What I Love About HBS

This morning as I was walking, I realized there are things I really love about being at HBS:

I love my early morning walks along the river, while the traffic is quite and I can hear God along with the rower's paddles licking of the water.

I love Cambridge -- a place to pick up spare change off the ground, watch interesting people (I mean really interesting), and find a pretty good cup of clam chowder.

I love studying in my room and looking up to see my "encouragement shrine" from all the cards and notes you have sent me (see picture).

I love that there are no cars on campus, but many bicycles.

I love that a really nice lady cleans my room (although it is very neat) everyday and gives me fresh towels and linens. I love that the dry cleaner picks up from and delivers every day right to my bedroom.

I love that somebody else makes the coffee every morning.

I love my classes and getting hear some of the smartest people in the world give lectures.  I love watching the MBA students creating a future for themselves.

I love Baker library inside and out - but the view of it in the sunshine is stunning.

I love the old buildings that display history and the new ones that show progress.  I love that the backside of every building is as pretty as the front.

I love that I can get ready to go anywhere in 30 minutes.  I can reach most anything I need without having to move my whole body :)  And if I do have to move, it's no more than five steps from door to the other side.  I love that my wardrobe is simple.

I love that I have met God here, in times of great loneliness and that He keeps telling me He is all I need.

I love my view, especially on a sunny day.

I love that there are so many viewpoints here about so many things, that I am free to say what I want.  I love that I am surrounded by great intelligence on some many subjects.  I love that I have learned so much.

I love that the cherry blossoms have bloomed -- you said they would Lynn!

And I love that at the end, I can go home -- to the place and people I love.

So that's where I am headed for a few days~

Thanks to all the people who love me  -- I love being so loved by you and I love you!

As the Genie said to Aladdin, "I'm outta here!"

Dee Ann

Going Underground~

Guess what I found out today?  HBS has a large underground network of tunnels going from building to building.  It only took me 4 weeks to find that out and out of that 28 days, it rained 23!  Had I known this, I could have stayed a lot drier!  This weekend is our 4 day break and the weather in Boston is supposed to be 83 degrees - go figure~

Lynn, I am really thankful for those peanut bars and Amy O. and friends, I am grateful for the thin mints!  And would you believe it, but all those international people love sweet tea! And they all want to know when they can get CFA in Switzerland, India, Nigeria, China, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Russia, United Arab Emrites, Egypt, Spain, Greece, Jordan, France, Israel, Kuwait, Italy, Vancouver, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Ireland, etc., etc. etc.  If we can't get chicken to them, maybe we can sell sweet tea to them!

Learning bunches about the world and me.  Today, we had a simulation exercise on climbing Mt. Everest.  I was the team leader and made it to the top and only one of my team didn't make it.  When climbing Mt. Everest, you should not drink beer and talk on the telephone.  

You should have seen the faces of my Living Group tonight when I told them why it is important that the U.S. protect Israel (God's chosen people, etc.).  The funny thing was that they were speechless.  I finally found a way to make them stop talking!

Looking forward to my weekend home.  I will catch you up when I get back.  According to the calendar, it looks like it will be an interesting 4 more weeks~  Then I will have to find another excuse to write on a blog so that I can say all the trivial stuff I want to say to people who really have better things to do.

Much love and many blessings,

Dee Ann

It's All Our Fault!

In coming to HBS, I have learned many things -- some wonderful and some not so great.  One of the things I have come to realize is that most anything that happens is somehow blamed on the U.S. by those who don't live here. Last week it was the global financial crisis -- today it was global warming.  One of the most difficult challenges here has been to defend our country to those who disparage it.

