Anderson’s legendary Halloween party, exclusive Hollywood mansion events, and his first chaotic taste of American college football at the Rose Bowl. A blur of costumes, tailgates, and cultural surprises.

Disclaimer

• All characters and events in this chapter —even those based on real people—are entirely fictional.
• The following chapters contain coarse language and situations and due to its content it should not be read by anyone.

Chapter 21 “MBA Halloween party”

The Halloween party at Anderson was nothing short of legendary, a timeless tradition that never failed to deliver. This year’s festivities were no exception. The atmosphere crackled with energy—elaborate costumes, eerie decorations, and a venue transformed into a haunted wonderland. Some grumbled about the ticket price, but to me, the cost was justified. Renting the space, decking it out, and organizing the night took serious effort, and the result spoke for itself.

But my Halloween adventures didn’t end there.

I also found myself at a couple of exclusive parties in Hollywood mansions, one of which was hosted by none other than the owner of the Harry Potter licenses in the U.S. These parties were in a league of their own—lavish, extravagant affairs where the decorations and costumes could easily rival those of a high-budget theatrical production. Wandering through rooms draped in eerie elegance felt surreal, like stepping onto a movie set.

The morning after, still buzzing from the night’s events, a group of friends and I decided to extend the celebration. We made our way to West Hollywood, braving the crowds along Santa Monica Boulevard to soak in the wild and colorful Halloween scene. The costumes lining the streets were next-level—more creative and outrageous than anything I’d seen at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights. It was pure spectacle, and we reveled in every minute of it.

That second year at Anderson brought with it a bit more free time, and I took full advantage of it. One of the hidden gems for students was Pauley Pavilion—a treasure trove of discounted tickets for everything from basketball and football games at the Rose Bowl to Disney passes and other LA attractions.

I made a couple of pilgrimages to Pauley to snag tickets for the Rose Bowl Classic—the epic rivalry game between USC and UCLA. The anticipation in line was electric. Students chattered excitedly about the upcoming game, buzzing with the kind of energy that only comes with fierce school pride. Clutching my tickets, I felt the thrill of knowing I’d soon witness one of the most iconic sporting events in the country.

But the game itself was just part of the experience.

The real highlight? The tailgate party.

Tailgating outside the Rose Bowl was a blast—easily one of the most fun, chaotic, and quintessentially American experiences I had during my MBA. The air smelled of sizzling burgers and hot dogs, music pumped from portable speakers, and the crowd was a sea of school colors and painted faces. We mingled, laughed, and indulged in food and drinks as we soaked up the pre-game festivities. Some people didn´t make it to the game, passing out drunk in the parking lot.

By the time we made our way into the stadium, the excitement had reached a fever pitch. The Rose Bowl was alive with thousands of screaming fans, each side fiercely loyal to their team. Everywhere I looked, the crowd shimmered in school jerseys and scarves.

Settling into our seats, we braced for what was sure to be an unforgettable clash between two powerhouse teams.

That’s about where my clear memories end.

Let’s just say the tailgate had left us in a compromised state. I recall snippets—the marching bands blasting Metallica covers, the roar of the crowd, the occasional high-five exchanged with strangers. It all blended into one euphoric blur of noise, music, and celebration.

As for the actual game? Well, the final score seemed like a minor detail.

In the end, it didn’t matter who won. I was not a fan of college sports and never got absorbed like the gringos with school pride.