The Clock Is Ticking

ProfessorDarius
It seems like every time I post I have involved myself in some other experience foreign to me. I guess this is the point of my trip though right. What have I gotten myself into this time?... I just found a job teaching English in a small town right outside of Madrid. Aside from community service, I have never had the opportunity to work with children in this capacity. Thus far, I have worked with students aging from 3-12. At those ages, I thought kids were cute and harmless….Well let me just say that I was in for a rude awakening on my FIRST day of work. When I arrived at the school, all of the kids were intrigued by how tall I am. At that point I thought I’d easily be able to control a classroom being that had so much interest in this giant nuevo profesor. I think they were just putting on an act. The following example of how they behave comes from a 3 and 4 year old class that I had. For the first 2 or 3 minutes of class the kids were like little angels listening to everything I had to say. They must have been plotting how they were going to destroy the classroom. Seconds later it seemed like the classroom quickly turned into a mad house. As soon as I began trying to teach them about animals, they decided to start acting like….well…animals. The entire class thought it would be a great idea to stand on top of their desks and jump off as if they were the birds we were discussing. My 7-8 year old class was even more chaotic. At this age they have developed a more sophisticated level of evil LOL. One boy loved to use his new found knowledge of sarcasm to make jokes. I could also see another girl beginning to emerge as the classroom bully. I had to stop her from putting a classmate into a Hulk Hogan like headlock. In both classes the kids decided to have a track meet inside the classroom… Oh and one question. How come kids have to go to the bathroom every 5 seconds, and all at once? LOL I cannot properly explain the craziness of that day, but if you have ever seen Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie “Kindergarten Cop” you’d understand exactly the type of mischief I was up against. My Spanish has gotten better, but it probably sounds a lot like the way he speaks English. Like Arnold, I’m about 10 times the size of all the little kids, but these fearless little creatures still think they can take me on. As you can see, the Terminator and I have a lot in common.



As crazy as my initial experience has been, I love working the children and I am really enjoying spending time with them. During periods of chaos I would have loved to throw one of those little devils out of the window LOL (I’m joking). However, it is impossible to remain irritated with them when they run up to you the next day excited to be in your class. It is becoming much easier to get my classes under control so that I can effectively teach the students. I feel great when I observe the students learning more and more each day. I try to do as much as possible to help them to shed the heavy Spanish accent. In all seriousness, most of the kids are well mannered. I learned that as a teacher you just have to learn to help them to control all of the pent up energy they have. They are also helping me to learn more Spanish. Kids are some of the best actors when you need them to mimic the meaning of a word.

In Other News
As you all know, I applied for KPMG Global Audit Training and the Yale Pre-MBA Leadership Program. Both programs were stacked with extremely talented people from around the world. Unfortunately, I did not make the cut for the KPMG Global Audit Training, which would have allowed me to do 2 weeks of job training in Greece. I’d be lying if I said that I was not disappointed to hear the news. However, I am honored to have the opportunity to apply and be considered for the program. With that said…Know that I have already gone back to the drawing board to refine my strengths and improve on my weaknesses. The next time another opportunity like this is presented; rest assured that you will not see the same applicant that applied for this program. I’ll be back KPMG! And when that time comes, I’ll be equipped with new and enhanced abilities.

Now for the good news! Last week I was informed that I have been accepted into the Yale Pre-MBA Leadership Program. Sixty candidates worldwide were selected to take part in this program, which focuses on developing business and leadership skills. It is also centered around developing participants’ ability to have a positive impact on the community. I can only imagine the number of impressive applications that the selection board had to choose from. Given the exceptional talent pool, I am very grateful to be one of the candidates selected to benefit from this opportunity. During the program, we will be taught the basics of many business school subjects. Participants will also have the opportunity to network amongst each other, Yale School of Management faculty and alumni, and current MBA students. The program has also planned trips to the New York Stock Exchange and various corporations. Lastly, we’ll receive one-on-one training to improve our presentation skills and job market skills. I’m ready!!!

*Special thanks to Derrick Tillman-Kelly, Nicole Davis, and Professor Gerald Olson for assisting me in the application process!

Decisions Decisions
The end of the month has come!!! I have reached a point in my adventures abroad where I have come to a crossroad. This crossroad has caused me to do a great deal of self-reflection and prioritizing in my life. As you may already know, I have 2 major decisions that I must make before the end of the month. 1. Stay in Spain… 2. Return to the US… I’ll be honest; this is probably THE hardest decision I have ever had to make. You’ll see why in a second. As you will soon read, there is a great deal of risk involved in my decision (more than I have ever experienced to this point). Now, I have already made the decision, but I’m going to walk you through my thought process.

