Improvements...

It's officially been over a week I've been in Vietnam and only a little under a week left before I head back to work, to studies, to B-school applications, to family.

Within this week's time, I've notices improvements;

- Language; Learning (in my case, relearning) the Vietnamese is always better, if the teacher is cute. The better looking the teacher, the more attentive the student is. The more interactive the student becomes with the teacher. hehe...

- A smile and a wink; Easily translates across the majority of humanity's languages.

- Crossing a Vietnamese Street; It was a tentative first few steps, but with more crossings, the more normal the event becomes. Advice, the larger the automobile, the more right a way it has. No sudden movements, nor sudden dash.

- Cuisine; Yes, there is a difference between the Vietnamese food from the homeland and the Vietnamese food in the States. Slightly different, but noticeable. Not a problem, I plan on sampling as much as possible.

- Etiquette/Manners; Having tons of money does not equate to having manners. These two concepts are separate.
My last trip (was my first time ever) back to Vietnam was with my father. I've lost my father to cancer since that trip, but the lessons learned and time spent with him was an experience that vibrated to my soul. That experience taught me the value of culture, heritage, and family.

This trip is filled with different experiences that only another Viet Kieu could understand. Sorry...only another person returning back to the country of their heritage. My travel buddy, Mr. M, this is his first time out of the States and first time back to Vietnam since we fled as boat people back in 1975. We were on the same boat. He is learning a lot. I can see it. I'm excited and happy for him.

Note; Viet Kieu is term for Vietnamese person that fled the communist government and living abroad. Now it has become slang for any expat Vietnamese going back to Vietnam.

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam

November 2007

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam
November 2007

Sights and Tastes of Vietnam...(nonMBA)

Flight; 14 hours Los Angeles to Taipei, 4 hours Taipei to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)

First taste of Vietnam; Two coconuts drinks from street vendor

Crossing street; Realization that I'm in Vietnam and my Vietnamese language skills needs drastic improvement

Refreshing beverage
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007

Cross at your own risk
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007

Communist Patriot
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007

Street Vendor
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)
Nov 2007

Remembering a free weekend...nonMBA

I'd completely forgotten what a free weekend was like, but that didn't stop me from re-doing all the activities.

Sat;
Surfing - Nothing like two hours of surfing, to cleanse the stress from a weary soul.
Texas Hold'em (TH) - Nothing like a few hours of TH and trash talking with friends to reconnect.

Sun;
BBQ - Nothing like a half day of beers , grilling steaks & salmon, and "the game" of the NFL season 2007/2008' (undefeated Colts vs undefeated Patriots) on the tube.


Next post will be from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Vietnam. Yeah...hitting the road for a trip across the big pond (pacific ocean) to rekindle my spirits and Vietnamese heritage.

Post surf hair style
Huntington Beach, CA
Nov 3, 2007

Post surf hair style
Huntington Beach, CA
Nov 3, 2007

Huntington Beach, CA
Summer 2007

Happy Halloween...(nonMBA)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Asian Cowboy on campus
Halloween, UC Irvine, 2007

Bow Peep and friends on Campus
Halloween, UC Irvine, 2007

Lumber Jack Girl on phone call
(actually cowgirl, but you can't see her fabulous boots nor hat)
Halloween, UC Irvine, 2007

Flapper from Roaring 20's
Halloween, UC Irvine, 2007

Masquerade Princess in Office

Halloween, UC Irvine, 2007

People say; "Character is build not on success, but forged from how you deal with failures."

I would add; "Determination and persistence to over come challenges and failures."

Kim Lan Dragon Boat team captain Gene
Long Beach, CA - Summer 2003

Parts of Team Kim Lan Dragon Boat
Long Beach, CA - Summer 2003

Long Beach Dragon Boat Championship
Long Beach, CA - Summer 2003

Long Beach Dragon Boat Championship
Long Beach, CA - Summer 2003

Long Beach Dragon Boat Championship
Long Beach, CA - Summer 2003

We're on Fire...(nonMBA)

Living in SoCal, we deal w/ the occasional earthquakes and the seasonal fires. The media is calling these series of fires, "Firestorm 2007". I do admit, these series of fires are definitely closer to urban area, rather then in the forested mountains close by.

San Diego is in worse condition then Orange County. I heard 500,000 people (yes...five hundred thousand...half a million) were evacuated from their homes in SD. Our sister campus, UCSD had to shut down. While we at UCI, are just continuing w/ classes. Schools in snow prone areas of US have snow days. I guess UCSD got a "fire day", while UCI didn't. Although, I do know that we did come to a few meetings of calling a "fire day" ourselves.

Check out the NASA's pictures of SoCal.

