Closing thoughts...

My tribute to the partners in the best way I can- with poetry and verse!

One chapter ends
and many more are born
Joy must fill our breasts
and yet, our minds are torn!

Palms red with clapping,

Chests filled with hugs,

Eyes moist with tears-
Pride that heart unplugs!

We go our separate ways
Riches and Fame, to find
But, alas, the only wealth that lasts
are souvenirs of the heart and mind!

-Arvind

....and everything comes to an end ...

Today is the last day of IMD life...

When I sat tonight to write this post a song from Semisonic, "Closing Time", instantly came to my mind:

"Closing time, open all the doors

And let you out into the world

 ...

Closing time, one last call for alcohol

So finish your whiskey or beer

Closing time, you don't have to go home

But you can't stay here...

Closing time, every new beginning

Comes from some other beginning's end

...

Closing time, time for you to go out

To the places you will be from"

It was a truly special year. 

- So many new things...

- So many new parsons
- So many new places to visit...

- So many parties, meals to attend...

- So many works to do ...

- New languages to learn

- New cultures to explore

... and yes so many laundry, cleaning, cooking, supporting the students ... 

It's hard to describe in words how special this year was for me. And a big part of the role experience was the people I meet and became my friends, my family.

I've learned a lot with and from them and that made me grow in so many 

aspects. 

You guys made my year !!!

We began the year as strangers and finished as friends. And by analyzing we all changed in a good way =) 

We weren't chosen as the students were chosen to be part of IMD. But the outcome of our group was outstanding. As individuals we have lots of  qualities and as a group we manage to work really well. We've been trough lots of stuffs and I risk to say that we did a very good job.

This past days a mix of feelings is surrounding all the IMD Community. We are happy for closing a cycle but at the same time we're sad for leaving....

Leaving a city that we learned to love , living a lifestyle that we enjoyed so much and above all leaving some good, really good friends....

As Maria, a wise 4 year old kid once said "we won't have this anymore". She was completely right. We won't have everybody at the same place together again. And maybe that's way the fact of saying goodbye is so sad.

As you can see  I'm already missing everyone and everything.
I'm sure I'll meet you again someday.

I'll bring everyone in my heart wherever I go for the rest of my life.

I love you all.

Lots of hugs and kisses to you ;-)

...

Now let's enjoy our last day !!!

"Carpe Diem"

Marta

P.S.1: a small retrospective of our year in pictures. Sorry for not including everyone, but I have many pictures for a few slides (it was hard to choose)

P.S.2: I added the song that I was talking about in case you want to hear.

This past year

I have been trying to post something for the past week, but as you all know, life is crazy busy this time of the year.

But here I am writing an entry while getting ready to go to the airport in few hours to start my flight to Lausanne, to celebrate my husband's achievement with him. I am celebrating my achievement as well. It has been a long year, full of emotions, successes, failures, hope and excitement. I have grown too.. This year was a great learning experience to me. it made me appreciate the hubby more :-) and appreciate single mothers as well... 

I remember that same time last year, when we were preparing for Sam's departure, how difficult it was to be away from him. How difficult it was for him to be away from his daughters, who mean the whole world to him. This year, at this same time of the year, we are preparing for his graduation, for his dream to come true. We are preparing for his home coming, for spending Christmas with him, and being able to attend our daughters' Christmas concert at school.

We are now looking forward to see what the future holds for us, as new doors open and new beginnings appear in sight.. But first, let's have a blast and enjoy the graduation ceremony this weekend..

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow..

Heidy

2012 at a glance

This is my year – I was one of those partners who could travel to Laussane frequently as I lived and worked in UK.  I think it was a great experience for me to be away for 10 months and think how life has changed over last 4 years.  The day I received my citizenship and OCI status for India I flew to Lausanne.  Here is a snapshot of my 12 months.

January - Begin of new life where your partner is not around you and the auto pilot of your life is missing.

February – Begin to make new friends and realise I need to add value to myself while he is studying.  Started with my salsa classes and got enrolled for CIMA master’s gateway course. 

March – Looking forward to see hubby after a long gap of 2 months and you find hubby pressed with loads of assignments – you think I am here for few days and he doesn’t have time to spend with m L

April – 1^st holiday for Easter.  You want to do things but he wants to relax and chill.  You want to have conversation with him but it seems very difficult with circumstances … u think why????

May – the month of ICP and travel.  But thankfully I get to see him for a day.  You want to plan and do things that one day but excitement missing at the other end as for him he is home and wants to chill out on his sofa watching tele.

