Re: Narbik CCIE 2.0 bootcamp

I was in the Narbik bootcamp this week with Keenon. This was my first
retake of the bootcamp. I attended Narbiks boot camp last year, and
needless to say I was very impressed then. But this time it was way over
the top. Firstly we had an awesome group. Everyone was friendly, excited
and a pleasure to be around. Secondly, the venue for this particular
bootcamp provided breakfast and dinner to patrons. So it reduced some of
the expenses and made it easy for everyone to spend time together during
the long and short breaks.

I was concerned when Narbik announced that he was joining 360 that
things would change in his class. He swore to me that the only change
was how deep he was going to go into the hairs of the technology. In
the first hour Narbik outlined the schedule of the week and with the
exception of moving QOS to day three, and the new MPLS and L3VPN stuff
the layout matched my original notes exactly. When lecture started it
was obvious I was in a Narbik Bootcamp

We took each technology and deep dived into the inner workings. As
Keenon mentioned his knowledge of IOS is incredible, but if he doesn't
know something as a 100% fact he will tell you. But he will do his
best to find the answer.

Things that impressed me most:

   1.

      The new 2.0 workbook. There is a lot of stuff in there, but each
      of the topologies (each of the solutions) by the end of the week
      you have seen. He has covered 80% or more of the material in the
      class. When you are in your hotel room banging out labs its all so
      familiar it makes it easy to remember the lecture. You can almost
      hear his voice.

   2.

      Just like in last lecture at the end of the class he tells
      everyone that this isn't the end. This is just the beginning of
      our relationship. He means it!

Things I didn't like:

   1.

      I do not like not being able to print out the workbooks (or pay
      for a hard copy). I write on stuff, I scrawl on diagrams, and I
      like keeping all that stuff together. Not having that ability
      really was disappointing, but I understand why he did it. Now the
      surprise was when he handed out the question books 2 printed
      full color volumes. That did go a long way to take away some of
      the frustration.

   2.

      Having attended the previous boot camp I got to hear some lectures
      that weren't in this boot camp. In order to make room for the new
      topics some of the older ones where scaled back. Again I realize
      why this was done and in the end I don't think it impacted the
      class in any way. I just really enjoyed them the first time around.

It was a pleasure meeting everyone and Narbik you did an incredible job
explaining MPLS and L3VPN's sorry we turned you into a bit of Drill
Sergeant there for a bit tho. All-in-all this boot camp was better than
the first and I really think it pushed me over the hump.

One question though, "If Niles' little boy attend the boot camp in 20
years, does that count as a free retake?"

