere).

I found that while I was working in wholesales department for YSL, I was faced with the same tasks every morning. I would normally check my intern e-mail from boss, and do tasks such as: updating line sheets, confirming orders to department stores, checking samples in/out, creating training packets for department stores, etc.

The afternoon is where things would differ — some days would be filled with meeting buys from department stores, while other days would be seeing models show off the new collection. However, wholesale and retail is based off a cyclical seasonal schedule. Thus, one can know in advance when the work load will be light or heavy (market week). I should note that the marketing department is always working a season behind wholesales — marketing is working on projects focused on Fall 2010, while wholesales is working on projects focused on Resort (Pre-Spring) 2011, and finally design is another season ahead in Spring 2011.

Working in the marketing department is a little different. Since the marketing department in Michael Kors is not located on the same floor as the showroom, the office resembles more of the office from ‘The Office’. It’s not as flashy; there aren’t framed pictures of celebrities, no fresh cut flowers in the hall ways, the bathroom doesn’t feature expensive soap from Henri Bendels, etc. etc.

Besides updating and analyzing data from clicks and orders from Michael Kor’s Facebook and Direct E-mails (a morning ritual), I never really know what to expect. My projects have greatly ranged. One day I was creating a mock website for Japan, while the next day I was picking out fall trend items to be featured on the website and picking out items to be placed in an issue of Vanity Fair.

My marketing 323 professor would be glad to hear that everything that she taught in class is being fully utilized during my internship. Since the company is expanding internationally, the marketing department has been interested in gathering data in these countries. I spent the past two days, going through proposals of sample sizes, data collection methods and survey and interview questions.

Even though I don’t get to interact with models and buyers, go to catered events during the day and play with the latest fashion trends, I thoroughly enjoy how there is always so much going on in fashion marketing. I never know what I am going to do before I step into the office — which I love. I feel that the increased use of social media and technology has really taken off and has made fashion marketing more exciting and more dynamic than ever before.

I remember feeling dizzy for most of my Freshman Business Initiative class, and even into some student leadership roles, listening to people boast about how big and bad they’ll be in the cutthroat, dog-eat-dog business world they apparently know so much about.  I earnestly agree with Bregman and am trying (rather unsuccessfully, I might add) not to just keep saying “Me toooo!” to his posts.

So here’s my thought, with a question tacked on the end.

I came in to Mays thinking I’d link arms with everyone I met and have a never ending network of friends who’d ask me to join forces to take over the world with joy and justice–and all by dinner time.  While I’ve enjoyed a bit of that, I’ve also burned some bridges, sworn some people out of my inner circles and yeah, made some friendships I wanna keep forever.

What’s your criteria, whether you mean to apply it or not?  What kind of people do you befriend?  Which friends gets nixed?  Post anonymously if you want, but I wanna hear it all.  So spill.

But, aside from the spiritual and religious aspects of going to church, many children brought up between pews can get a head start on creativity and other skills considered essential to budding business people, even if they’re not being taught in school.  And hey–even adults driven to their knees by financial hardship can find more than a peace that passes understanding by joining a local congregation.

Here are 5 skills young church go-ers can add to their toolboxes, job seekers can transfer to the job hunt and the gratefully employed can continue honing.

1.  Networking.

Many churches take 5-10 minutes early in weekly services to greet visitors and exchange graces with familiar friends.  This is a great time to practice a firm handshake and a warm smile without the pressure of a job interview.  For kids, this opportunity to interact with a wide array of people from varying occupations and socioeconomic classes can eliminate social anxieties and expand cultural horizons early in life.  And who knows? The person you (or they) greet may well turn into the missing link in your search for the position that best utilizes your skills and experiences.

2.  Teamwork.

Anyone who has volunteered to help put on a week of Vacation Bible School knows that elaborately decorated classrooms, the registration of hundreds of youngsters, the execution of nightly crafts and the preparation of snacks that  kids will actually eat cannot happen on one person’s watch alone.  Whether working as part of a one-week community outreach or on a missions team in a foreign country, church members have a chance to learn how diverse people from varying educational backgrounds can work together in an environment where salaries and job titles are not on the line.   And as any recruiter knows, there’s no substitute for experience when it comes to working with people.  Kids exposed to this early in life may be well suited to take on leadership in high school and college, even as many of their peers will just be starting to get their feet wet.

