Saturday, August 19, 2006
Puerto Rico
I had so much fun in Puerto Rico, I could not even bring myself to explain how much. The place and the Puerto Ricans are just beautiful.
I traveled with two other Asians, and we obviously did not look or sound like locals. No hablo Espanol? We rented a car and drove around the northern part of the island (no, there were no problems).
We drove to the Bacardi Rum Factory to learn about the history of the company and how much they have changed over the years. Not really. We drove persistently to get hammered and buy inexpensive alcohol. But a 20-minute drive took us an hour, because we got lost a lot.
It didn't matter that we got lost as every road is scenic. And whenever we stopped for directions, the locals were always very patient and willing to help out. The service for both low and high class restaurants was par excellence. We wouldn't even scrimp on tipping our hotel waiter. It felt like home a lot.
At night, we chanced upon attending the launch of Hypnotic in the hotel we're staying in. It's a trendy new mixer/liquor brand that tastes very good alone or with other alcohol.
And what do they say about trendy drinks? They are drank by - yes, the most beautiful people I have ever seen. It felt like a catwalk all the time. My friends and I were just sitting there with our cocktails in awe, paying attention on the beautiful women, even more than the men.
Overall, it was a very good trip. It was hard to go back our our daily grind but we took plenty of photos as I show you below. I am definitely going back.
Old San Juan view from the plane.
El Yunque rainforest
Leaves bigger than a fan
Soaking in the stream
El Morro
Colored houses in Old San Juan
Just a few of the rum selection at the Bacardi factory
Dinner
I traveled with two other Asians, and we obviously did not look or sound like locals. No hablo Espanol? We rented a car and drove around the northern part of the island (no, there were no problems).
We drove to the Bacardi Rum Factory to learn about the history of the company and how much they have changed over the years. Not really. We drove persistently to get hammered and buy inexpensive alcohol. But a 20-minute drive took us an hour, because we got lost a lot.
It didn't matter that we got lost as every road is scenic. And whenever we stopped for directions, the locals were always very patient and willing to help out. The service for both low and high class restaurants was par excellence. We wouldn't even scrimp on tipping our hotel waiter. It felt like home a lot.
At night, we chanced upon attending the launch of Hypnotic in the hotel we're staying in. It's a trendy new mixer/liquor brand that tastes very good alone or with other alcohol.
And what do they say about trendy drinks? They are drank by - yes, the most beautiful people I have ever seen. It felt like a catwalk all the time. My friends and I were just sitting there with our cocktails in awe, paying attention on the beautiful women, even more than the men.
Overall, it was a very good trip. It was hard to go back our our daily grind but we took plenty of photos as I show you below. I am definitely going back.
Old San Juan view from the plane.
El Yunque rainforest
Leaves bigger than a fan
Soaking in the stream
El Morro
Colored houses in Old San Juan
Just a few of the rum selection at the Bacardi factory
Dinner
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Internship Wrap-up
I have been extremely busy wrapping up my summer internship, only to realize that when I go back to work in the Fall, I already have a bunch of projects waiting for me. Sigh. But it’s good to know that I am “needed” at work.
I had my performance evaluation a couple of weeks ago with my manager, and it went very well. She laid down all my areas of strength and opportunities for growth. She said that overall, I am doing outstandingly well.
What an encouraging feeling!
Especially when out of the summer interns, only 2 of us got an offer to stay on. (Note: One is an undergrad and not from Harvard ;-) ) I guess in an environment as objective and mature as my company, they care more about how much you can deliver than the fluff in your resume. But of course, that argument is debatable.
I had my performance evaluation a couple of weeks ago with my manager, and it went very well. She laid down all my areas of strength and opportunities for growth. She said that overall, I am doing outstandingly well.
What an encouraging feeling!
Especially when out of the summer interns, only 2 of us got an offer to stay on. (Note: One is an undergrad and not from Harvard ;-) ) I guess in an environment as objective and mature as my company, they care more about how much you can deliver than the fluff in your resume. But of course, that argument is debatable.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Lunching with the Bosses: Part 2
I am waiting for the Super Shuttle to pick me up from my apartment, and may not have time to share the blow-by-blow account of my lunch with the Prez. Let me just share some key points :)
1. As I asked my "intelligent" questions, I knew what to expect he would say. He can answer everything even in his sleep.
2. We talked this way: 80% about our personal lives, 18% about the business and the industry, 2% about his kids.
3. It was very refreshing how someone at his level would have a different point of view about career and retirement. He said in 10 years, he just wants to retire and play golf everyday.
4. He's a geek in that he would like to do his predictive modeling for the stock market as a hobby sometime.
5. He talked a lot about the importance of work-life balance. (That is so embedded in the company culture!)
Whoops... Super Shuttle is here! To be continued....
1. As I asked my "intelligent" questions, I knew what to expect he would say. He can answer everything even in his sleep.
2. We talked this way: 80% about our personal lives, 18% about the business and the industry, 2% about his kids.
3. It was very refreshing how someone at his level would have a different point of view about career and retirement. He said in 10 years, he just wants to retire and play golf everyday.
