February is the M♥nth ♥f L♥ve

In honor of St Valentine's day this month, we will be posting our love stories. Why not try to remember when we actually saw our partners ;) Should be a fun and interesting project! Feel free to check it out in the coming days and weeks.

Solothurn Swiss Film Festival

Film Guide

On Wednesday,  Daphna, Camila, Nicole, Akane, Karen, Yann and I went to Solothurn for the Swiss Film Festival. Most of us left our houses early and arrived home late.

 Akane, Camila, Nicole, Karen, Nicki 

I have been thinking about it, but I still have not decided what part of the day was best. Could it have been the train ride to Solothurn where we discussed politics, philosophy, business, gym class, and celebrities? Was it realizing that we were no longer in our beloved French speaking part of Switzerland but had crossed into the German side as we attempted to read the coffee menu in German, trying to decipher if we were ordering hot schokolade with cream or rum? (Turns out it was cream ;)

Theater 1

Was it when we got to the first theater and realized our gym cards got us the student discount?! Or maybe it was actually watching the first short (so serious and relevant) and movie (a dark psychological film)? Perhaps it was after these first French films that were subtitled in German when we found out who really spoke French who then in turn had to explain the complicated plot to the lesser franco-phones? ;) Merci beaucoup, mon amies.

Nicki, Daphna, Camila, Yann, Nicole, Akane

No, it might have been the long lunch where we continued laughing and chatting about everything. It could have been when Karen showed up and shared how she had just missed the train that morning due to a mishap with her feet and the ground :) I know it was definitely NOT when we had to walk across town and over the bridge in -5C to the next theater.

 Yann, Camila, Karen, BRRR!!

Another close one would be the second short we saw entitled Las Pelotas, a film that takes place in Argentina about two men overly obsessed with the game of soccer and what they would do to have a son who could play on Manchester. Or maybe the final movie, Pizza Bethlehem, a heart-warming documentary about a girls soccer team that was made of girls from 30 different nationalities. We chose this film since our group has over 40 nationalities in total and thought we could relate well.

"Las Pelotas"

Still, I hate to be so indecisive, but the drink at the train cafe while we waited for the train was rather hilarious. I received quite an extensive German lesson from the bartender that the entire cafe seemed to enjoy. The train ride home was jolly as well. We each shared the stories of how we met our partners and when the last one finished, we were standing in Lausanne. But, maybe, just maybe it was being able to have a day like this.

 Chocolate Oscar

Partner of the Week: Margarida "Magui" Ponciano Martini

"My life is not local anymore"

A gregarious and strong woman looking for the best for her family and her career, wherever she may be.

Name: Margarida "Magui" Ponciano Martini
Age: 29
Profession/Degree: Urban Planning/Civil Engineering
City/Country: Lisbon, Portugal (Born in Lisbon, grew up in small town called Torres Vedras)
Recently moved from: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Partner: Married to Philip Martini
Children (significance of name): Alexander, 6 months, they needed to find a name that worked in both Portuguese and German.
Favorite Songs/Artists: Eryka Badu Featuring Stephen Marley "In Love with You" and Nina Simone "Feeling Good"


Yann & Nicki: What did you leave behind in your home country that you miss the most? What was your typical day like?  
MPM: Lisbon, I miss it the  most. I lived in a small town where my parents still live and moved to Lisbon when I was 18 for college and was there until I moved to the States 3 1/2 years ago. When I am away, I do not miss it much. But when I go back, I realize how much I miss it: the weather, the river, my friends! My dream would be to go back one day and live there.

Typical day in Detroit: I was working until I had Alexander. I would get up at 630am, which was really hard for me, since I am not a morning person. I would start work at 8am. In Portugal I would start at 9 or 930am, so this was really early. I would drive 30 mins to the office, work all day, have lunch with my colleagues and come home around 6pm. There was always something going on. Philip would come home around the same time and we would have diner or go to the movies or out with our friends.


Y&N: Where in Portugal would you recommend we visit? 
MPM: Lisbon! There is a little tour that I like to do. First, the older part of town with the monuments and then the newer part where the Expo is. The center is really nice with little corner shops. It is very pedestrian, so you can walk all around. It is a little like Lausanne because it is hilly.  At night, there is this area in town where every door is a bar and the people are really happy and enjoying themselves. Chiado and Bairro Alto are the places to go out.

Magui and Philip in the background, her parents on the right

Y&N: What was your reaction when Philip got accepted and you found out you were relocating to Switzerland? 
MPM: It was very hard. The automotive industry was not doing so well and we had an option to relocate to Germany, but the opportunities were not that great there, either. Philip always wanted to get his MBA and it was always our Plan B. Until it became our Plan A. It happened so quickly and we had to decide in two weeks and I was pregnant. I tried talking to other partners about what life was going to be like and kept hearing that I would never see Philip. It was hard, I was going to a new place, wasn't going to know anyone and Philip was going to be busy. Our other option was going to Germany and that would have been nice because we have friends there and I speak German but Philip really wanted to do this and I wanted to support him. So here we are.