June – A week of holiday booked to spend time with him.  He is physically around me but mentally mind is occupied with school.  I am given a book to read to keep myself busy.  Hostage at the table – a leadership book.  Book which makes you think if you choose to.

July – Summer holiday.  Hey ho – finally he is at home.  You just want to catch up with as much as you can.  Go for long walks, cook yum dishes (we are lacto vegetarian) and most importantly have conversations.  Few things happen and few don’t. Again expectations not realised.  You finally confront and express yourself. 

August – I receive my UK passport and time to apply for my OCI.  Students busy under pressure for applying jobs.  But communication improves marginally as classes’ pressure decreases.

September – Another week holiday in Lausanne from work. This time I was prepared to be busy and was constantly studying for my CIMA.  As I had no expectations I would say it was my best holiday.  I had few good days with him going for long vineyard walks, montreux and rochers-de-naye. 

October – Receive my OCI, resign the job and join him in Lausanne for few days.  Proud of him doing the Lausanne 10K marathon in snow.  I realised the importance of not having any expectations and kept myself busy with CIMA preparations.

November – Option to do the electives – thanks to Martha (Program Director).  Doing electives was an eye-opener. Not only personally it made me think of what I want in my life but also made me realise how much work load they have with class preparation, case study, group discussions, presentations and assignments. 

December - The final month and here comes graduation.  Everybody passing out in flying colours and embarking on a new journey of life.

All I can say is 2012 has been eventful and challenging.  As I sit and look from my window at the snow I am thinking as to what kept us going?  I feel its communication and a strong desire to understand and be understood.

And this needs to continue as the new phase of life begins….

Congratulations Marta & Hugo!

For the first-ever "Best MBA partner" award from IMD!!!

Jasmine's Maternity Photoshoot

Last week, Aswini and I did a "Maternity Photoshoot" with Jasmine and Tony... Here is a collage of the photos :)

Good luck with the delivery Jasmine! You can find the entire photostream here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjCt5zD9

Exactly one year ago Diego has received the news that he was accepted at IMD.
Finally another big dream came true.
And them we started the countdown ...
Suddenly we had only three months to prepare everything for the year : many things at work, antecipate my final paper in my post graduation, professional decisions to make, goodbye parties,  and ... nothing.
My personal decision was that I wasn't "getting ready" to my life in Lausanne. I decided that the best thing for me was not expect anything for this year. Just come to Lausanne with my cloths , my computer, camera and of course with Diego.
It was a big decision for me. But  it was the right one for me. It's very easy for people to high the expectations and this way highly likely get disappointed.
I've came to this experience with open heart, open mind and open soul hoping that I had the extra patience that is required to be a partner of an IMD student and to be as supportive as I could be for Diego.
I don't regret at all.
I confess that the first weeks I had butterflies in my stomach mainly because I was "afraid" of the other partners.Would I like them ? Would we do things together ? Would we became friends ? What if I don't like one of them and I will have to live with this person for one entire yeatr?
After 9 months this and other questions seems crazy.
Not only I knew incredible people but also knew their cultures and little by little we became friends.
And now we are in countdown again to come back home ....

These next days we will start saying goodbyes to our friends, to people that are part of our lives now...
It's a mix of sadness and happiness altogether at the same time.
At the same time that I'm very happy to come back to my country, to my old friends, to my family and to my work I'm sad because I will leave this new friends behind ...
...
But we still have 2,5 months together =)
Life is short. So let's enjoy life and have a great time together.

Geneva Festival Fireworks

Summer Vacation Collages- Part 1

This series of posts will use picture collages tell the story of the vacations taken by the partners along with the MBAs in July 2012...

---

First, its Anne & Patrick on their vacation in Lisbon

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Next, its Sminesh, Julia with Noah on his first trip to India and getting to know his subcontinental roots!

clockwise from topleft: Sminesh & Julia on a nightout without Noah :( , Noah meets children at Julia's NGO, Noah meets his grandpa, Noah rides an auto-rickshaw, Noah answers fan mail

---

Then we come to Arvind(me) & Aswini and Vinita & Mahipal during our road trip in the UK from London to Edinburgh with a two-day layover at Vinita's place in Derby

First row- Panda scratches its butt in the Edinburgh zoo, Holmes and Watson discuss a case in 221 B Baker Street, Aswini makes the devil sign in front of Adam Smith, the double date under a tree near Chatsworth mansion
Second row- Aswini tries picking up a lotus, Mahipal looks at the tea Vinita made with suspicion, Aswini doesn't have any with her tea
Third row- Officer Lestrade lights up Holme's cigar, I am back in Pondicherry, Aswini near Tower bridge, The moor lands near Dave's parents' house in Pondicherry
Fourth row- me near Tower bridge, drive through the moors of northern England, Edinburgh view from the caste, Mahipal and Vinita share one of their cute/crazy moments :)

---

Next, we meet Marta and Diego on their boat trip across the Mediterranean

more collages soon... 

