It just so happened that the years I graduated, there were also some sort of recession or global financial crisis going on.
In 2002, I finished my undergrad and it was almost impossible to get a job then. 9-11 happened a year prior to that and in NYC, businesses were cutting back and going through a hard-time. Even people with years of experiences were out of job and the competition was fierce. There were huge lines at various job fairs and we couldn’t help but hear how unemployment rate was going up in the news. My internship paid off as it put me ahead of my fellow students when it came to hands-on experience and during interviews. Crain’s New York Business actually conducted a brief interview as I happened to be one of those few who managed to land a job despite our so-called disadvantage of requiring someone to sponsor us for a job visa (H1-B). Things went smoothly I have to say…
It took me about two years to take GMAT (a standardized entrance exam for business schools) as I slacked off with tons of excuses. Meanwhile, I saw my classmates already in grad schools as they couldn’t find a job and continued on with their studies.
Finally, I got in one and took me about 5 years to finish the whole program. This time, I went only part-time and even took a semester off in between as I was switching jobs and stuff. I found myself surrounded with a whole new set of students. I didn’t find such drastic difference in grad and undergrad as far as studies and workload were concerned. Well, that’s not true. Two things were obvious. One, we ran the risk of public humiliation if we slack off as we had to do presentations in front of the whole class in every single class. Second, I found the students way smarter. While I was undergrad, I found myself average or maybe even a bit above average. If I didn’t do well in a test, I would still come off with a decent grade; not in this grad school though. I had to really ramp up.
Well, now that it’s over I was wondering what’s next. The economy has been in recession since last year and haven’t heard much great news yet. In the meantime, I was thinking maybe I will continue trying out some free online courses to keep abreast with current matters. I found a few useful options and thought I would share them here too. I tried a few courses from UC Berkley and love ‘em.
Check this out:
http://www.mytwodollars.com/2009/10/15/how-to-get-a-free-education-online/
Podcasts and Webcasts of UC Berkeley: http://webcast.berkeley.edu/
MIT open courseware: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
It’s amazing to be exposed to so many students living in various parts of the country. Most of them are from wild wild west – Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Idaho, South Dakota. I thought NYC had the most diverse students as most students, including me, came from other parts of the world. But we did share sudden commonality – i.e we used the same subway system to go to school, worked in the day time and bore hectic city life. Here, the experience is really different. They all seem to be born and raised in the United States, much much older and loaded with a wealth of experiences.
My textbooks still haven’t arrived yet! I am very nervous at this point as I can’t run to Barnes and Noble on the 5th ave or at the school bookstore. I never had to worry about getting books – they were always at my disposal. This time, for once, I ordered the books one month in advance. Never have I been really this diligent throughout my school life -both grad and undergrad. And yet, I still don’t have the books. The very same book would have been delivered with the ‘next day’ delivery service in New York and free. These times, sure enough, I really really see why people like to stay in America or big city. It’s just convenient. But then again, it has its own baggage – tiny spaces, crowds, higher living costs, etc.
One of the classes requires that we call in once a week and convene. The time differential is really in favor of me and I am going to be on time for once.
later for now.
I don’t know how it’s in New York or America, here news seemed to be revolving around the US politics. Yesterday in the news, I saw a professor holding a class [for free] for those who are interested in politics to participate in this discussion about US politics and election process. A Canadian student even raised his hand to see if he could donate money to the Obama campaign. Nice going…
Today, the plasma tv at a subway station was flashing news about the debate and the US economy bail out plan. People are pretty well-informed here. Quite impressive!
Last week, a coworker asked how I think about Sarah Palin. Little that I know of, I could only say it’s been very entertaining to watch news and bits of talk shows ever since she came to the picture. Saturday night live bit was the best one. Also, I bumped into this whole news about Mc Cain folding on David Letterman blatantly and couldn’t stop watching the clips on youtube. It’s hilarious!
In case you haven’t seen them, please check them out here
McCain ‘dissed’ David Letterman
Palin / Hillary Open
SNL – McCain approves open
Interesting to see how many people are into the US presidential debate here. At work, people have been talking about it. And at home right here, I can look out from the window and see many apartments tuned into the debate. People don’t seem to care to pull their curtains and most buildings have windows from top to floor. I wont’ blame them as through these windows, we can view the pretty city full of energy. Before getting my TV, we can enjoy the shows vicariously – well only the sound is missing!
As for the debate itself, we are so biased and so tuned out that we can’t even seem to see the other party convincing. There were so many uncalled for ‘condescending’ moments from John Mc Cain. Typical American! It makes me even recall some of the ‘sweet’ moments I had with some typical Americans back in America. As a matter of fact, some here kept asking me how it was in America and about those stereotypes they have of New Yorkers or Americans in general. I’d outright deny the notion of New Yorkers being rude. I’d end up defending by saying .. oh they are only in a rush. They are NOT ‘that’ rude. Really, here .. people don’t seem to say ‘thank you’ for holding the door nor for saying ‘bless you’.
But by all means, I’d agree Americans are arrogant. Very, I have to say. I have one American really close. I observe that most of the time, they are not even aware that they are one. They just say things or do things that might come out too strong for others – other culture in my case. Some, for sure, wouldn’t care to go extra miles and become extremely egotistical. I have dealt with these one too many times that I just recognize the pattern and let it go. This Mc Cain just reminded me of exactly that.
Why can’t we just have respect for each differences, agree to disagree and leave it at that!
This morning while waiting for the meeting to take off at work, I jotted down today’s date at the beginning of a new page. Jeez, it’s 9/11! I can’t believe it’s been 7 years since the Twin tower collasped. I couldn’t help thinking about that day …
I was an international student in NYC and didn’t know much about anything else but my daily routine of school, work and music. Issues concerning politics, economics or healthcare seemed so irrelevant to me. Ignorant as I could be, I heard about a plane crashing into the building on my then favorite radio channel – Z100 and still didn’t strike me as something serious. I was thinking how careless the pilot was! Maybe he was sleepy? Just like that i left home in a rush grabbing my huge backpack loaded with hardcover textbooks.
Starting from the 65th ave station on the 7 line, I noticed people kept looking outside towards Mahanttan. Some even got up and looked outside. Only when the train halted near the Queensborough Plaza station did I begin to question. Someone screamed out and said that the second tower just collapsed. I looked out the window and saw an outrageous amount of smoke in the sky. A guy with a portable radio player told us that a news channel said we were under attack. Still, I didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation. I was more interested in the train moving again and my getting to work.
Finally, got to Queensborough plaza and were told that no train would go to Manhattan. Tons and tons of people got out and started forming a huge line near pay phones. Now that I think of it, cellphones weren’t that popular then. After learning that all transportation got blocked, I tried finding a way to go home. All the buses going back were packed and there were people everywhere. At first I was trying to figure out the right bus that’d take me home … and later found out that it didn’t matter as I’d be lucky if I get on any bus at all. After hours of waiting, finally I gave in. I followed others and climbed up on a firetruck passing by. After about a couple of transfers, I finally made it home.
I had no idea until after turning the TV on. I couldn’t believe it! Since then, I grew interests in other things – things that are way larger than me. Now, I am even taking sides in American politics!
Now, 7 years later I am in a new country trying to make it feel like home all over again. I wonder where we’d be 7 years from now …