What Is My Current Status?
As I sit here typing away, I continue to live with my host family here in Madrid. I came to Madrid with an acute understanding of the Spanish language. I have now advanced to an intermediate level in both speaking and reading the language. I have developed many relationships with people all over the world (from China to Brazil). What is my current financial position?... Well, after paying this months rent, I have about 50 Euros to my name to last for the rest of the month (as I’m typing there is about 9 days left). As I said before, I found work teaching English to children from 3-12 years old. I am paid hourly and payday is at the end of the month in Spain (as opposed to twice/month). The amount of hours I will receive is based on the demand for English teachers. I begin career at KPMG in October, which gives me 6 months to do who knows whatever my resources allow.

Stay in Madrid? (The Risk)
With only 50 Euros in my wallet, the risks are obvious! Rent is over 10 times what I have now. Breakfast and dinner are included (as well as other perks), which leaves lunch as the only meal that I have to find on my own. I would have to rid myself of the safety net I had with my return flight home that I had previously purchased. I’ll have to purchase a new ticket with money that I hope will be available in the future. As you can see much of my risk is related to financial resources. Also, I am putting all of my eggs in one basket with my current teaching job. As I said, the hours depend on the demand for English teachers. Given the harsh economic environment we live in today (worse in Spain), the demand is not nearly as high as before. I am a newer professor of English, which means it’ll be a little tougher for me to make as much money. So to sum it all up, by remaining in Madrid, I’m risking not having enough money to feed myself, a place to sleep, and the ability to return back to the US. Basically, I could be out on the streets in a foreign country!

Just Stop While I’m Ahead? (The Safe Choice)
Whether or not I decide to go home, I’m still going to be broke in either place LOL. However, by returning home I know that I’ll at least have a roof over my head and a couple of meals to get me through the day. (Side note: In effort to save money, I have been eating ham sandwiches and chips for lunch every day. Currently, I’m on my 40th day with this meal, no joke). Obviously, with 6 months left until I begin my career in accounting, I will have to find a job to cover my living expenses until October. There is no more freeloading after college (well not in my house at least). I’ll return with greater language skills and experience living within another country. I can turn on the TV and understand everything that is said. I can see all of my family and friends that I miss being with. I would probably join Toastmasters’ and take the GMAT (two other goals that I would enjoy working toward). Moreover, I can relax and live comfortably for awhile without living life on the edge every minute of the day.

What Am I Going To Do (The Analysis)
Here is the part of my thought process that helped me to gain a better understanding of myself. In an earlier post I talked about how I was smart enough to ensure that all of my risks were calculated. Well…it is no different this time. I have weighed the positives, negatives, and the potential for disaster in both decisions (which are a lot higher than I would like). On paper, going home is clearly the safer and healthier decision…And trust me, it is extremely tempting. After reading my previous posts and learning more about me, I’m sure that by now you can guess the decision that I have come to. I would love to return to the comfort of my home…But this truth is America, I have some unfinished business. Before coming to Spain, I dreamt of experiencing and living a new style of life. This includes learning the customs, speaking the language, being involved in cultural activities, and developing new relationships. I have been presented with an amazing opportunity that will allow me to see my dreams through… During a serious conversation with a friend I was asked, “How far would you go to see your dreams through?” My answer – “If you want to know how far I would go to see my dreams come true, I could tell you, or you could just look this way and see for yourself.” So at the end of my analysis, I was able to sum up everything into a few questions. What was I more willing to sacrifice? My comfort? Or my dreams?

Last Minute Items!!!
*About three weeks ago I went to a town by the name of Toledo. It is the old capitol city of Spain. I saw some of the most unique architecture and landscaping ever. Unfortunately, I have not figured out how to upload a photo album onto my blog. If anyone how to do this, could you please let me in on the secret? Until then, I'll just load the photos to my facebook account.

*Recently, I went to see an Arabic orchestra playing in some fancy building (forgot the name). It was a very interesting experience. After the orchestra finished playing, my roommate and I (along with 2 new friends) wandered into a VIP dining area. What's funny is that apparently the only reason we didn't get kicked out is because they thought I was Arab. I was wondering why all of the waiters kept speaking to me a language that obviously wasn't Spanish. So far people have guessed that I am Dominican, Arab, African, and Columbian. No one has guessed American yet (before I begin speaking).

*Two weeks ago I went to one of the most amazing events I have ever been to in my life, Las Fallas de Valencia. It was definitely one of the top 2 experiences I’ve ever had. Because it was so special, I will be making a special post for the event to give you an idea of what I experienced (I’m still a little speechless). Here’s a picture of what’s to come!