A passion for smiles

If some one had asked me back in April to organize a party for 100-120 people, this is what I would do:

1. Take a pen and a piece of paper
2. Think of what needs to be done
3. Draw a blank
4. Give up and go home

I wouldn't know the head from tail of what goes into making a successful party. What needs to be cooked, what needs to be purchased, how to go about decorating- what it takes to create an ambiance where people can laugh, play, enjoy and have a great time. And that is why it is impossible for me to describe in words what Marta and Hugo pulled off last week. I am still dazed from the grandeur they infused into the most amazing event that we have seen at IMD so far this year. And this coming in the heels of a bar already set too high by the St Patrick's party that Marta organized last month.



It takes creativity, hard work, patience and most important of all, a passion for perfection and a passion to bring smiles to others to create something as amazing as this. And Marta and Hugo did it without a frown! Not to mention the entire team of partners who have been at work for over a month for this event, who took the time and the enormous efforts to do the painstaking task of buying, building, decorating, cooking, cleaning... and finally, assembling the extravaganza that was our Brazil-Portugal party at IMD.

At the end of the party, I was telling Hugo and Marta how amazed I was. Hugo responded, "Actually, you did not see everything. We could not do a lot of things we planned because there is simply no time!". I was afraid to ask what those things were. I was already floored in awe and there is only so much I can handle in one day.

I will say this- MBAs, you are lucky to be in IMD in 2012.

A Week from today - End of 1st Semester

Yes my partner friends… a week from today and the school would be closed for 4 days giving the students a respite from busy schedule… This time around no classes, no studies… complete fun and family times... cant wait for it…

Exams Ahoy!

Brace yourselves partners!

The exam season is approaching. Which means the MBAs will get even busier than usual. And this time, its not going to be that illusion of busy the integrative exercise created :P

This time its going to be a long process- two weeks of wrapping up the start-up projects and presentations. Any free time remaining will be devoted to personal study. Expect fewer sightings of the endangered species that are the IMD MBAs.

But like most tunnels, this has some light at the end- 4 days of vacation! 4 days without talk of presentations, projects, assignments, books...

What about me?

Its been about 3.5 months since we have been in Lausanne and now we are fully entrenched in the daily routine of IMD life. I am happy to report I have no complaints regarding getting enough time with my husband for my kids or time with him for myself. Of course there is an adjustment period getting to this point haha, but we made it! We have a great routine each week which includes stopping in during lunch breaks to get 15 minutes of time or my husband coming home for dinner about 3 times a week. AND we have had dinner out just the two of us pretty much once a week! It takes commitment from both of us and good communication but it truly is possible. However amongst all this...there's been one question nagging me at night lately..."what about me?"

At IMD we hear a lot from our partners about "self discovery" and "knowing your self". This is one of the key learnings the students will master almost more importantly than the academic principles upon graduation. After reflecting on this, I started to realize, while I was really happy with the way things were going, I am so busy being a mom and a supportive partner I was in danger of completely forgetting how I was going to advance myself this year. I think we default to think that this year is so busy making sure everything is in place at home for our partners, especially when you have a family, that we consciously put on hold continuing our long term goals or aspirations for ourselves. And believe me, I know at the end of this year I will be a far better mother and wife than before, and that is an amazing accomplishment in itself, but I need something just for me. So I have decided it is important for me to continue to advance myself in my working background of consumer and market research and hope to find some part-time project work throughout the year to keep myself in the loop. If I hadn't heard so much from my husband about IMD's teaching's in self discovery I probably would have repressed my desire to become re-engaged in my working life the entire year. But I have come to accept that this is who I am, a mother and a partner first and a working woman second. Both define who I am and I want to continue to advance this definition of myself.

Get Inspired !!!

Yesterday we had a really nice workshop about "Positve Energy Coaching" with Louise Le Gat. 
Quoting Marcella one of the objective is " turning this year into a springboard for inspiration"
So I decide to put here a text that I read in Sunkyoung's facebook (you can also watch the video here) for you to GET INSPIRED  !!!! 
I always get inspired with this text and I think it has everything to do with what we talked about yestterday.
Hope you like it !!!

