MBAT's in Paris

In front of the Arc de Triomphe

The London Business School flag held for ransom

Left to Right: Kristian, Ben, Me, and Jayesh

Rugby game against Craifield

The full rugby team

This weekend I participated in the MBATs which is essentially the Olympics for MBA students. It was attended by 15 of the top business school in Europe and approximately 100 people went from Oxford. I played on the Rugby team. I escaped with no injuries but our team collectively experienced a broken rib, a sprained ankle, stitches, and what appeared to be internal bleeding before finally taking 3^rd place.

Overall the MBATs were very poorly organized with bad transportation, little communication, and what seemed to be arbitrary changes of the rules during sporting events. On the last night, however, we were all pleasantly surprised when the host university took us to a private party at a night club in central Paris. The club was located directly across the street from the Arc de Triomphe. It had two large floors underground with a full 20 lane bowling alley. In addition to the physical space, the food was great. It had a ridiculous buffet including an open bar, multiple chocolate fountains, food to please every nationality, and chefs in white hats making custom dinners. The best illustration of how posh this club was can be seen in the price of a drink. I was told that a pint glass of standard beer cost 11 euro, or $16.

If I had to pick one highlight to the weekend I would be hard pressed. There are so many, was it:

• when someone stole London Business Schools flag and held it for ransom?
• when Colin and George, who both won medals in rowing at the Beijing Olympics, convinced the rowing judges that they had never rowed before?
  
• When we caught that guy defecating in the streets of Paris?
  
• When Kristian was accosted by a homeless man on the street?
  

Overall I would have to say it was simply hanging out with good friends and meeting new people.