What I leaned in this semester

I registered around 16 credits this semester, which means I need only 9 more to graduate. Here are the classes I had this semester.

• Pricing Strategy. It seems I learned most things before mid term. After that, we focused more on how to get final project and presentation done. It's good to work in an efficient team so that we finished the project two weeks before semester ends, which was earlier than most other teams.
• Industy Analysis. Rumor from last year students about this class was this is the best course Carlson has. Even though the test would be considered as too picky, I think it still has some value points. Basically, there are two questions need to ask when making corporate strategy. 1. Does it add value? 2. Do we have to own it to appropriate that value? By analyzing different cases, answer to those questions is "it depends." Depends on the resources a company has, and the goal of a company. Advice for group project: choose M&A issue!
• Quality Management and Six Sigma. It is an introduction course for six sigma. Going through almost every concept about quality management. At least, giving some concepts about what to do at different stages. And, it seems that the critical factor affecting final six sigma result is culture.
• Golf. Keep working on it.
• Ethic. It is a required class!

Semester Ends 75% completion

Farewell Crab party for Mr. Onal

We had a farewell party for Mr. Onal, who is going to graduate this semeter. So we introduce him the crab hotpot, which was inspired by Mr. Fukada.


King Crab from Lunds, $9.99/lb, and we had 2 lb.


左右各一 外加一隻大箝


先行分段


從來沒吃過螃蟹的穆韓默德歐納先生 據他說他只吃過蝦子跟魚 而且很不喜歡鯰魚(catfish?)


回教徒吃牛肉 可是一定要吃經過特殊處理過的肉 所以他自帶肉品 並且煮土耳其餐給大家分享


沒什麼重點的照片 "土耳其人切肉中" 他是捲起袖子切肉 所以黑色部份是.....


土耳其式煮飯法


正在調理配飯的醬汁


第一次吃螃蟹就是King Crab阿




圍在客廳克難進行


tea time...


今天氣溫feels like -19C 加上沒租到車去採買 所以只好坐著公車頂著寒風前進(當然是指下了公車後啦)
首先是為了趕上公車 在大街上跑了三分鐘 結果到了超市之後可能因為冷空氣吸太多太乾 一直咳不停
買完之後 在公車站牌等了十幾分鐘 雖然上半身還好 但是腿被吹到小麻
下車吃後 走過10 ave 橫跨密西西比河的橋 真的走到腿快沒知覺 thinsulate的手套也撐不住 果然還是要雙層的才行
冷天唯一的好處就是 海鮮不怕壞啊

感恩節之玩偶特輯

新成員--耶誕限量版之白色維尼


棒球選手維小尼


棒球選手進階級變身--小麋鹿維尼


維尼與好朋友的對話 (跳跳虎曰:你!對我家小虎好一點!!!!)


(噢....痛........)


迪士尼家族大合照


大學熊系列
(後排左起:UIUC, Duke, Harvard, Chicago GSB, Columbia, Minnesota)
(前排左起:UCLA, MIT, Caltech, Minnesota, NYU Sloan)

Hotpot party

One night before thanksgiving, 2nd and 1st Chinese speaking students gathered to have hotpot party, which we looked forward since last year. Now, it finally comes true. Hotpot is not very common here. Back to Taiwan, we have many shabu shabu restaurants, and shabu shabu means personal hotpot. Anyway, we tried different style of hotpot across Taiwan strait. Before inviting friends from other countries, we had better try it once first.



Vegetables....


Lots of dishes...


Put the hotpot on the stoves.


Roast chicken


Spicy hotpot.


Another spicy hotpot



Group picture


King's game

Thanks Martin and Jason's community room of their apartment. Let's try it again.

Learning

念MBA的過程 小組合作是必經的過程
第一學期之後 小組的組成就變成自力救濟的方式 不再由教授指定 當然也是有例外的
彼此學習的過程中 發現自己適合怎樣的合作方式 排斥怎樣的方式
某些人你知道下次不該再找他一組 或是根據互通有無的訊息知道該找哪些人而又該遠離哪些地雷們

或許自己不是很強勢的人 而也習慣於比較柔性的協調相處模式
對於很有意見 主觀意識很強烈的組員
有建設性的意見當然會加以尊重
但是動不動就以個人價值判斷評論某些決定
好的方面解釋當然是出自於多年的經驗
壞的方面來看就有失偏頗 欠缺事實佐證
難的是懷疑他的立論卻也難提出反證 加上不願意以態度與氣勢逼人就範
往往就是採納了少數的強烈意見

不過最糟的還是遇到哪種有強烈個人主觀意見的領導級人物
換句話說 就是出意見不動手的狠角色
更狠的是 有意無意似笑非笑的指責別人沒做好該做的工作
轉移自己啥都沒做的焦點
提出枝微末節的東西大作文章
把別人寫的東西挑點文法出來討論就當成自己也有參與寫的部份
完全就已經在學校裡開始練習將來經理的角色啊

Can you really succeed by being yourself in businss world?
答案應該又回到怎樣去定義成功吧?