As always, I invite your comments! Thank you for tuning in once again.

-InternationalDarius
Email: internationaldarius@yahoo.com

One Month Down...And Still "Running"

Hola mis amigos de Estados Unidos (y otros paises)!!! Que tal? I'm a week past my guaranteed staying time and still running. Let's see how long I can ride this thing out. I have added a couple videos for you entertainment. I appreciate you tuning in once again. I hope you enjoy the post!!!

Classes Are Over, Now What?

I just wrapped up my Spanish class this past Friday. I cannot believe how much I have learned in only a month. I am ages ahead of the “deer in headlights” InternationalDarius that I was before. I can actually hold conversations as long as the Spaniards aren’t talking 100mph. For my participation in the class, I received a document verifying that I officially possess an intermediate level of Spanish speaking ability. Because this is such a great experience, I have decided to continue my education, but less formally. I am now participating in what is called an intercambio. Basically, you exchange languages with someone else as you both learn the others language. Right now I have two Spanish speaking friends with whom I exchange languages. One of my amigos is from Peru and the other is from Brazil (Brazilian’s speak Portuguese but he also knows Spanish). We speak for about 2 hours, one in English and one in Spanish. It is really helping me with my confidence, which is very important. It is also a good way to build relationships. Mi amigo Andre (Brazil) walked around with me yesterday helping me look for jobs. He was my translator when I could not understand the managers of the places I applied. Although, at times I could not understand what he was saying either. In order to continue my studies, my Señora gave me a Spanish book with a lot of exercises on grammar. Classes are probably the best option if you want to learn, but they are expensive. I’m in day 3 of my informal education though. It seems to be going well. We’ll see how my Spanish continues to progress.

Oh yea…I finally got around to asking my Señora (her name is Tania) if she’ll do and interview. She agreed and we should be filming it this week. You’ll get to see just how much I learned in a little over 30 days.

Pictures Please!!!

I was informed by a friend that I need to put up some more pictures of the beautiful artwork, landscape, and architecture of Spain. Those are soon to come. This weekend I will be going to a town called Toledo. Toledo is an older city with some amazing attractions. I have an idea of what to expect but who knows what is to come. I’ll be sure to take great pictures and post them ASAP. Until then, I have some photos of a few places I have been in Madrid. I have yet to go inside the King’s palace or any of the elaborately decorated churches. I promised myself that these things are next on my agenda.

Carnaval

Last week marked the end of Carnaval. The festivities carry on for four days in numerous locations across the

world such as Brazil, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, Columbia, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago. Historically, for Christians, this signified the last opportunity to celebrate and eat certain foods before Lent. It seems to me that it is a huge party where everyone dresses up in their favorite costumes. There are a number of parties and parades that highlight the event. Before you get too jealous of the 4 day party, remember that we

have something similar at home. We just call it Mardi Gras. The major difference here is that people actually get days off of work and school to celebrate. In Spain, Carnaval is most celebrated in the city of Cadiz. Unfortunately, I was not able to travel to Cadiz. However, Madrid has a celebration of its own, which I was not aware of until I was attacked by a pink gremlin LOL! YES! P-I-N-K G-R-E-M-L-I-N…Sounds crazy but here’s what happened. I had gone to the mall attempting to recharge my Spanish mobile phone as I do every week. Everything seemed to be going along as it normally does. As I was handing my money to the cashier, out of the corner of my eye I see this bright pink, four foot gremlin running directly at me. Now I don’t know how many of you have seen a bright pink gremlin, but I must say that for a split second I was little freaked out. Luckily, just before I raised my foot to give this thing a swift sidekick, I recognized it was somebody’s little boy dressed up for Carnaval LOL!...Hey don’t judge me!!! It was a natural self-defense reaction. I expected to see people dressed up at night and at parties…But who expects to see anyone running around the mall at 2pm like that….Call me crazy!

Aside from the above experience, I was able to attend one of the parades in the streets of Madrid. At the parade, Frankenstein, T-Rex, and Wonder Woman all made special guest appearances. I have posted a few pictures (above) of the parade.

