Never Ends.

Music: So What- Pink
Mood: Fit

This week has been going by so slowly, but I swear, there are not enough hours in the day for the amount of work I have to do. It's not that the work is hard, there's just so much to do. I've considered skipping the gym so many times to do more work, but then I drag myself to work out and end up feeling better, so I'm definitely feeling more fit than when I was abroad.

In terms of the career search, it's pretty futile right now. I feel many of the major companies that I would have normally gotten a 2nd round or an offer have cut back because of the economy. In any case, I still have to keep on trucking. I have an interview with a small consulting firm on Monday and then I'm interviewing with another major strategic consulting firm this Wednesday/Thursday. I have a multiple choice test with the company on Wednesday and then a 2 hour interview on Thursday. Tomorrow, the company is having an interview prep course. I'm kind of upset about this because the CEO of Southwest Airlines is coming to speak tomorrow at the same time, so I'm going to have to miss it to go to interview prep, which is really frustrating because Herb Kelleher is supposed to be an amazing speaker. Also on the career front, I'm going to the Diversity Dialogue Dinner next Thursday to get a free meal but to actually look for a job too. The career fair is on Wednesday and I guess I have to swing by as well just to check out the employers.

On the work end of things, I have so much to read and not enough time. The material is very interesting, I'm reading a biography of Warren Buffett for my Plan II TC course. I'm on pg. 60 and I have to get to pg. 340 by Monday. I'm also reading Innumeracy for my Plan II Physics class, which is an easy read but I just don't have enough time. I have a FIN 367 test on Monday which I need to read and prepare for. In addition to that, I need to practice my case interviews this weekend. I guess it'll be doable, I just can't play at all this weekend.

OK. It's 2:30am, I ought to go to bed. But let me tell you first, last night, I had a really CREEPY dream. I had a dream that I got in a car accident and my car flipped over. It was a single car accident, and I was upside down. I don't really remember the details; I just remember yelling and screaming and freaking out. It seemed so real that when I woke up, I had to look at my keys and then go check the parking lot to see that my car was still intact. It was really eerie and creepy. I have no idea what it means, but now I'm kind of scared of driving.

Freezing Cold

Music: I Hate This Part- Pussy Cat Dolls
Mood: Cold

Every week feels extremely long, and this is only the 2nd week! I'm glad that I only have one class tomorrow from 2 to 3:30. By Wednesday, I know my week is done, and that's an amazing feeling! I have to suffer through my Mondays and Wednesdays but other than that, I'm golden.

Oh, I also officially got into my Ballroom Dancing class. It's from Tuesday from 6:45 to 9. It's a huge time commitment, and I'm afraid that when group projects start to accumulate, I won't have Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday nights to meet until after 9pm. It's going to be interesting.

Nothing much going on this week in terms of Recruiting. One of the banks called me today and had me chat with the director of their Global Markets-Equities department. It wasn't an official 2nd round interview nor was it a job offer. They said they'd have final decisions by the end of this week, so hopefully that means tomorrow and means it's a job offer. If so, I'm not DESPERATE yet but I'd have to weigh my options. I really like this bank (b/c it's very global and has a large presence in Asia), but I also want to try out my consulting options. My first choice consulting firm already said no, so I still want to try out the other 2.

Ok, I'm off to bed. I hope everyone stays warm! (thought it's only like 32ish outside, which isn't that cold compared to other places.. but still..!)

And totally random: I saw some guy at the gym with a tattoo that looked like my last name.. but it was different by one stroke, so I'm going to ask my mom what it means. Do you know what this means?

Happy Chinese New Year!

