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My Academic Experience at BU

5/29/2013

One of the reasons why I decided to come to BU through MET International is their ‘Innovation and Technology’ program. For my first semester I chose classes like ‘E-Commerce’, ‘Innovative Marketing Techniques,’ and ‘Innovation Development.’ All these classes deal with modern ideas and technologies like the growing influence and necessity of online commerce and company web development as well as alternative engines in the automobile sector. I think that the development of new ways in which business is handled is essential for a future success of companies and individuals (Innovation = success).

As this is exactly what I was looking for I also decided to write my Master’s Thesis in the same field. The practical experience I gained through a project about website building, tracking, and improving project gave me a very good understanding of E-Commerce issues. Not only did I learn how to build a professional homepage, but also how to analyze traffic and keep track of customers with Google Analytics (check out my project at www.zeitgeistcitytours.com). This inspired me to dig into this field a little deeper. My thesis is therefore going to explore new technologies in the field of consumer tracking.

In my opinion all companies and especially small and mid-size enterprises have a rising demand of data mining and consumer tracking technologies because their businesses rely more and more on their online performance. Topics like ‘Social Media’ approaches and ‘Search Engine Optimization’ are essential and that is why I am glad that I learned about these topics at BU.

Moreover, this field also complements my past studies at Munich Business School which focused on Marketing and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. If I were to start my own business, I am confident that I have learned all the necessary tools I need to coordinate a proper online performance.

All these points reassure me that the valuable knowledge I have gained at BU will improve my chances to get a good job and have a decent career. Even though I don’t want to graduate and leave college, the time to take that leap into the business world is quickly approaching. However, I am certain that I am armed/equipped accordingly. Knowing this, there is nothing left than trying to enjoy the last month of studying and living in Boston before getting back to reality.

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The Boston Marathon

5/10/2013

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This year’s Boston Marathon took place on Monday April 15, 2013 – traditionally on “Patriots Day” and therefore called Marathon Monday in Boston. I heard that it is a nice event and so I decided to see the runners and cheer for them. I realized that this is typically a real family activity in Boston and nearly everybody seemed to be outside and being a part of this big sports event. I saw families sitting and standing at the track or even having a BBQ or a picnic. The sportsmanship was overwhelming because every runner was cheered on enthusiastically. It was just a nice and peaceful atmosphere and this event again showed me what a big role sports play in American culture, especially in Bostonian culture. I also recognized the importance of sports in expressing oneself. For instance, I saw runners dressed in pink and rainbow colors to represent a cause they believed in. Other runners, such as people with disabilities really impressed me. There were people in wheel chairs and one person even ran pushing his kid on a baby stroller. The army soldiers who ran with their extremely heavy gear and equipment got an outstanding applause and were especially important in brining out the “patriotism” in Patriots Day.

Lelisa Desisa Benti - The first to cross the finish line.

But it was primarily a race and not surprisingly the African athletes dominated the elite group of runners. Runners from Kenya and Ethiopia showed their skills and as a result, the top 3 positions were shared between those 2 countries (men and women!).

However, this Boston Marathon is sadly going to be remembered and associated with the marathon bombing. Probably the whole world heard of this terrorist assault and its cruel results – 3 dead and more than 170 injured people. I don’t want to recall all those bad memories and pictures again but I think it is really worth pointing out one thing I learned from this bombing. Boston has the amazing ability to move together when their community is shaken. I never saw such an incredible positive development after an attack aiming to kill random people in public. I was expecting fear and consternation at first, but instead I immediately received Facebook news about first responders and heroes who were born through this dark hour. Pictures and news of people helping each other were visible everywhere, from shop owners who offered shelter and food to runners who kept running directly to the hospital to donate blood and people who instantly set up a donation fund for the victims. The two words that described this whole atmosphere also became a symbol and sign of hope for the entire community: Boston strong!

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Let's Play Ball! - My First Red Sox Game

5/6/2013

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If you ask people what Boston is most famous for many would answer “The Boston Tea Party, clam chowder, Irish traditions, Boston cream pie AND the Red Sox”.

As one of the most popular sports in America, I just had to see a game at Fenway Park! Even though I am not an expert regarding the rules and the details of the game (at least I know the basics) everyone I talked to about baseball told me that it is more than just watching the game. So I decided to figure out what that could mean and joined the MET College event on April 26, 2013 and went to the Red Sox vs. Houston Astros game.

