You don't get around us that easy

Oh yeah baby! DAMS Egg is a true survivor!

I think the results speak for themselves... but since you asked me to brag about the mad skillz of our team, I will happily oblige...

First: sketch and design 

• Although we had specific tools and resources, we began by considering what would keep the egg safe, and allow for shock
• We then sketched thinking of the materials
• We began with a tripod like triangular shape 
• We decided we needed to enhance the base to a pyramid to ensure it landed safely

Second: reviewed resources to ensure we'd have sufficient straws and tape to execute our design

• During this analysis we decided that if/when we needed to make cuts, they would need to be right
• Original design left 1 straw remaining for error or changed during construction
• We also determined that we'd need to find a way to stretch the tape supply and decided we'd need to cut it in half

Third: create a paper proto-type

• using paper, we built a '4-D' prototype of our structure, using the dimensions of the straws and egg
• Seeing the vision we were able to make the needed modifications to ensure maximum protection while utilizing the available resources

Fourth: expand our recourses

• Building the prototype took us almost 8 minutes... and knowing we'd have only 10 minutes, and needed to cut the tape and straws, we set out to find scissors

Fifth: execute the build

• Team members 1 & 2 were primary engineers on the build with support from member 3
• Team member 4 wrote out our team page along with a sketch - making plan modifications as changes were made

Sixth: show you all how incredibly awesome we are!!

• You were there... I don't need to tell you
• I've never claimed to be humble...

Two things we didn't do:

1. Assign a team leader: In this group dynamic I don't think we needed one. We were all behind the goal, and motivated to achieve it. We brainstormed until we had a consensus as to how we should execute and every team member contributed; adding value throughout the process.
2. Consider alternatives: We were happy with our original design, but we found a need to make some modifications during the build. If I were to do a similar task I might have explore structural alternatives prior to building.

So, now you know how to be AMAZING! Take it in... chew on it... you'll get here.

Cheers~
Seecr

A horse of a different color

Four guys are in a bar in Seville; one French, one Italian, one American, and one German. The German says to the Italian (in English) "Maybe she'll know a spot... she's clearly a local". The French says "Why do you say that?", and the German replies "Well, she's sitting at the bar alone, reading a book with a bottle of wine. No tourist would do that". The Italian say "So who wants to try out their Spanish?". Quickly the American say "I do... she's cute. I'll tell her I'm Matt Damon, I get that all the time. Maybe I can get her to call some friends and come hang out with us tonight".

American Guy: "Hola Seniority. Mi nombre Matt. Mis amigos se preguntan si usted sabe de algún club nocturno por aquí. podemos venir con nosotros?"

Me: "Perdón?

American Guy: "Estoy Matt... Matt Damon. Puedo unirme a ustedes?"

Me: "Perdón? No compreno"

American Guy to his friends "Does anyone have the book. Either this chick is retarded or I am"

Me: "I should stop you. I'm not retarded... hablo un poco espanol. And though I'm sure you're very 'talented', I prefer Ben Afflack."

American Guy: "oh, s#!+...".

Walk away kiddo.

OK... so that not exactly Culture Shocking, but I thought was funny the way the guys assumed because I was a solo girl I couldn't be a tourist. 

I can't say that I've ever felt true, unharnessed culture shock. I've had experiences that have surprised me; like the first time I was in Bad Ischl and visited a co-ed spa that didn't allow bathing suits in the sauna, or when I was in Amsterdam at a cafe when a 14 year old kid sat next to me on the sofa pulled out a bong and started toking up. I was certainly taken aback, but it didn't shock me... immersing yourself in the culture is part of traveling. I'm also super fortunate that my appearance is kind of hard to place (so long as I don't speak... and then I usually people I'm Canadian. Because how can you not love a Canadian?). I've had some interesting guesses to the "where are you from?" question. Not just "from" as far as cultural background, but even where I grew up here in the states. In fact, when I'm short on cash it's an easy way to get a free drink...

"So where are you from?"

"Where do you think I'm from?"

"You want me to guess... really?"

