Four words come to mind when thinking about the final two weeks of the EDGE program: frustration, satisfaction, anticipation and elation.  Through the ups and the downs of the last fourteen days, we all emerged from the program knowing that we produced quality work, learned a considerable amount about consulting and teamwork, and perhaps most of all, matured as individuals.   

I mentioned before the difficulties of working in a team setting, especially when the team is comprised of individuals with varying areas of expertise, work styles, and backgrounds.  Our team experienced several obstacles in the week leading up to the due date for our consultancy presentations and reports, but we quickly learned how to better communicate with each other to successfully accomplish the tasks at hand.  Several members of our team, including myself, even pulled consecutive Columbia-style all-nighters (Glasgow all-nighters involve working until midnight and then hitting up a pub) to complete the reports.  Obviously, those were not ideal situations, but we were able to finish everything and submit what we believed to be professional, informative reports to both our clients.  We can look back with satisfaction at the work we produced as a team.

The weekend after our reports were due was a much-appreciated respite from the long hours logged the previous few days.  On Saturday, Whitney, George, Eni (a resident adviser at the Murano Student Village from Hungary) and I traveled to St. Andrews, the home of golf.  In addition to receiving a great tour of the Old Course, we explored the streets of the town and walked down to the North Sea, which mimicked the blue colors of the Caribbean.  On Sunday, we celebrated George's 20^th birthday aboard a tour boat on Loch Lomond.  Back on land, we then managed to engage in the most random activities, like building a human pyramid, playing tag, tearing up a children's playground, and befriending every dog we passed.  Childish as it may sound, it was quite entertaining!

After our client presentations, we awaited the Award's Ceremony on Friday with great anticipation.  While the girls searched endlessly for new dresses and shoes, the gents took great delight in renting kilts and selecting which tartan pattern they favored most (I personally went with Scotland National).  Despite the lovely appearance of the EDGE ladies, I have to confess that this was one occasion when we outshone the girls with our dashing kilts, bowties, jackets, sporran and knee socks.  Wearing a kilt also attracts considerable attention (especially from women), as I quickly learned when our team went into City Centre prior to the Ceremony to have a few drinks with Oli Norman and Yvonne Seator, our clients from Dada, Inc.

Our last night in Scotland was truly a night to remember.  After our team returned from City Centre, the Awards Ceremony started with a reception on one of the quads in the Main Building of the University of Glasgow with perfect weather to complement the perfect ending to the program.  Afterwards, we all migrated into Hunter Hall where tables were set for dinner and the awards presentation.  Our team won Best Business Idea in our cohort!  It was a remarkable moment of joy, especially considering the amount of work we put into Cocoa Forest (the name of our chocolate café) and the unexpectedness of receiving the prize.  Additionally, I was awarded Best Individual for our cohort!  Walking from the back of the hall where our table was located to the front stage and receiving applause, hugs, and high-fives from everyone along the way was an indescribable feeling.  What is most gratifying about the prize is that my peers, especially my fellow teammates, awarded it to me through their respective votes for best individual.  Receiving such an acknowledgement from the people with whom you directly work is a terrific honor, and I will forever be grateful for the support I received from my fellow EDGE members. 

I conclude this final blog post from Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport as I await my flight back to New York after spending a week touring the Loire Valley and Normandy with my parents.  Although my time in Scotland ended over a week ago, the memories I made and the friendships I established there will remain a part of me for a long time to come.  Lastly, I would like to thank Columbia for offering the sixteen of us the opportunity to do EDGE Scotland 2009; I can safely say that all of us had a very rewarding and memorable experience. 

From scrambling to complete our business plan presentations to traveling around Scotland and beyond, the past two weeks have been like riding a rollercoaster.  We have forfeited precious sleep on Saturdays and Sundays to make the most out of our weekends, and now our bodies are demanding sleep and our wallets are requesting financial relief.