We had a nice buffet on the terrace with traditional game day snacks– Hot dogs, chicken wings, and potato salad. A good meal makes everyone happy and so we were ready to enjoy the game and to root for our team – the Boston Red Sox! Like you can see in the picture we had an impressive view over the whole stadium and of course the field.

The atmosphere was just stunning because everyone (about 37.000 people) seemed to be excited, enjoying the game and having a good time. Even though it was a little windy it happened to be a nice spring evening and the perfect time to be with your friends.

The Red Sox directly transformed this positive energy into a fast lead of 5:1 after the 4th inning and appeared to be superior from the beginning.

Throughout the game, there was always time to chat with friends, get drinks, and explore the merchandise stores in between innings. During the break between the 3rd and the 4th inning we had a moment of quiet and solemnity because the crowd honored first responders from the marathon bombing the week before. The medics and police officers received respect, applause, and a standing ovation from everybody in the stadium, which brought up an intense and patriotic atmosphere and the feeling that Boston is going to recuperate from this shocking event even stronger (#BostonStrong)!

When the game went on, no one had a doubt that we could lose. So the atmosphere switched into a big party and was supported by their famous stadium song “Sweet Caroline” which is traditionally played in the middle of the 8th inning. Everyone knew the chorus of course (Sweet Caroline is played at Fenway Park since 1972) and started to sing. 37.000 people singing together and having a good time made me realize what people meant when they said “it is more than just the game” – it is the peaceful and happy atmosphere that makes you enjoy not only the game but life!

The Red Sox won 7:3 !

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Finals

4/29/2013

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It feels like I have just arrived in Boston and now, the first semester is already over! Time flies, especially when you are in a completely different environment, city, and country and every day is totally new and exciting. However, the end of the semester also means final exams!

My favorite place to study is in Mugar library, BU’s largest library. It is the place where I get least distracted and have access to all the media I need (computers, scanner, printer etc.). Fortunately, the opening hours are much better than other places around campus such as the Fitrec. The fact, that I can work there almost every day till 2 a.m. not only supported my personal preference to work at night but was also essential because of the short period of time we had for preparations. When I talked to other BU students I often hear that all-nighters are pretty usual when it comes to deadlines, final projects, and exams. So I tried to start studying early and, thankfully, avoided an all-nighter. Nevertheless, I was pretty nervous about what final exams would be like, and whether I could get good results or not.

The first exam I took was for my Innovative Marketing Techniques class. Thanks to our excellent professor, Behdad Shahossini, and the projects he assigned as well as my hard studying, I was pretty well prepared. Compared to the exams I took in Germany there were some interesting differences. One is the style of the exam. In Germany we have nearly no multiple choice or “true or false” questions in an exam but more essay questions. Furthermore, the timeframe for the exams are much tighter in Germany. There I usually finished in the last minute and normally wish I had more time whereas here the timeframe seems to be looser. Obviously, the style of the exams (essay vs. multiple choice) are one reason for this difference but another reason seems to be that the professor at BU are more interested in learning what you know rather than putting you under pressure.

Now that finished my last exam I am looking forward to getting my results back. I’m also looking forward to enjoying Boston in the short break between spring and summer term!

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MET International Mentor Program

4/26/2013

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When I started my semester at Boston University I had no clue what it would be like to be a student in American culture, so I thought it might be interesting and helpful to take advantage of the mentor program offered at MET International! The idea of this program is to bring together a small group of international students from different countries and different degree programs with an American student who has already lived in Boston for a while. In my case it was Vanja who gave us a little insight into her experiences in Boston and around BU.

We would meet on a regular weekly basis at the different locations Vanja wanted to show us. These places were for instance, a cool study lounge in the basement of the GSU building (that I would never have found on my own), a typical student bar, and downtown Boston. However, it was not only the locations that made me enjoy the program, but more so the conversations (sometimes discussions ;) ), the food, and the general experience of exchanging ideas and different opinions with nice people from different cultural backgrounds!

In my opinion the mentor program is definitely a very good activity to join if you are going to study abroad in Boston. I can highly recommend it not only because it helps you get familiar with the city and its diverse cultures but, like in my case, the program also provides you with the opportunity to make new friends.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.”
C. S. Lewis

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Super Bowl XLVII (47)

4/16/2013

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Super Bowl – one of the biggest sports games worldwide and an event you can’t miss when you are in America! I was already following the NFL in Germany even though I could rarely see the games because of the time differences. They took place mostly in the middle of the night in Germany and that is why I was even more excited to finally see the Super Bowl 47 LIVE in the USA.

