But seriously, it has been very difficult re-adapting to “normal” life. When I say “normal” I’m referring to full day of classes, lots of course work and, worse of all, cold weather and no beaches. We live a sad life, eh?! Haha. I’m among the group of individuals who are silently suffering from a case called ”Brazil withdrawals.” Ok, ok, ok I definitely made that up, but think about it…life was simple in Rio. No need for a car, no hustle and bustle, lots of beautiful people everywhere and a constant showering of yummy pastries. Now do you see why we’re sad.

Oh well! Time to move forward. Brazil is a memory of the past and it’s time to get back to work and progress to the future. That IS the reason I’m in school right?!

I visited the Mangueira facility for one of their Samba School Nights. As I entered the place, beats were pounding, people were singing and energy filled the space. Everyone was happy and having a good time. But after an hour of mingling, I noticed something different that I had not seen since my arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Although Mangueira is located in a favela, there was more than local residents in attendance. People from all socio-economic levels were there and the crowd was not divided. The Brazilians in attendance sang and danced in unison with pride.

If you know me, you know I LOVEEE live music and atmospheres filled with energetic people. That night was truly spectacular.  Laughing, singing, and dancing…can’t beat that!

More importantly, that night I fell in love.  I’m totally having a love affair with Brazil and feel completely guilty for cheating on my first love, my home country. Home is home…but Brazil is Brazil and there is nothing like it! So thank you GPMBA for introducing me to this wonderful country.

View the Samba video I shot that night!

We made it! Yes, there were a few bumps along the way but all 17 students are here and having a blast.

I have to be completely honest though. Rio de Janeiro offers an added component to the equation: distraction. Yea, majority of the students don’t speak the language and many of us don’t have a clue as to which way is north or south, but by far, the distraction element is the hardest change to deal with. Though the workload is less (we only have half day classes instead of the rigorous 5 full day class schedule of Atlanta), the level of distraction is at its highest. Who wants to study when you have a beautiful beach two blocks away?! I don’t.

Brazil requires a new level of discipline. Without it, you will flounder and possibly get caught up in the laid back beach lifestyle Rio has to offer. The Caipirihnas alone are enough to put you off your game. So to all you future students, here’s a helpful hint: discipline is the key to succeeding in the Rio portion of the program.

Tudo Bem!

~JCH

The 2012 cohort is about to head in to its first major battle that is sure to prove ones capacity to deal with mental, physical and emotional challenges. My question is….Who will survive?

The ingredients on next week’s agenda are as follows: 2 papers, 2 mid-term exams (Finance and Accounting), a major negotiation, and 2 huge projects in Economics and International Business. As you can probably imagine, the panic has spread amongst the students like wildfire. Some students are clamoring to stay ahead, some are just taking it as it comes and some are just outright in denial. Whatever the coping method, next week is coming and it will take no prisoners.

How each student tackles next week will be a true testament of his or her ability to persevere not only in this program but also in the “real world.” As for me, you can say that I am in the category of fighting to stay ahead. I believe that only through preparation and a strong mental capacity can I accomplish my goal of achieving excellence.

So…..Let the fight begin!!! Bring it on baby!

~JCH

Aside from the weather, the trip proved to be extremely informative and eye-opening. Let me explain…

From the beginning of the trip, it was hard to grapple with the fact that our days began before the sun could brightly say hello. Mentally, I rebelled against the 5:45am meet up time that our itinerary annoyingly proclaimed. Of course, I didn’t want to miss the trip, so I followed suit and arrive at the airport at 5:58am (Ok I had to rebel a little).

We arrived in Washington DC met by our golden chariot, also known as Go Airport Shuttle. All 19 of us crammed in to the two vehicles and immediately they whisked us away to our first destination: the hotel. On the way, we passed by a sea of tents that congregated in the public plaza near the White House. Confused, I asked my classmates “What the heck are these people doing!” My classmates retorted “Occupy DC.” I soon realized that these were the peaceful protesters proclaiming to be the “99 percent” who are fighting corporate greed, ineffective political leadership and the growing inequity between the rich and poor (99% refers to how 1 percent of Americans earn a quarter of the country’s income). What better way to be welcomed in to the nation’s capital than to see protesters fighting to be heard by Congress!

