I arrived last sunday and it seems that I am in another world and another MBA Program. Everything is here huge, well organized and operational. I almost miss the familial atmosphere of HEC even if I am glad to take advantage of the many resources of the University.

The classes are for the best of the ride. I took almost only courses of Strategy but unfortunately I cannot enroll for that of C.K. Prahalad, one of the most eminent specialists of the academic world. I managed nevertheless to enroll to "Business Strategy in Latin America" for the next term. The teacher waives me the requirements previously set for students before enrolling. Due to my professional experience and Strategy classes I took at HEC, I get my direct ticket! I know I am already aware of that context but I am expecting a lot from the external vision of the professor who has been working at the World Bank.

I am also really excited with the courses I've been currently following. "Intellectual Property and Competitive Strategy" shows all the importance of patenting, copyrights, trademarks and the other set of legal protections companies can request in order to safely innovate and keep competitive advantage. I am glad to observe that the matter is not considered only by the US-centric point of view. By instance, is it fair to break patents in pharmacy when it is a question of life-saving?? Big pharmas - a majority of US and European companies - may say no. Because of the cost of development, etc etc... but rapid developing economies like Brazil, South Africa or India may argue that they cannot afford stratospheric prices set by those international companies. And they have the determinant argument of life saving to counter the IP legal shield of those companies. Who is wrong and who is right? Is the WTO the only judge able to decide on? Those questions have been raised by the class and it is nice to see that a MBA can also consider different points of view.

Now it is my first week end at Ann Arbor. Tomorrow, my first Football game (US Football bien sur) and sunday, a picnic with international students and my first Soccer game. Good opportunity to prepare the next week : many company presentations, resumes and cover letters to prepare... My God!!! I remember one detail : I need to find a job asap ... in january my second student life will be over... Ouille!