National weeks

Image from http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/08/0816_insead_virtual_tour/9.htm


When I was faculty at INSEAD, one of my favorite events was the National Week organized by the students.

"National Weeks take place throughout the year and are an INSEAD tradition on both campuses. Arranged by participants of a particular nationality, they showcase the country's culture, business, music, food, and national pastimes. As these events are often sponsored by a variety of companies from the country represented, they also provide valuable networking opportunities for MBA participants."

Students will decorate the campus, share with other students and with faculty, different aspects of their culture. There is not more than 20% of any nationalities represented at INSEAD so there were opportunities for many different national weeks!

It was a great way to learn about other cultures and those organizing to share about their cultures...

What would be your national week? How would you plan it? What would you want to share?

PS:Sorry I could not find any other photos... 

Flash mob at Copenhagen train station

"Not to be missed! On May 2, 2011, the Copenhagen Philharmonic amazed commuters at the Copenhagen Central Train Station, as they created a kind of orchestral "flash mob" – performing Ravel's famed Bolero, with the musicians gradually assembling in place as the work progresses. The video – which shows not only the assembling orchestra, but also the delighted faces of the commuters – has generated overwhelming interest, and indeed has exceeded the orchestra’s expectations. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! "
Check the video at: http://www.classicalarchives.com/feature/dont_miss_this.html

What I find inspiring here for this challenge is how the experience of the train station  and the commute associated with it (which is not necessarily positive and / or exciting) is transformed by the performance of Ravel's Bolero by the musicians. The space here is inhabited by the performers but also create a new environment and experience to the commuters. What kind of activities (not necessarily performance, but art could be an option to explore) can create this new experience of the space?
One can think of the jazz concerts sponsored by BAM in summer at MetroTech: I am always amazed by the crowd that suddenly emerged (not that many NYU-Poly people - students, staff or faculty - though) and how the plaza can become lively...

Metrotech - By Laura Lee

This inspiration explores the space surrounding our own campus. In the hurrying hours of our own day, we fail to see the beauty that is so imminent, yet unnoticed. We can also notice that when a new installation is unveiled, it has a draw for the first few days. So how do we retain the interest? Thank you Laura, for this wonderful inspiration.

-Laura Lee
Mother of Nick Lee , Class of 2015

Papa Palheta, Singapore by Nicole Huang

It serves good coffee

It plays nice jazz music

It has an interesting proposition (you pay as much as you think the coffee is worth)

It has a unique and original design (mix of old and new, blending the traditional Peranankan and modern designs)

It is full of interesting people

It's a lovely place to be :)

- Nicole

Sainte-Genevieve Library (Paris)

As a student in Paris, I worked either from home or in the cafes. There were cafes where I went to socialize after class or to work in group, or cafes where I would go to work alone.
However, many of my friends spent days and nights in the Library. The famous library for students in the Latin Quarter (where the Sorbonne and many of the lyces with prep classes are) is the Sainte-Genevieve Library. It's open Monday to Saturday (10:00 am to 10:00 PM) except Sundays and holidays. I went on their website and they now have a system that allows you to see how many seats are left in their 3 reading rooms.

We often had conversations with my friends who spent their days at Ste-Genevieve as they did not understand why I'd rather work from home or in a cafe... It was not so much for the access to books, although they did borrow or look at books. It was more for the atmosphere: silence, but also other people's working around (maybe a form of social pressure? you have to work as others work around). I also remember groups forming and chatting in front of the library (taking breaks, drinking coffee, smoking, etc.). Sub-communities based on your school or university existed but it was also the place where they mixed. There was also the symbolic value of Ste-Genevieve an old library (it was founded in the 6th century and inherited the writings and collections of one of the largest and oldest abbeys in Paris; the current building was built in the 19th century and is described as a major cultural building). Founded in the sixth centuryin the heart of Paris, next to the best schools and a major university, La Sorbonne.

Flughafen Tempelhof (Berlin) by Annika

How to reinvent spaces? Imagine changing the "rules of the game"...

"This is a photo taken on the Flughafen Tempelhof, a park area that used to be an airport until 2008. Ever gone for a cruise on a real runway? Well, if you have the chance to visit Berlin, make sure you get a glimpse at this park - it is very different from what you have known so far, I can assure you. Living just down the street from the park, I come here very often: for running, walks, barbecues or biking. Annika"

Alexanderplatz (Berlin) by Annika

When I took this photo (Berlin, Alexanderplatz), I was waiting for my brother to arrive from Hamburg. It was a Saturday morning, way too early, plus his train was delayed and it was freezing cold. I had time to observe this central interjunction called Alexanderplatz for quite a while. People were rushing from one place to another, just about to wake up. I would say there is nothing really beautiful about Alexanderplatz, but you can really feel how recent history gets you - and this is what is so amazing about this square.

Annika