November Blog

Hey Concord,

It has been an extremely long semester and finals week has been more overwhelming than it’s ever been.  But, I finish tomorrow and am going on winter break for almost forty days. I’m psyched! This week alone I turned in three projects and a 12- page research paper.  It’s been crazy!!

My research paper was for my International Business Class.  I was to analyze the relationship between the United States and North Korea.  BLAHH I know, but I got it done, and it’s a pretty good paper.  I also had a group project for the same class where we had to look over a failed joint venture between two international businesses. It was interesting seeing as how almost all failed international business were destroyed by the lack of understanding cultural behavior and differences.  Understanding these differences is critical to good business.

My stats class is going good.  I just turned in a project where I had to create a survey.  My survey was about what people order at Chipotle.  Once I created our survey I had to collect data, and analyze and present our findings to the class.  We had to run our data through multiple T-tests on excel, as well as create graphs, tables, pivot charts and so on.  It was more of an excel class, to be honest.  But I learned some good formulas and functions.

Now that all my projects are turned in, I just have two finals left.  One in Chemistry, and the other in International Management, I’ve kept up with the reading for both classes all semester so I don’t have too much studying to do.  After this week I’m back to working full time at the waterpark.  With Christmas coming up I can use all the hours I can get.

Next semester I am taking Philosophy, Microeconomics, Managerial Accounting, and another excel class.  I have a feeling next semester will be no joke.  But with this great break ahead of me I should come back ready!

Until the next time..

Joey J.

October Blog

Hey Concord,

It’s crazy that its already the middle of the year.   The second half is going to fly right by.  But classes are going good.  I surprisingly don’t have much homework. It’s been more about contributing to class discussions and participating I class, which kind of makes the once voluntary readings mandatory.   My least favorite class has got to be Macroeconomics.  It’s hard to believe that a class can take supply and demand into such depths.  It can seem redundant at times.  I still favor my international management class the most.  I often leave in deep thought.  Analyzing other countries to look for specific reasons why cultures are the way they are can be challenging, especially when trying to find answers outside of our paradigms and beliefs.  Statistics and chemistry are going good, not too concerned with anything.

Besides school, my attention has been going to getting all my paperwork finished up for the El Salvador trip in January.  Ill be taking a religion course that fulfills a major requirement to graduate.  It’s a 10-day program, which makes it convenient and not very expensive.  Everything looks like its going to happen, its now just a matter of financing the trip.  Later this week I should have all of that figured out.

My family is doing well. My little sister is in her senior year in high school, so she’s now looking into colleges.  It feels good being able to give her advice about picking a school.  Its exciting time for her, I’m glad I can be apart of it.  I have some reading to get to, so until next month..

 

Take care, Joey

September Blog!

Hey Concord,

I’ve been having a great time so far here at Augsburg.  My roommates and I couldn’t be happier with our living arrangements.  We get along great, and the neighbors are pretty cool.  The fact that we live right across the street makes it so much sweeter.  I can literally roll out of bed and head to class, especially with these 8:00 am chemistry classes.   Its hard to believe that I like all of my professors.  They are all intriguing just good people.  This semester I’m taking statistical literacy, macroeconomics, international management, and chemistry.  I’ve scheduled my classes so that I have two classes a day, making it easier to balance my homework and study time.

My favorite class so far is probably my international management course.  I’m kind of amazed at how brilliant my professor is.  He has his degree in neuroscience and owns five businesses in 3 different countries. He is fluent in seven different languages and flies out of the country two to three times a month. The course is all about figuring out the reasons cultures clash.  There is a lot of critical thinking, figuring out why we think, say and act the way we do.  Also a lot of analyzing and observing, trying to figure out what each of us brings to the table as managers.

I’m working on studying abroad this winter break.   It would be a ten day trip to el Salvador.  All of my forms are in and now it’s just a matter of finances.  I have yet to meet with an advisor, but I don’t think money will be too much if an issue.  My financial aid will be transferred and cover almost all of the expenses.  So far it seems like ill be able to go!  I’d be fulfilling what they call an “ Augsburg experience” credit and as well as some other electives.

I’m ready to leave this place and see what the rest of the world is like.  I feel its essential to my business degree and future career.  Can’t wait!