These animated pictures (click on them to view animation) below are courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Sunday, Oct 21, 2007

Monday, Oct 22, 2007

Tuesday, Oct 23, 2007

Wed, Oct 24, 2007

It's all good..

Trying to be be cute, but can't, so lets go w/ straight.

Deadline - R1 for LBS is this Friday (Oct 19). Was ready for it, but due to family, friends, and work obligations, I am once again not able to make it for the R1 application. It's cool, R2 is Jan 4, which is where I make my stand.

Dun Dun Dum test date - Eight days away, and still very, very anxious about it. I've always had issues with standardized tests. Need to keep my cool and channel my inner surfer's soul....it's all good bra. If dits a massive wipe out, and you's in for a spin cycle, and it's murky pitch black down there. Relax, cover the melon, enjoy the ride, an'd when you's slack, pulls the lease, pulls
for da board, pop back on and paddles for da outside. The second one of the set is always better 'en the first. Be true bra. It's all good...

Party wave - Costa Rica

Mr. R - Frontside - Costa Rica

Mr. R - Bottom Turn - Costa Rica

Weddings and it's consequences....(nonMBA)

Did I mention I've gone to more weddings then surf sessions this summer? Say that fast three times.

This passed weekend, I was the grooms man for a good friend. Here's a few notable items;







Weddings: A Marriage Manual!











Weddings: The "Do's" and "Don'ts", after the "I Do".











Consequences;
I can't remember much of the reception, but do remember getting bitten.











Consequences;
I just can't remember who did it. I'm curious as to which girl or which guy it was. Serious. I can't remember which gender left the hickey. hehe...

I know what I did last summer

Hola Amigos y Amigas,

It's the end of September and the summer is done. Not exactly. Living in SoCal, it's pretty much summer most of the time, except for the occasional rainy days during the "winter" season.

In no particular order:

Summer; It's the season for weddings. Sad to say, but I've gone to more weddings then surfing sessions. That will be corrected after B-School matters are settled.

Las Vegas; The unofficial destination for bachelor and bachelorette parities. Never pay them money until the services/goods are provided.

God-Son; It is time. He needs to learn from his own mistakes now. He will always be in my thoughts, but he needs to learn his own lessons and grow into his own identity.

Mother; As long as a parent has the capacity to piss you off, then they are in good condition. The time you start to feel sorry/sympathy/worry for them, then they are not in good health. Unfortunately, there's been more days of worry for my mother then the former. I am trying to cherish what time remains.

GMAT; If you hit the books long enough, something is bound to stay. Even the imprint of the book on your forehead counts. My date is Oct 23. Dun Dun Dum~...

Lessons Learned;

-Time is a valuable commodity. At our stage in life, our free time is more valuable then money.

-Smiles from a baby, transcend all the lost sleep.

-The most torturous sound of the universe is a screaming baby. The most heavenly sound of humanity is the laughter from a baby.

-Condoms have expiration date. Don't play Russian Roulette with your future.

Downtown Disney Entertainer







Downtown Los Angeles






Random club on Top of Vegas

Globalizing a sport brand

Basketball doesn't have the sheer numbers of football (soccer), but I expect that to change within a decade. The NBA is quietly trying to expand into Europe and Asia.

Hopefully by the time I'm done w/ my international MBA and several years of work experience in consulting (strategy/management), I can transition to industry. Not just any industry. A sports oriented industry. Yes, I'm into fitness and once the MBA application process is done, I'm restarting my goal of getting a personal trainer certification.

Utilizing my background of Vietnamese American from southern California, with a MBA from Europe, and several years of work experience strategy/management consulting, I can be in the right place, right time, right experience, right background...the right person for the job.

Sequoia National Forest
July, 2006

Sequoia National Forest
July, 2006

Sequoia National Forest
July, 2006

Surfer to Surfer

Look not at our skin color nor who we worship. Look at our common love. Love has bridged many differences. Such is the love for surfing. Jewish surfer to Palestinian surfer. Surfer to Surfer.

Dorian Paskowitz, the American surfer credited with introducing the sport to Israel in the 1950s, returned this week with a new idea: using donated surfboards to bring Israelis and Palestinians together.

Remainder of Los Angeles Times article here.

Moreno beach, Northern California
Aug, 2005

Cliff overlooking Del Mar Beach, Southern California
June, 2006

Huntington Beach Pier, Southern California
June, 2006

Congrats to Randy and Joy....(non-MBA)

The move of a step,
twist of hip.
The swing of the partner.
Lets move tonight,
share the spot light.
Lets dance the night,
and
celebrate our night


Wedding party dancing
Huntington Beach, July 2007


Wedding party - country line dance
Huntington Beach, July 2007

Low GMAT Success Stories - Ref. Dave

It's officially summer time (at least in northern hemisphere) and B-School applicants are getting neurotic about their performance on the dreaded GMAT. Even Clear Admit's Friday from the front line, recent posting regarding applicants is about GMAT anxiety. OK, I admit that even I am getting nervous as my retake date is approaching.

