800 years Cambridge University

I have the luck to be in Cambridge when the university celebrates its 800th anniversary. Yesterday the official celebration started with ringing bells and a projection of the university's history on two university building. That was really spectacular. I took some pictures, but they don't convey the special atmosphere...

After that we went to a concert at King's chapel. The Cambridge University Music Society orchestra and the combined college choirs of Queens', Magdalene, Selwyn, Sidney Sussex and Trinity performed Missa Solemnis of which Beethoven thought it was the greates work he had ever composed. Indeed a very cultural day, that should be repeated in the near future.

In terms of sport I enden up in the third boat. A little bit disappointing given my good test result. On the other hand it gives me some more time for other stuff, because we have only three outings a week instead of five. And maybe there will be a chnace to slip in a higher boat in Easter term.

New year, new term

Well, I am back in Cambridge since a week. Exams are over and a new term, Lent, is about to start. One of my resolutions for 2009 is to update my blog more often...promised.

The term begins with a rowing camp. Tomorrow will be my first time on the water this year, after having had a 10 minute test yesterday. It went pretty well (I beat one of the seniors from the first crew) and finished with 2700 metres. I will let you know into which boat I made it...

At Judge we could choose among several electives for this term. I decided to select Capital Markets, Private Equity and my favourite Philosophy of Business. Who knows, maybe I'll do a PhD in philosophy some day. I am really interested in that but first I need to be financially independent. As Jack Lang, a local entrepreneur and business angel, told us, the only way achieve that is to buy and sell businesses. And to be honest, venture capital becomes more and more appealing to me. I know how hard it is to get in.

One first step is hopefully our GCP (Global Consulting Project) that will take place in March and April. We already formed a team but are still looking for a project in private equity or venture capital. The list from school doesn't look promising in that sense.

Lifesaver

The espresso machine, which my girlfriend Nicole bought me is really helping me through my days. Thank you, Schnuffi! It kicks me off in the morning and keeps me awake during the night, when I do my pre-reading, course assignments or project work. We are now in full-load operation, i.e. that we have to homework for nearly every class, our Consulting Venture Project has started, the case for the A.T. Kearney Global Prize Competition was sent to us and I try to improve my rowing technique as I have made it into a novice crew of the Queens' boat club. We have outings twice a week which will hopefully prepare us well for the final Novice Fairbairn Cup on December 4, where we are competing against all other novice crews. In order to mentally support me I am reading the book The Last Amateurs - To Hell and Back with the Cambridge Boat Race Crew, a book about the 2007 race against Oxford (Cambridge won of course).

My exam in Business Statistics seems to be already ages ago. It went fairly well. I was able to work on every exercise in time so that I expect a mark well above the pass level (50%). Unfortunately this exam contributes to my final mark only with approximately one percent. We will see...

It's time for my next espresso and then for my accounting homework and I still have to buy a pumpkin for the Halloween weekend when Nicole visits me and she loves that knickknack.

Time is flying...

The two orientation weeks are over and time has passed by so fast, that's incredible. I wanted to write earlier but have been knocked out by the Fresher's Flu. According to Wikipedia almost 90% of new students get this illness which is caused most likely by the convergence of large numbers of people arriving from all over the world, carrying different germs to which they are not all immune. This is enforced by stress, poor diet, late nights and too much alcohol (which naturally played in my case no role).

After three weeks it is still hard to remember all of the 150 names of my class mates. But I am getting better. That is actually a wonder if you consider the information overflow we are constantly faced with. Dozens of forms from Judge, from the University or from the College have to be filled out and returned in due time and nearly every evening we are invited to a reception or dinner.

Along the way the lectures started, which reminds me of our first test on October 20 in Business Statistics...scary. As engineer with a solid mathematical background I shouldn't actually be too afraid.

Additionally first career activities already start. The crisis at the fininacial markets sets the pressure even higher. Those who want to go in that direction have to apply in the next weeks as the deadlines for the few jobs are quite early. But no reason to worry, this might be an option after MBA (see right).

I am happy that I can lean comfortably back and focus on studying and some extracurricular activities. Together with Jaques, my Southafrican friend, we signed up for the Queens' College Boat Club last week. This means, we are starting to row, a must for everyone being in Cambridge. We missed our tubbing session (where you get your first instructions in a slightly more robust boat) due to my illness. But we will make up for it soon. To have a first impression you can see my first attempts to beat a QCBC member on a rowing machine in the Old Hall on the picture (I failed and fell off).

There is so much more I could write about, but the big problem here is time. I will spend my Sunday in the library and try to catch up the things I missed on my one day absence.

Black Holes in Cambridge

Just a quick note...this morning I got a first impression of Cambridge being a truly extraordinary place. On my way to Starbucks I had to avoid an electrical wheelchair, which was driven by him...the author of A brief history of time Stephen Hawking. I felt really strange to meet such an outstanding intellectual personality face-to-face in everyday life. I'm curious about who I will meet next...

Arrived in Cambridge

Yesterday, I finally arrived in Cambridge after some airport confusion. Actually I thought I would fly to London Heathrow but surprisingly I landed at London City Airport. An airport I had never heard of before. Consequently my booked car wasn't available. Avis helped me out with a cheap car without navigation system. Here my problems began...fortunately I succeeded with trial and error at the end.

Today I made my first shopping tour, since some stuff I had expected to be existing in my college (which is Queens') was lacking: no crockery, no cutlery, no glasses, no hangers and so on. Next week I will go for a bicycle (which I really need, because my accomodation, is located more than a half mile away from the city) and a gown (I promise, you will see pictures). And of course I am waiting wishfully for the delivery of my brand new Nespresso machine, that Nicole bought for me :)

Until Monday I will be enjoying the lovely weather while walking through the city and discovering the surroundings. Unfortunately one of the few things I have forgotten at home is my camera. So you will have to wait some time for the first impressions. Next week my programme is starting officially with the orientation weeks and I will report on my doubtless exciting MBA experience.