But you know what?  I love the United States of America.  I love the stars and stripes and the purple mountain majesty of the Rockies, the rocky coast of the Pacific and the peaceful sandy shores of the gulf.  I love that is snows in Denver and Vermont and that it doesn't in Miami.  I love that every American over the age of eighteen has the privilege to vote in a democratic society and choose our country's leaders.  I love that we have protected the home of the brave and the free and have used that same power to help others be both brave and free.  I love the men and women I see on my flights that are in camo fatigues headed to unknown deserts so that I can go freely to my job -- one of my own choosing.  I love that In God We Trust is printed on our money.  I love the pledge of allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.  I love that I am free to worship anywhere I choose without fear.  I love our history and I believe that we have hope and a future for generations to come.  

So regardless of what I hear, and wherever this life leads me, I know that I am very fortunate to live in the greatest country in the world and the longest surviving democracy.  God Bless America~

Blessings to all -- and I sure do miss you,

Love,

Dee Ann

How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You . . .

I am just finishing my second glass of Chick-fil-A sweet tea following a wonderful Chick-fil-A Day at Harvard. Two Operators, one interim manager and 11 staff members came up to provide the great taste of Chick-fil-A and wow with second mile service for the 165 members of my class, 75% of whom are international.  Thanks to Amy R., Amy O., Lynn C., Todd G., Lance L., Lisa H., Cathy P., Brandon B., Michael L., Will M., Melissa T, Katrina, Juan and Dusty for making me a hero today.  Everyone certainly knows who Chick-fil-A is now.

Most of all, I was so encouraged by their visit.  We enjoyed great seafood and fellowship last night at dinner and it was my favorite day at HBS, yet!  I felt so loved and lifted.

I goofed off a little while my friends were here, so I must get to my studies, but I wanted to share some pictures of the day with you.  It really was a great day.

Missing you all so much,

Love and blessings,

Dee Ann

The Eyeballs Were Staring Back at Me!

Here is a picture from the Lobster feast last night.  Once I saw those beady looking eyes looking back at me, there was no way I could crack that crustacean open and eat it.  I will have mine, tails only, thank you very much!

Have a fabulous weekend~

Love to all,

Dee Ann

Toenails, Dogs and Global Financial Crisis Day

So, which one of those thoughts should I open with?  Oh, let's get the bad news over with first.  We spent the entire day on the Global Financial Crisis in our classes today.  If you think hearing it from your investment banker, on CNN or reading about it in the Wall Street Journal depresses you,  just try hearing about it from some of the top economists in the world at The Harvard Business School.  You don't want to know what I know now.  And if you know what I know, you don't want me to remind you.  Just one hint though - you might take the suggestion to learn Mandarin very seriously.  If I was having a hard time in this class as an American before, you can only imagine the backlash from today's classes.  Although, Europe and Asia have certainly done their share to contribute as well.  It's one thing developing nations (3rd world countries) can be grateful for -- they do not inherit any blame for this situation.

Okay, on to other tidbits of my life that you will probably not be very interested in.  There are 51 steps from the first floor to the 4th floor where my room is.  I know this because I count them everyday when I walk up and down them 20 times.  I drink about 20 bottles of water a day between meals, classes, study group and personal study time.  So, you know what else I do about 20 times a day.  Speaking of water, one reason I drink so much is that it is very dry here.  It's so dry that I don't have any bad hair days here!  Great - I find a place where my hair cooperates everyday and it has to be some place that is 35 degrees in the middle of April.  

When you are somewhere that you can not possibly take time for a pedicure (really can't), you have to cut your own toenails.  Three weeks in and I finally realized that!  Okay, that was TMI.

About the pictures -- The building with glass windows is called Kresege Hall and that is where I eat my meals (the ones not in styrofoam).  The picture of the stairs I put in, because I actually saw somebody ride a bike UP them today.  They lead from campus to the bridge across the river.  The dog picture is because I even miss my dogs (well, they are really Ashley's, Trevor and Trey's - but I claim them since I am hundreds of miles away), and I enjoyed watching this dog swim in the river today.  The picture of the JFK park shows you where I spend exactly one hour on the rare sunny afternoon, such as today.  Ashley gave me this great wireless weather thingy that shows me the daily weather, hi and lo, and windchill factor and a five day forecast.  SO, I have been watching this thing all week and it said hi of 70 and sunny for today.  I worked all week day and night to get my cases done early for tomorrow so that I could enjoy the afternoon for a couple of hours and I did!

