This post is coming to you exactly 5 years (and 2 days) after I competed waaay back in the day at ICBC 2005. I’m so amazed at how quickly time flies, but really happy to be able to look back on events from so long ago!!

I’ve told several people I have a really good feeling [...]]]>

This post is coming to you exactly 5 years (and 2 days) after I competed waaay back in the day at ICBC 2005. I’m so amazed at how quickly time flies, but really happy to be able to look back on events from so long ago!!

I’ve told several people I have a really good feeling about 2010 and the year got off to an amazing start! I had the privilege of joining the JMSB team at Queen’s University for this year’s ICBC case competition. Being surrounded by so much energy, enthusiasm and fun was exactly what I needed to kick start the year!

I’m going to cheat and copy/paste some of what I wrote to the students, but it’s a good summary of how I felt about them:

Now for the cheesy (hopefully, inspirational) stuff: You guys are truly the best of the best that JMSB has to offer. I was so proud watching all of you present, network (and party!) this weekend. I was especially impressed with how young some of you are and I’m really looking forward to when you’re all business leaders! JMSB’s reputation continues to excel and improve because of individuals like you. You make us proud!!

I truly hope we’ll have a chance to work together in “the real world” one day!

I just went back and read the entry from 5 years ago! Here are 2 things that stood out to me that are still very relevant today:

2010: Our MIS team, despite an amazing performance, didn’t podium. I’m sure they were a little disappointed and that’s perfectly normal.

2005: I was quite disappointed that my team didn’t podium and Mark (the head coach) said: “If you always want to win, stay home.” Blunt, but very true.

2010: On the “Board Game” theme night, after walking around for a few minutes, I said to Val: “I’ve looked around quite carefully and there is no doubt that you guys are the best looking delegation here. No question.”

2005: Our team ambassador said the following to me: “Hey man, no matter what anyone says, the one thing that can’t be disputed is that you guys are still the best looking group here. And that’s what really matters!” Hilarious.

Here are some pictures that summarize the fun pretty well:

Thanks to everyone for a really fun weekend and congratulations to all the teams!!

Here’s a link to the official press release: JMSB Returns from ICBC with 2 Podiums

We woke up early (as usual) and headed over to the shoot location at about 07:00. We stopped to get some footage on the road and we saw a lady who was making hoppers so we had some breakfast. Although they were plain (as opposed to milk) hoppers they [...]]]> *Transcribed*

We woke up early (as usual) and headed over to the shoot location at about 07:00. We stopped to get some footage on the road and we saw a lady who was making hoppers so we had some breakfast. Although they were plain (as opposed to milk) hoppers they were still really good. I was feeling like shit when I got up this morning, but I think it’s because I had a very small dinner. I’m feeling a little better now that I’ve had a couple of snacks.

The 50 women were already at the location (Kataragama) when we arrived. Kataragama is a famous religious landmark/pilgrimage in Sri Lanka where they have a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque as well as a Buddhist temple all in the same location. S, Tammy and I watched the ceremony and then we just kinda’ hung around until they finished shooting all their scenes. While hanging around we went to get some pineapple slices. The man cut the pineapple up and then rinsed it in a tub of water. Once we started eating, we all wondered if the water he washed it in was clean, but this was Sri Lanka so we just hoped for the best. A couple of minutes (and a few pineapple slices) later a guy came and washed his hands in the same “pineapple rinsing” water. YUMMY! Tammy was like: “Ummm…I REALLY didn’t need to see that.” Ah well.

After the last scene was shot we finally began the trek back to Colombo. On the way back we stopped in Embalapitiya for a quick swim in the Chandrika Wewa (“Wewa” means lake) which is a small man-made lake. Here are some pics of the day:

These scenes were actually what I saw day before yesterday on the drive from Trinco to Tissa. On the left is a mountain (in case you weren’t sure). Then you see some elephants. I think the elephant in the forefront is dead; no, he’s actually just napping! If you look closely, in the lake behind the standing elephant you can see man giving an elephant a bath. You probably need a couple of bars of soap to do a good job. As cool as it might be, I wouldn’t want an elephant as a pet. I think it would be more trouble than it?s worth. It’s true. Think about it.

