Friday, July 28, 2006
Heat wave
40 degrees in Barcelona was somewhat not surprising, at least I expected it was really going to be that hot anyway. Then I got back to Paris with 38 degrees weather, I sensed that something was wrong.
Across Europe, people seem to be experiencing extreme hot summer season. Quite a number of people have suffered with about 64 casualties from France, 40 of which are victims aged 75 years old and above. Clearly, the sun is no longer putting a smile on people’s face. People in the metro can’t wait to get out of the “oven”, no matter how hard they try to fan themselves it’s still hot air circulating. You get to appreciate the air conditioning at work, but quite careful as well in handling the climate change once you get outside the “fridge”.
Across Europe, people seem to be experiencing extreme hot summer season. Quite a number of people have suffered with about 64 casualties from France, 40 of which are victims aged 75 years old and above. Clearly, the sun is no longer putting a smile on people’s face. People in the metro can’t wait to get out of the “oven”, no matter how hard they try to fan themselves it’s still hot air circulating. You get to appreciate the air conditioning at work, but quite careful as well in handling the climate change once you get outside the “fridge”.
Just the other night there was a strong thunderstorm, strongest I’ve experienced so far with some lightning and rainfall all night. It all suddenly felt like a blessing to have some cool fresh air and hoping that the next few weeks the sun wouldn’t be that harmful anymore to people’s lives.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Dare to be different and the rest will follow
The photo above just shows that.
9 people with international experience; experts in their own field; talented in different areas; combined into one they provide full synergy and success to the team.
At 3am, Plaza Catalunya with the big square in the middle, was almost empty. Most of the people were just sitting down on the benches surrounding the area. We were keen on sitting in the center of the square, with that vast amount of space filling us with some energy. Very much focused in our own discussions we just realized later on that our decision has impacted other people to follow us, taking their own little space in the square. As we left at 430am, the whole square was filled by different groups, you would think it's just the norm to sit in the center of the plaza at such late hour.
I attended the Real Acad Venture Management Camp for a week in Barcelona. An intensive experience that made me look into the business venture I’d want to work on, while learning how to make it all possible with the right leadership style. It was a space where the best just became better, learning from people who are better than me, yet each of us are being pushed to our limit without giving up on anyone in the team.
A memorable experience, with the above situation as just one of the many situations where we lived outside our comfort zones in order to achieve high team spirit that valued fun and results.
At 3am, Plaza Catalunya with the big square in the middle, was almost empty. Most of the people were just sitting down on the benches surrounding the area. We were keen on sitting in the center of the square, with that vast amount of space filling us with some energy. Very much focused in our own discussions we just realized later on that our decision has impacted other people to follow us, taking their own little space in the square. As we left at 430am, the whole square was filled by different groups, you would think it's just the norm to sit in the center of the plaza at such late hour.
I attended the Real Acad Venture Management Camp for a week in Barcelona. An intensive experience that made me look into the business venture I’d want to work on, while learning how to make it all possible with the right leadership style. It was a space where the best just became better, learning from people who are better than me, yet each of us are being pushed to our limit without giving up on anyone in the team.
A memorable experience, with the above situation as just one of the many situations where we lived outside our comfort zones in order to achieve high team spirit that valued fun and results.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Bastille Day Celebration
It's all worth it!
It’s worth staying in Paris, instead of spending the holiday in another country. I was initially set to go to Netherlands earlier for the transition party, but was advised that this is an event in Paris that's not to be missed.
It’s worth waiting the whole afternoon, as early as 430pm having a picnic at Champ de Mars, park by the Eiffel tower. The heat almost felt like noon time, people entertaining themselves by playing cards, juggling, or simply playing a guitar. The whole place got packed as the night fell, almost impossible for me to get back in our spot when I had to pick up a friend at the metro.
It’s worth going home late, walking until the next metro stop, waiting endlessly to get inside the metro, trying to run and catch the night bus and end up just taking a cab.
In exchange of something priceless.
It was a 30 minute fireworks display, with different series of classical music being played along with the show. It must be the view of the Eiffel tower on the background or the big crowd that shares the same amazement in every flame of light forming different shapes.
Monday, July 10, 2006
"Monsieur, s'il vous plait....."
It was like I was trying to watch a live game, desperate to be part of the crowd as they sing the French national anthem… the game has begun and we were still outside! Yet I think the “game” I was watching was beyond the actual match, but again observing the people around me and even analyzing how I was interacting with that crowd.
So we were back to the entrance of the stadium with all those guards blocking the entrance. I was undecided for awhile, either give up watching it at the stadium or try to be aggressive in getting inside. Initially, there was no middle point until Emily and I just decided to wait a little more.
10 minutes… somewhere after that Zidane scores by penalty… 30 minutes, already deciding to go somewhere else to catch the half time… 45 minutes… almost the deadline set to give up, but decided to extend it to 5 more minutes. Good to have that extension, we finally made it for the second half of the game.
The secret? A constant plea of “Monsieur, s'il vous plait” (Please Monsieur) with a pity look that was sincerely asking them to consider opening the gates. In between, there would be those violent people who would even insult the guards or throw bottles for not letting us in. Those were the times we were almost giving up since the guy in charge will neither show compassion nor patience for everyone else, including the innocent ones like us.
In the end, that little patience worked and he let me and Emily get inside. Until the end of the game, along with the other viewers we were trying to match the same patience and not lose hope that France will win. Well, you gain some, you lose some.
