I used to think that Bruce Lee and old Kung Fu movies were cheesy. In a way I used to resent them for the stereotypes they created for Asian-Americans in general. In the last year or so I've watched a few documentaries on Bruce Lee and his teachings of Jeet Kune Do. Most people know Bruce Lee for Enter the Dragon or Game of Death or for creating Jeet Kune Do, his fighting “style.” Fewer people know that he attended the University of Washington and that he studied Philosophy while he majored in Drama (this is according to the records of the university, even though Lee said several times that he majored in Philosophy). He's famous for the following quote:
Don't get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water. Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water. Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.
Lee is talking about the styles of martial arts and the flaws of them. You must be prepared for wherever the fight goes, whether that means it turns into 20 minutes of grappling or 5 minutes of boxing. It means much more than that.
In a way, this sums up my trip to Greece. This trip gives students the opportunity to work on a consulting project to give them real world experience. This program is normally only for business majors with a few exceptions and I am one of them. I have tried to come on this trip with an open mind. I have tried to be like water. This program demands that I be a business major, so as best as I could, I have been a business major for the last two weeks.
Sticking with just Computer Science would be foolish. It's not always about what your degree is in but also what skills you have to offer. Computer Science and technology is always evolving. I don't think I can stick with it forever. There will always be kids coming out of college that can code better and faster than I can. As I get older and I get more experience companies will be willing to hire these new college graduates because they can pay them less.
Many people have asked me why I'm here and until now I didn't have an answer. I'm here to gain another skill to add to my toolbox. Dana White, the president of UFC, considers Bruce Lee the father of Mixed Martial Arts because of his philosophy of fighting. Bruce Lee was all about experimenting, taking what works for you, and using it. This trip has been one very expensive experiment and I guess you could use that idea to explain my entire career. I've taken a lot of classes in a lot of different fields. I've found a lot of things that I liked as well as plenty of things that I don't like. Who knows what I will take away from this trip? I don't know yet. Nobody does. I never thought in a million years that I would ever consider a MBA or that I'd be in Greece but I'm here in Greece and maybe a MBA wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Scope Document
GCP Study Abroad Scope
Client: The World, Facebook
Address: The Internet
Contact Name: Man Friend
Date: June 14, 2011
Purpose:
The purpose is to provide a thorough update of my trip to Greece and Europe and to give insight into my thoughts as I explore Europe. This document is to define the scope of the project and establish expectations for Man Friend and the Internet.
Description:
The project is for Man Friend, another university student abroad. After studying abroad in South America, Man Friend wanted to go abroad again. Ready to apply to study again in South America, an email about the opportunity to do consulting work in Greece changed his whole plan. After being accepted Man Friend began “planning” his trip to Europe.
Man Friend successfully studied abroad in Ecuador last summer to earn his TEFL. After studying in Ecuador he visited Panama and Venezuela. This summer he will be working on a project with Prisma Electronics, based in Greece. He has two weeks to come up with three recommendations on how ease the transition in the U.S. market. He has never taken a business or marketing class in his life but hopes that he will be able to complete the project successfully.
Assistance Provided:
Man Friend plans to fill this blog with more thoughtful and humorous posts. Through sleep depravity, Man Friend will inform his friends of what he has been up to and where he has been. He'll probably mention everything he's eaten too (that will be a long list).
Expectations:
Man Friend will inform the Internet regarding the above mentioned deliverables. However Man Friend requires some cooperation from everyone:
People will read my posts
People will comment on them
Marty will always search for his name before reading my posts.
Timeline:
Man Friend will leave for Greece on June 16, 2011 at 12:10PM and arrive at 2PM on June 17, 2011 in Thessaloniki. He will leave for Ios on July 1st and leave for Athens, Greece on July 5th. On July 6th he will fly to Madrid and take a train to Castellon. On July 12th he will return to Madrid and to the U.S. on July 14th.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Stuff That I Like
Every once and awhile you find an album that seems to be talking about you and fits your life perfectly. That's the '59 Sound for me. Almost every song speaks to certain aspects of my life and it's freaky. It's basically been stuck in my CD player since last March and if you've been in my car you've heard it a few times. I figured I'd just post a few of their songs from the album that I love.
The '59 Sound
Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOBb13yDnzo
Acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8YDJkPSTXQ
This might be my favorite song off the album and gets me almost every time. It's a eulogy for a friend who died in a car crash and...well...I don't think I need to say much more than that. Studio version is great but I love the acoustic.
Great Expectations:
Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYO3Ey8NxPQ
Acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_btNUNT9prU
Opening track of the album. Again, I like the studio but in the acoustic more because he changes part of the chorus to "Everybody leaves so Mary why wouldn't you?" It's chilling and haunting and gives me goosebumps.
Casanova, Baby!
Studio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv25hbTWM9w
Acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJkEszQAhJc
As Brian Fallon explains, "not so much being a Casanova but trying to prove it a lady anyways" To me at least, it's all about going on a date with a girl (or a guy we can be gender neutral here) and knowing that nothing will ever come of it but still wanting it to happen.
After reading what I wrote the album sounds depressing but it isn't. I love it. It explains exactly how I feel when I come home but I don't know how to explain it without going into too much detail. Just check out the whole album. Senor and Queen, their EP is p good too.
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