"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." [Mark Twain]

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

2 Months Later

My first picnic in Germany!! Heather and I grabbed a table near the Chinese Tower in the English Gardens to enjoy some good food and nice sunny Munich.
I've always wanted to share my experiences and stories with family, friends, and anyone interested. NOW, I've finally found the time and encouragement from Heather to sit down and start sharing my stories and adventures.
Just one of the many depictions of what makes München so special. 
Geschwister-Scholl Platz near Ludwig Maximilian Universität, which is where the White Rose campaign against the Nazi regime started by the Scholl siblings. I did a research report on this so it's just amazing to see the actual place of action! 
Let's start with me arriving in Munich, Germany on June 2nd, 2010. I'm sure you will figure out the rest of my history as the stories develop. Why am I here in Munich? Well, that started last summer when I studied here for 5 amazing weeks (after studying German for 2 years and International Business for 3) and fell in love with the efficiency and management of BMW. So, I tested my luck with a simple on-line application and telephone interview and now here I am. Living my dream.
My Dream come true made possible thanks to BMW!!

I work for the BMW Group, Alphabet International, and absolutely LOVE my job. After an unbelievably fast 2 months have already gone by, that means I only have 3.5 to go! I really do not want to abandon lovely Munich and all the amazing friends I have made here, so in these 3.5 months I will be on the hunt for an opportunity to extend my stay for a few years--if not more! :)
Karlsplatz Fountain: this thing never stops as nor my busy life in this city!
The most famous tourist site in Munich! Welcome to the center of Munich--the architectural beauty, Marienplatz!! This is also a central meeting point for many of my adventures. 
Aside from work, Munich is the city that sleeps, but just has something against me sleeping. There is just SO much to do here, things are always changing, and I'm always meeting new friends and enjoying time with the old that I have lost my balance. When I studied in Texas at St.Mary's University for those 4 amazing years of my life, I found my balance most of the time and rarely got side-tracked! I would wake up every morning at 5:30am and go for at least a 2-mile run plus some or hit the gym for an hour, then be ready for my 8am class, finish class and go to work such as when I interned at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), finish around 5 or 6pm, then go to my closet of a dorm room and write papers and study, then hit the bed around 11ish. That was the life. I hate routine, but with so much going on, it is very difficult to balance everything. That is the last time I found my balance between work, play, and my health. Now, the enticements of Munich have killed all of my attempts at establishing a balance. So, after 2 months, I am still on the search for balance and have not yet found my code. However, tomorrow is a new day and a new beginning for overcoming this battle of mine.
The Bavarian enticement (and work reservation to attend) of the annual Kocherlball. It's held in the English Gardens at the Chinese Tower with over 10,000 people starting at 5:45 on a Sunday morning and lasting til around 11am every July. A few amazing hours of the full on Bavarian culture: sat at our reserved tables with liters of beer, white sausage with sweet mustard, giant pretzels, German doughnuts, liederhosen and dirndls, and enjoyed Bavarian bands and dances!!  

*New Experiences of the Day (will catch up with the rest later! :))
  • Cooked Tortellini in a homemade spinach-tomato sauce!!
  • Got begged by the client whom I won over to come to the meeting in London with my boss, only to turn her down since I'm just an intern!!
  • Made it to my Deutsche Bank during lunchtime.  

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