On Writing, The European Job Market, & The Final Six Weeks

Well, I’m past the halfway mark. I only have six weeks left to finish the bulk of four projects. Two internship presentation projects for two universities in two countries and two more classes, complete with final projects, for the same. There is so much writing involved, and really, I tried to download a picture of a snail to post on the header here, because I feel like that is how fast the information is moving from my brain onto a word document, at a snail’s pace.

In the spirit of procrastination, I was doing a little research for a friend (in Geneva) who is busy looking for work here, and elsewhere in Europe.

Are you looking for a signing bonus?
Here is an article I found on the current Danish job market in The Copenhagen Post

If you would like to read about how one in three Danish employers will hire a foreign born worker within the next year, click here.

And the BBC reports that the European Commission may
enstate a “Blue Card” (similar to the US’s Green Card)

More on the Jagtvej 69 Riots this last weekend

The paper is in Danish, but here is a link to some Jagtvej 69 Riot photos in the local Danish paper.

(for more pictures, go to the above link and click on the “Ungdomshuset fra rydning til fald – seks dages tumult” link)

Next time there’s a riot (peaceful or otherwise) I will try to get out there and take a few pictures for you all (from a safe distance, of course).

OK, this concludes my procrastination session. I look forward to hearing from you.
Have a great day.

For the Love of Kilen

I had meetings in the Kilen building all morning today. The first meeting was ‘brainstorming for ICEpower and Bang & Olufson’. It was part of one of my classes. But, the particularly serene part of the day was just being in Kilen. If there was a Kilen Fan Club, I’ld join it. I know I’ve said it before, but I love that building. The photos are meant to show the contrast between the interior and exterior. There are some really lovely exterior photos on flicker (not mine). But I just felt the need to share a rainy morning at Kilen with you all. Even on a gray rainy day, it feels warm and light inside.

(Of course, the acedemic value of our brainstorming session was beyond question.)

The Company

Today was the first time I met with the company that I will be working with for my internship. One of the prerequisits for this program I’m in is that the company was to be a small startup, which makes sense, since my studies here are meant to be entrepreneurial based. I am so thrilled to be with the company I was matched with. And what a match indeed. It is a consulting firm looking to explore the potential for global expansion. A primary field of expertise for them is in a field in which I have a lot of experience. This makes it even more interesting for me-and them. This means that while I have never consulted for a consulting firm before (ok, I’ve never consulted before), I can still bring insite and understanding to my project that would not be possible had I not had experience in the industry they are consulting in! Wow-this all sounds terribly confusing and cryptic and I wish I could tell you more about them but I do not yet have “clearance to blog” from them. If I gain clearance-I will dish the details-as much as the clearance allows of course. Until then-the main thing is that CBS has done an amazing job of placing me with an engaging company that utilizes all my previous experience and challenges me to produce work at such a high level that I feel excited to be here-doing this-ever day.
No
Joke

Intro Week and Copenhagen Riots (Jagtvej 69)

This week was introduction week for the international students at Copenhagen Business School (CBS). They did a fantastic job of familiarizing us with CBS, Copenhangen and each other.

Monday was a fun-filled day of getting to know the campus by way of treasure hunts and trivia questions. They seperated us into groups and we were to find our way from station to station to answer questions and find places we had never been. We now know the campus-and didn’t fall asleep in the meantime. Some of the buildings at CBS are stunning! They have won awards for their exceptional architecture-and this does not surprise me. Standing inside the buildings, each one different, you feel the freedom of the thoughtful use of space and light. Truely beautiful.

The rest of the week was filled with practical information and social events. Interestingly, there were a few similarities with regards our university’s collective concern. Namely, PLAGERISM and the difficulties and challenges that come with GROUP WORK. For some reason, in many countries, it seems plagerism has slipped through the cracks of the otherwise conscientious student body. In addition, surprisingly, group work is not a common practice in many major universities in, for example, Germany. Several students (from different countries) found that unusual and began praising the virtues of group work, highlighting its relevance in the corporate world. These conversations broke out quietly, around the room, during the presentation. So, group work, although universally frustrating, is a necessary evil in every MBA program. Learning to deal with the inevitable frustrations with grace and strength is a constant challenge. We have no shortage of group work in the Global MBA progam at the Sawyer School of Business (Suffolk University).

A noteworthy event was the “cruise to a tropical island”. Certainly there was not enough time to cover the distance needed to put enough latitude between our current cold northern climate to meet with some sunshine, so we knew our fine hosts were up to something. At 7pm sharp (1900) we hopped in a boat and took a nice cruise by the opera house. We were then dropped off at some strange distant dock and escorted to an abandonded warehouse with disco balls and a dj. Without going in to detail, the night was interesting and everyone made it home safely.

Saturday there were more riots in Nørrebro. It was in response to the Youth House (Jagtvej 69). They want the world to know that the house is gone but not forgotten. It is interesting that this is one of the only shows of violence you will see in Denmark. I will walk over there later this week and take a picture of how things look there now and post it for you. Right now, they are showing it on the local news. The neighborhood is a complete mess. There is broken glass everywhere. It is a problem for the neighborhood-many locals are wanting to sell their homes and move to different neighborhoods. Danes are not accustomed to this sort of unrest (this conflict being the exception). It is an interesting debate. The youth want a new Youth House yet the opposing political view argues that they are now deemed criminals and should be in jail. I’ll keep you posted.

Suspense and Innovation

Hello World! My first blog. I arrived in Copenhagen exactly one week ago. Working through lost luggage and a new language, I have found Denmark to be incredibly welcoming, efficient and innovative. On my way to my Danish Crash Course at Copenhagen Business School, I noticed these “bubbles” in the park. Each bubble showcases an innovative product. I must investigate further…

…still waiting to hear what company I will be placed with…