Hot Times Living in the City

So I’m finally here. Finals behind me. Goodbyes said for the summer, bags packed, transported across state lines, and unpacked again into this charming walk up apartment in Brooklyn. I spent Sunday exploring my new neighborhood on foot, walked over to Park Slope and perused the boutiques. I grabbed coffee from the gourmet grocer, got caught in the rain and had to stop a while in a lovely French bakery (where I enjoyed a delicious almond pastry), ate Cuban-inspired cuisine in a hipster outpost. I even bought myself a pretty new frock to abet the nagging feeling of being improperly equipped for the fabulousness of the city scene. It hangs in my closet now like a promise of the fun to be had here in New York. A symbol for my anticipation of the good times to come.

This morning I woke early to catch the subway to Grand Central, where I boarded a north-bound train to CT for our first official day of training at Diageo. Eight hours of presentations on marketing, finance, and the Diageo Way, which is refreshingly fun and consumer-oriented, with a healthy emphasis on corporate social responsibility. 

The highlight of my day at company headquarters was our culminating event at the bar on the 7th floor (and not for obvious reasons). We received a lesson on mastering the perfect pour (Tom Cruise, eat your heart out) and learned how to mix a sublime margarita (hint: no mix, just fresh limes and agave nectar).

The other MBA interns are bright, sociable and fun – a really excellent group of people. I’m excited to be sharing my summer with them.

Tomorrow, we’re in the Manhattan office for a day-long seminar on the Diageo Way of Building Brands, my first indoctrination to the process and the culture that has made the company so successful.

It still seems a bit unreal. To be posting this from a seat near a window facing the street in my cozy little Brooklyn home. But here I am. More to share I am sure as the week progresses. Until then…