French Flower Arrangement

This was a first time for me to try French flower arrangement, bouquet.  Although I have learned Japanese flower arrangements, Sagagoryu and Mishoryu-Anke.  However, each style is far different in terms of volume and colour.  Even French style and England style are different, for example, I suppose French flower arrangement is in a bold and flexible manner, whereas English flower arrangement is geometrically-designed.  Japanese style may be similar to English style rather than French style.

The flowers for this arrangement were roses, apples, poppies, viburnum and ivy.  The total weight was pretty heavy, so rapping stems were a tough job.  Almost of my arrangement was supported by the teacher...but I really found enjoyment in arranging flower.  Live flowers make me happy!! 

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HEC Paris

I visited HEC ( http://www.mba.hec.edu/ ) to join an information session for full-time MBA in Paris, France.  I was a greater interested in France MBA how difference from the UK.  To be honest, the place was not Paris, near though.  Probably. if I join this course, I have to live in accommodation during 1st semester, because there is less transportation and shops...I felt it is a kind of university arrest.  Certainly, our purpose is to achieve MBA study and establish network with association, not just a overseas study.  Then, I experienced the class of micro economic which was the cost of supply and demand since that was the first class of 2nd semester.

Actually, the university grade seems high and provide unique curriculum such as army training!  Although I have joined some information session in London, but I have never heard such a program.  In fact, executive soldiers would join and achieve top grade in some business school.  Top managements of giant corporation will have to have not only skills and knowledge, but also toughness in terms of mentality and physically.  Also, those managers tend to gather and conflicts with inside and outside of the companies.  Otherwise, the companies won't survive or will have to downsize.  I suppose that managers ought to recognise the strategies not only gaining profit for themselves in short-term but also having employees and their families.  Of course, employees and their families also have to consider about company management.  If not, the tragedy may happen to workers and companies.  I believe that it is a kind of role of managers.

I have already aged to do army training, but this session inspired me many things.  I hope those students lead companies and organisation correctly in the future.

As an aside, meals of canteen were variety and rich in comparison with the UK...obviously.

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Bordeaux ~wine tour~

Bordeaux has a long history to trade wine mainly Ireland and England, and major three rivers namely Garonde, Garonne and Dordogne. The left side bank is consisted of Medoc region which is a greater famous for five premier grands crus; Chateau Laffite-Rothschild, Latour, Mouton-Rothschild, Margaux and Haut-Brion made from mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, because their terror: gravel is well-drained soil and suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon. Whereas, the right side bank is consisted of Libourne region including Saint-Emilion and Pomerol which is famous for Chateau Ausone, Cheval Blanc, and Le pin which is made from mainly Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and their terror is mainly clay. ( http://www.bordeaux.com/uk ) Their taste is therefore gentle rather than the left side ones.  Baordeaux is also famous for dessert wine namely Souternes made from Semillon, particularly, d'Yquem is a special wine.

If you want to visit wineries and cannot drive, to join a tour is recommended, since each wineries are located in the vineyard and difficult to find wineries.  I also joined the tour, Ophorus ( http://www.ophorus.com/multi_day_trip.html ) .  They provide various tours such as a half day or full day, and private tour.  My joined tour was to visit Saint -Emilion which is in the right bank, mainly Chateau Soutard of grands cru classes and Chateau des Laudes and Galeteau of Grands cru.  Bordeaux wine classification is complicated because the definition is different depends on the region.  Above pictures are Chateau Petrus in Pomrol.   Below pictures are Chateau Soutard ( http://www.chateau-soutard.com/ ).  The most surprised thing was a huge facility investment not only vintage equipments but also decorated facility such as platform of stainless tanks and maturating room which is in the motif of their character.  To be honest, I cannot understand the reason why the decoration is necessary for the tank platform...  Although I could understand that Kloster Eberbach ( http://kloster-eberbach.de/ ) has invested facilities and they explained us to reduce the hard work of underground for employees.   However, those kind of consideration might be caused by living in the UK...I thought that French people is good at enjoying all their life.  We, consumers, need to consider suitable wine prices.

