Being the CEO for a Day :)

Today we had the most awesome opportunity to travel to Amsterdam to visit a consultancy company for a day. We focused on the topic of M&A, on the different issues ranging from the obvious to the inept yet crucial. I was expecting a hard, long day full of presentations and numbers and finance stuff.

It was a blast.

That was such a great, fun day. I didnt even realize I'm actually studying, it's so interactive! We were given the role of a CEO of a French winery attempting to takeover a Chinese winery. We were first given the task of estimating the values to justify the takeover. I went to the restroom, and when I got back our group was apparently the lucky one to present.

I was taken aback, having prepared nothing. Crap was the only word that I managed to produce.

So I just went for it, bla bla bla. Questions, initial panic, answers. Wow, it's amazing how your brain can think ever more clearly under pressure. It's great. It shows how rewarding it is for you to try to breakout from your comfort zone. To push your limits, to try no matter what the result will be.

Then we proceeded to the managing the integration part. We were given roles to play out the different cultural aspects of the 2 companies. It was so much fun. I got to play the French side, with Xenon personality (extensive use of facial expression and hand gestures). I got to play it with a consultant from the firm, and he had to play out the Chinese side. He was so into his role. He couldnt look at me straight in the eye, and can only answer Yes/No.

It was so funny how frustrating it is to try to sensitively maneuvre him into talking about the deal.

Makes me realize how distinct people are, and one size might not indeed fits all.

At that stage we were having so much fun I didnt want the day to end. An hour later I was so tired I basically told them Ik ben moe. Echt moe. Can I just be the secretary and write down stuff and not use my brain?

They said no and fed me M&Ms.

But that was an awesomely awesome day regardless. Sometimes maybe you shouldnt wish for a miracle to happen. Maybe all you need is to wish for an opportunity. And how different the outcome will be depends entirely on you.

Can't Stand Them, Can't Live Without Them

Yes I am actually talking about you people, male people. It feels so weird to see how they can get away with everything by a simple reasoning, because I'm a guy. It seems like they're built to skrew you, and I'm not just talking physical.

One thing I noticed over the years would be the fact that they're full of crap. And the sad part is that we buy those crap. We take it just like that, hoping this time would be different. Hoping for a miracle that won't come, apparently.

Girls are remarkable beings, I suppose. No matter how badly their hearts are broken, they collect the little pieces from the floors, tape them and head your head high up again.

Of course, with the help of an immense amount of chocolate and comfort food to speed up the process.

I dont know why I'm writing about this. No, I havent had my heart broken or anything. It's just the thought of almost falling for the same crap from the same guy kinda makes me want to remind future me that it's all crap, nothing but crap and you should not even consider for one second that it's other than crap.

Speaking like a true skeptist.

Which I hope I will somehow be. I am cursed to be a hopeless romantic. When you meet someone you like, all the butterflies and rainbows. And the wrong things you said due to an unfortunate nervous breakdown. The awkwardness. Having a crush is the most wonderful thing in the world. It makes you think and do things you can't even think of.

Too bad I get over my crushes quickly, perhaps a quick as I got them. It feels like once you get to know the person, the expectation is blatantly shattered. In Carlos' (yes it's that hottie) words, customers are dissapointed when the expectation > performance. For this, I agree with him. But I still hold true that he hates me.

This is so confusing. Words are running around in a circle, with no clear resolution whatsoever.

It's overwhelming. Argh.

I just exhausted this week's budget on comfort food that is for sure bad for your figure.

Or for keeping your promise to your little brother to buy him a wii for his 15th birthday.

Crap I think I'll have to live off the street.

Spring is Coming to Town!

I think Spring is just around the corner. So last weekend it was SUN GALORE. I had the best time. Just finished my exams, so I helped my sis taking some pictures for her wedding. In between, I just wandered around in the sun. The air was so clear, smiles everywhere. Sun does change people doesnt it.

It felt great, just letting everything go and live in that precise moment.

Unfortunately we're in Holland. It's been grey and raining since yesterday, to the end of this week according to some forecasts. That's the thing about Dutch people, they know the weather forecast.

New block started last Monday, so far I dont like it. I'm just extremely glad I'm going home the day after the exam. OMW, the thought of stepping out from the plane, feet back in my home country's ground.

Excitement building up.



***


To you,

I dont know when we started talking to each other. At first I didnt really like you, but hey when you dont know someone you are less likely to like them. I'm glad we talked, and here we are having the time of our life. I think u're awesome, that you brought me stroopwafels when I was down. That was sweet. And those night outs, all the alcohol and dancing ;p

I dont know until when we can stay friends like this. But I just want to let you know that you're bloody phenomenal and I hope we can stay like this for a loong time now.

So stop feeling down and cheer up!

Because Spring is almost here, then Summer. SPANJE, SCHATJE!!! :) :) :)

Xs,

Your friendly neighborhood creep (aka Denica)

RTM or JKT?

I realized I’ve been in Holland for 6 months-ish now, and never once I formally compare the lifestyle change from Indonesia. Figure never a better time than now. So here goes: I like my life here in Holland. I can’t really compare it, they’re all too different. Here, I feel free. They don’t judge you as much. They look at you for who you are, and they take that as given. Back home, I feel sometimes they look through you, veiled by what you have and what they don’t like about you.