在講求大鳴大放 猛吹個人成就的資本主義聖地
默默耕耘謹守分際似乎難以殺出一條血路

返台

十二月二十到一月十號 將會回到台灣
原本沒有計畫在寒假回去
後來發現如果畢業之後 在OPT期間尚未找到工作離境的話 是無法再回到美國
所以在還有學生身分的時候趕快回台灣一下
保留一點彈性等到畢業之後找工作的狀況再決定留不留美國

所以啦
如果有需要代購物品的請趕快與本人連絡
箱子空間有限
first come, first serve...

喜事再添一樁

大學同學暨室友從MSN上通知 明年一月訂婚 四月結婚
第一個被通知 被要求一定要出席 無奈可能身不由己只能隔洋祝賀

有次不小心看到他裸露上身 才第一次發現原來脊椎可以側彎到那種令人驚訝的程度
以前總是說活不過而立之年
現在就該想著長長久久啦

大二的時候因故離開了學校 但又不想讓家人擔心 獨自在台北工作了一段時間
當初還被要求要保守秘密 在東窗事發的時候 我還是沒洩漏秘密
幫著欺騙他家裡的人總是不好 好在事過境遷
後來去了中央 也一路唸完碩士

一起打球 蓋他火鍋 看兩個室友互毆 聽說半夜差點在自家陽台被他爸當成小偷打的糗事

嘿嘿嘿的笑聲 始終如一

走上紅毯的另一端

祝你萬事如意

NSHMBA

Even though this job fair is hosted by Hispanic association, now it has become a national MBA job fair. This year, the event is in Cincinnatti, OH. And my group and my special journey just starts.
We booked the package on priceline.com including hotel and flight. Oct 26, we supposed to fly to Cincinnatti by Delta Airline, but one flight attandent was not comfortable, so the whole flight just cancelled. We could not get any other flights to Cincinnatti util Oct 27 morning. We negotiated with Delta Airline, and finally they compensated us to stay in Holiday Inn hotel near airport, and then next day, we take NWA to Indianapolis. Afterward, two vans will drive us to Cincinnatti.
So, this morning, we woke up around 4:30 in order to get the flight on 7 am. It was raining when we arrived Indianapolis, and two van drivers were not satisfied about the vouchers provided by Delta. because it only gave them 140 and they only want drive us to airport, not to the conference center. Moreover, his driving skill was horrible. He backward directly on highway, chatting with friends while driving, and almost hit the previous truck. Finally, we arrived at the center safe and sound, but paid him an extra total $55. Our willingness to pay was a little higher even though we were not that willing to pay him an extra.
It was noon time, and the expo was close until 2:15 pm. It is a meat market, selling people in suit. Keep talking to people, marketing yourself, and getting some souvenirs. I met one high school classmate, and one university classmate. Just amazing, we haven't met each other since graduation, and now met them in CINCINNATTI. What a coincidence.
Cincinnatti, well, compared with Twin Cities, is pretty small and is not very prosperous. And companies from Minnesota form an area called Minnesota Boulevard. Carlson school booth is in there too.
Basically it is the same as career expo in Taiwan, but the only difference is candidate could be interviewed right at the conference center. One of my classmate got 2nd round interview by medtronic, I think it almost equals to an offer.
In my opinion, it is a good event to join so that you could konw how popular you are in the job market now. We saw many students from Simon (U of Rochester), Thunderbird, and Kelly. Somehow I found that finding a job is related to your confidence and interview skill. Of course, experience is important, but I mean if without a shining experience, those two things are very critical to get a job in US.

該是用中文寫些比較難表達的事情
由於班機在最後一刻被延誤 達美航空把我們改訂西北的班機 因為是最後一刻才轉到別的班機 所以登機證上出現了SSSS的字樣 在經過安檢時候就享有特別禮遇 徹徹底底檢查一遍 還好我們有提早到機場 沒延誤到班機 慘的是來回變成都要這樣檢查 而聽說當初那位生病的空姐是新人 不敢上飛機值勤 加上晚上找不到人所以才取消整班班機 不敢上飛機的空姐也蠻少見的

另外值得一提的是大部分公司提供的紀念品都相當精美 還有不少大手筆的獎項 DaimelarChrysler甚至還提供抽賓士的機會 送ipod printer的 藥廠的各式藥品 J&J P&G的各種生活用品 喝不完的可樂零食等等 已經比股東會的紀念品高上不少等級 也成為沒有面試時的在會場裡的另類娛樂 尤其最後一天下午就是百貨公司大清倉大拍賣的時候 最好是空手進去 先到提供大袋子的公司裡拿個袋子 然後就開始尋寶 入場費的一百多塊 這樣考慮下來就不算太貴了 當然找工作才是最主要的目的啦 僅供娛樂參考
來美國的話 將來最好會點西班牙文 西語族群的勢力越來越強大了


