I was enjoying myself, as my family came down to meet me...Good time passes by so fast.
The week just flew away.

Watched "fanaa" with the family. The tunes of one of the songs was really nice. Story is fine, but Aamir Khan's earlier "Rang De Basanti" lingers on. Couldn't appreciate this one to that extent. Kajol never seemed blind, unlike Rani in "Black" who had done it so well. Obviously, Rani was retarded, whereas Kajol was not. Saw "Darna Zaroori Hain". I don't remember when it was released, but it really failed to scare me. It became quite predictable, if you have watched, "Darna Mana Hai".

Clubs have been formed, presidents and office bearers elected, and the work has started. Got involved with two clubs so far...Hopefully, demands should not be too much. Given the load of assignments, I am wondering whether two isn't enough.
And, yes, I lost that editor post to a competent colleague.

Term 1 results are more or less out...I need to work harder...or maybe smarter. Dunno which one. It depressed me for a little while, until I realised that there were far more important things in life....Family, friends, Memories and so much more...

Remembered a bengali song...
"Jokhon roiba be na mor choron chinno eiy bate"
(When my foot steps will not be found at this doorstep)

:)

Term 2. Courses are Competitive Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Optimization and Global Economics.

Markstrat seems to be interesting...given the fact that we will be playing a simulation game and acting as a firm in a particular industry and competing with our peers over 7 periods. Phew! Using all that we have learnt in Marketing...try and survive as a company in the marketplace and not fizzle out. And, there is no compassion...You are penalized for fizzling out.

Global Econimcs: All firms are essentially similar, and the effects of taxation and government policies affect the well being of the nations. We talk in terms of GDP and GNP...and move away from microeconimcs which concentrated on individual firm's health. The prof will be be showing us a movie to better illustrate what we are learning.

Competitive Strategy: It mainly discusses the various strategies that companies deploy to survive, wipe out competition, gain market share through examples. We saw the Cola Wars...and what Pepsi did as an entrant to the cola industry is truly commendable. Let's see how this course turns out...the assignments hopefully, will give a better flavour to the course.

Optimization: Hopefully, this is something we all try to do, whether we have been exposed to the course or not...Hence, it's nothing really new...Everybody needs it, as does any MBA student.

Caught up with movies, this hectic schedule is not doing enough to deter me..."Bourne Identity", "Laws of Attraction", "Finding Nemo", "Pay it Forward".
The last two are worth mentioning...The lesson that Nemo's dad learnt was very heart-warming, from being over-protective of his son, to learning to let go...
Pay it forward was a wonderful concept of a little boy, in contrast to paying a kind deed back. It made sense, and it also seemed credible.

We had the second round of elections on campus...Presidents of Clubs, Sports activities and Newsletter. I had submitted my nomination for the last one...as it was something I had done previously.

Section C had their Ethnic Day celebrations - the girls wore sari, and the guys wore kurta. It was good fun to go to class in a sari, surprised the profs...and the rest of the sections who were dressed normally. It was good fun, taking snaps...which would become a part of my "good ol days"

:D

Well, the Term 1 exams ended a day back, and we've got a break till the coming Mondays. Some people have left for home, but a few have chosen to stick to this place. I am one of them.
The exams were challenging, as they were meant to be. The profs had promised that it would be an exam of what we know, but then, if one does not know, the purpose of the test is defeated.

We are all 12.5 % MBAs, as a someone put it. ISB has 8 Terms, Term 1 done, 7 more to go.
The few of us who had stayed back, gathered yesterday to eat, dance and play with our section mates. And it was really enjoyable. I guess this is one of the few parties at ISB, where everyone danced in tandem with the group.

Term 2 coursepacks have already been distributed..and the size is really intimidating. They say, it is supplementary material...I wonder what the main thing looks like.
In the meantime, I caught up with a few movies - "Dirty Dancing", "The Specialist". I had seen the Hindi version, "Holiday" for the first one, and could almost anticipate what was going to happen. Nonetheless, the original is good to watch.

Each of the courses in Term 1 is related to the other. You need to appreciate the market and competition in order to better estimate your moves - Economics, and set a price, so as to either gain market share or penetrate the market...understanding your product and its value - Marketing, in case you have started off, you better maintain the books - Accounting, and if you want to know what factors are influencing your business revenues, profits and losses - Statistics.

This is how I related the topics...and I enjoyed all of them, but Economics the most. Game Theory is an amazing concept and has the potential to change your outlook of the world and your surroundings.