December 22nd Going to Berlin

It is now winter break. I then have another three weeks in which exams will take place and then another two week inter-semester break. For this break my brother and I decided we would do a small European tour. We have already traveled to Berlin and now have one day remaining here. I'll tell you more about this trip later, but first the story of my travels to Heathrow airport prior to the flight to Berlin.

December 22nd. My observations in note form

I arrived at 5pm for a 9:15pm flight. It's the last plane out of Edinburgh for the day. I sit for a while studying and reading, but hunger arrives. I decide to have take away sushi and sit by the departure signs to watch the people around me as I enjoy the snack. Straight in front of me are two people sitting the the sushi bar, the view of one is blocked by a Christmas tree. I look at this and enjoy the thought of a date between the dirty blond curly hair woman and the Christmas tree. Must be tough for the Christmas tree, he's not good at hold hands or a conversation, but he has all the right looks.

I sit there and next to me a manager from Eat. talks angrily to an employee, ordering him to clean the tables and change the trash bags in the trash cans. He says he can't finish because I'm sitting there, at his table. She gives him an angrier look.

Across from me sits a man of my height, but a bit older. He wears glasses. He listens to music with his red phones on. We're both waiting for information on our flight to appear, we're both people watching.

Cork, poor city of Cork. The plane going there is delayed. Not departing until 10:10pm. Looks like it wanted last place.

120 seconds to go until the gate is announced. 60 seconds. 15 seconds. There we are, gate 10.

With the gate announced people move again, traffic reverses. People appear from every direction all heading to those newly announced. As I sit down at the gate, Mr. Confused and Mr. Surprised appear in one person. He stands there, looking up at the board. Scratches his head. He looks to the window and does not see a plane. He's a smart guy, got it figured out. No plane there means that they have announced the wrong gate. He leaves. Two minutes. He's back. He sits down at the window looking out toward the gate.

Three policemen gather to my left. They stand there conversing in their bright yellow/green vests and black suits. The woman among them sees a friend and walks off. She embraces her and chats. The other two wait, and then go. She'll catch up.

Mr. Stage Crew is now at the gate setting up. He arranges the pole and shows it to Mr. Pose. Mr. Pose smiles, but shows the disappointment. He doesn't want official queues today. Mr. Stage Crew puts all the poles and lines away. Fine, we'll just take them at the counter.

Mr. Stage Crew. Glasses, brown hair. Bushy brow and a short mustache beard combination. He's joined by Mr. Gray who tells him something. Mr. gray is proud. He laughs.

Mr. Pose bends over and picks up the microphone. He calls and Boarding begins. We form a queue without ropes.

About two hours later I experience a very smooth landing at Heathrow airport. Congratulations Captain.

Overnight in Heathrow. 5am check-in for Berlin flight.

Hanukkah 2011, a nice surprise

I didn't plan on doing anything for Hanukkah this year except remembering it as I went about my days activities. But on the 19th of December, as fate would have it, my friend caught me in the library just 24 hours before candle lighting and asked what I was doing for Hanukkah. Having nothing, I told him so. He then told me we should do something and that's when an Idea hit. E-mail the Jewish family I knew was living in St Andrews and see what they were doing for the holiday.

I e-mailed them and received a message, come tomorrow to their friends house, two Israeli's for candle lighting and a celebration.

The next day, just as the sun had set in St Andrews, Ben and I went to the house. There we joined our friends with their kids along with the Israeli couple and their kids. Together we sang, lit candles and played dreidel. Israelis play a bit differently. Nes - take all. Gadol - take half. Haya - put one in. Poh - put two in. As I was told, on Poh you put two in to the pot because the miracle happened here (he said as he pointed to the lump of UK coins).

A Day With Squeeze

These past few weeks I have taken an interest in entrepreneurship. About a week ago I attended a panel of local entrepreneurs. Four students were on the panel. Each student told how they came up with their idea and how it became a business. One of the students was a founder of a growing medical supply company in California. He started a few years ago and is now doing very well with 20 employees. Another was a student who took initiative to sell electric cars to businesses in Russia. There apparently aren't many vendors in Russia and he is now selling them in small batches. He has sold 10 and will soon move on to selling the next batch of 25.

The other two students were two of the three students who founded a local lemonade company, Squeeze. These students came together as a group with the common interest in experiencing what it was like to start a business from scratch. They settled on lemonade, a product they did not know much about, but enjoyed. Since then they have created their product, produce it, bottle it, and sell it. The three have branched out their original idea and have made a sustainable business. They host some very well known and cool events around town (example Squeeze 500) After the event the two offered anyone who wanted to come spend a day with them. They are looking for people to pass the business onto as they are fourth year students and graduating soon.

I took their offer.

Last Thursday I went to Squeeze's HQ and spent the morning with them. Our meeting began with greeting and a nice offer of hot drinks. When the supplies for the lemonade arrived we got into a small competition of cutting lemons while sharing stories and talking about Uni life. When all ingredients were prepped the base of the lemonade was made and we had time to talk as everything settled. Members came and left, using the break to gather the bottles and to go do neccessities. When all was ready, we combined the ingredients into the lemonade and bottled it. Then we put the labels on the bottles, completing them. We then made our way to the store were the bottles are sold and ended it back at HQ.

It was a short, but fun day. I learned a lot how they started their business and a lot of decisions they made along the way. They have kept the business small and local. They don't make a huge profit. They are a place to learn the many steps it takes to have a business. they make delicious lemonade :)

Thank you to Squeeze for having me.