IntellectualDarius Moment

Failure Facts:

• Steve Jobs was once fired from Apple, Inc.
• Donald Trump has been forced to file for bankruptcy 3 times
• Nelson Mandela was wrongfully placed in prison for 27 years
• Neil Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer and 50% chance of living
• Muhammad Ali had his boxing license suspended nearly 3 years after opposing the Vietnam war
• Mahatma Gandhi was nearly lynched after assisting Indians in attempting to overcome a bill that denied them the right to vote
• Jackie Joyner Kersee, arguably the world’s greatest female athlete, battled severe asthma throughout her career
• Michael Jordan has missed 26 game winning shots
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. faced harsh criticism after allowing children to march in the Birmingham Campaign in the presence of violent authorities

Despite the numerous failures and setbacks listed above, the people are some of the greatest and most successful people ever to walk the planet. These people have provided a great example of our potential to achieve our goals when we:

1) Never lose sight of our goals

2) Continue on your journey toward success despite any setbacks or failure

3) Be willing to both help and be helped

Failure can either be used to defeat us, or we can use it as motivation. We can allow failures to be listed along with some of the greatest…Or they can be listed along with the underachievers. Where will your next failure be ranked?

I think this commercial by Michael Jordan explains it best.

Last Week’s “Question of the Week” – What Motivates You?

I appreciate everyone who sent in responses to last week’s “Question of the Week.” Below I have listed the most frequent responses:

1) Family

2) Making a Difference

3) Winning (Be first)

Based on your responses, I see that everyone has various sources of motivation. I feel that all motivational sources can be equally effective, assuming we maintain our moral character. In my opinion, we must use whatever it is that lights that fire from within to fuel our charge toward achievement. After we identify what motivates us, we should use that source to leverage our success. For example, if I am driven by the desire to win then I’d probably be more effective when I put my self in competitive situations. Maybe I could make create friendly competition with a classmate to see who could get the best grade in class.

Question of the Week

How do you overcome "failure" in your life?

I appreciate you tuning in once again. I look forward to hearing your comments. Anyone is welcome to respond. You can post directly on the blog or shoot me an Email. Don't be afraid of the wall either lol! Email: internationaldarius@yahoo.com

Thank You,

InternationalDarius

Nightlife….Getting Sick…What’s Next….CPA!!!

Once again…I must apologize for the period of time between posts. I have a good excuse… I’m sorry (Bros.)….I really meant I have a good reason, which you will understand in a moment. Over the post two weeks, my experience in Spain has been filled with all types of adventure, some good…some bad…but all beneficial.

The Parties

As much as I enjoy my intellectual moments, I also LOVE to loosen up the tie, have a couple drinks, and enjoy the completely nonacademic side of life. If there ever was a time and place to do this, it is here and now. Believe me when I say that there was A LOT of partying going on in my first week…Work hard, play hard. Right?... What is the nightlife like in Madrid? It’s quite different than that of los Estados Unidos. First of all, no one actually starts getting to the clubs until 1am. Yes, it was hard for me to accept this idea too. What time do they close? The clubs normally let out at 6am. And trust me when I say that people actually stay there until 6am! A few nights ago, I went straight from “Orange” (a club) to mi clase de Español. Apparently, this is not out of the ordinary for students or people with jobs….When in Rome (or Spain in this case). From what I have seen, people here are really into American music. “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne was playing and there was a lady dancing next to me singing the song word for word. I began to wonder if she even knew what she was saying…So of course I had to ask her (in Spanish of course). After stumbling through my Spanish to try to ask the question, she replied (in English), “not really but it sounds good”. I guess she recognized that I was American after hearing my Tarzan-like Spanish lol. After the quick conversation I walked away laughing and wondering…. “Do I even know what the song is about?” Oh well…It made for a great time anyway. Overall, I think that my favorite club out here has to be Kapital. It has seven floors with different music on each floor. I believe that 2 of the floors have a lounge area with a theater and pool tables. The size of the place would lead you to believe that there is a lot of space to move. Well, at about 3pm (and a few drinks) you realize that your hourly walk to the bathroom has become maze-like as you wind around hundreds of people. Maybe it is different on floors 5-7, but I haven’t made it that far yet lol. Although Kapital was the best club, I had the most fun at a club called Pacha, the second floor specifically. The first floor is said to be filled with what they call pijos (snobs). Prior to going to Pacha, I met some popular Futbol (soccer) players in Spain. The night started off well because they got me in the club VIP (saving me some money). After settling in, one of the more energetic Futbol players convinced me to go on stage with him and act silly…Hey, why not?...At that point, the DJ was playing “American Boy” by Kanye West which is pretty laid back. Well, shortly afterward the DJ decided to play “Crank Dat Soulja Boy”…I’m sorry America but I just couldn’t resist the urge. I stood on stage as they “watched me YUUUUUULE!” LOL…Great times!!!

