Fox center

Well... I am sitting at Fox Center now. I don't remember who and when, but once said that it is cool to sit at Fox Center at night. That's the place to concentrate. I don't know about that, to tell the truth. Just finished my steak fajita from Chipotle, I am satisfied. People are talking around, heyhey, I am listening to Fastball!

I kept my marathon training today. During my TAing management communication time, I noticed that Durham is snowing. Natasha told me that, Joe told me that, but it is until I was outside and felt the snow, I came to believe that Durham is snowing. After the TA session, I drove back home and changed my outfit to have a run. Man, my legs were still sore from the run yesterday, but I was gonna to challenge myself and run a even tougher one -- from home to WaDuke trail and then back home. It is around 5.6 miles, while according to my training book, it asked me to run 4 miles. Hmmmm, I am not showing off. I am still not a good runner, but I enjoy it more and more. I used to think that the worst thing about WaDuke is the up and down, up and down, again up and down hill. Man, you need to check out how steep it is... But now, after reading the book, I changed my mind set. I told myself "Come on hill, let's run together!" or "Come on pain, you wanna join me to run?!" I guess this is good.

I finished the running today in 60mins. During the run, I thought some things about Microsoft. Actually I received my interview schedule before my run. I am excited to go to Seattle, to go to Redmond, and to finally visit Microsoft! I told myself -- don't think which offer I should take, don't think how attractive McK offer is, don't waste my time on those mirage things, focus myself on what I can do today -- this is the most concrete thing! So tonight, I should do something for Microsoft. 1) Book travel 2) Email to Grace 3) Asylum book 4) SharePoint reading.

Man, there are still lots of people at Fox. Let me switch to library. Sounds like a good idea!

BTW, I just got my scholarship check today!!!!!!! Not too much, but feel so good!

TGIF

Thank God Its Friday! But for what? I was so tired...

I was reading "The inmates are running the asylum", which talks a lot about how bad the design of ATM, software, alarm clock is -- sometimes it requires professional knowledge to operate them. I believe what the author said, but thought that it is not a big deal, right?! Right?! This morning, I experienced it. Damn it! My iHome woke me up at 7:15am with can't-be-louder "Life is a highway". I wanna crash it with my still sore arm and fist and go back to sleep. However, with my roommates' leaving for school noise, I officially got up. So, here is my early Friday morning blog.

I have been to US for one and a half year for my MBA study. I like it here. First Year (SY) MBA life is amazing. Besides busy study and job hunting, I tried my best to embrace American culture. Second Year (SY), now,  I did not do a good job. Life is different now. I tried to be myself more and did something I would never imagined before. But no good results. Relationships with my friends also become looser. I know the reason, and should definitely change that.

Some good news? I just got a scholarship!!! It is Duke Class 1998 and 1997 Scholarship. I am one of fifteen Fuqua students who got it! After being invited to apply for the scholarship, I wrote an essay 1.5 months ago to show my leadership in academic, Fuqua community, and extra curriculum. I did not expect to got the scholarship, because the rejection from Bain, LEK, Dell already got me used to NO. But somehow it came true. I should really thank Scott and Ally who encouraged me to apply for this scholarship when I wanted to give up. I did not tell anybody this news besides Scott, Ally, and Joe, because I don't want to make other people feel bad. In this period of time, when most of the news is bad news, this good news from me won't help to cheer others up. I sincerely hope my fellow classmates can get a good job! And then, I can share the good news with them.

So, I might go to MS for the interview. I don't know whether this will be my last chance to stay in US after graduation or not. I will try my best. I know for sure that it will be tough. With the collapse of wall street, every job becomes an ideal place now. Competition will be severe, I can imagine that.  Well, focus on what I can do today. That's it.

The other very important thing is that I decide to run a marathon. I am truly impressed by how marathon makes Tim and Craig be so positive in life. I want to be a person like that. I am taking training by myself every week now. My plan is to run Greensboro 10K next month, in order to get the qualification for next February's marathon at D.C.. With the scholarship money, I am going to get a pair of good running shoes. Sweet!

All right! Let me get out of bed and go to DD to have my plain bagel, toasted!, with cream cheese. Wait, wait, wait, did I said a large coffee with sugar and cream?! Here you go!

It is a great day at Durham

It is a truly great day at Durham. Fall is the best season here. All the leaves start to turning yellow or red. People said Smoky Mountain is awesome, I just believe that Durham is better.

I woke up with a dream about my talk with a partner at McK. Recently, I had lots of dreams about what happen after I sign the offer. I am afraid. (Yes, I am all right to say that I am afraid!)

Need to do work now, I will continue this later...

Hey there!

I apologize for using this place to express my sad feelings about job hunting. I don't want to spread the negative feeling to others. However, this is the only place that I have the right to feel sad and say some words to comfort myself. In front of other people, I need to be positive and laugh all the time. Fuck, it is so ridiculous to do that. But somehow this is what everybody does. Again... what everybody does...

I woke up today with this feeling that I had never done something that put my life to the edge and give a huge risk to myself. I always chose the "safer and more efficient way", which 90% gave me great success. But the "safe and efficient" and "success" are really in other people's eye. It all thanks to my parents who always guide me to a correct way from their past experience. They don't want to me repeat the hardship they had and mistakes they made in their life. But to me, after I got all the things I wanted before, so what???

So, I had the craziest idea this morning -- "Say no to the firm and then try to find a job here" I know that I could succeed or I could end up with nothing. But thinking about this experience makes me excited. Life needs more flavors, I think. 

Well, that's wild idea that I might try later. But, come on, as a MBA student who talked about minimizing risk every single days, and considering the current financial market situation, I should learn something about risk management, right?! Man, I want to do something like Mr. E ("Things the grandchildren should know") and Chris ("Into the wild"). Just to do something I wanna to, but without the terrible ending that happened to Chris.

Whatever, I think I need to get pumped up again today. It will be a busy but relaxing day. 7 miles jogging in WaDuke trail (M), lunch with FY to share consulting interview preparation experience (N), competitive analysis game (M & N), leadership homework (M), Dell interview preparation and call Gerald (A), team meeting (A), 100 push up (ALL), guitar practicing (E). 

This is real -- life keeps on going

I did not hear anything from Bain yesterday. This is a "NO" with Bain's tradition. Wait... I just got a call from them -- and it is a DING. 

I don't know what to say. I tried my best during the interview. Tried to be energetic, positive, and logical. This is just like what I said to everybody else before their interview. I knew that I did not do a good job on my last interview with Stu. But I think the overall conversation is all right. Guess this year is really too competitive. 

Today is a tough day. Help Scott to do moving, costume shopping, mock case interview, Deloitte case competition judge, pick up Batu, and Halloween party... Let me lick the wound and keep being happy!