Then there was this strange situation where having more patience provided more order in the crowd. It was unfortunate for France to lose the title, but suddenly the crazy crowd that was there just 2 hours ago became a peaceful crowd without anyone showing their disappointment violently. Each person was waiting for their turn to get outside the stadium, getting inside the metro, waiting for the metro until they finally get home. It was so quiet and less disruptive compared to the previous games where France won each game.
As Emily said, it must be the classical music that was played at the stadium after the game. Possibly French people are really sport when it comes to a game, and realize that in the end they are still second place in the world cup. Maybe then they realize that there’s no point in being sad since there would still be work tomorrow anyway.
Yeah, I was there watching the game but I guess observing more of the people. I guess I am not in the best position to write if it was right for the coach to take out Henry in the last part of the game or if Zidane was justly given a red card for his penalty. Yet it was still a great game for me from the perspective of seeing the behaviors of people before and after the match.
Win or lose, allez les bleus!
So we were back to the entrance of the stadium with all those guards blocking the entrance. I was undecided for awhile, either give up watching it at the stadium or try to be aggressive in getting inside. Initially, there was no middle point until Emily and I just decided to wait a little more.
10 minutes… somewhere after that Zidane scores by penalty… 30 minutes, already deciding to go somewhere else to catch the half time… 45 minutes… almost the deadline set to give up, but decided to extend it to 5 more minutes. Good to have that extension, we finally made it for the second half of the game.
The secret? A constant plea of “Monsieur, s'il vous plait” (Please Monsieur) with a pity look that was sincerely asking them to consider opening the gates. In between, there would be those violent people who would even insult the guards or throw bottles for not letting us in. Those were the times we were almost giving up since the guy in charge will neither show compassion nor patience for everyone else, including the innocent ones like us.
In the end, that little patience worked and he let me and Emily get inside. Until the end of the game, along with the other viewers we were trying to match the same patience and not lose hope that France will win. Well, you gain some, you lose some.
Then there was this strange situation where having more patience provided more order in the crowd. It was unfortunate for France to lose the title, but suddenly the crazy crowd that was there just 2 hours ago became a peaceful crowd without anyone showing their disappointment violently. Each person was waiting for their turn to get outside the stadium, getting inside the metro, waiting for the metro until they finally get home. It was so quiet and less disruptive compared to the previous games where France won each game.
As Emily said, it must be the classical music that was played at the stadium after the game. Possibly French people are really sport when it comes to a game, and realize that in the end they are still second place in the world cup. Maybe then they realize that there’s no point in being sad since there would still be work tomorrow anyway.
Yeah, I was there watching the game but I guess observing more of the people. I guess I am not in the best position to write if it was right for the coach to take out Henry in the last part of the game or if Zidane was justly given a red card for his penalty. Yet it was still a great game for me from the perspective of seeing the behaviors of people before and after the match.
Win or lose, allez les bleus!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Sweet Victory
France vs Brazil 1-0
They say men watch the details of the game, women watch the good-looking players, but I just watch the crowd.
So for the match against Brazil, I opted for a smaller crowd this time and went to a pub with some friends who were visiting Paris that weekend. It was still a worthwhile entertainment for me to see people just cheer with one guy on the next table even leading the whole crowd to shout “Allez les bleus!”
Paris is a city that never sleeps, and that night everyone went crazy in Paris. The metro was crowded we could barely get inside immediately. Just when we were at Franklin Roosevelt metro a lot of people got down and Rajiv asked me, why are people suddenly getting off? When I answered it’s because it’s Champs Elysees, it took him just a few seconds before the door closes until we decided to join the crowd.
Imagine the whole avenue of Champs Elysees crowded with people marching from Concorde to Arc de Triomph. What used to be an 8 lane wide, 2km long of cars was then a bunch of people just celebrating like they’ve already won the World Cup. Well, I guess most of the celebration was not for getting into the semi-finals but simply because they’ve beaten Brazil.
As I said, I’m not really particular about the game and neither on the players… but the crowd is becoming more and more interesting as the series progress with France winning each game. Let’s see how it goes with the match this Wednesday against Portugal if France would still have a reason to celebrate in the middle of the week.
They say men watch the details of the game, women watch the good-looking players, but I just watch the crowd.
So for the match against Brazil, I opted for a smaller crowd this time and went to a pub with some friends who were visiting Paris that weekend. It was still a worthwhile entertainment for me to see people just cheer with one guy on the next table even leading the whole crowd to shout “Allez les bleus!”
Paris is a city that never sleeps, and that night everyone went crazy in Paris. The metro was crowded we could barely get inside immediately. Just when we were at Franklin Roosevelt metro a lot of people got down and Rajiv asked me, why are people suddenly getting off? When I answered it’s because it’s Champs Elysees, it took him just a few seconds before the door closes until we decided to join the crowd.
Imagine the whole avenue of Champs Elysees crowded with people marching from Concorde to Arc de Triomph. What used to be an 8 lane wide, 2km long of cars was then a bunch of people just celebrating like they’ve already won the World Cup. Well, I guess most of the celebration was not for getting into the semi-finals but simply because they’ve beaten Brazil.
As I said, I’m not really particular about the game and neither on the players… but the crowd is becoming more and more interesting as the series progress with France winning each game. Let’s see how it goes with the match this Wednesday against Portugal if France would still have a reason to celebrate in the middle of the week.
