March 30, 2004

Mid-Term Exam II

Gosh...I just stepped out the lecture room where I attended my last mid-term exam.

It was indeed a great challenge....and in the end I think I didn't do well at all. In fact it was a very tough assessment and I really hope to simply pass this exam. However, now I am not in the position to change anything in this circumstance. I'll simply have to wait for the day when the results will be published; not a nice day to look forward to...

Posted by Claudio at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)

March 29, 2004

Mid-Term exam

Uahhhhhh! I have no idea how to read all those pages to be prepared for the exam tomorrow afternoon?!?!?

Posted by Claudio at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)

Claudio Snapshot!

What do you think I thought when this shot was taken?

Posted by Claudio at 11:07 AM | Comments (1)

Sandra in Action!

Posted by Claudio at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

March 26, 2004

Internship issue

Talked to the guy in Hong Kong again today....
...well, at the moment - surprisingly - it does not seem to be very positive. They seem to need sorting things out until Easter.

Unfortunately I have to accept/decline the Mexico option at latest on next Monday...so in case I decline the offer and Hong Kong could not offer me a position either, I am in big difficulties....I hate such decisions...

Posted by Claudio at 02:28 PM | Comments (0)

Classified as potential terrorist in Milan

Gosh!

When I discovered the city of Milan yesterday together with Sandra, the friend of mine from Berlin, we passed by the Consulate General of the United States of America....I was attracted by the national flag waving along the wind....

Hereon I decided to position myself and take out my small digicam to take a cool picture of the flag. I stood there, carrying the cam in position, waiting for the right time to take the shot....before I pushed the button of my cam, I found myself surrounded by three security guards wearing life jackets.

They demanded my documents and the purpose of my stay in Milan and especially why I want to take a picture....well my purpose was to take a picture of this damn national flag :-)

After 10 minutes of investigation and advising EUROPOL and INTERPOL they kindly returned my identity card....and I had to move away....nevertheless I reached to take this damn picture.
Exciting experience!

Posted by Claudio at 02:11 PM | Comments (0)

Milan Sightseeing...

Posted by Claudio at 01:47 PM | Comments (0)

March 24, 2004

1st mid-term exam...

I just finished my first mid-term exam in European Union Law.....strange experience: The exam was developed as a multiple-choice assessment which is nothing special per se. However the lecture room which was full of students (you hardly got a place to sit) was so noisy. Noisy because of the students who chatted whispering the answers to their neighbours.
In Germany, at the first attempt, the examiner in the room would have taken the exam of the guy and the individual exam would have been assessed with zero points....here no chance. Apart from advising the students to be silent, the crowd didn't follow the order and continued whispering throughout the whole exam....ridiculous!

If this is what the University Bocconi is like, I must confess, this is an evidence of incapacity! I am curious to see how things are going in my next exam taking place next week.

Posted by Claudio at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)

March 22, 2004

Mid-Term exams

Uahhh....on Wednesday my first exam in european union law....will be tough indeed. Hope to find some time to learn before the exam.

Yesterday a friend of mine from Berlin arrived in Milan. She will stay until the 1st April and hopefully she will enjoy her time here in Italy.

Posted by Claudio at 01:25 PM | Comments (0)

March 19, 2004

Almost weekend

Finally...another week in University is over and I am really delighted about this fact. It's been really tough again this week.

I am now sitting in one of the student halls where I am able to connect me to the internet and writing these lines.

The past days have been quite sunny which brings a better atmosphere to this industrial city.

I think i will go out with my friends tonight (hoping not to spend to much since going clubbing in Milan is extraordinary expensive)...however I really have to get a good drink of whatever tonight, or maybe two or three...

I am looking forward to welcome a friend of mine coming over from Berlin this Sunday. She is going to stay at my place for a couple of days and I hope she will enjoy her stay in Italy.

Posted by Claudio at 04:41 PM | Comments (0)

March 18, 2004

Balcony view

Posted by Claudio at 04:11 PM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2004

Your feedback would be appreciated

Considering that I am using this diary for almost one year now and therefore expressing my thoughts, my experience abroad to a wide range of audience (perhaps however unknown), I think it's time and fair enough to get some feedback from you.

Generally speaking it would be interesting to know how many of you are reading this diary.

So, if you don't mind I would kindly ask you to press the "Comments" link below this diary entry and just write your Name and facultative any comments into the adequate textfield.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Posted by Claudio at 04:27 PM | Comments (4)

Invitation to a Finance conference in the Netherlands

After passing the application and the telephone interview round last month, today I received an invitation to join a four days Financial conference in the Netherlands which will take place at the end of next month.

Although I will miss one week of lectures here in Milan, I am sure this will be a great opportunity to exchange international business experience among other international students.

Posted by Claudio at 04:24 PM | Comments (0)

Improving weather condition in Milan

Finally! Since yesterday it's getting warmer here in Milan. Today it's even sunny without hardly any clouds on the sky.