"You don't have to... but I'll bet you a round you can't guess where I'm from in 3 tries"

"You're on! Write it down"

And from this point on I can put the wallet away. Good thing too... we are in a recession.   

Whats interesting to me about Americans is how we are far more tolerant of cultural differences of foreigners then we are of other Americans. Perhaps the exception being Middle Easterners... or anyone from that general area since most Americans are unable to distinguish India from Iran. I've lived in 6 states during my adult life, and they were all very different. They had different political climates, dominant religions, accents, even leisure activities. And Even though their state neighbors are equally as 'American', the locals in each place were equally ethnocentric. Their teams are better, their governor is smarter, their cuisine is more authentic, their god is the only real one. Where ever you go in the US it’s the same. Californians are too liberal, New Yorkers are rude, and all Southerners are hick red necks. We tend to think of foreigners as the ones who don't understand us... but considering we were all foreigners at one point, it seems cultural tolerance won't be a reality until we accept our own differences.

Fact of the matter is that America is the only true melting pot... and a majority of the world is lactose intolerant.

How do you do? Very well, thank you!

Hello world of Managment 3120!

Enough about you, let's talk about ME:
My name is Sarah. I'm 5'2"... 5'5" with heals. Brown eyes and dark brown hair. People first notice my smile and my laugh. I'm thir... wait... lets not go there.

I live in fabulous New York City, where I attend Baruch College and work full time in  the personal wealth management sector. I started working in banking right out of high school... first as a deposit specialist, then moving into lending. It wasn't long until I fell into the "holy crap I'm making so much money, who needs college" trap. So midway through my sophomore year I left the stressful life of a student to work full time. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The fast pace and fancy dinners were just the beginning! Those were the glory years of banking. We had big budgets, conferences and business trips to see clients, wholesaler paid bar bills, and all  the cell phone minutes you could ask for. Life was good... but then it happened.

I - found - a - grey - hair. Can you believe that?!?!

My perfect world came tumbling down. Why was I being punished? How could my perfect life produce such disastrous byproduct? It hit me that maybe... just maybe... I wasn't living the life I always dreamed about as a little girl. I mean, I was going to be a Princess, and Princesses do NOT have grey hair! Bottom line, it was clearly time to take matters into my own hands. I needed to reflect.

First things first, I went to my hairdresser and complained as it is her duty in life to ensure that I have flawless locks at all times. Then I went to my masseuse... one needs a knot free back before reflecting on ones future. From there I went to my guru... Javier at Bergdorf Goodman... who found me the perfect pair of reflecting shoes. Which meant that it was time for the final step... But where do you go for life changing reflecting? Somewhere with lots of mirrors or shiny surfaces I'd assume. And since it was the dead of November at that time, I could think of only one place to go. Los Angeles!

So I clicked my phone 3 times, called my travel agent, and hopped on the next flight to LA. Yes, LA... where the weather is 75 and people will say its chilly out. LA.... where it's sometimes hard to tell the surfer dudes from the homeless. Yes my friends, LA... where women are so desperate they'll still go home with the hot guy who's been ignoring them all night because, hey... maybe they'll get to see Malibu. But for me it's LA... where my Uncle has a heated pool, a spare car, and a guest house. So I began meditating in a chez lounge. I thought about what I was doing, and where I wanted to be in 5 or 10 or 20 years. It took nearly 4 days of meditation, but soon I knew that the next step of my journey was to give myself options. Finishing what I started long ago. It's important to finish things... including my mimosa.

When I returned from my trip of self discovery, I went straight to Baruch and did a direct enrollment for Spring 2010. I won't get into the weeds... that was a roller coaster of an adventure in itself. But I'm here a year later... with just a few more sessions to go and I'll be finished!

Who knows what's in store... because life is what happens when you're busy planning. But maybe, when it's all over, I'll have come far enough down that the next road is visible (preferably one called Madison or 5th Aveune). I just hope wherever it is that I can still visit Javier from time to time.

Until the next entry... I recommend contemplating the healing powers of cashmere.

Cheers~
Seecr