First day of orientation

Today was the first day of orientation. It began with a presentation by a retired Kenan-Flagler professor who gave us a very lively talk on the history of UNC with an emphasis on the history of the Kenan-Flagler Business School. He talked about the men whose fortunes allowed them donate substantially to the University and for whom our business school is named after.

During the afternoon we divided into our sections (each section will have all its classes together) and met our study group partners (each study group comprises of about five people from the same section). Each section then participated in a scavanger hunt. One of our assignments was to have a group picture taken at the Student Recreation Center with each group member holding weights. Once we got there, we were told that many in our group were not allowed to enter because we were wearing sandals. We then did something that you get very good at in business school, we improvised. We took the picture with group members lifting other group members, making sure that each member was lifting some type of weight whether it was another group member or a soda can.

The day ended with a barbeque at the plaza.

Many thanks Peter

I was saddened this morning when I heard that Peter Jennings has died. I used to watch him when I was young. I remember watching him anchor ABC World News Tonight in 1989 from the site of the President's Education Summit where he stood in front of a statue of Thomas Jefferson. It wasn't until five years later at the University of Virginia that I realized that he was reporting 200 feet in front of the Rotunda from my future alma mater.

There was an article during the first Gulf War about Jennings' qualifications in covering the Middle East due to the connections he made in the time he spent there. Ironically these connections were also what drew fire from critics who complaint about his lack of objectivity in covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was often refered to as "Palestinian Pete" by some on talk radio.

Even though he did not become an American until 2003, he has better understanding of America than many Americans. In 2002, he and his colleague Todd Brewster produced a reference book called In Search of America. I have a copy and look at it from time to time to remind me of what a truly unique country we have.

Very much like the late actor John Ritter, Peter Jennings has always been someone you can rely on to be on TV in one form or another. Although I have stopped watching him years ago, I will certain miss knowing that I can watch him whenever I want.

Hooking up with Time Warner Cable

Even as I speak, the cable guy is here hooking up my 24 inch Wega to the Time Warner Cable system. My apartment comes with a counter-bottom GE Spacemaker TV set in the kitchen, so I will have two TV's.

It's going to require a bit of adjusting since I am used to having digital cable at my old place and at my new place I am only subscribing to the "basic package" which gives me only the broadcast channels for $15 a month. I overheard a second year student tell a first year student that "TV's the first to go once the work begins during the school year."

Week in review

Some of you have been curious as to why I have not blogged for a good part of the week. The short answer is that I have been extremely busy. I met with my realtor on Monday to put my apartment on sale, had my happy hour on Tuesday, did some last minute packing on Wednesday, and the folks at Signature Movers came on Thursday to move my stuff to Chapel Hill.

It's been a pretty stressful week. I was overwhelmed with the amount of packing that had to be done. I spent most of the week getting very little sleep, and eating very little because of the "butterflies feeling" I had in my stomach.

But fortunately, everything worked out as well as can be expected. The paperwork was filed for the apartment sale, the movers came and moved everything to my new apartment. Now all that remains to be done is to remove everything from the boxes and find a place to store the empty boxes.

Sales Tax Holiday

Once every year, the state of North Carolina gets generous and allows shoppers to buy certain things without having to pay the 7% sales tax. More information on this weekend's sales tax holiday is below.

 

                               Sales Tax Holiday

G.S. 105-164.13C provides an exemption for certain items of tangible personal property sold between 12:01 A.M. on the first Friday in August and 11:59 P.M. the following Sunday. For 2005, the dates are Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th. Clothing, footwear, and school supplies of $100 or less per item; sports and recreation equipment of $50 or less per item; and computers of $3,500 or less per item will be exempt.

Clothing accessories, jewelry, cosmetics, protective equipment, wallets, furniture, items used in a trade or business, and rentals are not covered by the exemption and will be subject to the applicable tax

 

 

"Just who do I look like to you?"

I consider myself fortunate that I do not belong a racial or religious group that has to worry about racial profiling at department stores or airports. Yet I had a very unpleasant experience at lunch today that made me sympathize with these groups.

Earlier today I did what I have done every Friday since the pre-MBA workshops began, I went to Panera on Franklin Street to get some Boston clam chowder. The cashier took my order, asked me for my name, then looked at me inquisitively and said "you don't like a (my first name)."

Can you imagine if this guy were to get a job as a security screener for the Transportation Security Administration and say to someone "you don't look like a Rodriquez?" Or if he were to say "you don't look like someone who is coming to America in need of a heart transplant?" Maybe I should sue Panera for "facial profiling."

Welcome Kenan-Flagler readers

Greetings from Alta Springs. I want to thank Tom Beamon for taking the time out to address the concerns he has over my blog. I began this blog to tell my story about my transition into business school. Part of this story involves anxiety about returning to school after seven years of working, worrying about whether I would fit it, not sure about moving to an area where I don't know anyone, and struggles with my religious faith. Unfortunately part of the story involves me going to a school that is not my first choice and my first choice has refused to close the door completely by continuing to have me on its wait list.  

At every school you have a mix of students who are there because they were lucky enough to get into their dream school and others who enroll because they did not get in elsewhere. Kenan-Flagler is no different. I am not bashing Kenan-Flagler by telling my readers it is not my first choice, just as I am not bashing UVA by telling people there were three other schools I rather would have gone to for my undergraduate experience. During my Kenan-Flagler admissions interview, I was asked to name my three unique qualities. I listed one of them as my unwaivering commitment to contributing to my community. I told the story of my experience at UVA, even though it was not my first choice, I did all I could during my four years to contribute academically and extracurricularly to the school. Today, I continue to contribute to the UVA community by participaing in alumni events. There is no doubt I will do the same for Kenan-Flagler.  

Earlier this week, I had the chance to re-read everything I have written on this blog. I read something that bothers me. I had complaint about Carolinian residents paying one-half the amount I pay for the same education. While I still believe it is a legitimate gripe, I regret coming across as more angry than I meant to. I want to make clear that there is no animosity in my heart toward students who are paying less than I am either because they have a fellowship or are Carolinian residents.  

I look foward to continuing to share with my readers my positive experiences at Kenan-Flagler and any other unexpected encounters, unique observations I have along the way.