To celebrate our cozy little network, I'm going to plug a few websites from my friends, where they are putting their energies and careers.  First is FitFiend, an online community based on fitness and health.  Sometimes you need some expert advice, other times you just need someone to kick your butt and take you to yoga practice.  How can you say no to better fitness?  The second site is Edun, an apparel company with a conscience, selling clothing made from Africa, from grower to sewer.  Check out their spiffy site (also logo'ed in my affiliates section) with one of my classmates posing as the male model.  Full disclosure: I take no monetary compensation from either site, although I may be accepting a drink or two from these friends who also happen to be based in NYC

I always found the overlapping promotions idea at INSEAD a superb idea, and even better, I'm so glad I took out the time to get to know the younger promotion.  I caught updates on the latest whereabouts of some friends, current Montmelian generation, post-MBA job market situation, and even some juicy gossip.  Something extraordinarily precious about life's random blend of events, insomnia, spicy tuna rolls, uncertainties, and complications shared through a connection bridged by 2.5 academic institutions and 1+0.5+0.5 languages. 

One of my best buddies from INSEAD recently recounted to me a little story of being stranded in Paris at midnight, with no more trains to Fonty and bleak visions of sleazy French motels looming.  But what unfolded was a night of beers, pasta, and laughs with a few of our not-so-long-lost classmates.  At the end, softly landing on a comfortable extra bed, he concluded “this INSEAD network is no joke.”  I second that, and I know that I should get my act together and reach out to our community in NY.  Foreseeing the words coming out of PGuy, I'll just pre-emptively respond, “I'm on it already.”

My project leader finished the first round interviews at INSEAD just a few hours ago in Fontainebleau.  I put a few good words for my December promotion friends and my PL was pretty happy talking with them.  I just want to say great job everyone and enjoy the weekend.  (I wonder what national week party is happening tonight?)  Hopefully you'll hear some good news soon.

For those of you stressing out, don't.  My advice is that interviews go both ways.  You absolutely must figure out if your potential employer is a good fit for you, both in the nature of the work and if you can see yourself liking the people.  In the consulting industry where teams spend enormous amounts of time working together, not getting along just makes life miserable.  So take your time, figure out to the best of your ability what you want, and just be yourself (albeit prepared).

My week-long trip to Vietnam redeemed my lack of travels during P3.  Starting from Ho Chi Minh City (aka Saigon), we traveled through the Mekong Delta, and moved our way up to Hanoi to explore the exquisite Sapa and Halong Bay.  Because the country is still relatively undiscovered by tourists, we managed some very off-track type trips (think more backpacking than tourist sight-seeing.)  There we had a pleasant homestay with a friendly family, in their home on the Mekong river.  We moved around exclusively by boat and encountered the numerous boats that composed an impressive floating market armada.  This itinerant market travels down the river and sells fresh produce for the entire duration of the trip of about a week.  You would bring your smaller boat into the market, and then vendors would weigh your purchases and transfer them over.

Fresh fruits and veggies, anyone?

Up north in Sapa, we did a2 day mountain biking trek organized by the highly recommended Handspan group.  Imagine rolling mountains covered by rice paddies, serpented by gentle rivers.  Here we also did the homestay, and of course concluded the night with our hosts toasting us to the popular melange of rice wine and Chinese herbal medicine (dang gui).

Aquaduct device for rice paddies

Trekking in Sapa

The entire trip was physically exhausting.  Not just from mountain biking up and down hills for 50km, but because we were so ambitious about fully taking advantage of the trip by cramming in so much in a mere week.  Mekong Delta alone warranted an entire week.  We made up for it by sleeping during the long drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay.

Because my two travel partners were white (the fabulous Sophie from Engerland and my partner in crime Douglas from US), most of the locals mistook me as their tour guide.  Problem is I don't speak a lick of Vietnamese, other than “I don't understand” and “Do you speak Chinese?”  Ok, maybe also “I love you” but I never got that far.  So while we were checking in a very upscale hotel in Ho Chi Minh, the concierge brought out a tray with two bottles of water and two glasses.  When I looked at her with a cocked eyebrow, she began talking to me in Vietnamese, which I promptly replied to in English expressing my utter ignorance of the situation.  In that moment, it dawned upon the four of us, simultaneously, that no, I was not the hired help.  Good times being branded as the tour guide from then on, ha!

Speaking of tour guides, the two we had in both the South and North impressed us with their competence and diligence, especially our mountain biking guide.  Not only did he ride all day along side us, he also cleaned and maintained the bikes at the end of each day.  And to top it off, he would cook us a fabulous meal while we sat around.  During our homestay, he cooked the entire meal for us and the host family of 7 or 8.  Our man just did it all, and maintained a great attitude to boost.

Bountiful dinner accompanied by rice wine and thigh slapping

Many locals there assumed the nature of my visit to be that of business, once I announced that I was from Taiwan.  Some even offered to find me a wife.  While that may reflect the current trend of Taiwanese investments in the region, I would recommend that you discover the country on your own, outside the context of work.  The country is surprising large both geographically and population wise (approximately 75m).  Its natural beauty and harvest offer an abundance of adventures and tropical fruits, all for small sums.  I can't stop praising the place, and I am not alone in that respect, from INSEAD.  A group of students from my promotion started an education project there, to encourage the local children to attend school and learn English.  Many of them are volunteering their summer to teach there right now.

Cherimoya, “the most delicious fruit known to men” – Mark Twain

But the 3 days here have been liberating and relaxing. Even though I spent yesterday with one of my INSEAD classmates and her friend (they’re everywhere, you just can’t shake them), I still managed to avoid the partying, socializing, just to slow down a little and reflect. Doing all this in the form of touring picturesque Prague is so easy. The scenery and landmarks in this deeply cultural city have brought me immense peace.

It has been the perfect antidote to my lull in energy and spirits. Consider me fully recovered from the end of my INSEAD experience, and recharged and ready to adventure to Odessa and beyond.