2 weeks in Natick... just outside Boston

So the reason why I went to Boston was to have some training at the MathWorks:) I really loved it because I ended up meeting lots of international people from the company...Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, China, US, Sweden, UK... we all got flown in to Natick the head quarters for 2 weeks training. Well the training for my role was not that much but more of an opportunity to meet people from other offices.

I mean the place is AMAZING!!!! The MathWorks!!! Thanks:) I really enjoyed myself and learnt a lot.

GEEK FACT: www.mathworks.com was one of the first 100 commercial domains (web address) to ever exist!!!!!

The training went really well, and I think I made the most of it... as the following posts... will tell:)

Gareth

Going to Boston...

Hi guys,

This is a quick update on my trip to Boston... What an adventure:)

I ended up loosing my flight, ya the first time I lost a flight in my life.... KLM however upgraded me to 1st class for the next flight to the States... as it wasnt really my fault that I missed the flight. The train from Eindhoven to Amsterdam was late:(.

However... I flew from Amsterdam to Detroit... not Boston....but you know me... a guy unshaven, with holes in his jeans flying first class... people stared at me... but I didnt care as first class is really comfortable....

So anyway after a 20 hour journey to Boston... from Eindhoven, I started to discover the wonders of Boston...

But it started to rain... and ya... you can tell by my face... how much fun I am having!!! It still was great because instead of walking around, I ended up hangging out in a few coffee shops and making friends:)

I had to go and see Cheers pub... amazing:) Saw the library... just like the movies... The truth is I ended up having lots of deja vu...Boston is really a cool place:)


Gareth

MathWorks Eindhoven vs MathWorks Aachen

Hi guys, this is a quick entry to tell you about the game football that I went to play in Germany... Managed to convince 7 players from my office to go to Germany... drive for 2 hours... for one hour of 5 a side indoor football:)


This is where we played;)

We did not do too well... however it is not about winning or losing it is the team spirit that we had on the way there, during the game, at the pub and on the way back:)

The Dutch office has to practice a bit more for the home game:)

We did not really get a chance to see Aachen.... but it is on my list of places to go in Germany... specially because it is so close.

Gareth

One day in Leuven:)

This is a quick entry because I wanted to share with you another personal goal that I had set for myself a few years ago which I finally achieve with some help of course...:)

I had to deliver my first seminar... so I talked for 2 hours in front of 40 people, and at the end they all stood up and clapped:)

I was blown away, because I always considered myself just another guy who knows a little bit of this and a little bit of that.. however I got the feeling that I can talk in front of crowds and that I do know some things which can help people... the feeling of being able to share that is AMAZING:)

I really am happy that it was a success... of course I had help, and with out my friends I would not have done it... however I now know that there are no limits for us:) the sky really is the limit.

Talking to 40 people and captivating them is not an easy task, and I can still improve a lot but there is hope:)

eheheheh

Gareth

PS - Did the same seminar the next day.. in the Netherlands (north) and wow, the people are different... It still was a success and I really enjoyed it ... as I was not as nervous:) eheheh what a life I have:)

Another weekend in Venice:)

Hi guys, following my trip to Venice last month... I decided to go again. However this time the idea was to go alone, and take a weekend to think about what I am doing in life... a personal trip... not to meet people, just to look and think about what I am doing in general...well ya that did not really work out for me. As I went on a Saturday and came back on a Sunday... However that night was the Earth Hour...

Maybe you are not aware of it, but the idea was to turn off lights around the world as a symbol to save our planet.. giving the earth an hour freedom if you wish.

So I was walking in Venice and I came across these volunteers, and I thought that I could help, so I decided to make friends and help them with this noble event. IT WAS GREAT. I got to go on a Gondola in Venice when the lights of the Rialto were off, with my candle and my new friends:) IT WAS FANTASTIC. BRUTAL!!!!

This is where they came from:

http://www.wwf.it/client/render.aspx

They were all very interesting people and they made my trip to Venice worth while... thanks guys:)

You know how sometimes you think that people are crazy to travel alone, well if you do it once in your life... you will be amazed to see how much more you can learn, listen, see. It really is a great feeling. I would not always do it, but this one time really made me feel like a better person... How many people would go to Venice, for a weekend and make really good friends there?

It was like a personal goal, if you can do that... well then what can't you do? The answer is simple. We can do anything if we put our minds to it. This is positive thinking...


Carpe Diem:)

Gareth