The LAST week at INSEAD

Incredible! It’s already the last week at INSEAD. I am sad that this experience almost over. Too soon, it will be time to say goodbye.

On Monday, I had a big day by P5 standards, with 3 classes and a group meeting. I was finally able to relax at a BBQ in Milly, organized by the Italians who live in the villa. We finished the night at a Dutch BBQ in Avon.

On Tuesday night, there was the yearly Cabaret, where INSEAD students get to display their talent. The programme included juggling, skits, videos and music. Several videos presented are available at these links. My favourite is The Tent People, “A documentary about two students at a top 10 business school who lived in tents with no electricity while pursuing their MBA, contrasted sharply with the housing situations of other students. “
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuEISEAMX3I.

A couple of INSEAD students decided to live in a tent without electricity for 6 months!

Other videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC9BVOWkpHA
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rwelSjLIEQk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ZVn4CQRtQ

On Wednesday, I had my last class and handed in the last deliverable. I am DONE! After a Champagne session in school’s bar terrace, we headed to Paris for a celebratory night. Great timing, as it happened to be the Fête de la Musique. Musicians, amateur and professionals, set up everywhere in the city and play musique. The streets were packed! We started at Coby’s Montmartre apartment, and headed for St-Germain-Les-Prés. We watched the scoreless Argentina-Netherlands game in a pub owned by an INSEAD alumnus. We then went out for dinner at L’Étoile, a restaurant/club right at the Arc de Triomphe. After a decent meal, we went down to the club and ordered a bottle of Grey Goose. It was not very busy so we walked over to Queen, a famous bar on the Champs Élysés. Wednesday is the only straight night at Queen. We purchased a bottle, which comes with a VIP table. We enjoyed the night until about 6am, where we took a cab back to Coby’s place. We felt that the night was still young, so we grabbed a bottle of rosé, sat in the stairs of Sacré-Coeur and admired the city from this fantastic vantage point. We then slept until noon and headed back to Fontainebleau.

On Thursday, after a quick nap, I prepared a quick dinner for my housemates. After a few bulots, I grilled a whole rabbit marinated in a rosé-based sauce. I then grilled some small Mediterranean sea bass. This hearty meal was important to get us through another very big night: The Chateau de Montmelian Transylvanian party. Montmelian is a true French chateau, inhabited by about 15 INSEAD students. They host two major parties a year. The Dracula-themed party attracted well over 200 people. There had projectors, light shows, an inflatable pool full of beer can, professional dancers etc. Around 6am, only a few survivors remained. One of the residents cooked pasta with mayo and ketchup in it and called it a snack. It looked disgusting.

I rested on Friday, and will be getting ready to head for Egypt tomorrow, where more adventures await. Same bat time, same bat channel next week for details and pictures.