Google Maps is trying to be helpful and is tracking the swine flu situation around the world. The picture below was taken Mon. April 27th, shortly before midnight. Click on the map for the link to Google.
Swine flu map
Here is the link to WHO, the World Health Organization, and their special page on the swine flu. To my non-expert eyes that does not seem all that serious yet. However, maybe no farm holidays this year. And stay away from sneezing pigs, as a general prevention.
“So, what’s next? Should we go dancing?”
“Go to Venice?”
….
“Why are you writing some SMS now?”
“I am not writing SMS, I am checking trains to Venice. The next one goes at 03.18!”
Or so it started. What followed was one of the more exceptional nights in a lifetime. The U**Credit MBA night expedition squad was formed by losing the timid (A&A) and recruiting reinforcements (sorry for waking you up at 2 a.m., N.!). We went to the train station and started the adventure with energy.
Night train to Venice (1)
Energy that, however,….
Night train to Venice (2)
…faded into the night. And the guardian to keep us awake quit her job, at some point…
Night train to Venice (3)
…so that we did not realize that OUR part of the train was not even going to Venice. But through this little mistake we got to see the beautiful train station of San Donà di Piave – Jesolo!
A stop along the way
So with some minor difficulties we finally reached our destination. And what place in the world could possibly be better to study multi-channel issues than Venice.
The first-hand multichannel experience
It’s just a shame that the sunrise was not visible…
No sunrise over San Marco...
…and that the only gondoliere was just taking a break and not working. 
...and gondoliere on strike.
For some days now I have been wondering how to best characterize the current atmosphere in this MBA program and now I think I have found a word that gives a good hint – deflation.
The “disambiguation page” of Wikipedia offers the right clues:
(1) “Deflation commonly refers to a decrease in the general price level.” Yes. Now substitute ‘price’ with enthusiasm, engagement, energy. On one hand I think it is a logical consequence, that after 7 months of quite intensive work at the university people are tired and to some degree worn out. The good weather period of the year has begun, people’s interests change. It is not surprising that all of this shows some results. However, given that we are such a rather small group of people I think it is interesting how often we have cases of sickness – speak about a “decrease in the general energy level”.
However it is still up to us to make the best out of the remaining 5 weeks that we will spend here together – this is a pro-individual responsibility blog!!
But let’s go on with the Wikipedia:
(2) “Deflation may also refer to: A release or escape of air or gas from an inflatable, resulting in its shrinking or collapsing.” Now that is interesting. Was something (over-)inflated here that is now shrinking, even collapsing? A sense of competition forced upon the class, with the distant incentive of choices for an internship or even a job offer, maybe? Was there the high pressure of an air of pretence, that is now escaping its shrinking container and making some weird sounds while doing so? And will at some point someone have the coglioni to deflate their ego to enter a critical and constructive dialogue?
Balloon, fully inflated
Ah yes, before I forget – one reason for being inflated at some point can be:
LOTS of hot air!
After two days of evaluating weather forecasts back and forth I had made up my mind on friday to take a two day trip to Cinque Terre, a national park area and Unesco World Cultural Heritage region on the coast of Liguria. And I certainly was rewarded for my decision! First, the weather was really good for hiking and secondly the place itself is really beautiful – especially now in spring.
Vernazza in Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is essentially a stretch of coastline with five villages – Riomaggiore-Manarola-Corniglia-Vernazza-Portorosso (from SE to NW) with the first and the last being the biggest with the most tourist infrastructure. I went there with the first train Saturday morning and walked the whole stretch of the five villages, with two out of the four parts of the route being very easy and the other two quite sporty. Overnight I stayed at the newly opened Youth Hostel in Corniglia (Link!).
On Sunday my friend Angel joined from Bologna for another day of hiking – this time not only along the coast but also up into the hills above the sea.
Cliffs on the way to Porto Venere
It was marvellous! Just the sound of the sea below us, mild temperatures and the smell of spring… below there is the link to my complete gallery…
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| Cinque Terre, Easter holidays 2009 |
…and to a short video clip that might give you an additional impression… enjoy!!!
And for all MBA participants who do not yet suffer from attention deficit disorder due to the incredible amount of information thrown at us weekly by Alma… I have two points, as N. would say… 
)
1) Thanks for reading until here – I really appreciate it!
2) Who ist this Doriana???
Signposts you do not expect when hiking
Somehow this ended up to be a busy Easter week and the Amsterdam trip already feels like ages ago. One main reason for that might be that the subject of the week was the revelation of our whereabouts for the internship. But before we go into that: HERE IS MY Amsterdam PHOTO GALLERY (Link to Picasa in the picture).