Getting Sick

OK this is where you begin to understand why I have not posted. On a cold winter night out in Madrid I decided to be “cool” and wear clothing more suitable for a day in the fall. For reasons that I still cannot explain to this day, I thought I was untouchable by the illnesses floating around…like this cold weather couldn’t make me sick. Needless to say, when I woke up at 3pm the next afternoon, I felt like I had been hit by a train. It’s funny how un-cool it is when “trying to be cool” goes wrong lol. As if this wasn’t bad enough, I quickly found out how hard it would be to get medicine. In Spain, you cannot simply go to the store and pick up NyQuil. First, you have to go the Farmacia and describe your symptoms to the pharmacists. There were two problems with that. Number 1, they aren’t open 24 hours. Number 2, at that point I wasn’t very good at explaining much of anything (in Spanish). Feeling as though I was on my death bed, I hardly wanted to deal with fumbling through a dictionary while trying to pinpoint the words I was trying to use. Oh how I missed Wal-Mart! I decided to kick this illness naturally…A lot of sleep and hot tea. I ended up missing 2 classes for the week and staying in one day on the weekend. I must say, missing class is much more hurtful when you actually witnessed your bank account dwindle as you paid for classes that you eventually miss. So there you have it! Trying to be cool got me sidelined for about four days. Lesson learned America! Cold air in Spain is no different than cold air in Chicago lol….Oh yea, and nature tends to be a lot less kind to foreigners!

Alright alright I know that only explains 4 of the last 14 days! What else could I have been doing? Well earlier last week, I received notice of two amazing opportunities. The first is a leadership program offered by Yale School of Management. The other is an opportunity to go to Greece through the accounting firm that I will be working for in September, KPMG LLP. Immediately after finding out about these opportunities, I set out to complete the required application for admittance. In all, wrote five essays in one week. It will be awhile before I find out if I have been admitted into either program. If anyone from Yale or KPMG is reading, feel free to pass me through LOL. Just kidding…Kind of. Keep your fingers crossed!

What’s Next?

As you all know, I only had one guaranteed month as InternationalDarius, in the literal sense of the word. I came to Madrid (on a one-way ticket) through a Spanish language program that provided housing and intense Spanish lessons. This trip was completely financed by money that I have been saving since May, which didn’t turn out to be much. I guess you could say I put it all on the line, in terms of finances. In a worst case scenario, I could be stuck here without enough money for a return trip home. I know it was a slightly dangerous decision, but in my opinion, all of the risk I am taking pales in comparison to the rewards. Plus, I’m smart enough to ensure that my risk is calculated lol. Obviously, I need to find some sort of income to make ends meet, which brings about an interesting story. For the purpose of the story, please disregard the bad English. In my search for a job, I came across the following opportunity:

*Hello,*
> Basically I’m looking for assistants or shopping helpers, which can buy some stuff by orders of my clients or to receive corporate documents and some other special orders for delivery locally by you.
> No heavy stuff to lift up. Every day I have different orders.
> Your duties:
> Every week I’ll send you each item description, which I’m looking for.
> I’ll pay you *200 Euro *for your job/once.
> I’ll pay you extra for fuel or other expenses for transportation as a bus tickets.
> It is easy job but a little specific.
> I have 10 – 40 customers every day with different orders from all areas of Europe.
> I have some special orders also as corporate documents delivery, cash delivery, jewelry delivery and gifts delivery etc.
> FAQ
> How is money sent to me in order to buy the items you need?
> Money will go directly to store or going to your bank account. You’ll
> have cash for your job in your hands.
> It looks like very easy for people, which are not experienced shoppers.
> This is legitimate. As I said I have different orders every day. If
> you really interested I’ll teach you about each deal at the same time when it will come to that point.
> I’ll try to make you busy if you would like to.
> I’m busy too much. That’s why I’m looking for assistants.
> Let me know if you still interesting and please give me some
> information about yourself as follows:
> First name:
> Last name:
> Age:
> Sex:
> Nationality:
> Home address:
> City:
> Postal Code:
> Home phone:
> Cellular phone:
> E-mail:
>Scan of any photo.
> What is the best time to contact you during a business day?
> How many hours do you have available during a day?