3. Creativity.

With hymns dating back to the 1500s and songs written by faithful locals all being sung side by side in churches today, creative expression abounds in places sometimes stereotyped for small-mindedness. Immersed in an environment where music and public speaking come together on a weekly basis, youngsters and job seekers have a unique opportunity to watch how others have chosen to share their ideas–and maybe even find a voice of their own.  Children often have crafts planned into Sunday School lessons and adults can practice creative communication in small groups as they explore how to share their joys and struggles without boasting or boo-hooing.

4. Tactful Negotiation.

Sitting through a  Bible study may sound like a passive activity for housewives who enjoy bridge and tea, yet few circumstances are more tense, emotionally charged and ambiguous than two people (often friends) disagreeing on the interpretation of scriptures.  Like debating the vision and values of a business, the brave few who regularly attend Bible study know: even when people generally agree on the direction they’re heading, there can be divisive conflict over what words mean and how that meaning should be applied to life.  Learning the dedication to remain friends through disagreements, and developing the grit to work through differing ideas without damaging relationships, is an area where Bible-beaters and business people both have room to grow.

5.  Perspective.

Few qualities identify a business person green with inexperience more readily than an inability to make amends when a working relationship has turned sour.  Where most religions emphasize some form of forgiveness and reconciliation, it’s clear by the sheer number of small, divided churches that the concept is one all people struggle to apply.  Yet, holding the idea as an ideal somehow draws people nearer to what many people desire: peace on earth, and goodwill to all.  If one day a week is dedicated to the exultation of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, the other six spent getting through the daily grind may gradually become more than that.  Small tasks may develop meaning, work may become passion and that passion may just be what people at all stages of life seek to find: purpose.  People with purpose can lead economies out of recessions and people toward a more just world.  Try that out in a job interview.

Have another way the faith community has developed your skill set? Think these connections are all a crock? Leave  a comment and let me know.

Apparently you have to take classes when you study abroad and I foolishly already finished my “basic” classes (this is why you should procrastinate). So how am I studying abroad in Singapore you may ask? There is a little loophole in the system called interning abroad for academic credit…Singapore here I come.

At A&M there is a program called the Internship and Living Abroad Program (ILAP) hosted by the L.T Jordan Institute. This program is perfect for people like me who don’t need to take any of the classes a traditional study abroad program offers. Another convenience this program provides is that they take care of most of the details. The Jordan Institute booked my airline ticket, found me an accounting internship, and matched me with a host family. Don’t get too excited though, there are still plenty of things that you have to take care of yourself. Many times I found myself walking from the Jordan Institute office, to the study abroad office, to the Center for International Business office, to the financial aid office, and finally to the student lounge (hey a guy needs a break after all of that walking).

Ten other students and I are leaving for Singapore tomorrow morning and we will be staying for a little over six weeks. I haven’t met all of the other students yet, so I’m kind of afraid that I won’t find the group at the airport. My plan right now is to wear all of my Aggie gear, so hopefully they will spot me. I will admit that before I was accepted into ILAP, I had no idea where in South Asia Singapore was. Apparently it is far away because we are leaving on July 6^th and arriving on the 9^th. Due to some poor planning, we have a weekend trip planned on the 9^th to Bali, so at 12:45 a.m. we are going to land in Singapore, meet our host families, and then leave for Bali at 8:00 a.m. that same day. We have no time to jetlag.

In preparation for my trip, I am turning nocturnal because Singapore is thirteen hours ahead of Texas. So basically I am staying up all night and sleeping all day, which isn’t much different from my usual college routine. I have discovered that around 4:00 a.m. being awake can get very boring. There is nobody on Facebook to chat with and the only shows on TV are infomercials (did you know they sell a machine that makes homemade sodas?). Right now my suitcase only contains two pairs of socks and is lying abandoned on the floor. It’s screaming for me to fill it up, but I tend to procrastinate about these kinds of things. Wow there is a blender on TV that can puree cinder blocks. I can always pack later…

I was able to see their last concert in their farewell tour in Bowery Ballroom, which is located in the lower east side of Manhattan.
I went with a friend who just thought it would be fun to see a concert and experience a new venue in New York City. However, for me … it sadly marked the end of an era.

I have been following this Austin band since the beginning of high school. For a span of over 4 years, a summer would not be considered ‘official’ until I went to a Voxtrot concert. I’ve been there since the very beginning — from shows in Austin, Houston and New York. The venues ranged from an art museum, countless multiple outdoor music festivals and even an Urban Outfitters. I remember what I wore to every show, who I was with and etc. After I graduate next May, it will be my first summer without a Voxtrot show. It will truly be the start of something new.