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| Amsterdam excursion |
So what about the BIG news: here come the new due torri….
Due torri @ Munich
Yes. Whoever finally took the decision has decided I should go and work at U**Credit’s local HQ in Munich @ HypoVereinsbank. What exactly I am supposed to do there and what part of the bank I should be with I do not know yet. So at the moment I feel a bit torn, on one hand I very much regret having to leave Italy, as I am just getting into the life (and the language!) here. On the other hand, some hints about what I should do there sounded very interesting indeed and therefore there might be some quite positive side to the story. Let’s see…
Members of the MBA class will be sent to: Milan, Munich – just me 
, Zagreb, Belgrade, Bucharest, Moscow, Istanbul – congratulations, J.! and some will stay in Bologna. From the geographic point of view I would say that 75% of preferences have been fulfilled by the program management, what everyone will do in their location we do not know yet.
Just to announce that some interesting inside stories from the first unofficial U**Credit MBA excursion team visit to Amsterdam will be posted here soon…
These stories might or might not have to do with…
* un-/expected non-/participants (now try to figure that one out!)
* banks (see picture)
* a stork (see picture)
* far-away countries (not on the picture)
Amsterdam, first insights...
But one question will eternally remain:
“SO WHAT’S NEXT???”
As the weather was not warm enough for a long trip to the sea and my health was not good enough for a run I rode my motorbike to one of the sites of the Parco Naturale Delta Po (Link!) and took a walk. Spring is coming!!
In the park... (Click on the picture for full gallery)
On the trip back I stopped at Piazza Maggiore for the “Scienza in Piazza” exhibition that was taking place also in Palazzo Re Enzo, allowing me a photo of Neptune from an unusual angle.
Neptune from above
My friend Peter posted this link to a Rolling Stone article today on Facebook (thanks!). Besides a quite good explanation of the financial mechanics (CDO, CDS, etc.) there are a lot of facts about some of the people involved and the total failure of regulation. It’s a very long article but in my opinion well worth the time.
A chilly Saturday afternoon set the scene for more Bologna exploration that first led me to the basilica and convent of San Domenico. On a number of days in winter when I could not use my bike to go to the school I have taken the infamous 59 bus, passing by this church set in the rear part of a square that also features some tombs on it without taking further notice.
Now what I realized only a short time ago is that this familiar sight actually is the place where San Domenico, the founder of the Dominican order, used to live and where he is buried now – in a tomb-monument designed by Nicola Pisano and also featuring sculptures by Michelangelo!
Tomb of San Domenico
Another marvellous work of renaissance art are the wooden choir stalls by a master Fra’ Damiano of Bergamo richly designed with intarsia in the rear part of the church behind the altar (where the apse would be, but technically this is not an apse, but anyway – click here for the Wikipedia link to know more.)
The next surprise was of a completely different kind: as I went to buy a book at Feltrinelli some celebrities of the galactic empire were hanging out at the due torri.
Stormtroopers in Bologna
Notice that Darth Vader stays behind in the middle of his bodyguards, while he sends out the guy with the funny hat on the left (next to the guy pointing) asking for directions.
And finally some advertising: Besides Sorbetteria Castiglione there is another gelateria I really like – Mauritius on via Riva Reno (click for link, but homepage only has the address). Anyway, just go and check it! Here is the link to Google Maps.
I just realized that I have taken a 10-day break from blogging. Re-reading my last post I think that might have been a good idea, I guess that was a bit of a weird mixture of thoughts in one post. Anyway.
Another reason for a longer break might have been the fact that I was fighting off a cold during the last days and did not feel so well. But don’t worry, no more medical stories. I self-medicated myself and am already quite close to ok again.
So what did I do with my time off – two short city visits… let’s see if you can find out where (For link to some more pictures and the solution – click on the images)!
A great piece of art done by a great master!
Gothic grandeur
Other than that I relaxed, read, went out with friends, worked on my italian skills…. and I can not believe that it is already Friday and on Monday the next term will already start.
Before I forget: me and András went to see a really great musician at Arteria – a solo guitarist named Paolo Sereno, who has a quite unique technique of being his own percussionist. I highly recommend checking his site if you like acoustic guitar music (and if you don’t yet, why not give it a try)!!!
After answering some questions we now have some free time before our evening session on organizational design. The questions to be answered were: “Which one thing would you like to change in the next term compared to this one, if possible?”, asked by our tutor (Class answer: “The scheduling.” Tutor: “Well we can’t change that.”)
The other three questions were asked in the Planning & Controlling exam and deserve no further discussion.