The next few days were filled with lots of walking, great information and tons of QT with my classmates. Not only did we get to see the trade aspect of government but we also met with businesses that have government dealings. We learned about foreign direct investment from Select USA; Spoke with an economist who was president of a trade NGO (GSP Coalition); Broke bread with the public affair executives at UPS; Met with the president of the Finance Committee; Gained insight into the inner workings of the World Bank; And sat down with several high level attorneys to discuss trade relations. All in all, each piece of the trip helped to make the US trade story more clear. Professor Bruce managed to delicately weave together how each government entity and business work in unison (for lack of a better word) to achieve international trade.

More importantly, I was able to see the true personalities of the people I will be spending time with for the duration of the program. This was the eye-opening aspect of the trip. Many of my classmates let their hair down and allowed their inner self to shine. I can’t wait to see how all this will play out overseas when we are in Brazil and France….

As for now, econ and accounting occupy my brain. Just like the “99 percent,” I’m protesting…but only mentally. You ask, protesting against what, eh? Well…I’m protesting against losing my social life during Halloween weekend because an economic exam/paper and an accounting quiz waited for me to return from DC. Somehow, while in DC, I convinced myself that these exams and paper would magically disappear upon my return. Who was I fooling?!

Oh well, this is the life of a student. Until next time….

Well, class of 2012, though you will never be as “cool” as our class, you’re allowed to sit in our seats and embark on this amazing adventure that will inevitably change your life (yes, cheesy, but true). Get ready for long nights, very early mornings, and entirely too much time spent at school. Before you know it, December will arrive, and soon after, you will be off to Rio…then, back in Atlanta, and Paris and China, and all of a sudden—the end!

Without realizing it, in a year you will:

1. See at least one sunrise on the beaches of Ipanema
2. Have the most amazing breakfast every day at COPPEAD
3. Eat something from a questionable street stand somewhere in Brazil

4. Stand on top of the Great Wall

5. Engage in a fierce negotiation over 58 cents
6. Hate the pollution in Beijing and what it is doing to your face

7. Get annoyed that you have to walk by the Louvre every day to get to the Metro
8. Find out that wine is cheaper than water
9. Have the perfect justification to have a croque for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

10. Get lost in the streets of ___ (insert any city) and find amazing treasures
11. Ask one of your classmates: what country were we in when….?
12. Wish you could do it all over again, just minus the school work

13. Be able to write a 10 page, single spaced paper in an hour or two
14. Inevitably, freak out about internships
15. Procrastinate writing your thesis (we have to write a thesis, what?)

The only advice I give you is this: Don’t worry about grades too much, just enjoy the moment! In the end, “it is what it is,” and this year will be what you make of it!

And to my current classmates, don’t forget the wise words of Miley Cyrus: It’s the Climb! We are almost there!

While the festivals / fairs or “fondas” and cookouts or “asados” and other fiestas were fun cultural experiences for me during the weekend, these festivities are interesting and relevant with regards to my internship and the associated corporate work culture at my office too. As I mentioned in my last post, the Chilean work week is longer than normal US full time weeks (typically 45hrs). The corporate culture at my company a mix of “typical North American” with Chilean. Unlike my previous work experience, greetings are very important — a kiss for hello and goodbye, even if this total interchange last less than 5 minutes. This creates a very friendly atmosphere, as does the very modern, open office layout and design with lots of natural light and glass. Yet at times, it seems to me, that this friendly environment comes at the expense of work efficiency.

So in addition to the daily work culture, I also have gotten to experience Chilean holiday work culture! Fortunately the Friday commencing the Fiestas Patrias events, we were able to have an early “Happy Friday,” finishing work at 1pm for a work asado celebration. The asado was complete with Chilean empanadas (fried pastry filled with meat, onion, an olive, raisins and hard boiled egg), sopapillas (sweet fried breads), choripanes (sausage on a bun), anticuchos (meat skewers) and sodas (no, the company did not provide the traditional alcoholic Chilean dieciocho beverages like piscos or chichas).