Music: Sober- Pink
Mood: Drained

Wow. Today has been a whirlwind of a day. I woke up at 7am because I have an 8am FAP (Financial Analyst Program) class. I have class from 8 to 12:30, gym-ed from 12:30 to 2, ate in the BC office from 2 to 3, then had my Plan II TC 357 (Junior class) on investments and philanthropy with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. That's normally supposed to last till 6 (YES! a 3 hour class), but we got out at 5. I walked over to the business school, hung out in the BC office for a bit, then went over to the UTC for an infosession with an investment bank at 5:30. That lasted to about 6:30. I then had a group meeting from 6:30 to about 7:15. I promised my friends I'd watch How I Met Your Mother with them at 7:30, so I ran all the way back to my apartment, packed some chicken I planned to bake, and then drove over to their apartment only to find out that it was a re-run (probably because of the super bowl). Now I'm currently baking my chicken in my friend's apartment and they're watching a new episode of 24. It's been an EXTREMELY long day. I've got quite a bit of homework to do and lot's of activities planned for tomorrow.

I'm meeting with the professor I'm working with this semester to discuss my research assistance. Then I have Plan II Physics class from 2 to 3:30, followed by a discussion section from 4 to 5, an HBA meeting from 5 to 6; an investment banking info session from 5:30 to 6:30, then I have ballroom dancing from 6:45 to 9. What a crazy packed day.

In other news, today (or more like yesterday, in China-time) is Chinese New Year! It's now the year of the Ox! Suprisingly, Yahoo decorated their logo but Google didn't. I would have expected Google to decorate it. They did last year. Here's some more information about Chinese New Year, courtesy of yahoo.com: http://events.yahoo.com/chineseny09/ It's the 4,707th year of the lunar calendar this year. I'm a Dragon! What are you?

Anyways, I mention this because I called my grandma last night around 9pm (it was 11am Monday in Hong Kong.) It was great speaking with her, but it made me miss Hong Kong like crazy. She's doing great, and we talked about how I was looking for a summer job and how I really want to go back to visit Hong Kong and then eventually work in Hong Kong. I really miss the chinese food and speaking in Cantonese with some of the locals and with my grandparents. Usually, in China and in Hong Kong, everyone gets the WHOLE week off. It really is a big deal. The exchange students from Hong Kong who are now in Austin really miss HKG now, especially because of Chinese New Year. It's equivalent to my desire to celebrate Thanksgiving in HKG. I invited them to grab dim sum in Austin on Sunday, but they had prior commitments. Oh, also for chinese new year, typically, parents pass out red envelopes with money. This is for prosperity and good fortune for the new year.

Anyways, Happy Chinese New Year!

Week One: At Least I Don't Wear Pleated Pants

Music: Kellie Pickler- Best Days of Your Life
Mood: Needing a Job

This week has been the worst week ever. I've had way to many interviews, too little sleep, and am having trouble adjusting to life back in Austin. Perhaps it's a bit of being "homesick" and missing Hong Kong; or because I can't travel so leisurely any more; or because I'm not use to living off campus; or because I'm trying to fit the gym in my schedule after 4 months of skipping the gym; or because this first week has started so abruptly, classes on top of interviews on top of meetings.

I had a dinner on Monday with a bank at Eddie V's.. (and I thought we were in a recession....), I had one interview on Tuesday, four interviews on Wednesday, one today and one on Friday. I've heard from most of the companies I interviewed with and I haven't gotten any offers or 2nd rounds from any of the companies. It's been a tireless process that hasn't been pleasant. I guess i never got the memo before I dropped for these interviews that they can be technical interviews. Going in, I only prepared for the case interview rather than the technical finance interview too. Oh well, I'm holding on hope for the last of the companies I've interviewed with, but I'm not optimistic. I think I'm going to start studying for the LSAT and the GMAT. Maybe I'm better at studying for tests and for classes than interviews. Haha. C'ste la vie. There are still a lot of postings on OCR so I'll drop some more and then see what happens.

Okay, I'm allowed one fashion rant in my blog. Okay. If you're working in New York as an investment banker on Wall Street, have the decency to NOT wear pleated pants. I may not have gotten a call back or a second round, but at least I don't wear pleated pants. Haha. Sorry. I'm allowed to make myself feel a bit better. =p

Well, I have one more interview tomorrow and then this week is OVER. YES. In other news, I've gone to the gym every day this week. I even watched the inauguration at the gym. haha. Oh, and check out the new pictures on the left side of the blog I posted. You've probably seen most of these photos from my abroad experience, but now the pictures are permanently there!




