MBA Journey.. 3 months in Madrid today !!!

3rd attempt to revive my blog. This time the attempt from the Spanish stronghold, Madrid, where its been 3 months away from India. Reason, to express and share my experiences with my family and friends during the MBA from one of the ‘best business’ school (sorry little bit selling is allowed).

First time in my life, I ventured out, of my comfort zone to learn the tricks of managing and doing business. The initial days enjoyed staying in a hostel with two mates from India whom I never met in India, lived on Patatas fritas for few days till I found a reasonable veg restaurant and explored the city the best way it should be; walking through the streets of Madrid with a paper map! The first few weeks, visiting McDonalds near the Gran Via metro had become a necessity for two reasons: Free Wifi & fries for food. I know now what is surviving and what is living. Moved into my apartment after a fortnight to begin the experience called “IE”

Opening day of IMBA: the ceremony started in the beautiful campus of Segovia that IE had acquired recently. The campus, situated beside the Eresma river, at the foot of the old city walls that surround Segovia’s historic quarter. It was five-minute walk from the Roman Aqueduct. It was a proud moment when we moved in the “Aula Magna” (main hall), a 15th century structure giving a larger than life feel and a place. What happened next was truly unexpected. David Bach, took the stage and asked the 24 Indians to stand up. None of us had a clue of what was coming next. David Bach announced everyone in the hall to applaud the new world champions referring to the world cup victory and there was a thunderous roar in the main hall. Was an amazing and a proud moment. He later pointed out to us that this was the same hall where the Spanish monks & Columbus planned the voyages for India. Majestic start!!

This followed the orientation, and the LAUNCH phase which was about interactive teaching within class, decision making using the movie “13 days” based on the Cuban crisis, basketball court, a surgeon deciphering the abilities of human brain, sessions with a team of architects, drama artists. Each session had umpteen learning opportunity which would help shape a management professional. Impressive stuff.

But other interesting part was meeting and interacting with my new batch-mates. It seemed like a fair. Met people from countries I was not even aware of!! The batch with 80 nationalities was as diverse as India. Everyone was warm and friendly and each one was curious to know and meet the others. My workgroup was like an assortment of friends from Spain, Mexico, Australia, Russia, Lebanon, & USA. It is fun working with them. Journey has just begun and its already time for me to shift gears with the first term about to end. Today its been three months in Madrid today and havent communicated my experience. Just took sometime off from my daily chores of MBA schedule to unplug my life again!!

Third Innings begins from now on!! Keep watching this space... A lot to share about an experience called 'IE'