And Then:

Dear Darius,

Thank you for your reply.
I can give you the best order of this week as a test for you.
You will receive money to your bank account as prepayment for your job and for laptops, which I sold out at the auction to make sure you’ll have your first order and you can handle that.
You’ll start up since Tuesday - Friday.
I’ll give you easy order for the first time for documents or cash or check or gift delivery and it is going to take about 2 hours at Wednesday for your part of job. If you don’t have available time at Tuesday, please give me your plan for the next week. As you know our hours are flexible.
So please give me your banking
Name on your bank account(As shown on your information:bank statement):
Account number:
Bank name:
Every time I’ll provide you with all necessary information and instructions in details.
OR
If we are talking about stable business for a long time I would like to ask you to open personal bank account in Citibank - most stable bank in the world in our World Wide crisis situation from my opinion.
P.S.
I am selling and buying stuff on the auction all around Europe.
I don’t need any company and any web for that. If I have to buy stuff in Germany locally I have to pay high taxes.
That’s why I am using different people in another country.
So money going out from one country and I have to pay money for stuff from another country.
This is good for my customers I‘ll be clear under the LAW of any European Country.
I need your help. If you will follow my instruction I’ll give much more possibility for your future with real profit.
First deal for you, as a test and I must see how you can candle that.
If you are ready to go let me know about your plan for this week and next week exactly because I need to know how long time you will be free for my business.
Regards,

Alex

This is perfect for me right....short hours with good pay. Wrong! It’s funny how a little desperation can almost lead even the smartest people to believe the dumbest lies. Many people fall victim to this ridiculous scam. Upon first glance, a few friends and I thought this was a great opportunity. It’s a good thing I actually sat down to understand what was really going on. Courtesy of a good friend, here is an explanation what happens. This guy Alex (or whatever his real name is) takes your account information. Then he will write checks from your account to accounts outside of the country. He will later cash the checks before you or anyone else recognizes what has happened (because it is cashed internationally). Oh and one more thing…You will be held liable by other banks for what our buddy Alex has done. Could you imagine the turn of events had I actually taken another step with this? I am just happy I can laugh at the situation that I nearly walked into. Not everybody can say the same.

Ok so what’s next? I have arranged to stay in Madrid for another month. I will not be taking classes porque estan muy caro (because they are very expensive). To improve my Spanish, I’m going to participate in what is called intercambio. Basically, you find someone who speaks the language that you would like to speak. This person also desires to learn your language. You arrange times to meet and teach each other how to speak in the desired language. Beyond that, I’m just going to let the wind guide me throughout the month. I decided to wrap up my travel abroad experience at the end of March. Unless I find a suitcase full of money, I think it would be best to get out while I’m ahead LOL. I’ve probably taken enough risk for one trip. With March being my final month, I plan on doing any and everything that sounds like a good idea. It should be interesting!!!

Last But Not Least…Darius Gant, CPA!!!

I have had a day to digest the fact that I have actually completed the rigorous CPA exam. I wish someone had a camera on me when I received the good news. The celebration was nothing short of obnoxious lol. It reminded of when Rockstars go completely crazy and trash their hotel rooms (minus breaking things). You’ll understand why the celebration was so intense after explain its background. The CPA is the highest designation to be obtained in a career as an accountant. Each test taker must pass all 4 sections of the exam within a one-year period. Per section, there is only a 40% pass rate. Only 10% of test takers successfully complete the entire exam on the first attempt. Each section of the test is taken using a computer in a secured room. Candidates are given approximately 4 hours to complete each section. By the time I had begun to map out my test taking process, I had already decided that going to Spain was a must. In order for this to be possible, it was necessary that I finish the exam by the end of January at the latest. This meant that I had to successfully complete all 4 sections between October 1, the earliest date to test, and January 31 (4 months). During that time period, I was also faced with presiding over a newly established student chapter of National Association of Black Accountants, taking a full load of courses, participating in a student lead action group “Audacity of Success”, and somehow maintaining a social life sufficient enough to maintain my sanity. Obviously, the odds were stacked against me in terms of my probability of success. However, I don’t think that there is a time where I so determined and focused on succeeding. What was my life like? I was still in school for the first 3 sections. I was in the library studying at least 8 hours per day (not including downtime). I even had my own “office” on the first floor of Ames Library (that’s what I called it). Everyday I would wrap up my studies around 3am. At first this was very hard to do while realizing my peers were enjoying warm weather (in Sept), less stress, and more fun. However, I learned that each sacrifice I made just fed my determination to succeed. For my final (and most difficult) section in January, I was at home. I set up my new “office” in the bathroom (see the picture) where I would remain for 9 or more hours per day. Yes, you read correctly…I locked myself in a bathroom with my computer and books for 9 or more hours a day. Sounds fun right! I even found myself studying on Christmas Eve and New Years’ Day. Luckily, my mom allowed me to invade the bathroom until 4am every morning while both her and my brother were forced to walk to the first floor bathroom in the middle of the night.