I want to remind us (actually me), that a low GMAT score does not necessary kill our chances of acceptance. Admission look at the entire application package (work experience, recommendation, extracurricular activities, career goals, and essays) and see our fit into the year's class they are developing. Here is an excerpt from Dave's post (March '06) on success stories with low GMAT scores. It gives me hope.

Sometimes, people need a reality check. I certainly do at times. I read a post last night from someone that their 690 GMAT score was mediocre/poor and that they would put off apps until they broke 700. When I read this, I just shook my head. Poor guy is pathetically scared about not getting in because of 10 points. That's very sad to see someone so completely lemon-aide brainwashed.

I can see 650 as mediocre or poor, but not 690. Even a mediocre or lower score is sometimes sufficient. Here are just a few people within the last month that can testify that a mediocre to low GMAT score is not a death sentence when considering applying to a top 10 Business School.

Keep your head high guys. There is hope. There is always hope! - Dave
===================================================

GMAT 670 here. Got accepted to NYU, Yale, Cornell and Georgetown. There's hope. Good luck to everyone. – Dabink 3/3/06

Another success story here... 630 and i just got an interview at MIT. woo-hoo! Am741 2/28/06

600 gmat just got interview invites from yale and cornell. Already done Columbia and wharton interviews. NYU upcoming. Still waiting on some other schools. best of luck to all. BuddyBuruku 2/28/06

Here you go. I got a 650 (44 Q 35 V), just got into Columbia, and interviewing at Wharton next week. 5yrs work experience in the military, 27 years old male from Jersey. I thought I would be out of it with my GMAT score going in, but so far so good. Keep hope alive. Bigtonn 2/15/06

I scored 600 with a dismal quant score, I had good marks in stats and calc in undergrad and made sure to mention it in essays. Now I'm not applying to top 10 schools, but I feel I got into really good programs. Maybe I underestimated myself because I wasn't rejected anywhere. I consider mine a success story. Acceptances to Wake Forest, Vanderbuilt, Tulane, Rice, Boston University. Auryan00 2/14/06

Remainder of post is here.

Good Shepard Cemetery 1,
Huntington Beach, California - May 2006

Good Shepard Cemetery 2
Huntington Beach, California - May 2006

Good Shepard Cemetery 3
Huntington Beach, California - May 2006

Only can be said at Texas Hold'em game between male friends...(nonMBA)

You're going to be known as the fruitcake around the office!

We're going to send you back to grade school because of your math.

No more K-Mart shopping for you.

Damn~...kick him some more while he's down.

Your mojo is strong tonight.

Punk-Azz...you sucked out on me!

Angels vs Dodgers - May 2007

Angels vs Dodgers - May 2007



Angels vs Dodgers - May 2007

Question for GMAT?

Hola amigos y amgias, (this will be a long post)

Got an email regarding GMAT. Considering how miserable I did in my last GMAT attempt, I'm not the best person to turn to for GMAT advice. Since he asked, I can not turn down a SOS call.

GMAT SOS email;

I saw u in one of the blogs .. .U were applying for LBS ? n abt the gmat ... How did the gmat turn out ...

I took the gmt ... my scores never improved past the 640 mark for princeton and a 690 for the manhattan ...

n finally i took it in march 07 got a miserable 540 ... screwed Up totally ..

I am planning to retake in july .. Cna u suggest any way i can improve .. i have doen the og twice ... i am short of test materials ..as i have exhausted them last time .. itself ..

do u think the Veritas package very exp.. though the 15 tests one is a good deal for 450 $ ....

My response;

Yes, London Business School (LBS) is one of the MBA programs I'm very interested in. After attending presentations, researching it's program (website, brochures, class profile, etc), reading students blogs, visiting the campus (Dec. 2006), meeting current students, and talking to Alumni, I feel a good fit with the schools' culture. How LBS admission feel about my application (now delayed for next years admittance) is a different story.

It's the classic story; Boy meets school, loves school, but school plays hard to get. The school knows it's hot and desirable (ranking). The boy doesn't care (much) about that and sadly know the school is high maintenance (cost of living and US dollars to British Pound currency exchange) type, but he doesn't care. He follows his heart. Unfortunately, the boy has to turn his attention (for an additional year) to care for widowed mother and god-son, but the school is still in his mind. The school constantly teases the boy with updated love emails (school/student blogs, news letters, etc). Will they end up together? Will the school fulfill all the promises and expectations the boy hoped for? Does the school realized that the boy is also looking at (dare I say) other schools? The story is not finished yet. Maybe a happy conclusion, where boy and school do get together? Maybe a different happy conclusion, where love is fulfilled in the arms of another school? Story to continue through round 1 and/or round 2 application this fall.

