#summer immersion

[nightblueperformingartsco-blog]

Day One-Leads read/sing through Twelfth Night and Lion King. They did such an awesome job today. At the end of the session we shared bits and pieces of our work.

[ahundredtimesyourself]

Hello there! Starving artist desperate to go study abroad in Italy this summer. T is my personal belief that as an actor, it is impossible to be the artist I want to be without seeing the world. Traveling. Knowing and educating myself in every sense of the word. If any of you strangers want to donate anything at all- literally 1 dollar- I’d really appreciate it. Thank you thank you thank you.

[lauderinstitute]

Student Post - Food, Fun…and France, of course

By Sarit Henig, Lauder/Wharton Class of 2015 and member of Lauder's French program

Picture: Pernod Ricard corporate visit, end July 2013

Our summer was extremely busy, and I did not have the budget or physical space in my Parisian apartment to prepare or purchase elaborate meals. Still, I ate better than I have in most other places because the standards for food quality in France are exceedingly high. Additionally, I am a serious chocolate fan and I was very excited to do a tour of the city’s best spots, but I was even happier to discover I didn't need to rush anywhere and one bite from the corner shop was enough to satisfy me. Indeed, you ask Parisians what are their favorite restaurants or food shops, and each person will give you an entirely different list of spots that are all singularly excellent. 

Through our program, we were able to have several finer French dining experiences. A classic French meal has three courses—appetizer, main course, and cheese or dessert, all accompanied by wine bien sûr—and can take upwards of two hours. Dishes are filled with rich meat, cheese, and cream sauces but portion sizes are small, so you can eat these dishes and feel indulgent without ruining your health (really- I promise). It could also be because we were so busy each day that we had no time to grab snacks, and we reached each evening meal exhausted and ready to do justice to the menu. And wine was an ever-present part of our lives—an accompaniment to every meal that emphasized quality and variety even at low prices.  

A two-hour lunch break used to be de rigueur but today, more and more French people are seeking faster, lighter options for their afternoon meals. The French culinary scene has responded with bistros all over the city and even food trucks that serve less expensive, simpler fare without compromising quality. Many French are whole-heartedly attached to their culinary traditions, and some decry these new establishments as an invasion of fast food à l'américain. As an American, I can say these spots have nothing to do with fast food as we define it in the United States.

I really understood the depth of French culture’s value for food during our week-long trip to Morocco. I shared a home-stay with an older couple who were very traditional in most respects. But for breakfast every day they had bread, cheese, and coffee—a very French way to start the day. Although Morocco ended its French colonial period decades ago, their daily eating habits are decidedly marked by French influence.

I don’t mean to say that unhealthy eating habits do not exist in France. France is McDonald’s largest market outside the US, and the chips and cookies aisle in the grocery store is ever expanding. Economic uncertainty and the increasingly fast pace of life pressures more people to cut out lengthy lunches in favor of a quick sandwich. But for me, as someone who is tired of years of bland lunches eaten in front of my office desk, it was extremely refreshing to experience a culture that still prioritizes taking a pause in the day and enjoying food as one of the finer things in life. This value is something I’m trying to integrate into my daily perspective at Wharton. This remains one of my favorite aspects of my whole summer experience, and the way in which I most markedly felt the vast differences between France and the US.

Are you interested in gastronomy and globalization? Check out a recent Global Knowledge Lab (GKL) from the Lauder Class of 2013 titled ‘Gastronomy and Global Cities’.

[lauderinstitute]

Student Post - Summer Immersion in India

By Nimish Shukla, Lauder/Wharton Class of 2015 and member of Lauder’s Hindi program.

There’s a famous Urdu couplet that reads: Justaji jiski thi hume, woh nah mila

Is bahanne se magar dekh li duniya hum ne

Which, when translated reads:

I didn’t find what I was searching for

But on that pretext, I saw the entire world

I joined the Lauder Hindi track nearly three months ago, spending the last two months with the other Hindi trackers on our summer immersion program.  When I applied to Lauder late last year, I was working with a not for profit in Mumbai through the American India Fellowship for Service after a radical career change.  Previously, I had spent four years working in energy investment banking with a mid-market firm in DC.  While I enjoyed the work and the people I worked with, I found myself yearning for something more.  I wasn’t exactly sure what that was, but I knew I wanted more international experience and I wanted to try my hand in the development sector.  When I was thinking about business school, I realized the Lauder program was the perfect fit--allowing me an opportunity to continue to build my business understanding and skill set, while also working on improving command of Hindi and incorporating an international scope to the business school education.

The Hindi Track with Mr. Shiv Khemka (From Left to Right: Amar, Vidya, Akshay, Nimish, Nachiketa, Malika, Mr. Khemka)

The Hindi track spent eight weeks in India completing a mix of Hindi classes, cultural immersions and meeting with business and political officials.  We spent the first two weeks in Delhi, and besides the excruciating heat, all settled in and began working on bettering our Hindi.  The next two weeks were spent in Mumbai where we had the unparalleled opportunity to meet business leaders in a range of industries including healthcare, real estate, investment banking, private equity and non-profits.  My personal favorite was with Mr. Shiv Khemka a Lauder graduate and the Vice Chairman of the Sun Group.  Mr. Khemka was able to provide a unique lens for us as a veteran of the Lauder program and as a business pioneer in South America, Russia and now India.    

