Gearing up for last term on campus

Tomorrow starts term 3 on campus at Otago University. Incidentally, this pic was taken by the Huffington Post who named Otago Uni as one of the top 15 most beautiful universities in the world. Not bad for little old New Zealand. I am a little nervous but excited to be getting to the end of the tunnel. It has been a long cold winter for this Australian and although I have been surfing, sometimes I think I would have liked to be somewhere warmer.

Right now the staff are under the pump a little with new interviews. To anyone reading this blog and going through the process, good luck. I can say the whole process has been very worthwhile. So what next? Well once I finish this term, 60% of the MBA is done. I have a three month work project to do which I am locking in at the moment. Also I have been accepted for an exchange with Grenoble next year but I may do 3 elective subjects locally. I am unsure which way I will go. It is nice to have options. Anyhow, I got to get this term finished first!

MBA fitness: AFL in Otago

Who would have thought I would be pulling on the boots to kick the Sherrin around Logan Park, Dunedin. Tonight I ran around for nearly 2 hours in my beloved St Kilda jersey. I moved alright and was pretty pleased that a lot of the Kiwis were new to the sport so I had a bit of time. Although I slowed at the end and ended up umpiring it was a great lead up to the AFL Grand Final this weekend. We are playing three days a week so hopefully my body will hold out and I will get fit. Well as fit as I can for a gentleman over 40 :)

Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/OtagoAFL

MBA holiday fun: Port Chalmers Seafood Festival

 

The best thing about doing your MBA in Otago is when you get time off there is always lots of things to do. This weekend we went to the Port Chalmers Seafood Festival with the family and a mate and his wife from the course. Port Chalmers is the port for Dunedin which is a short train ride from the grand old Dunedin railway station. For the festival, they powered up the old tourist train which traveled around the the edge of the harbour - a really nice trip. When we got there we unloaded next to the entry on the road - very cool - my daughter loved it. Once we got there, the food was excellent. I had some beautiful crayfish (lobster), blue cod, smoked salmon and chorizo sausage and enjoyed some churros (Spanish donuts) for desert.

Izzie, my daughter got her face painted like spiderman - much to the chagrin of her mother, she had been playing with boys all weekend. The afternoon was capped off with a boat ride across to the other side of the harbour to Portobello. It was a beautiful calm day so we got to see lots of islands and sealife. By the time we had got on the train to go home we were all happy to head home. Another great day in Dunedin!

Top of the world at Treble Cone!

What an awesome day! I have snow boarded myself to a stand still. The highlight was the short but quite tiring hike to the summit of Treble Cone before snowboarding/sliding/falling down a quite steep slope :) Thank you to my guide and snow mentor, Richard Birkby - also the photographer who coaxed, cajoled and pushed me into places I may not have gone on my own. Treble Cone is only 3.5 hours from Dunedin and easily accessible by car - a pretty scenic drive. If you come to do your MBA in Otago, you can't miss coming to this part of the world!

Good-bye Syndicate A, hello Queenstown!

Well yesterday was my last exam for semester 2, accounting! It was a pretty good term although the volume of work really kicked in and the dark winter days were a bit taxing. Now it is Spring, I have 2 weeks off and we are in the mountains. Queenstown is really beautiful this time of year and we were welcomed by the lights on Coronet Peak last night who have Friday night skiing. Over the next few days I am going to unwind, drink wine, have fun with friends and snowboard. A quick note to say thanks to Syndicate A this term for getting through the work - well done to the Beast, the Physio, the Farmers Marketer et al. You all know who you are. Have a good break and I will see you in a couple of weeks. Cheers!

Exam time

Sorry for the boring pic but I am not feeling that inspired. Exam week is dragging on and I have a bit of a cold. I have knocked one over - marketing. It was ok - very B2B focused which is fine if that is what you are into! Strategy for international markets tomorrow and accounting on Friday. The key part of the exam process is essay writing and afterwards I need physio on my right arm! Head down as only 2 to go then off to Queenstown Friday for some snow boarding - can't wait!

Crisp, clear cold sunny days

Spring has arrived but it is still cold. 9 degrees yesterday. Doesn't really matter though because Term 2 exams start next week. I am not doing anything outside, who am I kidding. Three exams - Accounting, Marketing and Strategy for International Markets. Will be interesting but should be fine - we have done so much this semester that I feel pretty good. Once the exams are over we have two weeks off! Very pleased as I am starting to get sick of the study rooms again. This break we are off to Queenstown/Wanaka again. I am ready to snowboard - NICE!