Unfortunately the New England Patriots lost against the Baltimore Ravens and didn’t make it to the Super Bowl but nevertheless I was really looking forward to be part of this mega event on February 3rd, 2013 – Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers.

We decided to reserve a table at The White Horse Tavern in Allston/Brighton. The atmosphere was incredible throughout the entire day. It felt like an informal holiday. Arriving at the restaurant we were glad to see that there were everywhere big monitors hanging so that we all had a good view from our table. We started the big game with “American game day food” and ordered different chicken wings, nachos, and burgers with fries as well as American beer like Budweiser, Miller, and Sam Adams.

The national anthem was sung by Alicia Keys and finally the game started. Ravens vs. 49ers – a sibling rivalry among the coaches – competing for the most prestigious NFL title. What a great setup! It was an exciting game with some interesting individual stories of players and their families. I guess that is what makes everyone get emotionally involved and makes you root for one of the teams. In the first two quarters the Ravens built a good 21-6 lead and with this score we were looking forward to the second half of the game but first came the halftime show.

As a business student majoring in marketing I was also particularly interested in seeing the new commercials during the halftime break and it seems like I wasn’t the only one because nearly everyone stopped eating and looked up at the monitors when the first advertisement showed up. Not surprisingly, everyone expected something special since a 30-second commercial cost about $4 million dollar! The “GoDaddy” commercial, in particular seemed to have caused much enthusiasm among the crowd since people started applauding and yelling when top model, Bar Rafaeli, kissed a computer guy. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the halftime show from Beyonce and (as a special surprise) the rest of “Destiny’s Child.” It even seems that many people were more interested in the halftime show than in the game itself.

The second half literally started with a big bang. After the Ravens scored an early touchdown there was a power outage and the Superdome partially blacked out. The game was suspended for about 30 minutes! Something that was unimaginable for us Europeans. How could there be such a long power outage during such an important game? I don’t know the answer, but what I did find out is that power outages are relatively common in the US and that, in this case, the outage probably boosted some companies’ income because of extra commercials shown during this time. After the lights went back on the 49ers made the game a little bit more interesting and shortened the Ravens’ lead to 28-23. However, it was too late to catch up and therefore the Ravens won the Super Bowl 34 – 31.

So this long night finally came to an end and we said goodbye before walking home through the snowy cold Boston streets, but this time with a lot of good memories and new impressions!

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Joining the BU Soccer Club

4/16/2013

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Back in Germany I used to do a lot of sports in my spare time, from table-tennis and soccer to working out at the gym and running. Doing sports is my compensation for a high workload and studying stress. Because it is the best way for me to free my mind I do sports nearly every day averaging about 12 hours a week. Therefore I am really glad that BU offers the free use of the FitRec (www.bu.edu/fitrec/) for its students. The amazing variety of sport clubs and facilities offered to us like the gym, the swimming pool, the climbing wall, table-tennis tables, squash courts, racket ball, basketball and soccer courts are like heaven for me. But unfortunately I have to study as well and to accommodate my schedule to the FitRec’s open hours. That is why I had to choose which of the sports activities I wanted to do.

In the first weeks I tried to get an overview of which activity would fit my interests and schedule and so I looked at many different activities like the table-tennis club (mainly Friday and Saturday) and several fitness courses. But in the end – as you probably expected a German to do – I decided to join a soccer club.

We first met for an open court play evening at the court and I was impressed at how many people wanted to play! I estimate there were about 50-60 people spread out along 3 courts waiting for their turn to play. During this waiting time I met many cool and open-minded people from different countries such as France, Mexico, China, Brazil, Korea, India, Bulgaria and of course the USA. We were all connected through our same passion – soccer. After playing with some of the guys and getting to know each other, I joined a team and we started to play in the BU division against other teams. The matches were 6 vs. 6 and lasted 40 minutes (2x20 min). Even though it was just an amateur tournament there were 2 referees and an advisor who coordinated the matches, which once again showed Americans’ passion for sports that I really admire!

Unfortunately, we didn’t perform very well but nevertheless I had a lot of fun, met very nice people and am now looking forward for the summer season to start.

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Eating Around the BU Campus: Scoozi

4/16/2013

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Who isn’t starving after an evening class that end at 9 p.m? But where to go to get a good dinner? We decided to try the Italian restaurant SCOOZI right on Commonwealth Ave. (T-stop Blandford Street). I really recommend that restaurant especially after class if you don’t want to travel too far. The prices where all right and the portions big, just like it should be. There was a variety of people, reaching from students to even ‘older’ folks.

