maysblog

The Business Environment: You Can’t Escape It

During my first couple of semesters in college, I found myself taking classes that I felt would not be useful in my professional career. These were mostly history and science classes, but some of my general business classes were the same way. Last week I was reading my management book in the lobby of a repair shop while I was waiting for my car to be fixed. That is when a scary thought crossed my mind; some of the things I was reading actually applied to my current situation. (more…)

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Aggie Ring Day: Finally Mine

As I am writing this blog, I’ve noticed that I am typing a lot slower because there is a shiny chunk of gold weighing down one of my fingers. I’ve never worn a ring before, so I am kind of surprised that I’m finding it so hard to take my ring off and put it away. I have gone to a couple of Aggie Ring days before, but last Friday it was finally my turn to wait in line for my little maroon box. (more…)

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I Wanna Be a Millionaire…Again

Right now I am on my bed with a pile of textbooks sitting next to me. The first week of classes is officially over and I am already behind on my work. The main reason I am behind is because every time I try to read a chapter of Strategic Management, my mind wanders back to my adventures over the summer. My body may be in College Station, but right now my mind is still resting on the beaches of Bali, Indonesia… (more…)

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We’re All the Same Lah

If you have ever wondered what most Singaporeans think of Texas, here is a short conversation I had with one of my co-workers, Rashid, that pretty much sums it up.

Rashid:  So how much does a ho_se cost in Texas?

Pritesh: Uh a house? It depends on how big of a house and where you…

Rashid: No no. A horse. How much does a horse cost?

Pritesh: Oh a horse. Pfft, I have no idea. That was a really random question.

Rashid: I thought that there are a lot of cowboys in Texas. Don’t you have a horse?

Pritesh: Wow, if you ever visit Texas you are going to be pretty disappointed.

Rashid:  :( [Looks like a child who was just told that Santa Claus does not exist]

I couldn’t give Rashid a hard time about his misconception of Texas because I had actually done the same thing with Singapore. Singapore and the United States are surprisingly similar, but there are a few subtle differences that I have noticed.

(more…)

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Going Green…with Envy

I like to consider myself a lime green person; I am not a tree hugger, but I’m also not going out and melting the polar icecaps. I like to do little things to help the environment like recycle my three week, unread pile of Wall Street Journals and carpool with friends as much as possible (mostly because I’m cheap). One of the counterarguments to recycling in the US is that our efforts are being offset by countries in Asia. If you visit Singapore, it won’t take you long to realize that they are doing more than their fair share to protect the earth. (more…)

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The Internship is Okay Lah

I don’t really know why, but when most people talk in Singapore, they add “lah” to the end of their sentences. It’s kind of catchy lah. Today officially marks the end of my first week of interning. I am working for SSA Consulting Group and was supposed to be in the audit department, but was moved to the accounting department because of overstaffing. Initially I was disappointed, but the accounting department has led to some interesting adventures. (more…)

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The Hunt for Real Singapore

When I told my friends and family that I was going to Singapore, they usually responded with “Why Singapore?” The answer is simple: I want to be out of my element. I actually enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone and being completely immersed in a different culture. Singapore is a melting pot of Chinese, Malay, and Indian people who bring with them their own beliefs and values. When I stepped off of the plane, I prepared myself for signs with strange markings and restaurants that were serving dishes that I could hardly pronounce. Imagine my surprise when I was greeted by the golden arches, Colonel Sanders, and five dollar foot longs. Where is the Singapore that I was imagining? (more…)

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“[Another] American Student in Singapore”

In an earlier blog I wrote about how I had narrowed my study abroad search to Barcelona, Spain, or a five country European tour. (As you can see from the title of this blog, neither of those trips worked out.)

Apparently you have to take classes when you study abroad and I foolishly already finished my “basic” classes (this is why you should procrastinate). So how am I studying abroad in Singapore you may ask? There is a little loophole in the system called interning abroad for academic credit…Singapore here I come. (more…)

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Caveat Emptor (Let the Buyer Beware)

Since the beginning of the recession, retail stores have really taken a hit. People just aren’t spending like they used to. In response stores are having more sales. Customers just can’t help but spend more money when they see that magical word, sale. I’ll admit that I too am a sucker for sales, but after taking my first marketing class, I know of a few “sales” to avoid. (more…)

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Much Ado About Me (and Me)

Are you the kind of person that becomes embarrassed very easily or do you like the spotlight? For some reason I am both. I find that I change personalities depending on who I am with. If I am working with a group on a class project, I am very serious and I like to work efficiently. If I am with a large group of people that I don’t really know, I become very quiet. If I am with my friends or family, I can get kind of crazy. (more…)

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