On fire!!!

Hello every one!!
Well, I am on fire...am cooking up a storm n loving it! I love being in the kitchen....best place to keep my mind occupied.
I'll be flying out to Lausanne in a couple of weeks, I can't wait!!!!

An ode to Kalidasa

I had written the following under the title "Ode to Kalidasa" while Aswini was still working in the US last year. Thought today was a good occasion to share! :)

As usual, scroll further down for the original Tamil version...

Rain pours here,
while the sun scorches there
Have the clouds
found a new home?

To bring me your pain
your yearnings, your tears,
Like messengers
have they come?


--

கொடும் வெயில் அங்கே
கொட்டும் மழை இங்கே
மேகங்கள் இல்லத்தை
மாற்றினவோ?

உன் ஏக்கங்கள் எனக்கு
உணர்த்த அவைதான்
மங்கையின் தூதாய்
மாறினவோ?

-Arvind

Certainty balancing Uncertainty

In next 10 months the MBA program would be finished. All our partners would be out of their dungeons like free birds migrating to find their new homes. They would be equipped with new skills and be energized to reach new horizons. They would be probably changed personalities from beginning to end of the course (thanks to self discovery courses and simulation activities that they undergo). But then it’s me too going through a phase of change, learning and realisation. I can think of 10 things that I want to do and had I been in India with family I could have worked towards them. But being alone in an alien country with no specific time period of how long it would take for me to get my citizenship has left me with few choices. A short video call with my family today also made me realise that had I been at home I would’t have felt so lonely and difficult to live. But then I know the fact that I can’t do much. It was a joint decision and I can’t afford to be weak and fall back. I am glad that I have started learning Salsa and being regular to gym. Very soon I shall start studying some part-time course or modules which shall be more fulfilling and keep me busy. I don’t know how long this uncertainty (of living in UK) shall last but the certainty that in next 23 days I would be seeing my partner glows me up... not to forget may be some new friends too :)

Self discovery

Well, it's been a month since we last saw Aman in the flesh, thank god for the various forms of web chatting!! Lol.
I have used this time to figure out for myself what I want to do with my life and where I want to be in a years time. I've always had a passion for cooking, always experimenting with new recipes or coming up with something of my own, and now I've finally decided to use this passion and become something with it. I've started a course which will hopefully better my skills and give me the knowledge I need to become a chef. I want to be a chef. After a very long time I have the drive and desire to do something for myself. The little one will hopefully enjoy the culinary developments, even though all she thinks about now is chocolate!! Lol!
I want our daughter to be able to look at both of us with pride. Her daddy will always be her hero....what will mummy be??

The Indian Winter

A look back at the last one month

Winter is probably the best time to visit the country- especially the southern regions which hardly ever see temperatures dropping below 20 degrees centigrade, even on the coldest of days. Any other year, I would have simply loved it.

But this year isn't every year. This time its different. I would gladly give up the splendid tropical weather for the snow and ice of Lausanne. No amount of vacationing at home, being surrounded by family, being pampered by parents, can lure me into staying here a minute longer than what is necessary. This time its different.

Because I have come here leaving Aswini behind. I left her behind in a new town, a new country- left her to figure out everything on her own. Find her own way to school. Find her own way to the grocery store. Find her own way to the gas station. Cook her own food. Get by on her own without knowing the language. All this in a place where I have lived for almost three years. A place I know well enough to be of great help to her. At a crucial time in her career when I HAVE to help her in anyway I can. Worst of all, I left her behind as soon as we finally got to be in the same continent, let alone the same city, following a prolonged and frustrating long-distance relationship.

A farm in a village near Patiala, Punjab in northern India

But we both knew this needed to be done. I traveled this great country from the north to south, from Madras to Hyderabad to Delhi to Punjab, in the last 20 days- in order to get things done. Important things. Professional as well as personal. A lecture here, a common friend's wedding there. One of us needed to hold good on commitments here. Most of all, one of us needed to be present here for the most important of decisions made by our respective families concerning our relationship and our future together. And I was the only one between the two of us who wasn't booked 7 days a week from 8 AM to 1 AM.

Finally, its all done. Adios India!

3 weeks have passed

Three weeks have passed since Sam left Canada and began his pursuit of happiness.. He started his challenge and I started mine too.. It is not easy to be a single mother for 2 little girls who miss their daddy desperately... This year is not going to be an easy one, but it is a choice.. We made this choice together, so we will make the best out of the year together.. The first week was tough, sad and depressing, but I decided to make the best out of this year.. It will be a good one.. I would focus on the positive aspect of it.. Sam is going to be challenged, is going to build his knowledge and will make his dream come true... By doing this he will be a happier man and he will enjoy what he is doing..
Hopefully this positive look at things continues for the next while, even if we might be faced with some bumps in the road.. We will see, the year is still young..