Y&N: What place have you visited that you liked the most? 
MPM: I really liked Brazil. The people there are so nice, so friendly, and so happy. They dance and sing. The landscape is gorgeous and the weather is really nice. Us Portuguese feel like the Brazilians are our brothers or cousins. It is a really nice country and the people always make you feel welcome. 

Y&N: A place you really like in Lausanne? 
MPM: I really like the Cafe de Grancy. It is something you do not see very much in the US, the little street cafes. I am a coffee freak, so I can go in, have a cappuccino and read a book. 

 Her homemade cappuccino!

Y&N: What is something you like/dislike about Switzerland? 
MPM: I like the mountains. I didn't know if I would because I am from a beach country but you can feel the presence of the mountains, it is hard to explain. Sometimes, I walk to the center of the town and sometimes you see the huge mountains surrounding the city. At times it is a little overwhelming. I am sure it influences the people here, the way that people are influenced by geography like they mentioned in our class. I dislike all of the rules. I have not had any bad experiences yet but every tiny little thing you have to pay like the radio and internet. Not being able to walk in the house with shoes because you are afraid that your neighbor will hear you, these little things are annoying.

Y&N: Is there something you would do differently in your life if you had the chance? Any regrets? 
MPM: I guess if I could go back I would change what I studied. When I went in, I didn't know what was going to happen. But Urban Planning is such a local degree and my life is not local anymore. Now I have a German husband and it doesn't seem like we are going to be in the same place a lot. So every time we move, I have to find a new job. My degree involves local government, the local city council, using your network and knowing the local laws. If I knew I was going to have this life, I would have studied something a little more global, like business. 

 Her travel book collection.

Y&N: If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be? 
MPM: It is a bit of a cliche, but this is the only one that comes to mind, Michelle Obama. I think she is amazing. I am very much a "power to the woman" kind of person. I like strong women in whatever they do, not just careers. I learned this from my mom. She was always working, raising two kids and when we were teenagers she got her Masters. She has always told us "If you want to be good, you have to be twice as good when you are compared to men." I am always fascinated by women who are extraordinary and I think Michelle Obama is. She is intelligent, pretty, has a family. It seems like she was able to do everything and that is what I want for myself. I would love to talk to her and learn from her. 

Y&N: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Next year? 
MPM: That is very hard. I don't know if I can answer that. It is something we have been talking about. It always seems like it will be Germany. The economy is better there for work and Philip is German. I think it could really be anywhere, but we want to stay in Europe. Now we have our son so we want to be close to our families. I think it might be Germany. 

Y&N: What is your favorite word or phrase in French? 
MPM: "Je t'aime!" I love French. To me, French is "Je t'aime, mon amour, Paris."  It is lovely! 

Y&N: What is something about you that most people are surprised by? 
MPM: That no one knows? Everyone knows everything about me! Ok, I guess people are surprised that I play the piano and like classical music. I took lessons for 8 years but haven't played for years but it is something I like. 

Y&N: Can you tell us something in your native language? 
MPM: "Aqui estamos nós na Suíça que é o quarto país onde vivemos juntos. Uma nova aventura. Eu gosto de aventuras. Espero que seja uma aventura também para o nosso filho e que quando crescer possa dizer que esteve aqui com os seus pais e que foi aqui a sua segunda casa. Foi aqui que fomos uma família. Estou com grandes esperanças para este ano."

Yann and I had another great interview. No surprise here! Magui has an outgoing personality that has no doubt served her well in her travels. She claims there is very little people do not know about her because she opens up and shares early on. One thing you may not know about Magui is that she can sing (she will deny this!) While trying to remember the name of the song by Nina Simone, Yann and I got a front row seat to her sing the first line. Wowsers! Is there a karaoke bar in Lausanne? If so, this is our girl.
While we interviewed Magui, Alexander was "dancing" around on the ground. Magui told us he loves to boogey and told us her theory why. Magui was out til 4am the day she gave birth and she likes to say that Alexander couldn't wait to get out and join the party!

Also, check out her shared yard-- looks like a great place for summer BBQs! 

Culture Shock and The Traveler

I was thinking about the discussion we had yesterday on culture shock or just plain culture. It reminded me of a story I heard years ago and I thought I would share it here. I am not sure who the author is but credit is due somewhere. I think of this story anytime I am going to move to a new place, start a new job or have any new experience. Thought some of you may enjoy it.

************************************************

The Traveler

Author forgotten...

