Reflections

many many full moons ago...

2008-02-17T11:05:00.001+04:00

The century old Pyrmont bridge in Sydney was a year younger when I last scribbled a few words on this blog. The bridge has witnessed many full moons since then. A lot of interesting things have happened in this period (no, I dont mean the sub-prime mortgage crisis, or anything Sensex) that could have been reflected on "Reflections". While I have always wanted to keep myself from completely abstaining from blogging, I have not been good at executing the same. I hope to and I am determined to doing a better job this year... Stay tuned.. Cheers!!

back again...

2007-07-31T15:56:00.000+04:00

2007 beckons

2006-12-30T17:02:00.000+04:00

Just a couple of hours seperate me from the morning of 2007. The morning,when I'll take my Financial Statement Analysis exam. How romantic! Thats not all. There are a couple of nice parties happening on the New Years eve. and guess what! I'll not be attending any of those.

Well, on a more serious note, if 2006 was an action packed year, 2007 promises to be a couple of notches higher on that scale. The placement fever has gripped one and all in the ISB and one can really feel the storm that is just round the corner. Talking about storms.. my exam on the 1st has all the makings of being a mini storm.. which suggests that I should get back to the statement of cash flows..

Wish you all a Happy New Year. Keep walking!

R1 results

2006-12-18T18:14:00.000+04:00

The round 1 results for admission to the ISB were declared 2 days ago. Some people were escatic, some dejected and all the others are waitlisted. Thats exactly how it was last year. I remember each and every moment of that Abu Dhabi winter morning (Jan 7, 2006) when the R1 resutlts for the class of 2007 were declared. I didnt sleep the night before. Infact, I had a long walk with R paaji (btw paaji, I miss those long walks and the roof-top pizzas and coffees) at night in anticipation of a favourable result next day morning. Next day morning saw my anxiety levels sky-rocket. But then, I got the mail - the mail that brought me here, to this roller-coaster ride.

Very soon, the class of 2008 will take over. I wish the admits and the R2 applicants good luck. One bit of suggestion to the R1 admits - Relax now and charge yourself for the most enjoyable and the most hectic year of your lives. Welcome to ISB!

Its going real fast

2006-08-30T11:16:00.000+04:00

I wrote my term 3 final exams yesterday. Yes, term 3 is over. Welcome to term 4@ISB. It’s going real fast man. May be, a bit too fast for comfort. It feels like I landed here just a couple of days ago. However, I guess that’s how it always is. In this case particularly, one gets trapped (is discombobulated the right word?) in the maze of activities one gets to (is made to) indulge in. Besides the normal scheduled class lectures, there are guest talks, there are assignments, there are group meetings and then there are exams, and more exams. I believe that shows up in my bloging patterns as well. However, I guess I have decided to be regular with my blogs from now on, which in no way means that I expect to have spare time now. Infact, my kitty is fuller now than it ever was. I am doing an ELP with HSBC. I have enrolled for the ‘Planning an Entrepreneurial Venture’ course. And lo! As if this is not enough, term 4 is actually a 4 week term.
Let me also take some time out to reflect on the courses I studied in the previous term. These are in the order of my liking towards the subject:
1. Corporate Finance (Rating 10/10): Did I not absolutely love the subject. I attribute this to two factors.
• One, the instructor was Prof. Bhagwan Chowdhary. Trust me folks, even fin guys can have a sense of humour.
• Braley Myers: Principles of Corporate finance. I just loved reading this book. Would like to quote something from their chapter on Financing and Valuation summary.
“This chapter is almost 100% theory. The theory is difficult. If you think u understand all formulas, assumptions, and relationships on the first reading, we suggest psychiatric assistance.” – Braley Myers: Principles of Corporate Finance, 7th edition, Chapter 19, Page 552
2. Operations Management (Rating 8/10): Nice course. I quite liked Prof. Sudhakar Deshmukh from Kellogg. I believe that operations is a fairly useful subject in terms of its applications to the industry. Even the BCG consultants have to find Economic Order Quantities 
3. Entrepreneurship (Rating 7/10): The 40% class participation component of the grade ensured that the classes were fairly interesting. The course was very insightful.
4. Managerial Accounting (Rating: You don’t want to know): I think I am not the right person to comment on this course. All I’ll say is that the course tests your patience more than any thing else.

Destination ISB - Prologue

2006-05-21T14:55:00.000+04:00

I've been getting a lot of mails and phone calls from people who want to make it to the ISB the next year. This doesn't surprise me one bit, for ISB is getting a few notches higher everyday. I have hence decided to post a series of articles in the same space for the benefit of all those who want to experience this roller-coaster ride next year. The first step towards this direction is the GMAT. No one can downplay the importance of a good GMAT score. I'll discuss this aspect at length in my next post on the Destination ISB series. Stay tuned and keep reading.

The week that was..

2006-04-26T12:57:00.000+04:00

This is my first post from the ISB. As I compose this post, I find myself going through a plethora of emotions. While I am excited about being a part of this wonderful institution, I also get nostalgic at the thought of the times when I was preparing (and hoping) to get here. In the last one week or so, I've got real insights into the life@ISB and have got my expectations straight in terms of intensity of the programme. We have already had a host of parties in the last couple of days and now everyone is kind of looking forward to the core terms to begin. This reminds that the core terms will indeed begin in a few days and I'd rather get started with my books :)

Trying to learn...

