(As written by Gabrielle Banks)
February 15, 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of my acceptance into Berklee’s Global Entertainment and Music Business program. February 21, 2014 will be the six month anniversary of the day I stepped foot in Spain to live and learn. It’s been a wild ride so far, and this is just a fraction of the things I’ve done in a few, short six months:
- Hiked in Sierra Calderona
- Traveled to Rome, Brussels, and Cannes
- Attended one of the biggest music industry conferences in the world (MIDEM)
- Participated in La Tomatina: world famous (and huge!) tomato fight
- Networked with some of the industry’s top execs, right on my own campus
- Met Placido Domingo in the Berklee halls
- Collaborated with some of the most brilliant musicians on the planet
- Drank my weight in sangria
- Caught the first sunrise of the New Year on the beaches of the Mediterranean
- Danced til dawn (and often)
- Partied at dinners until 5 or 6am, discussing latest trends in the music industry with my classmates
- Found (arguably) decent wine at Carrefour for 87 cents/bottle
- Learned how to speak Spanish… Used my acquired knowledge of cursing in Spanish to help cab drivers scold other drivers who cut them off
- Had some of the most intellectual conversations with cab drivers about international Top 40 radio, at 5am.
- Learned about cultures from all over the world, from friends from all corners of the globe
- Experienced paella
- Thought “Hell yeah, let’s do this!” about as often as I’ve thought “What was I thinking? I can’t do this!”
- Worked on music branding campaigns for local organizations, collaborating with fellow Berklee students
- Turned 25 surrounded by some of my favorite people on the planet
- Made friends and family out of the individuals who will surely lead the industry in the coming years
- Made Zara and H&M staples in my wardrobe… taking up about a 75% stake
- Had my limits tested by an insane amount of coursework at times
- Learned way too much about K-Pop
As February 14, 2014 marks exactly 5 months until graduation in July, I am looking forward to this list growing more and more daily. I have a ton of work to do with my Culminating Experience, job applications, a business plan (or two), coursework and some outside projects, but I can’t wait! To Friends, to Travel, to Great Wine, to One Year in Valencia: Let’s get it!
Latest posts by Ganavya Doraiswamy@berklee.edu (see all)
- Master’s student recounts Valencia experience - March 10, 2014
- Master in Global Entertainment and Music Business student launches first EP - February 24, 2014
Paul Levine
Nice social and cultural experiences . . . Could you tell us about your experience with the actual program? Thanks.