After spending a rainy two weeks in Mumbai we head back to Delhi where we continued to focus on our Hindi classes and meetings with political officials.  We were fortunate to meet with M.S. Ahluwalia the Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning Commission, Mr. Shashi Tharoor a famed author and currently the Minister of State for Human Resource Development and Wharton’s own Mr. Sachin Pilot (WG 2002) the Minister for Corporate Affairs.  I left each of these meetings with a renewed excitement for myself for my next couple of years at Wharton and for the next several years pursuing potential opportunities in India.  Gaining the insight from these leaders in the political space provided us invaluable insight into some of the difficulties India faces and the resulting opportunities that are going to be available to individuals like ourselves. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about the last couple of months and quickly realized the opportunity to see India through a new academic framework, meeting and conversing with leaders of politics and business and of course spending time with the four other amazing Hindi track Lauderites is one that will continue to be a turning point in both my personal and professional life.  And now back in Philly and starting up classes at Wharton, I’m still a bit unsure as to what exactly it is “I’m looking for” but I’m positive that I couldn’t have picked a better place and program to help me see and better understand the world.  And hopefully I’ll be able figure out exactly what it is that I’m interested in looking into for the next several years. 

[lauderinstitute]

Student Post - Taste of America in Berlin!

By Kamran Mahmood, Lauder/Wharton Class of 2015 and member of Lauder's German program. 

Throughout the Lauder summer immersion in Germany, we could feel the role America plays in the world. Especially in Berlin, America is everywhere. From Checkpoint Charlie to the U.S. embassy at the Brandenburg Gate, America not only lives in prominent landmarks, but also the hearts of Berliners. Coincidentally, Barack Obama also visited Germany for the first time as President while we were there in June.

Just as omnipresent as America is the powerful Wharton/Lauder network. Our Lauder group was invited to the US Embassy in Berlin by His Excellency the Ambassador of the United States of America, Mr. Philip Murphy, who is also a Wharton alum.

We also had the honor of joining the official Fourth of July celebrations organized by the U.S. Embassy! The celebrations took place at the American Academy in Berlin, located at the historic Wannsee, and served as a modern symbol of the amicable relationship between America and Germany. The beautiful evening with the American community in Berlin culminated in fireworks. Fireworks usually signify something important--they mark the beginning of a new life, new pledges and goals, and important events. To me, these fireworks signaled a new chapter in my life. I had packed my bags; said my final goodbye to Singapore, my adopted home for the last eight years; and was about to begin my new life in the U.S. For at least the next two years, while I study at Wharton, July 4th will be an important date on my calendar.

About Kamran: Kamran was born and raised in Pakistan and attended the National University of Singapore. Prior to Lauder/Wharton, Kamran worked at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) out of Singapore. In addition to speaking Urdu, English, and German, Kamran also speaks intermediate Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. 

[lauderinstitute]

A new Lauder Institute program reflects the changing face of business

This May we welcomed our first group of Global Program students to Lauder. The exceptionally accomplished and diverse group, with students hailing from Brazil to Cameroon, just completed their summer immersion in Washington D.C., South Carolina, Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, Tanzania, and London. Their summer immersion is a departure from the language-centered immersion experienced by their Lauder peers and emphasizes strategies for navigating the interconnected world of modern business and the role of regulation and government within it. We are excited to welcome them (and all the Lauder students) back to Philadelphia for the start of Wharton’s Pre-Term.

To learn more about the Global Program check out the recent article in Wharton Magazine! http://whartonmagazine.com/issues/summer-2013/total-global/

[lauderinstitute]

Lauder students discuss foreign investment with leaders in Tanzania

Lauder students in the Global Program had the exciting opportunity during their summer immersion to meet with Reginald Mengi, Executive Director of IPP Media during their time in Tanzania. The group, led by Program Director Regina Abrami, discussed the economy, foreign investment, and partnerships. The Global Program has already traveled to locations in the U.S., China, and Singapore on the summer immersion and will be ending their travels in London before heading back to Philadelphia for Wharton’s Pre-Term. 

Read more about their visit http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=56998

[lauderinstitute]

From Grazing to Gas-Guzzling Cattle: Dar es Salaam’s urban pastoralists

Visiting this vibrant East African city, one of the most surprising sights greeting Regina Abrami, the Lauder Institute’s Global Program director, were the Masai, a nomadic people more commonly found in northern Tanzania and Kenya. Taking on new roles as parking attendants, they can be seen gently swatting cars into position, keeping order among these one ton metal animals. Clearly Masai warrior spirit is alive and well!  Visiting Tanzania in July, Global Program students will not only see the Masai in the city, but also at the Ngoyongoyo Crater where Tanzania now faces one of its greatest challenges – eliminating poaching and the unrelenting slaughter of the country’s treasured rhino and elephant.