One day, a man left a village and traveled down a road. On the road he encountered another man. He stopped to ask him a question.

Traveler 1: Excuse me, sir. I am just leaving this last town and had such an incredible experience. The people were amazing. So kind, generous and happy. The weather was wonderful, almost always sunny. I am sad to leave, but must. Do you happen to know what the people in the next town are like? 

Man in Street: Why yes, I do. They are just like the people from the last town. They are kind and warm. They enjoy life and they are friendly. The weather is beautiful! If you were happy in the last town, you will just love this town! 

Traveler: Thank you sir! 

And off the traveler went with a smile.

A short while later, another man was traveling down the same road and came upon the man in the street.

Traveler 2: Excuse me, sir. I am leaving this past town and had a terrible experience. The people are horrible and strange. The food is awful and the weather is overcast. I was very unhappy here. Do you happen to know if the next town is better? 

Man: I am sorry, sir. The next town is just as bad if not worse. The people are even more bizarre and the food less flavorful. You can usually find clouds in the sky if you look for them. If you were unhappy in this last town, chances are you will be unhappy in this one as well. Good luck. 

And off the second traveler went, grumbling.

Moral of the story: You will find what you are looking for.

Partner of the week : Karen Del Toro

"My main goal is to relax"
A hard-working, perfectionist woman looking for a break.

Name: Karen Del Toro
Age: 30 years
City, Country: Guadalajara, Mexico
Profession: worked as a manager (sales and marketing) for a British beverage company for 7 years, her clients included department and convenient stores in Mexico
Partner: Juan Marin Ortiz, Married in December, no children yet

Favorite Music/Artist: Luis Miguel, song "Mexico en la piel"  

Yann & Nicki: What did you leave behind in your home country that you miss?

 Karen Del Toro: I knew that Switzerland would be quite a diiferent country from Mexico. I'm trying not to miss too many things. The culture is very different. I don't miss my family yet but I'm sure I'm going to later. In Mexico there are all kind of fruits, very good ones. Here you find just bananas, apples, oranges. That's it !

Virgin of Guadalupe, a gift from her sister

Y&N: What was your typical day in Mexico like?

 KdT: I woke up, went to my work, spent almost all day there in Mexico city. I used to lunch with my friends. I miss them. After work, I came back home, ran a little bit in a park near my home. Sometimes, at night, we used to go coffee or go to a bar or just relax.

Y&N: What was your reaction when you found out that your partner got into IMD (and you were relocating)?

 KdT: I was very happy for him. Very excited for this challenge. Because this is a challenge. When he started study with the GMAT, he was very sincere with me. So, he told me « I want to do this, but I don't want to do this alone. I need you in this life ». It was 5 or 7 months before he was accepted. So, I told him « Ok, don't worry, everything is going to be very good .. Do your best. But I didn't think a lot about this decision or what would happen if he was accepted. Finally he was, so I said « Do you really want to go or not ? » So it was difficult for me. I wasn't very sure.  I took a break, a week, to think about this. I used to have a very good job, everybody told me « don't quit », cause it's very difficult to have another job like this, especially in this crisis time. I said finally « OK, let's go and see what happens... ». Here I am.

 

Y&N: What is your main goal this year?

 KdT: I'm a very apprehensive woman... So, this year my first goal is to relax... to enjoy life, not to follow things people tell me to go for. Also I want to do a lot of things, make some friends, improve my English, and to practice French.

Y&N: What activities would you like to do with the other partners?

KdT: Go to the gym, run. I want to go to little towns near Lausanne. Just walk. To learn about the swiss culture. I love cooking. I brought with me some cook books. I want to learn to prepare desserts. I want to go to dance bars, just have fun. I used to dance hawaian and mexican traditional dance. 

Y&N: Are you looking for a job this year ? 
 KdT: I'm not looking for a job. But I know it's very hard to be here with doing nothing. So, we'll see. I have an interview next week. If it's a good job, I will take. If not, I prefer to be with my friends, to travel around the country. I could work for an NGO. That is something I always wanted to do. I used to love my work on profesionnal term but not personal. It paid me a lot but I want to do something that creates value for people.

Y&N: What do you like/dislike in Lausanne? 

 KdT: What I like the most... It is a very jolly city...very european... I love the buildings, the landscapes, the mountains...
I wish to have a better weather, because i'm not used to this. It's not too cold, but I prefer warmer weather.  And it's very expensive. The cost of life is very expensive.

Y&N: Where do you think you will be next year ?

 KdT: I don't have any idea. I'm very open. Hopefully in Europe. I want to stay 2 more years, or 5 . I love european culture. It's my first time to live abroad.

Y&N:  How would you describe yourself in 3 words ?

