Archive for the ‘Master in International Relations (MIR)’ Category

Jobs…

I went to London last weekend to check out the city and future possibilities. The reason for going was business, but I did enjoy myself some as well. I have friends there, and we chose to have dinner on the 32^nd floor of a hotel building with a spectacular view. We also went to Richmond, a small town located just outside of London with a relaxing environment and a beautiful country scenery.

We finished the last term on Tuesday and we have already begun with the elective period. We have 4 courses and each of my four I find interesting. But still, my priority lies in landing a good job. I have been interviewing quite a bit and I´m weighing my options carefully. I still want to work in London, but because of the visa issue, I am beginning to realize I may have to go back to the U.S.  I will continue to try my best to stay and work over here, however, because I am not ready to leave my friends and my life that I have here.

We have just over a month left in the program…

Already looking beyond…

Last weekend flew by! I had someone visiting me with whom I always enjoy and appreciate every second; and so with that person, time accelerates.

We went to Penthouse (an outdoor, rooftop lounge) Friday night and I invited some friends from my previous master at IE, along with some U.S. Navy Seals I know from the American Embassy here in Madrid. It was good to see my old classmates, and the U.S. Navy Seals are a special breed and thus always an exciting change of pace. Saturday night we went to El Mercado San Miguel and to get ice cream. Overall, it was a very relaxing weekend.

I´m trying to stay in Europe and I believe my best bet is London because of the common language. There are a couple of job possibilities there and so I am traveling there this weekend to check everything out. I have only been to London once and I feel it would be good to see and experience the city again.

This week, though, is a terrible week! It´s finals week and we have several essays and finals; and so I better go work…

On Friday 20 April, female students from the Master in International Relations had the honor of meeting with the Ambassador of Hungary to Spain, Ms. Edit Bucsi Szabó, during an informal breakfast colloquium. Before becoming ambassador to Madrid, Ms. Bucsi was Head of the Secretariat of the Cabinet for European Affairs at the Hungarian Foreign Minister’s Cabinet, and head of  the General Sub-Directorate for the Co-ordination of European and Legal Affairs in the Division for the Preparation of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Union.

Over coffee and pastries, Ms. Bucsi shared her experience as a diplomat in the EU, where she had an active role in the incorporation of Hungary into the European Union. She also candidly answered the MIR students’ questions on how feasible it was to reconcile a family and a career as an ambassador and on her future plans post diplomacy. The students were delighted with the encounter and the opportunity to network with a successful female European diplomat.

Summer finally came!

I was told today that applying for jobs was like a job – it is worse! I spend, on average, a few hours a day applying for jobs; and as a consequence, my grades will probably reflect that my focus was elsewhere this semester.

The Madrid sun, heat, and long daylight hours finally arrived and it was long awaited. Summer here is fantastic and we are kicking it off by going to an outdoor lounge this Friday called Penthouse. It´s on top of the roof on a hotel in the center of the city and has an incredible view. Although many people are out of town this week, many others should still show and it will, as always, be nice to see many of us together.

Well, since this is an intense semester, we have presentations rather often, including tomorrow. Thus, I must go prepare for it…

The End of Another Semester

I had an incredible time last weekend in Barcelona. I did a lot: I went to Parque Guell, La Sagrada Familia, the beach, the park, and out to eat several times. I enjoyed every second of it!

I am, however, a little behind since I didn´t work over the weekend and so I spent the past week working to catch up. We only have 2 more weeks in the semester; thus, we are experiencing a busy time with school work.

And in addition to school, applying for jobs is also quite time/energy consuming. Certainly, because of the economic situation, it is not the best time to graduate and to look for a job; but I am confident that there is a fit for me somewhere in some company.