My purpose in telling this shortened version of this story is not to glorify myself. Passing alone has made me happy enough. I tell this story because it is important to understand that the reason that I was able to achieve my goal is because of my determination and willingness to sacrifice. It had little to do with being naturally smart or having good luck. In fact, to have your achievements credited to your natural intelligence or being lucky is a slight insult. They neglect the most important aspect of achieving any sort of significant accomplishment, hard-work. At times, it was difficult for me to stay in my “office” knowing that all of my friends were out partying. However, this does not mean that I was not enjoying life. Passing the CPA exam is not my life goal, but it is definitely a step toward reaching the life that I dream about. For me, chasing a dream is exponentially more pleasurable than moments that are temporarily exciting, especially when you can see your dreams materializing before your eyes. Throughout the entire process of completing the exam, I knew that the odds of passing were slim given my schedule (based on prior numbers). However, what is more important is that I understood that by contributing the necessary effort, anything was possible. I have always known this to be true about anything that you set your mind to do. Today, it’s not only something I know, but it’s something that I UNDERSTAND, which is significantly different. As I said before, I am not documenting this to glorify myself. There are a number people out there who I talk to about success and what we need to do to realize our potential. I am thankful for everyone who has given me the advice necessary to be successful. For those who look to me for advice, it is my hope that this serves as motivation. Personal accomplishments excite me, but I am more passionate about seeing you realized your own dreams, especially you SEAN and TEAH!!!

I’ve posted a Question for the Week and I look forward to hearing your responses!!!

Contacting Me

I know that there are some people who have tried to contact me via text message or phone call. I disabled my US cell phone while I am traveling. If you want to contact me, I check my email and facebook (if your on it) regularly.

Question of the week: What is it that motivates you?

I would love to hear your thoughts. Please post to the comments section of the blog. If you would rather contact me through email, my address is: internationaldarius@yahoo.com

Thank you,

InternationalDarius

First 3 days....One Word....SORPRENDER!!!

I apologize for the amount of time between this post and my first post. However, I can sum up my experience to this point in one word……SORPRENDER!!! As of today, I have been in Spain for nearly 3 days.

The First Day

I arrived in Spain on Sunday expecting to escape the dreadful Chicago winter. Unfortunately, after stepping off of the plane in Madrid all I could see was snow. Apparently, snowing is a rare event in Spain. All of the Spaniards seemed excited about it. An hour after arriving in Spain I was dropped off at the house of the family that I’ll be living with for the month. I had no clue what to expect...And I most certainly was not prepared for what was to come. Within 5 minutes of being in the home I found myself in a state of shock. My Señora, caretaker, did not speak ANY English and I definitely did not know ANY Spanish. It seemed as though she spoke 100mph, while I gave her the “deer in headlights” look…Talk about feeling brainless… After attempting to converse with my Señora for about a half hour, I retired to my new room for the rest of the night completely bewildered. I had never appreciated the ability to communicate effectively until that point. Based on my last blog entry you’re probably thinking “What happened to all of the excitement? The unquenchable thirst for knowledge?” Well…….rest assured that you have nothing to fear. You know I cannot let you down! Despite the fact that the previous comments seem like complaints, I cannot begin to explain how amazing all of the confusion made me feel. It verified the fact that I will be exposed to a lifestyle completely foreign to my own. I have the opportunity to realize exponential personal growth unlike any other. I have never been so excited to attend the first day of class…not even in Kindergarten LOL!

First Day of Class

Part of this experience requires that we find our own way…..to class that is. Yes, I was tossed directly in the fire LOL. My first thought was “Oh Geez!” I decided that I would use the metro (la linea 6) as my mode of transportation. It couldn’t be any harder than navigating the metro in Chicago right? Unfortunately, I hadn’t taken into consideration that the signs in Chicago are in English and these signs were in Spanish. Therefore, I definitely got lost on my way to class. After eventually finding the school (and on time), I was greeted by a receptionist (who only spoke Spanish) as she handed me a placement exam. I must say, the exam went as expected, muy mal. However, I was happy to start with the basics.