 KdT: Honest.... I'm very transparent. What you see in my face, is what I'm thinking. So if I'm angry, you just see me and notice... Perseverant.... and I'm always looking to grow, in a spiritual way...I'm forcing myself to be better...

Y&N: What is one thing that no one knows about you or would expect? 

 KdT: I'm a very persistent person. So, I always try to do what I want and almost all the time I accomplish my goals. There is a song that my husband loves a lot, Rachmanivo, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. So, I prepared a surprise for him at our wedding. I learned to play piano in one and a half months. It's a really difficult song. I told the piano teacher I wanted to learn this song, and he asked « How many years have you been playing the piano? » I told him « Never ». I learned the song and played it at my wedding. I love to surprise people! 

Y&N: Tell me something in your native language

 KdT: Estoy super feliz de estar en Lausanne. Pero mucho mas feliz de haber encontrado amigos tan increíbles como ustedes. Porque de verdad lo mas importante no lo encuentras en una ciudad tan linda y con paisajes increíbles, si no en la gente con la que puedes compartir muchas cosas. Mi vida, mi tiempo. Para mi es muy importante.

Y&N: What can you say in french ?

 KdT: Je suis heureuse d'être ici et aussi de mon mari, de l'école, car il est très heureux aussi. Je veux parler un meilleur français, quand c'est fini. Merci.

Yann and I had such a pleasure interviewing Karen. We had no idea how this project would go and as our first interviewee, we could not have been any more lucky! Karen's sweet, honest, and thoughtful personality really impressed us and we know that Karen is in for a wonderful year out of the fast lane and into slow and quiet Lausanne. A rest she surely deserves!

RSR Clarika show and Snowball

Tonight was amazing! Yann,  Catalin, Camila, Karen and myself went to the Clarika concert at Radio Suisse Romande. It was fantastic! Check her out. She played for an hour, they had the stage lights going, a fog machine, and really put on quite a show. She is going to play in Geneva at the end of the month and I would love to see her again!

When we left the venue to head back to the metro to our homes, a goofy looking college-aged guy dressed in a bright yellow coat and knitted ski hat said something to me and Camila. I didn't even realize he was talking to me, but Camila turned around and smiled and said something back to him about how the concert was indeed good. He then started to walk ahead of us and we continued our conversation. Before I realized it, he had gathered a snowball and thrown it at my head!!  My entire group burst into laughter. I just stood there shocked. All I wanted to do was start a war and grab more snow and aim, but I realized it was best if I just let it go.

When Camila told the rest of the group that he was trying to start a conversation with us and we did not oblige him he walked ahead and threw the snow. Catalin told me when boys are young, this is definitely the way they think best to show how much they like someone :) Lucky me. Worst case, I was a victim of a deranged snowball-hit-and-run. Best case scenario, I was the recipient of Cupid's arrow in the form of a snowball in the face.

Anyways, thanks to Yann for finding this event. Even after getting hit by the snowball, the evening was simply amazing!

The role we are expected to play...

'This is gonna be a tough but a rewarding year'. That's the motto of Martha Maznevski's, current program director of the IMD MBA. That is what she told the MBA students in her presentation video and that's what she told us too, during the partner's presentation. And to illustrate her point, she gave us two very explicit examples of what we could expect of the year because before being MBA program director, she herself went through her own similar situation.

SCARY MOMMY

When she was working on her dissertation for her PHD, her daughter was a year and a half. Martha was very busy, working long hours in a cramped studio where showers and outfit changes were a luxury of the past. While she would work away in her tiny bedroom, her daughter would cry "Mommy!" from outside her door.  The only thing she wanted to do was open the door and be with her daughter. Her husband  actually played the good role we are expected to play: to make sure our partner will be only concentrated on their studies. So, what did he do? He entered the room, took a picture of his exhausted and scary-looking partner, put it on the door and told his daughter: "You see... it's Mommy... Do you really want to see her like this ?"

WHAT REALLY COUNTS

The second image and lesson to learn for a partner is the important role he/she plays for the morale of his/her student partner. During the same year,  Martha was really depressed and thought she could never finish her work...She was about to renounce and give up on her dissertation. Her husband told her "OK, look around you...We are the most important thing in your life. We are here now, and will be there after this tough year. So let's finish this dissertation, no matter how good it is. What really counts is the 3 of us". And with these supporting words, the love of a partner helped her finish her work. And the sacrifices she made this year paid off. She enjoys toiday her life with her husband and 2 teenage girls with high education and friends all over the world. As we'll enjoy after our partners graduation...

So, being loving enough to remind our partner the priority and telling them how important it is for our futures. That is what we are expected to do... Do remember this when you are fed up waiting for him/her at night and when he/she will arrive and possibly forgetting your name because he/she's so tired...

YES WE CAN...