Still amazed by the sunset scenery down at the port we realize that no matter how beautiful Cinque Terra is, food is one of the basics a man needs to be smiling! Fast-strolling the narrow streets we soon realize that we are not the only one looking for food. One restaurant after the other is either packed or without the “Italian atmosphere” we are searching for. That is when we decide to “climb” the steep stairs. Barely recognizing the charming colorful buildings, the small alleys and the appearance of a rising full moon we’ reaching higher and higher. And there it is - a small restaurant with 3 tables on an open terrace, smell of seafood and a friendly waiter. The smile is back again, and there is no rush. With the crazy clubbing nightlife in Milan far away there is nothing more natural for group of fellows to do than order more food and wine than needed and discuss women, politics, and the financial crisis (at that time still so naively).
Sunset
I can’t remember last time I really planned a trip. Over the last year I have found myself alone in a Mongolian desert, hiking on a glacier on Iceland, renting a car in the last minute to reach a festival in Montreal or ending up at a surreal party in Harlem, New York. All different with one thing in common – I didn’t know the days before that I would be doing it. I have to admit that Cinque Terra had been thought about during the first weeks in Milan, but when I told my friends 4am in the club “meet me in the train station at 11am, the destination is Cinque Terre” I earnestly believed that at the most one of them would join me. I was therefore gladly surprised when we counted 6 in the train the day after; Ivan, Mathieu and Guilaume representing France, Thomas from Belgium, Martin half Scottish half Austrian and I. Little did we know that this was going to be a weekend hard to forget.
In short words in was a weekend of eating, drinking, walking, photographing, talking and laughing!
Slideshow from Cinque Terre
Martin and Guilaume in the train
The crew: Thomas, Ivan, Mathieu, Martin, Rob and Guilaume!Escaping from the wave!
The alcohol works also in Italia, and it is not a very unreasonable assumption to say that it played certain role when Ivan said sometimes after midnight “Thomas, Robert, let’s go down to the ocean”. Some minutes later we found ourselves jumping from stone to stone on a small dyke. “Just a bit further guys, come on”. “Do you think we can reach all the way out”. Of course we couldn’t. Dykes are normally there for a reason, and so was this. Suddenly a huge wave hit the dyke, and we were in middle of a water inferno. Soak wet, cold and with a nervous giggling we escaped. It must have been hilarious to watch us. I still had the taste of salt in my mouth the morning after, and I will never forget when I heard Thomas saying in the kitchen “damn it, my jeans are still wet...we must cook it”….and so we did!!!!
The alcohol works also in Italia, and it is not a very unreasonable assumption to say that it played certain role when Ivan said sometimes after midnight “Thomas, Robert, let’s go down to the ocean”. Some minutes later we found ourselves jumping from stone to stone on a small dyke. “Just a bit further guys, come on”. “Do you think we can reach all the way out”. Of course we couldn’t. Dykes are normally there for a reason, and so was this. Suddenly a huge wave hit the dyke, and we were in middle of a water inferno. Soak wet, cold and with a nervous giggling we escaped. It must have been hilarious to watch us. I still had the taste of salt in my mouth the morning after, and I will never forget when I heard Thomas saying in the kitchen “damn it, my jeans are still wet...we must cook it”….and so we did!!!!
We escaped the wave!!!
Jeans cooking!
Life in Milan!
When I arrived in the end of August it took me just a few days to realize that my wardrobe was the lamest ever. Being a person totally indifferent about what brand I jump into I needed to do something. Henriette taught me a thing or two about matching colors when she helped me shopping in Boston (I guess she saw this coming), but frankly I have no clue about fashion. I needed to adapt. And I did, without even having to pay for it. My Italian roommate Tommaso has a wardrobe full of things in my size, so soon “Fancy-Rob” was blending in on the Bocconi University catwalk wearing Gucci shoes and Louis Vuitton belt. Guys back home, I promise to be back to normal when I return.