2006-04-02T08:46:00.000+04:00

It’s been a long time since my last post. But then, I give myself the benefit of my hectic schedule in the last three weeks or so. My Abu Dhabi – Dubai - New Delhi - Mumbai - New Delhi - Kurukshetra trip was very hectic and tiring. But the good thing is that I have now found time to unwind and am relaxing at home. Time’s flying real fast. I’ll find myself in the ISB campus within two weeks from now. Though I am still very excited about the same, but there have been some developments of late that have had the effect of damping my spirits to some extent. However, one has to learn to take these small ups and downs in one’s stride. I am trying to learn….

Back on Ramp

2006-03-14T10:47:00.000+04:00

Life never ceases to amaze me. Three days ago I was thinking of testing my photography skills at the ongoing Abu Dhabi fashion week at the Abu Dhabi mall. I did that on the first two days and lo.... I found myself on the ramp on the third day. I modeled for Ray-Ban and Kenneth Cole.
I have another show tomorrow, when the fashion week concludes. Guess its gonna be Kenneth Cole again and Pierre Cardin tomorrow. Lets see how that one goes.
I am not happy with my pictures which paaji clicked. Guess he was more interested in the female models :)... Anyways, I'm waiting for the official pictures. By the way, I made friends with some professional models. This experience adds to the long list of the sweet memories that I'll take away from Abu Dhabi.
Though my overall experience with such fashion shows is good, there is a problem which always bothers me. Just about everybody smokes backstage and the fact that I am allergic to the cigarette smoke doesnt help matters. But as they say, you've gotta take the rough with the smooth.

All said and done, I'm sure I'm gonna miss Abu Dhabi while studying Financial Accounting and Managerial Economics at the ISB.

Two more weeks in the UAE

2006-03-05T15:27:00.000+04:00

The earth has rotated almost 600 times on its axis since I first came to Abu Dhabi. Another 15 rotations and I'll leave Abu Dhabi for good. It's been a wonderful experience to say the least. I wont be wrong if I say that this place rocks. It’s neat and clean and beautiful. You get vegetarian Indian food here without any hassles and you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets for that. I live in the tourist club area of Abu Dhabi. The best part about my accommodation is that it is located next to the Abu Dhabi Mall. Now Abu Dhabi Mall is a great place for people who are admirers of natural beauty and connoisseurs of good food. Paaji's company helps for we share similar tastes. Then, we occasionally indulge in the gratification of our senses by seeking potatory pleasures in one of the many good pubs in this region. Though my pubbing index is on a constant decline for the last five weeks (the law of diminishing marginal utility!!) , I'd like to more than make up for it in the next fortnight or so. Well if this is my way of preparing myself for my stint at the ISB, then be it...

The Motivation Mill

2006-02-21T11:00:00.000+04:00

I resumed my gym yesterday. I am not sure if I'll have the luxury of working out while I am at the Indian School of Business. Unlike most other people, I like working out on the treadmill - both for the obvious and the not-so-obvious reasons. The obvious reason is that the treadmill is the most effective way to get rid of that excess fat and the easiest way to remain in good shape. It’s also a very good cardio exercise. However, I like it more for the not-so-obvious reason. Working out on the treadmill (and watching myself doing that in the mirror that faces it in my gym) motivates me to great levels. My best laid plans regarding writing the GMAT, GMAT strategies, ISB application and subsequently the ISB interview, all owe their synthesis to my workout sessions on the treadmill. That’s why I have re-christened the treadmill. I now call it the Motivation Mill.

And then ISB happens..

2006-02-08T16:32:00.000+04:00

7th Jan, 2006 was a landmark day in my life. I got selected for admission to the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. With this, I come within striking distance of realising my long cherished dream.. and boy.. am I excited or am I excited??? I have been made to understand, however, that its going to be one hectic year with a very rigorous schedule. From the peaceful Abu Dhabi life, to the most extreme form of slogging that stares me in the eye, it will be quite a transition though. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to it :-)

Winters in Abu Dhabi

2005-12-25T13:18:00.000+04:00

There is no feeling like waking up to a cold foggy morning on a weekend. It is more so, if you are living in this part of the world (United Arab Emirates).
UAE winters are hardly winters for someone who has experienced 21 North Indian winters (wasn't that lucky on the remaining three occasions). As much as I want to go home this winter, looks like I'll have to miss it this time aswell. However, I have been making the most of what is on offer. It was ususually foggy and cold last Friday morning and that was good enough a reason for me to have my first morning walk in six months. I wanted to capture every shade of that Abu Dhabi morning and I did make an attempt to do just the same. The experience was awesome. Plan to do the same next weekend aswell. Hope I wake up to a similar morning next Friday :-)

Of Bowling and Snooker...

2005-12-19T15:10:00.000+04:00

There is something with ball games (no Double Entendres intended). I just seem to love 'em. As if Cricket, Football, and Basket Ball were not enough, I have recently developed a liking for Bowling and Snooker. Much to the pleasure of my senses, I played a lot of Snooker last weekend. Tried my hand at bowling aswell but was never really able to knock all of 'em down. but I have reasons to believe that I am a quick learner. So, I should do better next time... Hope to get my ball-fundaas right... ;-)

On the road to the Indian School of Business...

2005-12-19T14:38:00.000+04:00

I had my ISB telephonic interview recently. I think I did well. It was wonderful talking to Mr Menon and Ms Hema. Had that feel good positive feeling when I just got done with it. However, when I look back in retrospect, I realize that I could have done better on a couple of counts. Anyways, I have learnt my lessons. But there's hardly anything I can do now except waiting for the results.
Lets see how it goes... The results will be out by the first week of Jan...