The lady who’s standing up was singing a song in Tamil; many of the other women look bored to tears. The second picture is a ritual where you take a coconut and smash it on a rock to purge you of your sins. Unfortunately I didn’t manage to get a picture of the coconut actually breaking on the rock! There’s Tammy walking through my perfectly planned shot. I showed the picture to Tammy and said: “Who’s this random white person walking through the ritual??” I think it?s a cool contrast though.

Some cheeky monkeys in the first pic. Oh wait, that’s S and I. Sorry, cheeky monkeys in picture 2! Yeah, we look really terrible, but that?s what happens when you? haven’t been eating or sleeping properly and traveling on Sri Lankan roads for 4 days straight! I think this pic was taken around 09:30 (hence the redness of the eyes as well) before we had the pineapple treats! . All over the temple area there are pipes with taps for people to wash their fruits and hands. A couple of locals came and told us that these monkeys are able to turn the taps on to wash their hands and drink the water. What was even funnier was that the locals were complaining that the damn monkeys don’t close the taps!! LOL As the people here would say: “?Cheeky buggers!”

Work starts in the morning at 06:30, stops around 10:00 (because it gets too hot) and starts again from 16:00 until 22:00 or so. We dug the cut out for the outline of the foundation. After that we had some breakfast and went to the beach during the [...]]]> *Transcribed*

Work starts in the morning at 06:30, stops around 10:00 (because it gets too hot) and starts again from 16:00 until 22:00 or so. We dug the cut out for the outline of the foundation. After that we had some breakfast and went to the beach during the morning break; first time I ever took a swim in salt water. As we walked there the man was telling us his horror stories of the Tsunami. Once we got back our truckload of rocks finally arrived. Unloading that was tons of fun for everyone! Last nigth I forgot to show pics of the boys assembling the posts for the support pillars.

Here we are digging the outline; I don?t know how some of them work with full sleeved shirts (see how much he?s sweating?) Breakfast consists of bread and lentils.

These 2 were cutting other pieces of metal, which were tied together by Vino and Tudor to make the bases of the pillars.

I was talking about unloading and reloading truckloads of rocks at checkpoints? Well I got a taste of what?s that?s like when we had to unload this truck. These guys are used to standing barefoot on rocks. Not me!

Remember those rectangular things we made yesterday? They?re tied with some metal strands and used to hold together the 4 bars for the pillars.

We just finished setting up our new tent in the IDP camp. Using the headlights Natalia got for me (thanks!!!), we managed to set it up in a little over 5 minutes. T was the first person who showed me how to put up one of these tents 2 summers ago. It’s when you remember [...]]]> *Transcribed*

We just finished setting up our new tent in the IDP camp. Using the headlights Natalia got for me (thanks!!!), we managed to set it up in a little over 5 minutes. T was the first person who showed me how to put up one of these tents 2 summers ago. It’s when you remember fun times with your friends that you miss them! We did quite a bit of work this afternoon once we finally arrived in Mullaitivu. We’ve got to be up around 06:30 tomorrow to get back to work. Here are pics of some of what I did today:

We ended up getting less land than we were expecting because we couldn?t build too close to the sea. Thus, we had to change the building plans a little. Unloading bags of cement from the truck. Always with a smile!

Here we are cutting these pieces of metal with a hammer and chisel. I had hammered my hand about 5 minutes before this. I went to the store (it’?s more like a shed actually) and bought a few band aids. I put one on and got back to work. Notice it on my thumb? That?s Alfred (or as these guys pronounce it: “Yyellfrret”) in front of me. Once we cut them, this guy (I forget his name) would bend them into these rectangular things.