A drink, a conversation, a lie

11 days to go before my move to Amsterdam. The wait is unbearable. If I could flip through these pages faster, I would.

Last night, I went out for a drink at a local euro-trash hangout. Sometimes I like to check out these places…for the purposes of human zoology. These kiss-on-the-cheeks, loafers without socks wearing, slim, tight jeans wearing individuals make me laugh. Nothing beats watching the Gulfies in that setting though. Until you’ve watched a Saudi mingle amongst euro-trash as if he was a Rothschild himself, you haven’t seen comedy.

As I sat there surveying the scene, a sexy African-American woman turned to me and asked me for light. Though I don’t smoke, I’m in the habit of carrying a lighter and so offered it to her. We start chatting and agreeably part after a nice conversation about media bias in the US. Then, unexpectedly, I feel a hand on my shoulders. As I turn around to meet its owner, I noticed the worst sort of woman in my book. Not so attractive but who thinks a startling beauty of herself; assertive as a CEO but only a few steps above an entry-level analyst; overly competitive and bent on transcending everyone around her; educated at an ivy league and who thinks that one’s education level is reflected by one’s attire and fashion sense (I tend to dress down (eg jeans/white t-shirt), mind you). I immediately read her like an ESL book. She thought I was an easy target she could confront, chat with, dominate, and make herself feel good from. Little did she know that I crack little nuts like her in between my butt-cheeks for pleasure.

So I turn around…

Girl: Hey!
Nuss: Yes.
Girl: I’m Ashleigh, my friend organized tonight’s event.
Nuss: I’m Nuss.
Girl: What?
Nuss: My name is Nuss.
Girl: Cool, is that a Scandinavian name? I’ve traveled all over the region and the name sounds familiar. I was in Copenhagen three months ag-
Nuss: It isn’t.
Girl: Alright…well, what do you do?

Here we go, I think to myself. (FYI, I’m a research analyst at an investment bank)

Nuss: I’m in the shipping business and-
Girl: I cover transportation at Morgan Stanley and in fact last week I helped raise $130 million for a Dubai-based shipping company. The team flew out to Dubai and we were treated like royalty. I think transportation is an industry one cannot go wrong with. In an ever globalizing world, transport will only evolve and evolve. That’s good for me, I suppose, being a Sales-trader. Et toi, qu’est ce que tu fais? (Translation: and what do you do?) Sorry, i get languages mixed up all the time. What do you do?

Yeah sure, that was an accident!

Nuss: I-
Girl: You know, there’s an opening for a Sales assistant in my division if you’re really keen on transportation. I could put in a word. Mike loves me and…well I’m convinced he wants to marry me but that’s another story. He’s the managing director. Here, take my card. It’s all about connections in this business. They tend to recruit Ivy League people but they always make exceptions for personal recommendations. Where did you study?
Nuss: Harvard

Her countenance changed instantaneously. She began to exude discomfort and her eyes filled with envy. Meanwhile, I am smiling inside.

Girl: Oh… (pause)...Well, that’ll help. What did you study?
Nuss: Applied Mathematics.
Girl: They love quant guys actually. You’ll impress ‘em and they’ll definitely recommend you to business schools in the future, if you were to get the job that is.
Nuss: I’ve already done business school.
Girl: Really? Where?
Nuss: At Harvard also. I did a dual degree, completing a law degree as well, from Harvard Law School.

In the last 30 seconds I witnessed a transformation. She no longer cared about making herself feel good. Now she was curious as to how much above her I stood.

Nuss: Listen, thank you for the kind offer. Indeed, Morgan Stanley is a very attractive name and I’m sure it opens doors but I’m simply not the corporate type. I don’t like taking orders and working for others. I run my own shipping business. The company your team raised capital for is a direct competitor of ours.
Girl: You know the CEO, Mahmou Al-
Nuss: Wait! The last thing I want is to discuss business. Why don’t we have a drink?
Girl: Sure.

She grabs my hand for everyone to see. I’m her catch, so she thinks :)

We get to the bar and the bartender asks us what we’d like to drink. She turns to me.

Nuss: Mojito and a shot of Grey Goose Vodka.
Girl: Same. So, Nuss, why don’t we do dinner tomorrow night?
Nuss: No can do. Got reservations at Saint Geraldo’s in Portofino.
Girl: Tomorrow night? in Portfofino? You don't mean the Italian Riviera?
Nuss: Of course I do.
Girl: When are you leaving?
Nuss: A couple of hours from now maybe.
Girl: Maybe? Do you have a ticket?
Nuss: I own a private jet. I don’t buy tickets Ashleigh. Besides, I am committed.
Girl: Committed? To someone, as in a girlfriend?
Nuss: Yes.
Girl: But I noticed you flirting with a girl before I approached you. And I have the feeling that the two of us are flirting now.
Nuss: You think a knight stops sharpening his sword because there is no war to wage or village to defend? It’s preparation. In case a war begins, the sword will remain sharp. And just because it is sharp it doesn’t mean he will stab anything in its way.

I notice the drinks coming.

Nuss: Oh, I have to take this call from Zurich. Pardon me for a minute.
Girl: Of course. But hurry…I want to do a shot with you.

The bartender delivers the drinks and before he asks for any money, I pick up my mojito and carry on with my fictitious conversation. I head towards another room. Once out of sight, I place my cell in my back pocket. I enjoy the drink alone and head towards the door. Goodbye and good night.

Welcome Nuss Lovers

Pronunciation: 'nüs (similar to the English word 'noose')

I would like to thank you for visiting this site, or blog as the geeks of the internet world have deemed appropriate.

As you read the sections that follow and those that will be posted in the near future you will find yourself overwhelmed with excitement and curiosity and will read about occurrences the likes of which you will seldom -if lucky- experience, witness and maybe even hear about. These happenings will manifest themselves in a wholly unanticipated manner, as much in life does, and therefore you will be in the know very soon after I experienced them. In a sense we -you the curious mind and me the Nuss- will experience this together. I want you to acccompany me as this new chapter in my life unveils itself.

This September I will begin graduate studies at the University of Amsterdam, where, through a combination of hard-work, perseverance and cunning I will master the science of economics. Do not worry, this blog will not bore you with such complexities. Rather, I will regularly publish my latest adventures. Believe me, there will be plenty to read as the Nuss is an adventure seeker in the purest form. So for those of you who lead slower-pace lives and cannot or fear to venture into the unknown then live vicariously through the Nuss. I have been told that my stories are of those of fiction novels. Yet I am firm believer that all of us can lead such lives. But we must live to the fullest in order to do so. How much money we have or the blood that runs through our veins plays no role. You will find us living amongst the materially poor and rich. Yet we are all rich in spirituality and have great stories to tell. This, you will soon see...

Oh, you may be asking yourself, 'what the hell is the Nuss?', 'what does it mean?'. Quite simply, it is a name given to me by a close friend. It's etymology is rather hilarious -my father claims it is ridiculous but he is from another time. Take a name and Roman-ize it (in the Roman General sort of the way), meaning attach '-us'. For instance, take Patrick > Romanization = Patriclus. It's very similar to Maximus (Gladiator). Well my last name ends with the letter 'n'; therefore, it was decided that I be called Nus, for short. The additional 's' is to underline and stress the 's'.

Until soon my friends.

Yours faithfully,

Nuss

PS: The following post will be published after my first day in Amsterdam.