First details of the highly secret Term III schedule have been disclosed. One week easter holidays from Wednesday evening to Wednesday morning. The most exciting moment of the week is still awaiting us: the ***Credit person that will speak about internships/projects. Hopefully he/she has some significant infos. Three days and three exams to go.
And without any sarcasm, some spiritual thought:
“Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.”
St. Francis of Assisi
(Maybe visiting his place would be an idea for the easter period, click for link)
Late night addition: Speaking about matrix organization structure I suddenly remembered how unreal the business world sometimes seems to me. As to quote “The Matrix”….
The Matrix - red pill or blue pill? And the truth?!
“…There’s something wrong with the world, you don’t know what it is, but it’s there – like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad…”
(Click here for a short clip)
But that should not go uncommented with a more philosophical side note:
“Truth is the invention of a liar.”
Heinz von Foerster
(Physicist and major contributor to constructivism, click for link)
Just to quickly finish this open-ended story: Ten days ago I went back to the shop (I just realized they have a homepage – click here!) to get my insoles, tried them on, they fit, paid the bill… all o.k.! Ever since I have bee using them in my shoes for everyday use but also for sports (I ran 5 + 8 km with them last week, no problems). So I guess that’s it.
Institutions visited so far: 10
Thereof with tangible result: 9
Money spent: 216,60 Euro
Time invested (appr.): 4.00 hours
Days passed since first decision to go and see a doctor: 29
A final comment on the statistics: 10 stops for a result I kind of previewed before the first stop is quite a number. On the other hand, I guess you always have to make sure there is no more serious condition behind any medical problem that might seem easy on first sight. 29 days is o.k. for a minor serious case, I could have speeded it up by not trying to fit the appointments into my quite busy university schedule. The reservation system CUP is actually quite efficient. What really sucked was finding a G.P. at the beginning. As for the money, I shall see if the Austrian med insurance is going to reimburse me for any of that – I am not very optimistic.
/mode: sarcasm on/
Exams, postponed exams, lessons, postponed lessons, on short notice newly inserted lessons and to top it off various teamwork assignments… need I say more? No! It’s the ***Credit MBA theme park powered by *lma!
What have we learned today: There are quite advanced methods of designing Org structures, but our course does not feature enough time to teach us. (Same goes for consumer analysis, by the way). Compliance is a colourful and fascinating new addition to the world of banking. There is a limit to the degree how bored you are allowed to look (you did not do anything else, did you, J.? Bad girl! ;-P)
Therefore the actual status as described via a picture.
Climbing the career ladder - MBA helps!
/mode: sarcasm off/
That – and maybe even more so an evening listening to Pink Floyd – was some relief, I feel better now. 9 days to go!
I am a bit behind on telling the latest developments on the medical issue. A week ago I went back to the Ambulatorio to get my x-rays and see the orthopaedist again. For all of you who follow ER, Dr. House, Scrubs etc…. here is your chance to state your personal diagnosis (simply comment on this post….)
Happy feet
The result of it all is much less spectacular than the process of getting it:
The doc said something with the geometry of the bones in my left foot is not o.k., but it is a genetic condition so no repair works needed / possible. He wrote me a prescription to get insoles and additionally some laser therapy in case I felt I needed that to make the pain go away faster (it is gone now anyway). One day after that I went to an orthopedic shop, they computer-scanned my feet and are now preparing the insoles for me, which I can pick up in two days.
Institutions visited so far: 9
Thereof with tangible result: 8
Money spent: 86,60 Euro
Time invested (appr.): 3.30 hours
Days passed since first decision to go and see a doctor: 27
Now here is my lttle Venice carnival story… on Sunday morning we took the 09.00 train from Bologna to Venezia S.Lucia. Already in Bologna the train was so full that some people could only stand, and on the way in Ferrara, Padova and Mestre there were more and more and more.
Little surprise, in the city of Venice it was the same: People and more people! We fought our way into the heart of the city to reach San Marco, where most of the events were taking place and most of the people with very elaborate masks were promenading. We watched the competition for the most beautiful mask for a little while – I even captured the winner on a short video (Click for link, at 0:30 seconds)!!
Venice carnival impression
(Click here for the full picture gallery!)
I am glad that I went to see it, it was a nice experience although I don’t think I will become a Venice carnival regular.
The way back then proved to be difficult enough. We tried to reach the 18.00 train, but only came to the station five minutes before six. So we decided to have a coffee and go to the platform at 18.30 in order to get a seat on the seven o’clock train. What we did get at that time was a place in a big crowd in front of the platform, that was sealed off by police in order to keep people from storming the train, that was already packed with people. After the seven o’clock train had left, the police opened the platform for just some minutes so the people that would crowd themselves into the 20.00 train could stand there and wait…
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