I did horribly in my past (Nov. 2006) GMAT test and still studying. Are you certain you want my advice regarding GMAT. hehe...

I'm uncertain of your study method (i.e. flash cards, timed quizzes, self made notes, etc), so I will comment on how I'm currently re-studying for GMAT. Free time is very limited for me, so I made a study plan and schedule.
- Bought and completed the Official GMAT book. Noting all incorrect problems, reviewing it and redoing it later in the week.
- Gage my level of competence by doing the diagnostics out of the official GMAT book. Used timer, etc.
- Dissected my weak areas, reviewed concepts on Official GMAT book, working on the fundamentals.
- Made my own and downloaded flash cards on key concepts and test taking strategies. (beatthegmat.blogspot.com).
- Completed Kaplan GMAT book and made additional flash cards on my weak areas and test taking strategies.
- Do timed runs on questions (used questions from Kaplan and Official GMAT) book. i.e. 20 mins for 10 Quant questions, 20 mins for 10 Verbal questions. Later increasing questions and time. This helps w/ my timing and anxiety dealing working on a difficult question too long and not completing the test.
- Use the practice CAT that was provided for you when you signed up for the GMAT off their website (www.mba.com).

This is my plan of attack for round two w/ the GMAT. I'm still working on my timing, but seeing small improvements helps to keep me motivated.

Haven't heard about Veritas package, so can't comment on it.

If pressed for additional materials, try Kaplan 800. I've read from other bloggers they have improved their scores with this book. Note that Kaplan materials tend to be more difficult then the Official GMAT book. Don't be discouraged as you go through questions and start pulling your hair and banging your head. Your brain is a muscle and it can be "exercised" into doing higher and faster processing. Keep at it and the pain will hopefully subside. hehe...

Lastly, for me, re-starting my exercise routine has helped w/ my energy level. I used to surf to de-stress from work and life, but since free time is very limited (surfing takes too long), I exercise to clear my head. This is my "zen zone". This whole MBA application process is difficult and very stressful, so develop an activity to help keep your sanity. I communicate with/to bloggers as a support group and gain additional insight. Helps me to feel that I'm not the only one going through this process.

SoCal morning
Irvine, California - June, 2007

SoCal morning II
Irvine, California - June, 2007

SoCal Request for Car Wash
June, 2007

Delayed post for a delayed decision...

I've been delaying this post...might as well get to it.

A delayed decision:

2002 - A title of responsibility;
Delayed (now post phoned indefinitely) my training for a pilot license (private pilot certification) and training for a certified personal trainer (CPT), to help my god son deal with his mothers' (my sister-n-law) sudden passing. The honorary title of god father, had over night gained weight of responsibilities. I hope my presence and guidance, helps more then harms.

2006 - A promise;
Delayed B-School application (for class of 2008) to fulfill a deathbed promise to my father to watch over mother. I learned the value and weight of a promise.

2007 - A promise to myself;
My god son is going through his teenage years and developing the famous teenager attitude. His school work is slipping and motivation is less then par. A typical teenager. I'm learning to balance when to be firm, when to be supportive, when to teach, and when to let him experience it himself. I've throughly considered the consequences of all options and conclude that another year home will benefit my god son and mother more then I. One more year to watch over widowed mother and mentor god son. They need this year more then I.

With this additional year (aside from work, family, GMAT, and B-School), I promise to myself that next year well be my year. I will initiate and complete my aspirations, my goals, and my plans. Once GMAT (end of summer) and B-school applications (round 1 and/or 2) is completed, I will resuscitate my studies to be a certified personal trainer (CPT). I've already restarted my exercise routine (during lunch breaks) and have dropped 10 lbs.

If you want something badly enough, you're going to have to work for it, make the sacrifices and earn it.

This sound sadistic, but I now enjoy spending my free time, reading, learning, and/or doing. Due to my schedule of work, GMAT study time after work, and keep mother company, my day ends at 11pm. I no longer watch regular TV. Of the TV programs I do watch (while keeping mother company) it's usually the educational programs. I recognize my goal oriented personality. Once the GMAT and B-School applications is completed, the CPT is a good goal for me. It's cheaper then the private pilot certificate. hehe...

Where ever I end going for B-School, they will have a MBA student that is also a Certified Personal Trainer. A promise to myself; get back into surfing shape, my surfing body, my goals, my new career, and my life.

Ibizia, Spain - June, 2001

Barcelona, Spain - June 2001

Tarragona, Spain - 2001