Update: Still Jobless, most of the companies said no.. makes me wanna listen Taylor Swift's Love Song-

You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story baby just say yes.

In a horrible metaphor that I probably shouldn't use.. I'm waiting for a company (the prince) to just say YES to me. HAHAHA! Sorry for extreme amount of corniness. I'll make it up in my next post.

AUSTIN, Spring 2009

Music: Circus- Britney Spears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zeR3NSYcHk)
Mood: Stressed, already!?

I'm so addicted to Circus, by Britney Spears. It's simply an amazing song. Watch the music video; you'll be addicted! Wow. I'm back in the States after being abroad for 4.5 months. It's been a great part of my life that I'll truly cherish forever.

I flew back to the US on Jan 1, was in Houston till Jan 6, then move into my apartment in Austin on Jan 15th. Now, school is about to start and interviews are in full swing this week for summer internships. Being here in Austin, I really miss Hong Kong. My background is a picture of the Hong Kong skyline, and I truly miss it. I know when in Hong Kong, I said I missed Austin and was ready to be back-- I take that back. I want to be in Hong Kong again. The city is so vibrant and I really felt comfortable there. Surprisingly, I feel out of place here in the States. It's a familiar place with familiar people, but it's foreign to me at the same time. I can't really explain the feeling. I really wish I were back in Hong Kong, soaking in the city, enjoying the nightlife and the food.

Unfortunately, I've been running around like crazy these last few days preparing for the countless interviews I have this week. I've got interviews for several investment banks and a consulting firm. I really want to land the consulting gig more than anything. It's really where my passion lies. If they gave me an offer right now, I'd accept it in a heartbeat. I had a night-prior dinner with a bank tonight, and the conversations we were having and the topics were interesting, but my heart wasn' t there. I'm afraid I'm not going to shine through on these interviews because I really want consulting instead but am recruiting with the banks for backups. (I know some people are the direct opposite-- their goals are the banks but are interviewing with consultants for "back up". Haha. How ironic!

In any case, I'm already stressed and on top of that, I'm sick. So don't pity me, but wish me luck on everything I have going on this week. Wow. I haven't written a rant post in a long time complaining about school or stress. Haha. It was about time.

Oh, Hong Kong, how I miss thee. Oh well, ready or not, here begins Austin, Spring 2009.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen goodbye

Music: Wait for You- Elliott Yamin
Mood: Reflecting

My honeymoon with this amazing city dubbed the city where the east meets the west ends tomorrow. The last few months of my life began with a long flight to Hong Kong on August 23rd and will come to a close when I board my flight to San Francisco at 12:50pm. I have had the time of my life here in Hong Kong and do not regret my decision and financial investment to study abroad. Never again will I have the luxury of packing three suitcases (though I’m returning with 4 suitcases, hehe) and moving to a foreign country for four and a half months.

While abroad, I’ve become a seasoned travel and kindled a passion for traveling and for experiencing new cultures—in fact, I had to add pages to my passport because I traveled so much. I’ve been blessed with the luxury to travel all across Asia and Southeast Asia. In the seven countries (The Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Taiwan, and China) I visited, I sampled the various cuisines unique to the region and saw sites that some people twice my age haven’t seen. Traveling has humbled me and reaffirmed my life passion to help others less fortunate that me. In the Southeast Asian countries, specifically in The Philippines and Cambodia, seeing extreme poverty made me realize how lucky I am to be born into a well-off family in the US. In Manila, everywhere we went, children as young at 8 who should have been asleep in a warm bed were following us around downtown tapping on us on the shoulder, begging for money. As we sampled the various foods from street vendors, we could feel their small hands poke at our arms and pockets. In Cambodia, learning that some of the local fishermen who live on the lake make only $250 US a year was saddening, especially because our six day trip to the country cost so much more than that.