In addition to all the delicious foods, a Fiestas Patrias event would be incomplete without dancing cueca, the national Chilean dance. It is an interesting dance, including sliding, stomping, clapping and handkerchiefs. Yet the most unique thing about the cueca is the fact that the male and female dancers do not touch but must maintain eye contact until the end of the dance. To get into the festive mood, my company offered complimentary (and voluntary) post-work cueca dance lessons during the few weeks leading up to the holiday. Unfortunately my schedule (and lack of rhythm) prevented me from participating, but at the work asado my fellow coworkers performed for us!

All in all, I would say that the excited holiday environment was more interactive than my US company holiday experiences, at least for Independence Day (but perhaps that is in part because I worked for a British company in the US, so 4th of July celebrates our independence from them…). The weekend itself was a great experience going to fondas, visiting a nearby artisan town called Pomaire, and of course, more asados! I enjoyed a long weekend with Monday off and even got to see the military parade to the Escuela Militar academy near my apartment.

Of course after all the festivities, it’s back to work!

At any rate, as mentioned our class is literally spread around the world: We are everywhere from Los Angeles to Singapore to Australia to Cambodia to Nigeria to Germany to South America to New York (and more not listed!). I happen to be the “South America” representation. As the Global Partners intern delegate to Santiago, Chile, I am enjoying my work at an esteemed engineering consulting services firm. Primarily I am focusing my thesis project as a marketing consultant, looking at ways to improve the company’s marketing and business development department’s efficiency. It’s an adjustment being in an office all day again, but in addition to the work, I am enjoying getting to experience the life and culture here in Chile.

And since the next class of Global Partners is about to embark on their journey, I’ll dedicate the final part of this blog for their benefit:

Top 5 Things To Know Before Interning in Chile:

5. Obviously this is not a repeat of Rio – it’s now winter when you arrive to the Southern Hemisphere and it’s a lot colder and drier climate here in Chile! It was quite a shock to the system when I arrived in August from 95-degree Atlanta to SNOW in Santiago (albeit, that’s not normal here either). It was more of a shock to realize that heating is not a standard commodity in apartments here either.

4. Despite the stereotype of relaxed Latin American work ethic, Chileans work long hours. 45 hours per week (8:30am – 6:30pm Monday – Friday) is common. This again was an adjustment, not so much because I haven’t worked long hours before — both in school and in my previous job, long and busy weeks happened frequently — but because at 5pm when normally US jobs are finished, I still have 1.5 hours to go!

3. Chile is on the “Ring of Fire” and there are volcanoes (in the south, Volcán Puyehue erupted in August) and earthquakes are common. Being a Georgia native and having lived in Chicago, earthquakes are not a norm in my experience. Therefore, being awaken by a 5.9 “terromoto” was startling and scary even though nothing happened except my coworkers making jokes about the “temblor” (tremor).

2. Chile is a very stable and peaceful country. It has experienced consistent economic growth and is widely considered one of the best Latin American economies. There seem to be nearly endless entrepreneurial opportunities here and the government encourages them through programs like Start Up Chile. However, this does not stop petty crime – I have heard many stories from new friends about purses, wallets, jewelry, etc. being stolen, including a necklace off a woman’s neck! The reputation also masks the large wealth inequities that exist here, which have recently led to social unrest. I arrived during massive protests that have even turned violent, forcing me to mostly keep my distance from Centro (downtown). So, as in all big cities around the world, be aware and be safe!

1. Chilean is a whole different language than Castellano Spanish! Fortunately my work is bilingual, as is my Chilean roommate because there are MANY “Chilenismos” that you will have never heard before if it’s your first time here! Chileans often add “po” to the end of words as a filler (“Si-po”), say “Cachai?” (you understand?), drop S’s (and the end of words!), and love diminutives (little -ito and -ita everything!). The combination of these new words and interesting additions/subtractions from what I know combined with rapid-fire speech is enough to make me re-evaluate how well I actually know Spanish! Fortunately, Chilenos are very proud and kind people who want you to understand and learn so there are many language intercambio opportunities to meet new friends and practice!