After each group delivered its business plan at the Dragon's Den competition last Friday, our cohort was given a four-day weekend, during which we visited a variety of places.  On Saturday, Frank, Esther, two Glasgow students (Ryan and Ernest) and I rented a car and drove into the Highlands to hike Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom.  The climb was a wee bit steep, but the views and the satisfying experience were well worth the sore muscles and the countless midge bites that we still felt several days later.  Oftentimes the Scots joke that in Scotland one can easily experience all four seasons in one day, and this proved no truer than on Ben Nevis.  While the base of the mountain was sunny and 18°C (64°F), the summit was windy, wet, snow-covered and about 4°C (39°F).  

Ben NevisIt got progressively colder and wetter. Me with Ryan Smyth and Ernest Chung

Climbing into the clouds

On Sunday, while everyone else was in Belfast or London, Ed and I journeyed to The (Scottish) Open at Turnberry, a beautiful course in southwestern Scotland, situated alongside the sandy beaches of the Irish Sea.  Here, we witnessed Tom Watson nearly make history as the oldest golfer to win a major championship. Although Watson's Cinderella story did not end with the silver cup, this Open will be one of the most memorable tournaments for years to come, and it is neat to look back and say, "We were there."

The Scottish Open

The last part of our adventuresome holiday terminated with a very brief trip to Dublin.  Being mostly Irish myself, I was itching to visit the country, or as Stephen from the movie Braveheart says, "My Island!"  Overall, I was quite pleased with what I saw of my island.  Late Monday night, Ed and I met up with the EDGE students who were previously in Belfast or London and experienced the nightlife of Temple Bar, a grandiose version of Glasgow's Ashton Lane.  After several pub visits and a trip to the Guinness Factory, I gained a newfound appreciation of and palate for Guinness, which is great news considering how self-conscious I was about not previously liking the beer.  I mean, how can you have the name of Colin Sullivan and not likeWhitney and me in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral Ireland's national stout?  

Temple Bar

Now that we are back in Glasgow, it is hard to believe that six weeks have already passed. With our business plans completed, our team only has to focus on our two consulting projects, but we must finish both presentations and written reports by next Friday. Given the minimal time remaining, we must work more efficiently, giving us the task of finishing all the work as a whole team and as opposed to uncommunicative individuals. Perhaps the most invaluable yet challenging aspect of consulting that I have experienced thus far is the ability to work within a team setting, as difficult as it sometimes may be.  In this field, or any business involving group work, the ability to practice restraint, patience, open-mindedness and diligence is an unparalleled virtue. 

These next two weeks will be the final downhill leg of the rollercoaster ride, and the precious time we have left will be over in a flash.  While some of us are looking forward to sporting our dashing kilts at the closing ceremony, we are all lamenting the inevitable closure to what has truly been an incredible journey. 

July 10, 2009

Let's start with a recap of the first few days in Glasgow.  Being foreign to the city, none of us knew what buses to take or how to get to the University or where to eat - it was like being lost in translation, just without the language barrier (although even that is debatable with some of the local accents).  After four weeks in Glasgow, we now talk in numerical jargon when referring to the infinite bus routes, and we walk to the University mindlessly as if walking to Hamilton Hall.  Perhaps best of all, I have found my new Ham Del in Baguette Express where I even have a similar V.I.P. card for all my frequent visits.   Columbia and Glasgow students together

Before arriving in Glasgow, previous EDGE participants warned us that the work culture in Scotland is sharply different from that of New York.  As I wrote in my previous post, Glaswegians strike a healthy work-life balance.  However, the University and local high school students definitely care just as much about the projects as the Columbia students do.  Working in a team comprised of unique individuals of different backgrounds, academic concentrations, and ages has encouraged me, in particular, to be more aware of differences around me and more open to new ideas and novel ways of approaching various tasks.  Although it can be frustrating at times when an assignment does not go according to plan or when a self-proposed idea is turned down, learning to work in teams has proved to be an immeasurable opportunity that will benefit us in all aspects of our academic and post-academic careers. 