4. He's a geek in that he would like to do his predictive modeling for the stock market as a hobby sometime.
5. He talked a lot about the importance of work-life balance. (That is so embedded in the company culture!)
Whoops... Super Shuttle is here! To be continued....
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Girls Weekend Out
Post immature boy-crazy stage, I had told plenty of my closest friends that we have to travel all over Europe or take a cruise in some remote area in the planet before getting married. Alas, that hasn’t happened yet, and I am already a few months away from saying “I do”. I needed to take action! Fast!
Therefore, as an equally exciting alternative, I am heading to the Caribbean this weekend with a couple of single girlfriends. I know it’s no match to a month-long Cote D’Azur escapade, but it should still be fun!
Oh, and Shakira should be with us all night as we shake our bikini-clad booty to Hips Don’t Lie in San Juan’s beautiful beaches.
We might even chance upon this lady.
Therefore, as an equally exciting alternative, I am heading to the Caribbean this weekend with a couple of single girlfriends. I know it’s no match to a month-long Cote D’Azur escapade, but it should still be fun!
Oh, and Shakira should be with us all night as we shake our bikini-clad booty to Hips Don’t Lie in San Juan’s beautiful beaches.
We might even chance upon this lady.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Lunching With The Bosses
I am very picky with bosses. Either I have a boss whom I can look up to, or I'll quit corporate and be my own boss. It drives me nuts if my boss does not know what the difference between you're and your. It happened in the past. I just couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Am I bad?
This time, I allowed myself to get sucked into New York's definition of a corporate life and I embraced being this fish in a big pond. I allowed myself because I know that bosses here will challenge me a lot, and will not make my eyes roll.
As I had said how I love the culture where I work now, I love the lunch culture at best. A couple of days ago, I lunched with the VP of Consumer Marketing at this nice Japanese place a few blocks from the office. I have to admit, I prepared for that meeting and wrote down "intelligent" questions to ask about the business and the industry... peppered with a little bit about personal life. It went pretty well and our talk was very fluid. I like this big boss. Her smarts shone through even without her trying. She even paid for my huge beef salad! :)
I had been taking advantage of this lovely lunch culture, that I keep on looking up the "big names" in the business and try to network as much as I can. I mean, why not?
I took a chance at setting an appointment last week with the President of Consumer Marketing. According to people, he is the busiest person ever. It will take me many bump-offs and rescheduling before he can accept my invitation. More like months. So I thought, I'll just try and see.
Incidentally, on my way out of the office today, I bumped into him in the elevator alone! I introduced myself and acknowledge that I knew him, and that I had sent an invite to have lunch sometime... and that I understand that he's busy... no pressure whatsoever.... that we can reschedule... blah blah blah. I was totally caught off-guard, that I blabbered defensively. He was so calm and just said, "Hey it's no problem. It's in my schedule, we can do it tomorrow." My jaw dropped... oh my God. He said yes! (Thought balloon: I'm not worthy! Hahaha.) But I thought, this is great and I am looking forward to it.
I hope tomorrow's lunch will go well like the one a few days back. I have got to prepare even more intelligent questions (whatever those are), so our time will be worthwhile. Hopefully, one day, I will be in his shoes - paying lunch for an intern, or just being the boss people can look up to.
This time, I allowed myself to get sucked into New York's definition of a corporate life and I embraced being this fish in a big pond. I allowed myself because I know that bosses here will challenge me a lot, and will not make my eyes roll.
As I had said how I love the culture where I work now, I love the lunch culture at best. A couple of days ago, I lunched with the VP of Consumer Marketing at this nice Japanese place a few blocks from the office. I have to admit, I prepared for that meeting and wrote down "intelligent" questions to ask about the business and the industry... peppered with a little bit about personal life. It went pretty well and our talk was very fluid. I like this big boss. Her smarts shone through even without her trying. She even paid for my huge beef salad! :)
I had been taking advantage of this lovely lunch culture, that I keep on looking up the "big names" in the business and try to network as much as I can. I mean, why not?
I took a chance at setting an appointment last week with the President of Consumer Marketing. According to people, he is the busiest person ever. It will take me many bump-offs and rescheduling before he can accept my invitation. More like months. So I thought, I'll just try and see.
Incidentally, on my way out of the office today, I bumped into him in the elevator alone! I introduced myself and acknowledge that I knew him, and that I had sent an invite to have lunch sometime... and that I understand that he's busy... no pressure whatsoever.... that we can reschedule... blah blah blah. I was totally caught off-guard, that I blabbered defensively. He was so calm and just said, "Hey it's no problem. It's in my schedule, we can do it tomorrow." My jaw dropped... oh my God. He said yes! (Thought balloon: I'm not worthy! Hahaha.) But I thought, this is great and I am looking forward to it.
I hope tomorrow's lunch will go well like the one a few days back. I have got to prepare even more intelligent questions (whatever those are), so our time will be worthwhile. Hopefully, one day, I will be in his shoes - paying lunch for an intern, or just being the boss people can look up to.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)