Additionally, I think the location looks quite nice; when you enter, they have couches and sofas on the right side and tables where you can eat on the left side.

It is a restaurant with an open kitchen, so you can really see how your pizza is made. They mainly serve Pizzas, Paninis, Pastas and Salads. What else do you need in an Italian restaurant? We had a BIG Pizza Margherita and a spinach salad. Both were delicious!

My resume for this restaurant: absolutely recommendable. The food is great and the prices are totally acceptable! Perfect for students to go there!

Rating:

If you want to do a Margherita yourself try the following easy receipt:

I think it is a little bit too difficult to do the dough so I would take a 12 inches thin pizza crust (for example Boboli 12-inch thin crust).

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Drizzle the olive oil over the pizza shell. Use a brush to spread it around and make sure to get the crust!
3. Next, disperse the finely chopped garlic evenly.
4. Spread the mozzarella cheese throughout the top, but keep it thin.
5. Place the thinly sliced tomatoes across the entire pizza.
6. Lightly salt and pepper the tomatoes with the kosher salt.
7. Spread the fresh basil leaves, making sure to get some on tomatoes and on just the cheese itself.
8. Cook the pizza in the oven for about 9-10 minutes, or until sufficiently crispy and melted to your liking.
9. Add a little Parmesan cheese and (optional) crushed red pepper and enjoy!

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Eating Around the BU Campus: Nud Pub Thai Cuisine

4/16/2013

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Another place on Commonwealth Ave. is the Thai restaurant Nud Pob. It is right at BU Central and also perfect to for after class.

Since the place was quite crowded, we thought it must be good. I ordered the Pad Thai with Chicken, which is actually one of my favorite Thai dishes. But unfortunately, it was not outstanding and it looked and tasted a little bit boring. Maybe I just ate the wrong dish. A thing that is really good for students is that they have free Wifi so I would recommend this place more for your lunch break than for a place to have a casual dinner.

My resume for this place: the food is ok but not really special.

Rating:

You want to try Pad Thai yourself? Try this receipt:

You need: 8 ounces rice noodles; ¼ cup salted peanuts, finely chopped; ½ teaspoon lime peel, grated; 3 tablespoons fish sauce; 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 4 1/2 teaspoons rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon chili sauce; 3 tablespoons cooking oil; 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized strips (boneless, skinless); 1 tablespoon garlic, minced; 1 egg, lightly beaten; 1 cup fresh bean sprout; 1/3 cup green onion, sliced; 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1. Place noodles in a large bowl. Add enough hot tap water to cover; let stand for 10 to 15 minutes or until pliable but not soft. Drain well in a colander.
2. Meanwhile, for peanut topping, combine peanuts and lime peel; set aside.
3. In a small bowl combine fish sauce, lime juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and chile sauce; stir until smooth. Set aside.
4. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic; cook and stir for 6 minutes until chicken is tender and no pink remains. Transfer to a bowl.
5. Add egg to the hot skillet and cook for 30 seconds. Turn egg with spatula and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more, just until set. Remove and chop egg; set aside.
6. In same skillet heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over high heat for 30 seconds. Add drained noodles and sprouts; stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add fish sauce mixture and chicken; cook 1 to 2 minutes more until heated through.
7. Divide noodle mixture among four plates. Sprinkle each serving with egg and peanut topping. Garnish with green onion and cilantro.

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Quincy Market

4/16/2013

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A really famous spot I think everyone should see in Boston is Quincy Market – a beautiful old market place right at the Government Center T stop. Farmers and traders started selling their goods around this area about 200 years ago. The actual Quincy market building was constructed between 1824 and 1826. Today, it’s a popular location for people to grab a bite to eat or drink a cup of coffee. You can find approximately 30 small restaurants with multicultural cuisine from typical Boston chowder and Philadelphia cheese steak to Greek, Thai, Japanese, and Italian food along the market hallway. But, of course, there are still traditional markets from time to time. The whole scenery is very impressive and it offers plenty of discussion topics, especially if you go there with a multinational group with different cultural backgrounds.

The outdoor area surrounding the market is very idyllic with several old buildings and some trees and benches. You literally feel the history of this place and it is really easy to imagine how it looked about 150 years ago. And just a short walk away from Quincy Market, you will find the Boston Harbor.

So I would recommend everyone to take the time to experience this piece of Boston’s tradition.

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