And with that, I leave you until next time with a few photos of Santiago to enjoy. And final bit of advice: pack peanut butter!

Over the past decades, China has experienced a kind of economic growth that has made the world stop and take note.  This has raised much debate and speculation in the international, and especially the business, communities on if China will lead the world or falter by the wayside.  Some corporations, like Citibank believe China has the potential to surpass the US by 2020. China has the Five year plans and the megacities, so why not? They see the market  trends (integration, growth, rapid development, accelerated privatization, rapid urbanization, the rise of the middle class and significant growth), as opportunities for China to leverage globalization, maintain product innovation, fill the status gap, and build on its strengths. However, right now China is facing some real problems that will ultimately determine its success or failure.

Pollution: China Going Green

As many of us experienced, especially me, the air pollution in China is a major factor in the quality of China’s future growth. The level of population and affluence growth has exponentially accelerated the reality of the environmental strain in China right now. However this strain does not just effect China, the whole world shares one environment, one ecosystem and one earth. In this light, the pollution has become a global issue as well. But how do you grow without causing a little ruin. Sadly, China is growing at such a pace after many other nations have had the right to do so already, thus is being punished to maintain an environmental standard not enforced on previous nations. As we have seen at the Urban Planning Museum in Shanghai and throughout our visits, China is actively trying to raise the standards in this arena, and other countries may be able to take note.

The Wealth Gap: Keeping up with the Wangs

Where we travelled in China the people were mostly very rich or at least gave that appearance. However, the poverty pockets, human rights issues, and unemployment, were continually being mentioned as poignant issues for China’s future success. If the government cannot sustain a more even distribution of wealth, even if it can somehow develop a growth image throughout the world, domestically it will ultimately crumble. This is what powers the government’s efforts behind indigenous growth. Is this necessarily the right way, maybe not? However, it shows both the power and some of the immaturity of the government in dealing with China’s future.

The Global Community: Keeping it all in Perspective

As we saw with the parts tourism concept at Ford, for businesses, as the world keeps growing more interconnected, its about keeping the pieces working effectively together. With this interconnectedness and the growth of China (and the other BRICS nations) right now, the global order is being challenged. Now all firms and all nations, must address its future growth from a global perspective.

At many visits, like Jones Day , UPS, and CNN, the speakers alluded to the ease at which government had the ability to manipulate regulations and how this may affect foreign entities especially. However, as recent happenings have demonstrated, the world is one big community now. he earthquakes in Japan affected the whole world. Likewise, what China does and how it chooses to play in the global community, affects the whole world. One of China’s greatest strengths has been its low cost manufacturing, as costs have continued to rise, now it is trying to make the shift from manufacturer to inventor. How this is perceived or played out in the global community is a major indicator of how China will fare in the future.

The China Dream: Harmony

For China one of the biggest issues it faces will inevitably be holding it all together without exploding. But how does China do this in the face of regionalism, unemployment, pollution, the wealth gaps, poverty pockets, and class struggles. From an optimistic standpoint it can done by playing on the strengths of resilience and the government influence. Like a firm, China must clarify its strategy and position, and begin to see all sides of the equation when making decisions. The innovation China is seeking must start at the heart of the matter with its leaders.

At Peking University, we learned about expanding the pie, and in a simple way this is what China needs to happen in order to do in maintain harmony amongst its people, with its neighbors, and with heaven. It needs to step aside from its own personal positions and see what’s at stake and what is really most important.

Ultimately, China is positioned to continue to grow in economic dominance and pure market size. However, its real fate lies with its ability to control its empowered constituents, maintain indigenous growth without excluding its foreign counterparts, and sustain it all within the environment. Can it be done? Sure. Will it be done? We have to wait and see. We believe that while China has its undeniably strengths, the sheer scale of the pitfalls it faces, will not let its see its full potential.  So China will be, and many will argue is, currently a leader on some aspects, however, we don’t see it as overturning the likes of the already established EU and US. But who can really say. Can China continue to grow without government reform? Can it keep its people happy? Can it sustain its environmental impact? Can China bridge the wealth gap? Maybe these are the real questions.