Anyways, life in Milan is a good life! Haven seen rain only one morning, I again find it hard to understand why I still have my base in Bergen, where I hear the weather have, as normal, been terrible the whole fall. In short words, life here is partying. Partying here means clubbing. Until you drop at four-five in the morning. House music has never ever been my thing, but here I don’t really have much choice, unless I want to ditch all my friends and find new ones. But I am not complaining anymore, it is actually (and don’t hate me for this) quite fun.
In tha club. David Guetta in tha house (according to my friends he is famous)
Clara, Anna & Soraya in the clubHere is some randsom pictures from the September and October (slideshows will come later)
Bocconi University
The derby - AC Milan vs. Inter
Daytrip to Lake Como
Ragnvald in town
On the top of the famous Duomo
In Paris with Capgemini
Studentboard meeting in ValenciaFlat mates
Like when I moved to Barcelona, to find a apartment is a hassle. But after some days hanging on the phone we found a nice place. I live with Kjetil (25), a Norwegian friend that I travelled with in Asia back in 2004. He is now a student at BI in Oslo and happened to have the exchange semester in the same city. Together we live with Tommaso a 22 year old Italian also studying at Bocconi. Until last week we lived up to being quiet and nice Norwegians, but then after throwing a party on Saturday, a poker tournament on Monday, and a pre-party (lasting until 1:30) on Wednesday we are now the “problem” of the building! This was indeed understood when the owner of the apartment, the neighbors, Tommasso’s parents and the police called us the next day. Don’t tell anybody, but we will have the biggest party ever in December before we leave!!!! Such rebels.
Like when I moved to Barcelona, to find a apartment is a hassle. But after some days hanging on the phone we found a nice place. I live with Kjetil (25), a Norwegian friend that I travelled with in Asia back in 2004. He is now a student at BI in Oslo and happened to have the exchange semester in the same city. Together we live with Tommaso a 22 year old Italian also studying at Bocconi. Until last week we lived up to being quiet and nice Norwegians, but then after throwing a party on Saturday, a poker tournament on Monday, and a pre-party (lasting until 1:30) on Wednesday we are now the “problem” of the building! This was indeed understood when the owner of the apartment, the neighbors, Tommasso’s parents and the police called us the next day. Don’t tell anybody, but we will have the biggest party ever in December before we leave!!!! Such rebels.
Tommasso, Kjetil and Frederico (a friend of Tomasso)
My room
Tomasso studying in the living room!
Soraya, Audrey and Agata at the party on Saturday
The poker tournamentThe CEMS family!
The reason for being in Milan is that I am doing a master degree in International Management. It is called CEMS and has 15 European Business Schools in its network. Every semester there is a CEMS class at each school. Basically, in Milan we are a group 30 students from at least 15 different nations all interested in languages and an international carrier. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that we are actually going to succeed when I think about how much of the degree is outside the classroom. But on the other side, who wants to work with people only caring about numbers, strategies and money? I might also have spotted one or two I would like to do my own business with, when I am ready for it.
The reason for being in Milan is that I am doing a master degree in International Management. It is called CEMS and has 15 European Business Schools in its network. Every semester there is a CEMS class at each school. Basically, in Milan we are a group 30 students from at least 15 different nations all interested in languages and an international carrier. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that we are actually going to succeed when I think about how much of the degree is outside the classroom. But on the other side, who wants to work with people only caring about numbers, strategies and money? I might also have spotted one or two I would like to do my own business with, when I am ready for it.
Clubbing together with
Alex, Maria, Ivan, Martin, Soraya, Monica, Anna, Mathieu, Thomas and Audrey at Hollywood
Alex, Maria, Ivan, Martin, Soraya, Monica, Anna, Mathieu, Thomas and Audrey at Hollywood
Pre-party at Anna's place
Because of so many great people in the class, I wished the time could slow down a bit. There is no doubt that I miss a lot of people back home, but at the moment I refuse to think too much about that we are half ways through the semester. What makes me optimistic is that it always just up to you if you want to meet people again. And this is exactly what I am going to do in just a few days. 2 years ago I met great people when I studied in Barcelona, and on Thursday I have a flight back to have a reunion with a group of them! Can’t wait to see you guys!
Ciao!
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