I am so excited about the CFA team that is coming in on Monday!  I cannot wait to see you all!  For those who don't know, 11 CFA staff are coming in on Monday to serve CFA to all the class members Tuesday at lunch time.  People from all over the world will be having their first taste of CFA!  I am not sure what my friends from India will think of the Eat Mor Chickin cow, but we shall see.

I better get back to work -- getting ready for Monday and Tuesday classes so I have time to visit with my CFA friends.  And tonight is lobster reception, which means there will be a little lobster and a lot of drinks.  I am going for the lobster!

I wish everyone an awesome weekend -- thanks for the many thoughtful cards -- they really lift me and thank you for all the prayers behind them.

Blessings and love to all,

Dee Ann

Paranoia and Growing Giants

"If each of us hires people that are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs.  But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants."

David Ogilvey (Ogilvey and Mather Advertising)

"Only the paranoid survive."

Lou Gertsner

 I had two jam packed days, but outstanding learning opportunities.  My classes have been in marketing, strategy, ethics, innovation, decision making, of course, finance and organizational development.  Well-known author and Harvard professor, Michael Porter spoke to us yesterday and Lou Gertsner, former CEO of IBM, Nabisco and American Express spoke this afternoon.  Hema Hattangady taught innovation class today.  She is CEO of an Indian company called Conzerve.  She has a fascinating  story how she was chosen to be the CEO of her father-in-law's company, which you can imagine would be a very odd thing to happen in India.  I may have told you that I am one of 22 women in the entire program and there are 152 men.  We are in two sections, so there are 11 women to 75 men in my class.  When she answered questions, some of the Indian and Middle-Eastern men took that as an opportunity to be condescending and insulting to her, but she responded as a seasoned executive with more grace and poise than I have publicly ever witnessed in such a situation.

The work load is still averaging about a 100 pages a night plus presentation preparation, but I am starting to get the hang of it, and I am learning so much! I would love to tell you a funny story, but there has not been anything too funny to happen.  If I could tell you of all the drama that goes on around here, you would probably laugh.  It's amazing to see very high level executives, from all around the world and in some of the top companies in the world acting in the ways that they do sometimes.  Again, I am so grateful for my team at CFA, who are the best people to work with on the planet!

I finally realized that the barrier I am experiencing has more to do with me being an American than anything else.  The rest of the world is really mad at us "for crashing the global economy."  Their perception is that all Americans fly on private jets, bail on their mortgages and over leverage their credit.  I have done my best to let them know that ALL Americans are not that way. 

I am working very hard on teaching please, thank you and my pleasure -- I miss hearing those words that are ordinarily part of my daily life.

The weather has been beautiful all week -- still cold, but tomorrow is supposed to be 70!  It gets cold again after that, but I plan to enjoy a walk by the river tomorrow afternoon.  Mom is worried about me walking, but I only walk in safe places in the daytime.  The HBS campus is a walking only campus, so everybody walks.  It's a very healthy place.  And the Harvard Police Department is very good.  I checked the crime statistics -- no violent crimes -- just bicycle theft and such.  

Melissa, thank you for the awesome snack package.  Lisa, I don't know how long I am supposed to keep those Chocolate Chip cookies, but they are the best ever -- there have been days I lived off them (isn't that a healthy thing to do!) and Kelsey, thanks for all your encouraging comments, texts and e-mails!

Please continue to remember me in prayer.  I have told you the surface stuff, but there is so much going on behind the scenes.  I am definitely on the front line of Spiritual Warfare.  God gives me just enough to keep in the game, but not so much that I am not dependent on Him.

More scenery attached -- same stuff, different time of day and different weather ~~ The building is my a picture of the outside of "my home."

Love you all,

Dee Ann