Berkshire

Yesterday was a busy day. After a traditional breakfast with pancakes, jam and juice we went on the road again. The weather was great and the signs from the hurricane got less and less. Some parts have experienced a power cut and lower parts in the valleys have been flooded. But nothing to serious here. Our first destination has been the Bash Bish Falls. They are located in a stated park between New York and Massachusetts. It was 3/4 miles decent hike and a extra little hike to the top of the falls. unfortunatly we couldn't get close but still it was very relaxing there. After that we've decided to reach Pittsfield to stay there over night. It was a great drive through a scenery mountain area on a narrow road before we've reached the highway again.

We made several stops to Pittsfield and we also stopped at a picturesque farm: The windy hill farm. They grow plants and flowers and also have self picking apples and blueberries. We ate a lot and continued later our journey. Our stay in Pittsfield is a pink motel from where we soon start for a next day full of action.

From Massachutas To Cinnecticut

It was a good idea to avoid the coast and drive into the country. We started early in the morning and ended up in Canaan, CT. Driving was ok and fast because almost no cars have been on the road. We found a nice bed and breakfast to stay and soon we will enjoy a good American breakfast.

Today, Monday, the weather is now great! No wind, blue sky and sunshine. We soon will explore Berkshire and head north.

Waiting For The Storm

After the long flight we arrived tired in Boston. Immigration was as usual fun again. I have this time an official media visa but still I had to fill out a paper form with exactly the same details as on the electronic visa. The next stop was at the car rental. We've rented a car (some kind of mini SUV KIA) and headed to a little city called Worcester to be away from the storm.

Today, Sunday, we plan to drive to Berkshire after breakfast. It should be a great area to hike around and be in touch with mother nature.

...more tk!

Back To America: Boston

I'm obviously not the only one who wants to hit the USA by storm - Irene is already trying to reach Boston before I do. Irene is a hurricane originating in the Caribbean and moving along the east coast of the United States. Because tropical storms are seasonal very common scientists are specialised to track the storms and classify them. The public has also options to get good and reliable information about these extremities with the hurricane tracker!

I will report a bit on the blog when I'm there. I've my medium travel photography equipment with me so expect some nice pictures. My travel will be this time for three weeks around the greater area of Boston and Boston central. Part of the travel is reserved for an assignment and the other time will be dedicated for MBA related issues.

As Time Goes By....

Again Vienna, again after midnight and soon I will have to be in the MBA-class again. Today is Saturday and the night of the annual Life-Ball. After a few intensive days again I have decided to go to bed early - Latest at 3:00 I want to hit the pillow!
This time I stay for the 4 days in a hostel at the Naschmarkt. Today, after the second night in the hostel, I have experienced that my key-card didn't work any more. At the reception we've found out that my old room got cleared of my stuff and I was transferred to another room. The afternoon staff didn't know this and my belongings got stored at the reception. After we've figured out the problem I got a new key card, drink vouchers and an invitation for Breakfast. Again a little unexpected adventure!

My new roommates seem to be all at the Life-ball and look pretty queer! The room is pure chaos but again a different experience. Now I'm in the lobby as can be seen on the picture of this blog and I do some final work before I watch the latest episode of south park.

Not long ago I've started with my MBA and now already half of the program is over. There is only one module left in June and then the specialisation starts in September. We'll kick off the program in Boston where I will start the final round with a decent road trip. I really look forward to this trip because it will be my only vacation of the year!

...more TK!

Long Nights In Vienna

This is a weekend full of tricky moves and other unexpected surprises. A few days before travelling to Vienna it turned out that no cheap hotel rooms are available because of a radiology congress at the same time. By a coincident my MBA colleague and dear friend Holly has also checked in to the same hostel as I did. It's the brand new Wombat hostel at the Wiener Naschmarkt. The prices are ok (weekends 20 Eur/ dorm and under the week 15 Eur/dorm). The people in my dorm turned out to be very nice - I was always the latest to come home and the earliest to leave. I've slept just enought to survive the day. At night there always was something going on and I've met many niche people at the hostel.

Right now one just has got up in the middle of the night to search for something in a bag. I'm really happy that I'm already in bed and can relax. Tomorrow we have the final day global markets and after that we'll head home to Graz. That are Holly, Matthias and I - glad to have survived and ready go get home.

At the end some proven observations again: many people prefer stinky rooms over fresh air!

Student life

It's a while ago since the last blog entry. I'm busy studying and in parallel I'm also running various projects. It's a bit after midnight so I have now time to enjoy myself and chill out.

It's now almost the end of the first semester of my MBA program in project and process management. It just recently turned out that this is the least interesting topic that I had until now in class.
Studying is very interesting. I have to be in average once per month in Vienna and I have plenty of pre- and post assignments to work on. That means that I have all the time something to do. After the next semester the "business core" part is finished. Then I just have to do one semester in project and process management before I finish with my master thesis.

Unfortunately its not so easy any more to travel. After all the work with university and projects there is almost no time left fore fun things. Fortunately I have a natural talent to identify weak spots in the system and so I will carry on with short trips until I'm finished with my MBA.

After waking up the blog again my next actions will be to feed picasa again with new images. As my stock is pretty extensive there is a lot material and I also will present some new stuff from various projects.