Professor (Emeritus) Duncan C. McDougall of Plymouth State University in New Hampshire Continues his Story.
(*A Romanian/English pun. Apologies to The Beatles.)
Klaus felt wonderful as we cruised 1500 Km together the past two days, from Fellbach, Germany, to Ocna Șugatag, Romania. When I arrived at Popasul din Deal, my favorite place to stay in Maramureș, I was down to one-quarter tankful of fuel. Happily, I noted that a brand new fuel station has been built across the road from the pensiune.
Happily, that is, until as I was getting out to tell him to be careful, with a snapping, crunchy sound, the attendant tore off Klaus' fuel door.
It is a minor thing. I shall have it repaired in Cluj. I hope it is Klaus' worst misfortune!
This afternoon I shall begin my latest journey to Romania. I shall fly tonight to Stuttgart via London, and then drive east in Klaus. My first stop in Romania will be in Maramureş, then to Bistriţa, and finally to an apartment in Cluj on 2 June. I hereby thank Shirl, Alex, Roxy, and Danny for keeping Hotel New Hampshire in good order while I am away, but especially I thank Shirl, whose love and understanding knows no bounds.
Dear friends in Germany and in Romania, I hope to be seeing you soon.
Bruce Lyndes, PSU's fine public relations officer, sent me this picture today, taken as I was about to introduce the graduating MBAs at our Commencement Ceremony last Saturday.
(Plymouth State University Photo)
I like the image, though I hasten to say that I had a blue blazer on under my robe, and thus am not (quite) that bulky.
This link was sent to me today by my UBB-FSEGA colleague, Prof. Ciprian Paun. It was created and posted to YouTube by a man named Ciprian Porumbescu. I am grateful to both.
View this video, and you will understand a bit more about the varied beauty of that land of legends called Romania. (To see it in its proper frame, please click the link below.)
Gonfalons symbolizing the academic disciplines form the backdrop on a perfect day.
Yesterday was Commencement Day at Plymouth State University. I am proud to report that two fine Romanian students received recognition of their MBA Degrees and specialization certificates at the ceremonies.
Photo by Rachel Morrison
Sandra Chioralia of Târgu Mureş was awarded the Masters Degree in Business Administration with a Certificate in Strategic Marketing.
Valer Olimpiu Şuteu of Satu Mare was awarded the Masters Degree in Business Administration with Certificates both in Finance and Investment and in International Business. Valer was also inducted into Delta Mu Delta, an international honor society.
I am proud of both of these fine young people. Please join me in congratulating them.
Further, the Bachelor's Degree graduates in business were presented to the assembled throng by Professor Roxana Wright, Ph.D., a PSU MBA of some years back, when she was as fine a graduate student as I have ever had the privilege to work with. Roxana is from Braşov.
Director of the PSU/CoBA faculty, Prof. Dr. Roxana Wright din Braşov
It was on the third of May, 2003, a Saturday morning, that New Hampshire's great stone face, known as The Old Man of the Mountains, disappeared from the cliffs of Cannon Mountain, in Franconia Notch.
Photo source: www.dickndebbietravels.com, via Bing Images
I was watching the CNN news early that morning, over my breakfast. I heard that the Old Man had fallen during the night, indicating his collapse to be a note of national significance, as well as to us in New Hampshire. I went and woke Shirl, saying, "Wake up! The Old Man has fallen!" She said, "Oh no, not again!" My father had suffered a broken hip about a year before. "Not Mac," I told her, "The Old Man of the Mountains. He's gone! Let's go up there!" We were at the viewing site on Profile Lake not 60 minutes later. We were among the early few of the steady stream of damp-eyed mourners that arrived there on that day, and who have been doing so ever since.
"The Old Man's Song", Copyright Duncan C. McDougall and Burt Kaliski, 2003 Video presentation by Alex McDougall.
That June, at the Annual Conference of the ACBSP in Times Square, New York, Professor Burt Kaliski of Southern New Hampshire University and I decided to meet soon at Franconia Notch State Park to see if we could find a way to memorialize The Old Man. The song I have uploaded was our contribution. The tune is traditional, and the voice is that of professional singer Nika Garcia, of Miami, Florida and Boulder, Colorado. Nika is accompanied on guitar by my eldest son Brian McDougall, her husband. The slideshow was produced by Alex McDougall, our youngest son.