In Hong Kong, I’ve accomplished what I set out to do during this exchange: see the city, experience the culture (my culture), improve my Cantonese skills, visit my grandparents, make lots of new friends, and eat lots of Chinese food. One thing I do regret, however, is not staying in shape. I’ve let myself go and I can’t forgive myself for that. I tried going to the gym almost everyday during the first month here, but after I started traveling so much, I never fell into a routine and thus failed to go to the gym or jogging. I have a lot of work cut out for me when I return to the US, and it won’t be fun, but I supposed it will be worth it. This semester has been a whirlwind of an adventure, and I’m sad to see it come to an end. Returning back to Austin and reuniting with friends will be joyous, but it means going back to work. I got pretty good grades here in Hong Kong and managed to get a 4.0 here in Hong Kong (for the BHP/Plan II courses who’s grades transfer). In Austin, on top of studying hard, I’ll have to find a summer internship (the last two years, I’ve secured an internship in the fall semester, so this semester will be harder). I’m also going to be involved in BC, working as BHP recruiter and a research assistant, and getting back into shape. I have my work cut out for me, but I’m ready for it. Bring it on.


I’ve fallen in love with this city and know that this good-bye is not permanent. As The Terminator would say, “I’ll be back.”

Last Week of School + Parents Coming!

Music: Radioio Classical Favorites on iTunes Radio
Mood: Excited!

I'm excited, even though I have 4 finals left and am done on next Thursday because my parents are on their way to Hong Kong right now! =) According to flightview.com, they're 6hours and 10 minutes away from landing! I'm super excited.

That's where their plane is right now!

At first, at the beginning of the semester, I wasn't excited that they were going to come because I wanted to travel with other people after my finals were done, but now I'm really anticipating their arrival. It'll be so good to see my parents. We plan on traveling to the Yunan Province in Western China and also go to a wildlife preserve around Guilin. Tonight, I'm going to grab dinner with my grandparents and then go to the Central MTR station to meet my parents when they ride the Airport Express into the city. I plan on spending the next two nights with my parents at my grandparent's place and then returning back on Sunday night for exams this coming week. I have Audit on Monday, Finance on Wednesday, and Operations Management and China in Film on Thursday. I'm done after that!!!

Today, I picked up the Exchange T-shirt and Yearbook.. the shirt had all the names of everyone on the back and the yearbook had pictures of everyone's trips it. It was cool to see what everyone else has done. I can't believe I'm almost about to go back. I'm ready to see my friends and have the comforts of the US, but I really love Hong Kong. I'm really going to miss it. Live will totally be different when I go back. I'm not ready for the whole Business School rat race when I go back (though I never really was caught up in the rat race to begin with!)

Speaking of business, I'm currently recruiting with the big three strategic consulting firms. I really hope I can land a summer internship with one of them. It seems like most (if not all) of the internships will be in the Dallas office. I'm okay with this but I really want to eventually get out of Texas. I don't really like Dallas all that much. But I guess the first task has to be to land the internship before I can be picky about which office I want. I'm currently communicating with recruiters at the three major firms, which is exciting, but time consuming because I still need to study for finals!

Seriously, studying for finals is a HUGE distraction and results in low productivity. The Ellen Show, The Office, How I Met Your Mother, and now Gossip Girl (yes, Gossip Girl. I watched the Pilot yesterday and was quite entertained. haha). That on top of planning with my parents about our travels after finals and saying good-bye to other people who are done with finals as resulted in me barely getting any work done. Well, next week will be crunch time. I really want to get all As in the classes where my grades transfer, and there should be NO excuse why I don't pull it off. The classes are not difficult at all. So here's to studying! =)

This is supposed to be my last post of the year (but trust me, loyal readers, it won't be!). There's so much that will be going on between now and when I move into my dorm back in Austin. And since pictures are always fun, I'll end with some from December.

X-Mas Decorations in the Mall

Hot Pot at the University Restaurant!

The Red Sundial in front of the school

Oh., and PS. Finals is also a time to gain weight. Haha. I've been eating so much! In fact, I finished a 16oz box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal in two days. OMG! No Joke. It was horrible when I realized what I did. When I get back, it's time to get back in shape. I'm going to start training for the Capital 10k run on March 28, 2009!