My team's two projects havBen Lomonde also offered us the chance to understand more about the field of consultancy.  Our project for the PR firm involves researching two-dozen cities in the United Kingdom to decide where the firm should expand its business.  Although the assignment is not very difficult, it has proven to be slightly tedious.  On the other hand, our project for the used mobile phone company, which wants to expand into China, is more challenging but more engaging - it has allowed us more room for creativity and analysis.  Lastly, we are putting together our business pitch for the Dragon's Den competition, which is one week away.  I won't give away too much about it here, but if you're in Glasgow a few years from now and you pass a café called Cocoa Forest, remember that it was created by HudsonClyde Solutions.  

Although the weeks are dominated by work, we still manage to eat dinner together, play footbaFourth of July Celebrationll, and hit the town at night in search of one-pound drinks and free entry to nightclubs. And let's be serious - we are still students, as illustrated by our wallets, so one-pound drinks are an opportunity that cannot go untouched.  The weekends also prove to be adventuresome. Two Saturdays ago, Akhil, Ed, Whitney and I climbed beautiful Ben Lomond, which was an exhilarating experience, especially when standing at the 3,200-foot summit enshrouded in a dense cloud with 40 mph winds threatening to fling any human being down the mountainside.  Last Saturday, we all celebrated the Fourth of July with our Glasgow friends by playing American football and setting off fireworks into the evening sky.  By the end of the night, I would not be surprised if all the residents in our student village had memorized the words to the Star Spangled Banner and Columbia's fight song "Roar Lion Roar".  

June 26, 2009 EDGE Launch Ceremony

When I was accepted into EDGE back in March, I had these preconceptions that the Scottish weather was ghastly, that haggis was inedible, and that the local accent was simply incomprehensible.  Well, if there is just one thing I have learned from our first two weeks in Scotland, it is that all these notions are egregiously erroneous - the weather has been terrific (sunny, relatively warm, and surprisingly dry), haggis is delicious, and the accent is quite understandable with a little patience.  Perhaps most importantly, I have realized that Scottish girls find the American accent quite charming. 

Before I dive into more detail about my experience in this beautiful country, I have to warn my readers that I might use some local jargon from time to time.  For instance, I might use "wee" in place of "little" or "cheers" in place of "thanks."  Watching my fellow Columbians attempt to master these linguistic differences never fails to amuse me, and I think I might try to add to the enterWhitney Green (SEAS 2010) and me at the Launch Ceremonytainment. 

Our first week in Glasgow consisted of the EDGE immersion program for the students from Columbia, the University of Glasgow, and the local high schools.  The greatest benefit that we received from the training sessions was getting to know the other participants, particularly those from the University of Glasgow.  After a few days of knowing each other, we now regularly play football (soccer) in the evenings, eat out for lunch and dinner, and hit up the pubs on Ashton Lane or the clubs in City Centre.  The vibe of the lively nightlife scene in Glasgow mimics the overall personalities of our newfound friends - every place and every person is very relaxed and friendly.  The locals really do fit well into the category of "work hard, play hard."  It is a culture that places a higher premium on Ashton Lanethe social aspect of life.  

Without sounding too much like a guidebook, the city of Glasgow on the whole is a fascinating place.  From the sandstone flats and bohemian restaurants of the West End to the trendy stores of Buchanan Street and the thriving pubs of Sauchiehall Street in City Centre, Glasgow is a hotbed of activity and excitement, coupled with the history and charm of a great European city.  With its congenial culture and endless possibilities, Glasgow holds its own against cities that are a wee bit larger, like London or New York.  As one of my favorite pastimes, jogging through Glasgow's streets and parks on a sunny evening offers a unique perspective on the distinct personality of the city. 

As the next few weeks unfold, we Columbians plan on visiting other areas of the country, like the Western Isles, the Highlands, and Edinburgh, while continuing to make progress on our team consultancy reports and business plans.  My team, consisting of Ellie Lan from Columbia, two Glasgow students, and two high school students, is named HudsonClyde Solutions (after the rivers that flow through New York and Glasgow, respectively).  Our two consulting projects involve working with one company that recycles, repairs, and resells cell phones and another firm that does public relations and marketing for consumer events.  Tonight we will be attending a launch party for the latter company's new website.  As I mentioned earlier, Glaswegians really know how to mix work with play.  

Have a good one. Cheers.

In Kelvingrove Park with some fellow EDGE participants from Columbia