As I went to a rather materialistic, Christian highschool, I think they consider me as a slut. I have to say it, I like partying. I love going out with my friends, dancing all night long and making a fool of yourselves, occasionally with booze. OK, more than occasionally. But what the heck. Life’s too short to do things you don’t love. And that’s exactly what I feel now, happy. I can do whatever makes me happy, not what makes them happy.

Seriously, though, I’m like a Virgin Mary here.

Conversely, I like learning. I love knowing new stuff, either academically or personally. I used to think that education is limited solely from books. I have never been so wrong. And I am never been as grateful for being able to learn new things everyday now. Little things, those little wonders that enlighten you in ways you can never imagine.

The people here are great. It’s so diverse, it’s beyond interesting. It is amusing. Sometimes I find strangers, or in translation people I don’t hang out that often, to be the ones that you can talk to better. I recently met this person (ok, guy, but not in that way). I have never been formally introduced to him, nor did we exchange names or details. But when I talk to him, it feels like I’ve known him forever. It’s weird. Intriguing.

I also love how challenged I feel now. I mean, my course is so bloody intensive. We finished 1 book for a whole year in highschool. We are demanded to know the inside out of 2 thick books every 2 months. That’s bloody 10 (with 2 months Summer break) in a year. Kinda makes you shiver, the thought of shoving all those things into your brain. Makes you wonder if it’ll do any permanent damage or something.

Like I said, I love learning. But I also adore balance. I like my life to be in balance; I party, I study. I save now, I consume later. I flirt, I have TV dinner alone. I exercise, I eat. At times, most of the times, they don’t really balance. The task is then to somehow make them balance.

And so far I admit I haven’t find the right motivation to balance them (like externalities, the negative is oversupplied relative to the positive).

And eventhough I have no complaints on my life now, I miss being home. I miss the other life. I miss the convenience, the security, the ease. I miss the knowledge and feeling of being home. Just home.

I guess everything has their own pros and cons. And I can’t, not now not later in the future, decide precisely which I prefer. It might sound selfish, but I want both. I enjoy the pros of both too much.

So there you have it, in conclusion, it’s a tie. Having said that, I don’t think you can feel about other countries the way you feel towards your hometown. Yet it’s enriching to experience the diversities others have to offer.

Exam Week

Yes it's exam week again. I was literally growing algae from boredom and too much studying. So I decided to shop for food. Like alot of food. Since I'm still saving for Summer, I haven't bought that much snack for a month now. Until today. Highlight of the day:

D: "Dude I just shifted the IS and AD curve of Albert Heijn to the right from my sudden exogenous consumption."

E: "Well, I hope your LM also shifted to the right, or you'll be in trouble."

I read her text and couldnt help smiling. It's such a funny reference. A moment later I wrote:

D: "I want to bomb my budget curve."

Valentine's :)

Because we deserve the best and wont settle for less! :p

Happy Early Valentine's!

I dont know how I can constantly humiliate myself. This morning, while waiting for my tram, I was talking to this guy. At one point, I exclamated that it's so awesome there's a prickle of sun (after DAYS of endless rain and snow and hail and darkness) especially today, Valentine's.

He looked at me, clearly puzzled. But today is not Valentine's, he said. I looked at him like he's doing drugs. Of course it is! My friend invited me to attend her Salsa Valentine's Party tonight at the Rotterdam Airport. He looked at me like I'm an idiot, reached into his pocket and produced a phone.

Friday, February 13th.

I looked at him and did what we girls are so good in doing, talk about the weather and changed the subject.

Thing is, I actually brought some heart lollies for my friends today. Thought it would be nice, since we're having exams (bloody again) in 1 and a half weeks. So I decided to eat 1 on my way to school. I was looking outside the window while sucking it, it's awesome. It's like sweet and sour and 100% awesome!!! I was thinking of buying more to supply in my room for rainy days when I realized the guy was looking at me like I have 'Retard' written on my forehead.

I just realized that day I put my hair into 2 pigtails. Even I would look in pity when there's a girl with pigtails sucking a lolli in the tram.

Oh my word. Kill me. Kill me now.

In the tutorial, my friend told me that I look like I'm 5.

Note to self: never ever do your hair ever again.

During Maths lecture, due to very early class (NINE!!!), my brain wasnt home yet. So I decided to kill the time by rolling my kboxing bandage. It has somehow the form of rolled tissue paper, and when I'm so close to the end, IT SLIPPED FROM MY FINGERS.

To my horror, I screamed NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO as the bandage unrolled itself down the floor. I bent to pick it up, and when my head emerged from the chairs, I noticed the professor is looking at me.

No what, my dear?

Fuck. Fuck.

Skrew this Denica-no-cursing policy.

At the end of the day, I skipped kboxing class since I was certain today is cursed. And my best friend lost 25 euros, someone pickpocketed her. IN THE LIBRARY. Where have we gone to, people? How can we feel safe when we can't even be safe in the bibliotheek, a sanctuary for education?

Stupid Friday the 13th.