Matthew Larkin

Swing Batta Batta Batta!!

Hello everybody,

The title is a south park baseball reference that I was repeatedly shout at the Yankee players, unfortunately they were not distracted. Well the weekend is over, and it was very fun. Firstly, I would like to take the opportunity to thank both Helen and Iain, was a night I wont forget for a long time. Fenway park is amazing, its more like a stage show than a baseball match. The atmosphere was intense, ferrous rivalry between the two clubs! Iain kept us right with the tactics and the gossip (one of the Yankee's players was having an affair with Madonna so everyone brought posters). He also kept us right when we were chanting the wrong name (Ortiz and Papa sound the same when 36,000 people are saying it!!). Although the game play was slow and the red sox lost, it didn't take away from what was a great night. For some reason I can see why football isn't catching on, there is no sing along to "Let's all go to the ballgame" at the end of the seventh inning stretch or "Sweet Caroline" after the eighth! With Jack Nickolaus throwing the first pitch, its all one big and very fun show!

On Saturday we went to the park and met some other interns via a "soccer" game, and last night we went to step-brothers, I would quote but I think they may be a little crude. So back to the grind stone for another week!!

Peace out playaaaa's!

Matt

Why does it always rain on me?

Hello everybody,

Travis was not lying, the Scottish really do bring their weather with them!But gladly we have not let this dampen our spirits. We had a quite week this week, catching up on sleep from our journey to "the cod"!

In Liberty Mutual, I was given an idea of my projects will be. I had a meeting with Kristen to discuss client segmentation analysis and how the company is improving its Internet campaign. So far this has just entailed extracting information from excel documents but I will be working with a statistical package soon, all them stats lectures might actually pay off. With that, I am mainly writing reports on HR issues at the moment and getting some much need improvement in my English skills. I also attended a meeting over a possible new client and even made some brainstorming ideas that I think went down well, maybe this marketing malarkey isn't that bad after all!!

But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! Headed to Harvard on Monday night, walked through the university and got some frogurt. Took our usual seats down by the buskers and listened to some very good renditions of Cat Stevens and Neil Young (Which said fast is apparently a french word?). We are literally paying this guys kids through college, although secretly think he's a nutty professor, he has the look! Got our Red Sox t-shirts at the "mall" for the game tomorrow! Don't really fully know the rules, only that lots of people are jealous of us, Papelbon is my favorite player (he's on my t-shirt and apparently can do an Irish jig?) and if there are official parking lots of the red sox there must be method in their madness!

So if anyones watching, keep an eye out for a face-painted "die hard" and maybe topless fan!

Go Sox!

Matt

Cod Dammit!!

Hello Everybody!

So the weekend is over and its been fun. In work I have not been assigned my project yet, so I have been sitting in on meetings, learning about all products which Liberty Mutual offers. My boss Lucy has been really helpful, teaching me how to deal with customers as well as colleges. I had to work on a slide show for the new direct marketing campaign begin set up, my presentation skills left much to be desired so it helpful to practice. I also got a tour of the business-to-consumer department, the creative side to the business. It further emphases the effort needed to compete on such a large scale.

As for play time, the Charles river is becoming a regular relax spot (no swimming since though). We headed to Cape Cod on Saturday which was really fun! We stayed in P-town which was a learning experience on its own. To say it was culturally diverse would be an understatement, but amongst the drag shows we somehow found a blues bar. The band were good, but stating that Hendrix and Stevie Ray were too pop? I'm not so sure. Just went to the beach and headed home on Sunday.

Over and out!

Matt

Settling in...

Hello all!

So I have some catching up to do. I am going to split this between work and play to make it easier. The first day at Liberty Mutual has come and past. Daunting feeling standing outside the massive HQ, but it was fine. I am working as a marketing intern at the moment, although I have been told that I will be introduced to the Actuarial side of the business. Considering my little knowledge of the subject its going surprisingly well. You see a completely different side to the business world in this sector. In Actuarial, its all Maths so you have the right answer or the wrong answer. But in marketing, there are loads of different ways to say things, only giving out the information that you want to give. The competence of a large company like Liberty Mutual can really be seen when working with smaller companies, their organisation is uncanning. Shows why we are here to bring back the skills of these large companies. I also had a meeting with Helen Sayles today. She explained why both Graeme and I where in unfamiliar territory within the business. She explained that the technical side of the business can be learned at University or elsewhere, but learning skills like sales and marketing in the US is invaluable. It was said that there are people in the company that could sell your own clothes back to you, thats a trick I have to learn.

But enough about work, Boston is great. Over the weekend we traveled all round the city, dining at Harvard Square, taking a duck tour down the river (including a liberating moment of jumping in fully clothed) as well as celebrating Chris's birthday. And if anyone ever doubts its a small world, we were sitting down to dinner in Cheers. Next thing a guy sits down the table next to us and we recognised each other. The guy is from Fife and goes to Heriot-Watt, bit crazy! Unfortunately, from jumping in the river we have not turned into Ninja Turtles, but a man can dream!!

Peace out!

Matt

My First Day

Hello all!
A little late with my first entry, busy last few days getting ready. We are here and so far so good. The flat is great, the weather is great and overall Boston looks amazing. Once we got settled in, we headed for Harvard square, listened to the live music and just enjoyed the atmosphere. Going exploring today so I am sure ill have plenty to write about next week.
Until then...
Matt