Harvesting in Solitude

Original version in Tamil below

Just when you took your first steps
My hands let go of your fingers,
Like the bird that pushes its young ones o'er
before they sprout the first feathers

Longings to watch you grow and win
this new battle in the war that's life,
like waves they come out of my heart
headed West, strong and rife

You fill my thoughts this birth of Thai*,
In this body that is, alas, duty bound
like the rice in the sacred pot we cook**
my heart boils and spills around

* Thai (தை) is a month in the Tamil Calendar, beginning sometime around the middle of January, which is ushered in by the harvest festival of Pongal, one of the most important festivities in southern India.

** An important farmers' ritual of Pongal is the boiling of freshly harvested rice in a newly baked mud pot, and letting it spill over. This signifies and celebrates abundance for the seasons to come.

--

சிறகுகள் நீளுவதன்முன்பே
கிளி தன் குஞ்சை வீழ்த்தியதோ? -உன்
விரல்கள் பிடித்து நடப்பதற்குள்- என்
கரங்கள் உன்னை விலகினதோ?

படிப்படியாய் நீ முன்சென்றாய் -அதை
பார்க்க மனம் தான் துடிக்கிறதே
அலைஅலையாய் என் மனதிற்குள் -பல
ஏக்கங்கள் மேற்கே வீசியதே!

தை பிறக்கும் இப்பொன்னாளில் -என்
கண்கள் உன்னை தேடியதே
கடமையால் சிறைபட்ட இவ்வுடலில் -என்
இதயமும் பொங்கியே சிந்தியதே!

- Arvind

Eventful day ….

Events are not just happening in Laussane with students and partners but also with me and in my home. It’s my day off and I went to pick up study table. While driving home I was planning to go for a short walk and ponder about how to paint my canvas for 2012. I landed home and found that my washing machine has stopped working. Being a naïve I tried to press a few buttons, opened the door and the water spilled all over my kitchen. I immediately shut it, rushed to clean and then stood back with my house-mate (Amit) both of us lost on what to do. He started using google and I began to search for manual. We opened the water outlet slowly but the water gushed out and the kitchen was completely flooded with water. It went slippery and I almost skid. We again cleaned the water, managed to find the manual (with help from Mahipal) and identified the problem. We found that there was some cloth and plastic stuck in between which stopped the motor from spinning and hence water not being drained. Somehow we both managed to fix the machine. Later on I also set up the table. I realised how dependent I am on Mahipal to get everything up and working. But I think the aim of 2012 would be to get more independent. I was surprised that for the 1st time in life I wasn’t stressed of things not working instead I was trying to make it funny. Am sure that partners who are away would come across similar situations in this year ahead… where something might stop working / break down and we wished our partners would be our genie to fix it up. But I will now on take these incidents as fun and real learning curve. Trust me my clumsiness of stopping the water would be in my memories for years to come… and I don’t mind to paint my 2012 with such eventful days of stress, learn and fun………….

Unwritten ...

That was the feeling of this week.
Not only for the students but also for the partners. We all have a blank page infront of us all. And it’s up to each one of us to make this year one of the best experiences of our lifes.
So keep your minds open but mainly keep your arms and hearts open. We never now what life can present to us
Hope you enjoy the photos.
See you soon.
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In Portuguese - Em português


Livro em branco ...
Esse foi o sentimento da semana.
Não somente para os estudantes, mas também para os parceiros.
Todos nós estamos diante de uma página em branco. E cabe a cada um de nós fazer deste ano uma das melhores experiências de nossas vidas.
Então mantenha a cabeça aberta, mas, principalmente, mantenha seus braços e corações abertos. A gente nunca sabe o que a vida nos reserva.
Espero que vocês curtam as fotos.
Vejo vocês em breve.
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It all started at "Lorange Auditorium"(10/01/2012)

Then we had some time to chat

Julia and her handsome little boy

Some partners chatting

Some students chatting

The Lunch with MBA students and partners

Coffee time 

 The Fair

Everything was very well organized.

People who works at IMD we're wearing colorful t-shirts. Each color was referring to a team.

Some details

Tere's and Mario's beautiful kids

The schedule for the photo shoot

Every student has its own locker

Looking at THE board

First Partners Session (11/02/2012)

Some of the partners after lunch