Where have all the leaves gone?

Back home, when a plant’s leaves turn red, brown, or yellow, it usually means that the plant is dying. Here, it means autumn.

For the past weeks, the campus has been exploding with these beautiful hues. And for someone experiencing autumn for the very first time, it is an amazing sight. I just wanted to spend a day to jump on the leaves and have a photo session with all the colors.

Unfortunately, I always forget to bring my camera with me. I keep telling myself that I’ll bring it with me “next time”. Now, the leaves are gone and the trees are almost bare (what song is this?) in my route to from dorm to school, at least. But, I don’t have good “my first autumn” photos yet. I think I’ll just have those next year.

Time just moves so fast. Just a moment ago, I was scared but excited for the start of classes. But in 4 short weeks, finals. Ganbatte kudasai!

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On a positive note, it’s my first winter soon. I will definitely have fun in the snow!

Fail…

Repost from: https://fisher.osu.edu/blogs/gradlife/2009/10/02/fail/

“The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you were born and doesn’t stop until you get called for oral recitation.”

I got the line, which is a George Jessel quotation with a twist, from my friend Kristine Malabanan. And it perfectly sums up what happened yesterday during MBA 812: Managerial Economics class.

When I went through the required reading for the class (which was almost a HUNDRED PAGES), I had a different understanding about marginal benefits and its impact on whether or not a consumer decided to buy more or not. During the discussion, I realized my error. While I was still trying to reconfigure everything (the key word being trying), I was called to say my piece about marginal costs and suppliers. As the professor was shooting questions at me, I was trying to say something using the new information I received earlier. That was, of course, unsuccessful. Although, the way the discussion was moving, you would believe that I was actually on the right track – until you hear the gibberish I was saying anyway. I am trying to remember what I said but all I remember are random numbers.

I felt really stupid after that. But it triggered something in me. I was suddenly very eager to say something else in class. In previous sessions, my heart would be pounding every time I raise my hand. It was actually a relief when somebody else was called. But now, it’s “I already made a big mistake, it wouldn’t hurt to make another one”. This mindset works in classes (with obvious exceptions) where making mistakes is just another opportunity to learn. It’s a cliché but it’s true. I am sure I will never forget the concept of marginal benefits and costs for a loooooooong time. When exams come, I am almost 100% certain that I will get this item right.

‘Photo journalist’

About two weeks ago, I received an email from Schmap New York Guide. They said that one of my photos in flickr has been “shortlisted for inclusion” in the eight edition of their publication.

I tried to recall the photos I uploaded. No matter how hard I tried, I could not think of a photo which could be of use to them. (Warning: Narcissistic content follows). I almost always have a ”my face should at least be there” rule. I mean, everyone can find a photo of a famous tourist destination anywhere, right?

So, I went to their website to find my photo of the flatiron building.

Flatiron building

 I took this photo on top of one of the “hop on hop off” buses, so it was done rather hurriedly. And the only reason I uploaded it was because of its connection to the Spiderman movie.

But lo and behold, it is now published. You will see other better photos of the same building in their website. Mine would be probably be one of the least artistic. Heck, you can critic my photo and find a lot of errors. For instance, notice the post and wires at the bottom of the photo. But the sky is beautiful blue and that matters, right?

By the way, there is no compensation but the photo is properly credited. So, I am just getting recognition, which is great – for now anyway.

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See my photo here. It’s in the upper right corner.

The NY tour here.

And the flickr posting here.

professional blogger

I never thought this could ever happen. I am now receiving compensation for blogging.

Now, before I mislead you into thinking that this was bigger than it actually is, let me explain.

About 2 months ago, I received an email from the Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University (my school) calling for applications for bloggers for the “My Fisher Grad Life” website. I applied and got in. So now, I have two blogs to maintain. 

4 of me doing the O-H-I-O, a cheer at OSU; Photo by Carmille Bales

My contributions to the other site may be more than this site though. We are required to have 1-2 posts per week. Although, I may have double entries when I feel that post fits the feel of this blog.

Anyway, if you are interested, here are the links to the blog.

My Fisher Grad Life

My first blog post

Authors page – scroll down and find me.

Feel free to leave comments in that site and mine. Although, please use English in the Fisher blog because it has a more diverse international audience.

Thanks.

feeling important

I admit. I was terrified!

During our program check in, I, along with my batchmates, received a whole bunch of documents (and a thumb drive with even more files). One of the documents was an assignment to be submitted next wednesday. The first question was the most horrifying sight. It asks “How would you describe your financial modeling skills?”

NON-EXISTENT!!!

suit up

I never was a great fan of dressing up.

If I had choice, I would rather just wear jeans and a shirt. But I wore a suit today. (I know, right???)

year 2

My blog turns 2 today — and the timing’s perfect.

The theme of this blog would be changing. In two days, I will be heading to Columbus, Ohio for the actual start of the new chapter I have been raving about weeks ago.

For the next two years, I will be a graduate student. And I would have  A LOT in my hands. I hope I could still squeeze in updating this blog. But I most probably will.

Wish me luck!

fun graphs with heart

Graphs. I bet you never thought they can be fun. Graphs and charts are pretty much limited to work or school, right?

WRONG! For one, Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segal in How I Met Your Mother, CBS) has shown in the Right Place, Right Time episode (Ep 22, Season 4) how he uses these visual representation of data for work and fun. He created a pie chart of his favorite bars and bar chart of his favorite pies. (On a totally unrelated note, Season 5 starts Sept 21, 8 pm on CBS)

A great resource for fun charts (if you’ve got time to waste) is graphjam.com.

see more Funny Graphs

LOLed on this chart because I always read every language on the back of shampoo bottles, soap boxes, toothpaste tubes, anything you’ll find laying on the comfort room.

Many of the charts are really funny (see chance of keeping job if you’re wrong 75% of the time – a jab on weathermen). While some topics are trivial, some of these charts actually talk of serious topics – many we should address.

My bookshelf

Accountancy. Mathematics. Economics.

I’m no accountant. I am neither a mathematician nor an economist. But for the moment, my nose has been buried on books on these fields of study.

Why?

day at the museum

art is the product of human creativity. so, art could mean anything. and i saw art in every form when we visited the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

van gogh's wheat field with cypress

van gogh, picasso, and boccioni are just some of the famous names whose works are under this one roof. they even had michaelangelo’s first painting on special exhibit. it was a copy of a well-known engraving by the German artist Martin Schongauer called the Torment of Saint Anthony. dont have a picture of it though. cannot take pictures in the special exhibit. but you can see it in their website.