Even though Voxtrot is no more. I highly encourage everyone to check out their past albums. The lead singer certainly puts on a good show …

“It was impossible not to cringe when Srivastava introduced ‘Missing Pieces’ at the show’s conclusion. Ok. Thanks again. This is our last song ever as Voxtrot. Thank you so much for believing in music and for coming. Then, as if addressing a crowd of graduates, Srivastava continued: Don’t lose your sense of curiosity. Just do whatever you want to do […] Don’t cry. During their last song, he briefly jumped down into the audience for a final hurrah before walking off stage for the last time.” - Voxtrot, Bowery Performance.

]]> http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1905 1 http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?p=1905 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/maysblog/~3/pGSAj-a_QsY/ http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?p=1884#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 03:59:33 +0000 Pritesh http://mays.tamu.edu/blog/?p=1884 Since the beginning of the recession, retail stores have really taken a hit. People just aren’t spending like they used to. In response stores are having more sales. Customers just can’t help but spend more money when they see that magical word, sale. I’ll admit that I too am a sucker for sales, but after taking my first marketing class, I know of a few “sales” to avoid.

First of all don’t be fooled by all of the fancy displays and markdowns. Things like free samples or signs that say clearance work exactly like bug zappers; they are meant to bring you in. Once you are caught by the sign’s allure, you are toast. Even seemingly harmless promotional items like coupons are traps. If you need something like toothpaste and you find a coupon for it, congratulations, you have won. On the other hand, if you find a coupon for something that you weren’t going to buy (like a Snuggie) and then end up buying the item because you saved 20 cents, then the marketers won.

Buy-one-get-one-half-off sales are great, but how much are you really saving? If you answered 50%, you need to look at the big picture. Let’s say you want to buy a $50 pair of shoes. You get to the shoe store and see they are having a buy-one-get-one-half-off sale so of course you look for another pair of shoes to buy. You find an amazing pair of flip flops for $50, which would normally be too expensive for you, but at 50% off they are a steal. So in the end you saved 50% right? Wrong. Your total bill is $75 before tax ($50 shoes + $25 flip flops) instead of $100, so you saved $25 or 25%. So the big question is if you knew that you were only going to save 25% overall, would you have bought the second pair of shoes? If you answered no, then the marketers won.

Have you ever wondered why stores have a maximum number of items you can purchase for certain sales? I always thought it was to prevent one customer from buying the entire stock of the item, but apparently that isn’t always the reason. In class we watched a case study on canned soup sales. A grocery store had a 10 cent discount on soup, so each can only cost 90 cents. The marketer put a big red sign that said sale next to the soup isle. That day on average a customer bought 3 cans of soup. The next day the marketer wrote limit ten below the sale sign. Guess what happened to soup sales? The average rose to 7 cans per customer. A lot more people bought 10 cans of soup. Unless you are having a soup party that day, if you bought 10 cans of soup, the marketers won.

Spending money is good for the economy, but can be bad for your budget. Every week I see commercials for new sales. One mattress store was even giving away free flags with every purchase on Flag Day. Shopping is a constant battle between marketers and consumers. When you go shopping, make sure that you are on the winning side.

Not too long ago I took a “color” personality test. The survey said that I was a mix between green and orange (I am not a fan of the color orange, so I am going to replace it with a much more appealing color, maroon). A green person is analytical and can be very quiet and tends to stay to himself. A “maroon” person is very gregarious and likes to be the center of attention. So basically either the personality test was wrong or I am a living oxymoron.

When I am with my friends, I am definitely maroon. In high school I participated in the student council with all of my friends. One year we ran for state office, so we had to perform a skit at the state convention in front of about five thousand other students. We ran with a “Go Green” platform, so naturally our skit was based on Captain Planet. The main scene was a slow motion fight between Captain Planet and the Oil Monster. Being the maroon person that I am, I volunteered to be the Oil Monster and dressed up in six large black trash bags (it was a very low budget production). After Captain Planet delivered his final blow, I dramatically fell to the ground backwards and one of my trash bags popped. It should have been kind of embarrassing, but I managed to laugh it off (and so did five thousand other students).

If I am working on a class project, I turn green (mostly because projects make me feel sick). The maroon in me wants to become the project leader, but usually everyone in the group wants to be the leader. Since we don’t have a lot of time to work on projects, I concede in the power battle and start working on something. The green in me sees the time wasted in arguing over trivial matters, so I tend to be pretty quiet. My teammates usually end up liking me since I always get my work done quickly and I am on their good side since I pick my battles, but they also think I am boring since I am so focused on my work.