為了照片美觀 已經把大包小包的戰利品放在一旁

恭喜

出國快兩年的期間
不少同學就趁機更新了身分證上的配偶欄
甚至連下一代也出現 (吳胡聯姻)

最近又有高中同學要步上紅毯
先行恭喜
若沒辦法參加喜宴
回台後定當拜訪祝賀

三十而立
腦子裡還是浮現起大約除以二時的年紀穿著藍領制服趕校車種種喜怒哀樂
也驚訝於某些人當初的相遇種下的緣份 已經或正要開花結果

好事連連

First 9 hole golf game

下午和三位同學去打了九洞的高爾夫
氣溫只有五度左右 可是今天是最近少有的晴天
一點到球場 老師說一般九洞大概兩個小時左右 我們打了三個多小時
我們從第九洞開始 開了兩台小車(據說是找球比較容易)
就開始高爾夫大爆笑了

反正就是滿場找球
打到馬路另一邊住家的情況也有
打到樹的也有
到水塘的也有
甚至還有打斷球杆的情形
運氣還不錯找球的時候杆頭還找到了
七號鐵杆就這樣壯烈犧牲
(好像都是同一個人的做出來的....)

後九洞標準杆36
我打了84左右 還不包括少算或是算錯的
有一洞因為找不到球 後面又有不少人在等我們結束
所以就直接省略

帶六顆球出去回來只剩兩顆
有兩三杆打的還不錯
又直又遠
其他滾地球 左右曲球等常態就不用贅述了

天氣真的很凍 前幾洞打不好 心態就有點疲倦想走
不過最後還是撐完
天氣好的時候
高爾夫還真是蠻享受的活動
當然也是技術水準要到某種程度上以後才比較有樂趣

老師還給了另一次九洞的quota
看起來要找個人比較少的時候再去玩了

嗚呼 iron 7

Thank you for smoking

最近看的一部電影 中文翻譯很直覺
感謝你吸菸
吸煙的壞處所有人大概都多少有底
電影中的主角 菸草學會的代言人 憑著自信與歪理總是把情勢轉到有利的那邊
憑著口才 在個亟需要包裝的產業裡
事業平步青雲
儘管太太分居
小孩開始了解父親的事業與才能
在事業的低潮反而是靠小孩的提醒才重新出發

唯一事業上的朋友
分別是另外兩個從事在槍械與酒的事業代言人
沒事就在比誰殺的人比較多

當被問到當初為什麼走上這條路時?
淡淡的說
Everyone has to pay the mortgage...

誰又不是被貸款壓著走?


整片把幾個產品沒多少好處卻坐享暴利的產業詼諧的批了一頓
連帶的共犯也沒放過
在公關界已經是達人的他 卻還有人上人

父子之間的潛移默化 看到新生吸取著經驗 慢慢摸索自己的路

不管是什麼才能 發揮到極致 其他的事情似乎自然就到位了

Alaska Salmon Spaghetti

烤鮭魚佐茄汁義大利麵
是這週末的新食譜 義大利麵是常常煮啦 不過鮭魚卻是第一次料理 來美國這麼久 還沒有買過任何海鮮食材 (冷凍蝦除外...) 這次的主角是Wild Alaska Salmon($9.9/lb) 把烤好的鮭魚放在義大利麵上 整盤麵的身價好像就昂貴了起來... 再佐以新鮮檸檬和灑上Parsley做最後裝飾 哈哈 決定為這成功的紀錄留下紀念照一張~



當然 成功的背後還是有番外篇的...
其實買鮭魚的動機 是對"生魚片握壽司"的躍躍欲試 但...並沒有像漫畫裡日本師傅俐落的刀法 因此我們的鮭魚生魚片顯得相當隨性 哈哈 至於握壽司這一部份 也因為太懶了 決定直接變成一大碗醋飯舖上生魚片的散壽司 搭配WASABI和日式醬油 滿意地享受了一頓飽餐...

Color of Fall - Taylors Falls

Last year, we did not have chances to see the peak color due to a sudden heavy rain. This Saturday, we went to the interstate state park in Taylors Falls, which is adjacent to St. Croix in Wisconsin. It is only one hour driving distance, taking 94 east and then 95 noth. We did not stop at Stillwater, which we visited last year with many classmates. When you have cars, some places seem to be closer than you imaged.


A geological site providing overlook view of Stillwater.



Interstate state park. There are a lot of potholes due to glacier erosion long time ago.

Pothole.


Erosion on sandstone.


Pine trees are still green.


Wisc. side.


Fire red.








Famous boat tour....or the only place to go..


Taylors falls Princess




We were in the front row.


































Someone showing his butt.....




We came back around 3pm. Those pictures speak for themselves.

Then in the evening, Iron Chef Naoki had a party for his finance group.

The main dish, I skip the process, but it's quite delicious. Moreover, he has a lot of wine.....


Hope Naoki could get along well with ALL his neighbors...We had two police visited us during the party.
Naoki really likes Jazz. It is the only art in the US, he said.
Peace!!