Is this an indication for getting through the spring season....?

Posted by Claudio at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)

March 15, 2004

Pictures from University

Posted by Claudio at 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

Conference call with Hong Kong

Gosh....I just had another conference call with guys from Hong Kong. Generally speaking, it looks quite positive that they need somebody this summer, since they are supposed to be quite busy this year.
My mentioned time frame seems to be in target with their aims. We already talked about issues/projects/work where I could be involved in during my stay in HK.
Hopefully I will get some more news from the HR side until the end of this week.
Fingers crossed again!

Posted by Claudio at 12:09 PM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2004

My preliminary home in Milan

Together with a student fellow I am sharing this flat for one month before moving into another flat in the same house:

Posted by Claudio at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)

Application in Munich declined

Hi,
I just received a telephone call from the guy in charge of my application with the company I visited in Munich the day before yesterday.
Unfortunately I didn't have sufficient score at my written, analytical test I had to do on Wednesday.
It's a pity since a sufficient test result is mandatory for an employment with that company, beyond other skills. In my case, if my results would not have been so bad, they would have employed me as an Intern.

On the one hand I feel obviously disappointed that I didn't make it, on the other hand, this gives me tranquility in following my internship opportunity in Hong Kong, which I have to emphasize, is not granted either.

One thing is clear, due to this refusal, I won't be able to get ever an employment with that company...destiny perhaps?

Posted by Claudio at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)

March 11, 2004

Finally free internet access in University

Gosh! I am finally able to get access to the internet through my own laptop. It's very convenient and though I might be able to respond to all your e-mails in time.

Posted by Claudio at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)

Back from my trip to Munich

After an exhausted trip to Munich, I arrived back in Milan yesterday evening. In the end I could watch the last 20 minutes of the Bayern Munich match which ended in a trategy...they lost, although having good chances to score at least one goal.

My interview in Munich was quity tricky. Two interview rounds involving different analytical cases which I had to solve in time. Anyways, I don't have any results so far. They guy in charge of my application will contact me by tomorrow or at latest on Monday next week.
To be honest, I really do not want this job although it would be a company with huge reputation to work for.

I received another news from Hong Kong instead. The Head of a special division in China will probably call me on Monday to discuss futher issues...we'll see what I can expect.

Posted by Claudio at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)

March 09, 2004

Trip to Munich

Tomorrow I'll fly to Munich for a one day trip to have an interview (3 rounds) regarding a possible internship this summer in Munich. However I am not quite confident that they will offer me a position after that day.
However the schedule for tomorrow is quite tight. I will arrive in Munich at 12:30. My return flight to Milan is scheduled for 19:20 so I will miss once more the Championsleague match Real Madrid against Bayern Munich...arg! Hopefully Bayern will win at least!

Posted by Claudio at 06:52 PM | Comments (0)

Accomodation III

After tough negotiation we finally moved in into our preliminary home for the next 4 weeks, which is located just 5 minutes away from Piazza Duomo, the heart of Milan.

Posted by Claudio at 06:48 PM | Comments (0)

March 08, 2004

Accomodation II

This weekend we visited some places and suddenly we found a small flat just 5 minutes walk away from the Piazza Duomo in Milan.
We are supposed to move in tonight....fingers crossed....

Posted by Claudio at 11:53 AM | Comments (0)

March 04, 2004

Accomodation

I visited our "potential" flat, where we should have been able to move in next week. However, I did not like that place so I will have to search for something else today and the forthcoming days....finger crossed that I will find something.

Posted by Claudio at 11:01 AM | Comments (0)

My telephone # in Italy

On the right column you will find my new mobile phone number in Italy.

Posted by Claudio at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)

March 02, 2004

2nd day in University

Hi,
yesterday I had my first two classes....horrifying...I hardly understand what's happening in class...they are proceeding very fast any using many italian business expressions I've never heard before.
I felt very sad when I left yesterday evening....it will be a real challenge to follow the classes and to pass the exams.
I didn't expect it to be that tough!

The first class today was posponed :-( so my next class will take place in 4 hours....time to reflect.

For the next 8 days I will sleep at a friend's place far outside Milan....thus very long trip to get to university and back home though....I am looking forward to moving in our new flat by 10 march.

Posted by Claudio at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)


March 01, 2004

Hello from Milan, Italy

Hi there,
after a 6 hours drive to Italy, I arrived in Milan yesterday evening. Today the weather is nice but a bit windy and cool.

The first night I did sleep in a hotel near the central station and together with my mates we went out eating and discovering some places in Milan.

My first impression is that Milan is a quite city hold in grey colours, quite dirty especially in front of the central station and incredible expensive....one pint of beer, 7 EURO...amazing.

I am now sitting in an internet cafe near to my university which is very expensive as well...3 EURO per hour surfing the web.
My first classes are going to start at 01.00 p.m.

I will talk to you later on.

Posted by Claudio at 10:45 AM | Comments (0)