My blogs are a good example of my struggle between colors. When I finally stop procrastinating and start writing my post for the week, I am green. As I am writing, the maroon in me says “hey this is getting kind of boring” so I usually insert something kind of funny in parenthesis (see there is a method to my madness). So like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or Bruce Banner and the Hulk, I find myself in a constant battle and there isn’t going to be a winner anytime soon.

Here’s some reviews to, uh, play around with while I lay awake wishing I were in a movie theater: http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/weekendroundup-6-18-10.html

Rest assured that, when I see it, I will weigh in.  ‘Til then…

I look at programs like NOLS, the National Outdoor Leadership School, and wonder if paying ~$13,000 to answer the call of the wild for a few months is really worth it.  I spent a summer at YMCA Camp Grady Spruce and, although my focus was on delivering a positive experience for campers, some personal growth managed to find its way into my daily regime on the lake.  I lived in an open air tent all summer that forgave my own (sometimes showerless) odor  and even managed to grow as a team with fellow counselors the way Wharton writers tell of happening on Leadership Ventures.  I still look at prestigious MBA websites with a sort of hope and wonder, but questions about the true value of classroom education in general keep me from taking that next leap.   Will adventurous learning ever be the norm instead of the 1950s-housewife-said-damn-once thrill?

In both high school and college, I have taken classes that I really believe should be confined to eLearning.  If classroom discussions aren’t the center of education, why do admissions standards even exist? Pride injections like Botox? I could sit in a room with apes, for heaven’s sake, and learn just as much from a professor clicking through Powerpoint slides.  Are new buildings with plush-but-not-quite-coffee-shop-couch-comfy seats really the investment schools ought to be making?  More lately than ever, I’ve felt inclined to learn from interactive websites and conversations rather than one sided lectures from pundits.  Even as I sat in church last Sunday, I realized that religious education, too, is becoming archaic.  Is this an era that will see something besides a male dominated preacher-to-congregation, professor-to-classroom education?  I hope so.

I miss my own voice.

The dude returned his iPad because it offered too many opportunities to tune out the simply joy (and occasional boredom) of reality in favor of all that can be viewed, read, liked and re-tweeted.  Before I could start in on the ever-trite “Nice post!” comments, I felt more than a little defensive of my cherished simple life as I perused his readers’ comments.   Some compare him to an alcoholic, unable to cast aside technology as if it were a bottle of Jack in the cabinet.  “Get some self control,” one reader said and, with a twist of his heel into my beauty loving chest,”What a ridiculous article.”  I liked it. Sheesh.

But I get their point.  The deleter of my Facebook account this week, I understand the sick and sad realization that a computer program has taken my mental market share.  On the anniversary of a year of dating, my boyfriend brought a newly configured laptop home from my parents’ house outside of Dallas.  We enjoyed a rare night out at Pappasito’s, adventured through the Houston Aquarium and then, at the end of the night…I wanted to play with the new computer.  Regaining 24/7 access to flowing streams of  minutia has become a real interest akin to hiking or reading novels or hanging out with people I love.  What gives?

Hanging with the boyfriend nearly always wins the mental wrestling match, but sometimes going to class, exercising and even being real-life-social fall short of the desire to see “connected” as my online status.

Peter revolted against his captor and sent it back where it came from.  I’m not so bold.

So where’s the line?  How many Facebook friends signify being well connected, and by what point do all of the status updates become information overload?  How many hours–dare I beg minutes–do computers and gadgetry deserve of a person’s day?  Lemme know what you think.

My typical day so far, involves me waking up at 6:40 am. I leave my apartment at around 8:15 or 8:30, depending on if I decide to walk to work or take the subway.
If I take the subway, I get off at the stop on 42nd st/time square. My office is directly across from Bryant park on 42nd st, which I love! In my opinion, it’s a fantastic place to have lunch during the day. It makes me feel like I’m semi in touch with nature (but from a distance) … exactly the way I like it.

Yesterday, I picked up some new running shoes and ran along the Hudson River to Chelsea Piers. I did about 3 miles. I think many people would be surprised (including myself).  I never run in Texas. My excuse is that it’s too hot, or I “might as well drive.” So hopefully by the end of the summer – I’m able to learn a lot more about the industry and get in shape too. After work, I’m trying out classes at a nearby gym. It includes a combination of Indian dance and kick boxing as well as outdoor Yoga on Chelsea Piers.