After the first section of class (2 hours), I decided to sit back for a moment to take everything in. At that very instance, I realized something very interesting. Throughout the day I had attempted to speak with other students (assuming they knew my language) only to find out that they either didn’t speak English, or it was not their first language. Why would I assume such a thing while in an environment where there were many different nationalities (i.e. Chinese, Italian, Polish, German, Brazilian, etc…)? I guess I would contribute this assumption to being born in the United States. Being surrounded by the various cultures gave me a brief sense of familiarity. As crazy at it may sound, I think that I have underestimated the diversity of the American population. Every nationality that was present in the building at that moment currently has significant representation of their culture in the US. As I continued to speak with other students something else caught my attention. I’d try to communicate with a German student in English, and when that did not work we switched to Spanish. The same thing occurred with students from Poland, China, Brazil, Greece, etc… This sparked a question in my head. Why is it that everyone here already speaks 2 languages fluently (if not more), while I’m working on my second? I even met a couple of people who knew 5+ languages. I understand that English is probably the most common language on a global scale. However, with America being so diverse, why isn’t their higher numbers of bilingual and multilingual US citizens? Is it more beneficial to be unified through use of a single language? Could it be that we feel that our superpower status eliminates the necessity to learn another language? I don’t know the answer but I’d like to hear your thoughts!

One more thing! Whenever we (the students in the program) introduce ourselves, we must also identify the country that we come from. After I announce my country of origin, I receive the most amusing response (especially when I say Chicago), they say “Oh Barack Obama!!!” with a huge smile. That is always the first response I receive. President Obama is even on the front page of today’s newspaper in Madrid. One of my professor started doing the “Yes We Can” chant, proclaiming it to be the international quote of the year. Whether you like President Obama or not, it seems that the aura he emanates is good reason to have a positive outlook on our international relationships. Everyone (and I’m talking non-Americans) speak his name with a smile on their face. Of course, it is too early to proclaim any success in the rebuilding of foreign relations, but the potential for change in this aspect of politics cannot be denied.

What is on the Agenda for Tonight?

It’s time to make my way to the club scene!!! After all of this studying, the international students decided to have a night out. By the way, it sounds funny to call myself an international student. This should be rather interesting considering the fact that none of us are that great at Spanish and we all speak different languages. Interestingly, everyone likes Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, and T-Pain. I guess some things don’t change! More to come later…

P.S. Feel free to comment on anything I’ve posted. I’d love to hear what you think. You can also email at the address below.

Also, be sure to check out the video. Thanks for tuning in!

Email: internationaldarius@yahoo.com

One Week Away!!!

Background Info
After months of trying to decide on what I should do between graduation (December) and my first day in the real world (September with KPMG), I finally decided that I would continue developing my knowledge and understanding of other cultures. I had my first taste of international travel through a 9 day trip to Costa Rica with the IWU basketball team. I've also been to China and South Korea for a 1 month period of time. Both trips turned out to be eye-opening experiences that have altered my perspective on life.

What Are My Plans?
For the first month I will be living in Madrid, Spain. I have been admitted in to a language course located at one of the local universities. I'll be participating in at least 25 hours/week of Spanish language development and cultural lessons. The program has also set up living arrangements with a family who will be providing meals and other necessities...So no I will not be homeless (well for the first month). This is the only thing I have set in stone at this point. I plan on traveling throughout Europe for another 2-3 months or until I go broke lol. For the additional months that I will be abroad, I plan on backpacking across the entire continent of Europe. Like I said, there is not set plan so I'll be playing it by ear.

Why do this?
Well the best answer would be "Why not?" but if you know me then you know there is always a method to my madness. The most important reason for this trip is to continue to feed my unquenchable thirst for knowledge and intellectual growth. Other cultures have so much to offer in regards to their traditions, ideas, and lifestyles. This trip is the perfect opportunity to get hands-on experience with a new way of life. Essentially, I would like to integrate an abundance of valuable information into a single body of knowledge. Also, the corporate environment continues to dive deeper and deeper into globalization. As I begin my career at KPMG, an international accounting firm, having the ability to cross cultural barriers is extremely valuable....OK enough with all the intellectual talk. All of that is cool (and true), but what I really need is a VACATION lol! I've been studying non-stop for the last 5 months and it's time to get some R&R.

What To Expect
Throughout my experience overseas I'll be updating the blog weekly. I will be posting:

• Various polls to get your opinion on different topics
• Videos and pictures of the trip. That way you don't have to read a page of information.
• Updates on what I have learned. I like to get real intellectual sometimes so we'll just call that the "IntellectualDarius" moments
  
• Comments on all of the trouble I get myself into throughout the trip. I promise I'll keep it PG though lol. I need to keep my job!
• Any suggestions that you have?
  

I guarantee that this will be a trip to remember for so many reasons (for me at least)!!! I'd love for you to follow along as "InternationalDarius" is on the move. Feel free to comment on the blog as much as you would like.

I'd also love to hear and thoughts or opinions you may have. You can post them or shoot me and Email.

Email: internationaldarius@yahoo.com