Lest you think I have been remiss about posting on this blog, I have an excuse: I have been quite busy! Last week we went camping. Of course, there was no internet, so there was no way to make the normal posting
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It was wet, and not just because we were on Lake Michigan – it rained nearly the whole time we were there. Still, it was nice to end the summer. On the last night there, the clouds finally cleared off just as bedtime hit. We were able to see tons and tons of stars. I used an application for my iPhone to locate items of interest, and we were able to find Jupiter and other constellations.
Week 28-29
During camping the baby was spending her time developing wrinkled brains. Apparently, they start off smooth like a rock on the shores of Lake Michigan, and later develop the wrinkly look that we think of when we think of brains. She’s also getting fatter, and should be head-down now. Some people say that during this time the infants start to get REM-sleep patterns, which means that she might be dreaming. Not sure what she’d have to dream about. I don’t think there’s any movies being screened in there or anything.
My First Week at CMU
Everything went pretty much as planned. Parking wasn’t an issue. I found my classes ok. I am pleased with most of the rest of it.
BIS 228 – COBOL Python Programming
This class was intended to be COBOL programming, a language that’s from the stone age. Nobody but big banks really use it anymore, whereas Python is actually actively used. The professor in this class seems nice, and on the first day he told us that we could do the entirety of our classwork online and didn’t need to show up. Also, he refuses to teach COBOL, hence the switch to Python. Sounds good to me.
FIN 302 – Integrated Financial Analysis
An interesting professor and class, we started off with a chapter on ‘what is finance’ and have finished the rest of the week off with some Net Present Value of money equations. All review, basically. I don’t have the calculator he demonstrates things with, but my trusty TI-84 has all of the functions. I just need to figure out how to best use them.
MKT 304 – Integrated Marketing Management
A very friendly professor from Romania. The book is, as you would expect from a marketing book, slick and to the point. This class will be very involved with active participation, I think. I’m not really ‘into marketing’ so it’ll be interesting, for sure.
MGT 303 – Integrated Supply Chain Management
This class hurts my brain. What I’m being told in here goes against what I’ve learned in the past.
BUS 301 – Integrated Business Experience
This is where I’ll learn SAP, work on simulations of running a company, and more. This takes place in the DiamlerChrysler computer lab, which is one of the nicer ones. I’m not going to enjoy how late at night it is, though – I will be getting home around 10 PM on Thursdays.
I’m told at the end of my integrated business experience I am going to have to present my company to 90+ people in an auditorium, including the dean of the business school.