By the way, I will report the cafe and oysters.  Bordeaux's representative sweets are Canelé and Macaron de Sait Emilion which is a original macaron.  I ordered a cafe, but additional sweets seem larger than cafe~.  Perhaps, Canelé was thought up to use of egg yolks because egg white is used for removing grout of wine. 

Finally, Bourdeaux is close to the sea, so people are likely to enjoy seafoods.  I tried Oyster with Bordeaux white wine which was Graves region blended Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon 2005.  Those combination was lovely! 

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Languedoc & Bordeaux

Between the terms, I had decided to visit Bordeaux and Paris for one week.  I had booked a Easyjet ( http://www.easyjet.com/EN ) flight from Luton air port to Bordeaux though, unfortunately I could not ride it, because London buses and a coach were late over my imagination.  It was a interesting experience that many strange people such as binge and travellers who do not enough money tried to get buses every station.  Therefore, it took a long time rather than daytime... That was over my imagination.  Sometime, I felt sorry for bus drivers to meet such people every time.  Eventually, I could not ride an aero plane, then I chosen the flight of next day, but I did not want to travel the same itinerary.  I decided to go to Montpelier which is a part of Languedoc, France.  It is possible to go to Bordeaux by train, but took for 4 hours.  The Mediterranean ( http://www.ot-montpellier.fr/jp/ ) had a carefree atmosphere, in particular, I felt comfortable since London had rained everyday and looked around the city until the train time. 

When I arrived at Bordeaux at night, I could the watch beautiful night views.  Bordeaux ( http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/ ) is  famous for not only world heritage but also wine.  In their history, Bordeaux has a strong relationship with Ireland and England.  Furthermore, it can be considered that their tourism industry is matured and earn privilege, so people were a greater familiar with tourists.  I strongly recommend to visit there once.

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Speak Easily

For the Japanese, the pronunciation is a subject to communicate in English.  For sure, it is possible to communicate without correct one, but if we want to speak English on business, we need some training to improve them.  At the same time, we may listen English easily.  I went to "Speak Easily" ( http://www.speak-easily.com/ ).  They focus on correction of pronunciation to BBC English, so students starts facial massage to relax cheek muscle/bone and tongue.  Basically, the movement of them is different from the Japanese, also English has indeterminate vowel.  The school was fantastic experience for me because they explained to us logically.    However, we have to continue this after the course for a while.

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Imperial College London

Imperial College ( http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/business-school ) is probably defined as a popular college amongst the UK citizen, in particular, Science, Technology and Medicine.  Next to the college, the science museum and the national museum of science and industry are located.  The college provided the information session for MBA course, so I joined there.  The first impression was that almost participants looks peaceful, but some of them looks adult business people.  (I suppose that some students are too young to study bissiness management..inmatured)  Then, a mock lecture, strategic management held was interesting and practise for brainstorming.  Furthermore, their presentation was a great, because they explained from the view of students, it was likely to be therefore easy for students to imagine after entering the course and focus to study what students want to do.  Certainly, presenters of each business school studied presentation skills though, the presenters were humanity and strategic.  This impression may be caused by my experiences since I have already joined other two session, but I supposed that those kind of humanity presentation is important from now on, because the development of social network services sometimes lead to escape from Internet communication.

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Tom Bradley

Tom Bradley ( http://www.myspace.com/tombradleymusic ), his live music was held at 100 club in London which has managed since 1942 ( http://www.the100club.co.uk/ ).  The first British Jazz drummer played here.  Therefore, if you visit there, you can see many historical pictures which many musician played there.  He is not only very kind and nice guy, but also has a great voice.  Additionally, he is playing an acoustic guitar.  It can be strongly recommended to listen his music performance once.

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