Terry Vinson

keenon wrote:
> Maybe when he comes back for the second IE at 4 yrs old.
>
> On 11/14/09, Narbik Kocharians <narbikk_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I should have charged her twice as much.
>>
>> On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 11:37 AM, keenon <kmoorman_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Narbik,
>>>
>>> I was worried about her as well and hope she remembers to send baby
>>> pictures to the group. As he was a student as well..lol I dont know of
>>> any people to say they attended a CCIE bootcamp b4 birth!
>>>
>>> On 11/14/09, Narbik Kocharians <narbikk_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Keenon, Thanks very much and I am glad you enjoyed the class.
>>>> Hey.I only did what you paid me for. Once again thanks. BTW, I was so
>>>> nervous about the lady that was 8.5 months pregnant; I thought any
>>>> minute I have to run out and scream for help, but then again that
>>>> would have been a good ad for CCIE certification.hahahahahah JK.
>>>> Once again thanks.
>>>>
>>>> Johnny, I just Unicasted you and answered your questions. Please
>>>> Unicast me if you have more questions.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 11:04 AM, keenon <kmoorman_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Iwan,
>>>>>
>>>>> I definitely learned alot even about things I thought I had mastered.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 11/14/09, Iwan Hoogendoorn <iwan_at_ipexpert.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Well you probably learned some good stuff!
>>>>>> You must be tired!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Iwan Hoogendoorn
>>>>>> CCIE #13084 (R&S / Security / SP)
>>>>>> Sr. Support Engineer IPexpert, Inc.
>>>>>> URL: http://www.IPexpert.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Nov 14, 2009 at 5:55 PM, keenon <kmoorman_at_gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I just got back from probably the most intensive and informative boot
>>>>>>> camp
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> have ever taken.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Before going to class you will receive a prep workbook to work
>>>>>>> through.
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> however didn't have time to do half if any of the labs but did manage
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> read a few of them.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On the first day started with a joke and an introductions. Once all
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> introductions are out of the way down to business. I have heard he has
>>>>>>> IOS
>>>>>>> on the brain.. I can say it 100% and some!!! He starts teaching not
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>> dim light slide show but writing the commands on the board from
>>>>>>> memory,
>>>>>>> writing the sub-options from memory, explaining what all of them do
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>> the possibilities depending on scenarios ! This is with drawing the
>>>>>>> topology, device outputs and not missing a single thing. I can say if
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> were proud of whatever certification you have got seeing this will
>>>>>>> make
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> question yourself , yet he is so humble about the whole thing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I will warn you if you were expecting a 8/9am to 5pm class this ain't
>>>>>>> it!
>>>>>>> Class is a solid 10-12 hours with the necessary labs and breaks. I
>>>>>>> found
>>>>>>> myself going to bed at 12-1am every morning. I'm lucky I had a game
>>>>>>> plan
>>>>>>> that worked for me of waking up at 6am! working out, getting cleaned
>>>>>>> up
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> then going to class. Narbik had breakfast, lunch and dinner with the
>>>>>>> students everyday. Completely unheard of! from any of my experiences
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> attending any Cisco classes.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> During our class we had a few students that were retakes (On a couple
>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>> the US and 1 that came over from the UK!), mind you he doesn't charge
>>>>>>> for
>>>>>>> retakes for any of his students( he recommends that you take it again
>>>>>>> before
>>>>>>> taking the lab) if you have paid for the class even if you have passed
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> lab. He has a genuine interests in each student not just for making
>>>>>>> sure
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> pass the exam but as a real relationship ( that's something you can't
>>>>>>> buy
>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>> fake).
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> He keeps the learning environment fun and awesome learning experience.
>>>>>>> With
>>>>>>> funny stories, simple explanations for what seems complex and no one
>>>>>>> ever
>>>>>>> falling asleep because of the constant engagement he has with the
>>>>>>> students.I
>>>>>>> have taught IT related classes (for 2 years) but I'm not even on the
>>>>>>> same
>>>>>>> planet when it comes to the style, presentation, information and
>>>>>>> everything
>>>>>>> else I can think of.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> He wants honest feed back from the students (which we all felt like a
>>>>>>> team)
>>>>>>> gives honest feedback and recommendations on how to approach the IE
>>>>>>> without
>>>>>>> loosing your life and family in the process.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In my opinion there's not another training provider I would use or
>>>>>>> recommend
>>>>>>> for the CCIE than Narbik. Also his grandmother has 2 CCIE's. :-)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> You can't be what your not but you can be what you want.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> Subscription information may be found at:
>>>>>>> http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Iwan Hoogendoorn
>>>>>> CCIE #13084 (R&S / Security / SP)
>>>>>> Sr. Support Engineer IPexpert, Inc.
>>>>>> URL: http://www.IPexpert.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>>>
>>>>> You can't be what your not but you can be what you want.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________________________________
>>>>> Subscription information may be found at:
>>>>> http://www.groupstudy.com/list/CCIELab.html
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Narbik Kocharians
>>>> CCSI#30832, CCIE# 12410 (R&S, SP, Security)
>>>> www.MicronicsTraining.com
>>>> Sr. Technical Instructor
>>>> YES! We take Cisco Learning Credits!
>>>> Training And Remote Racks available
>>>>
>>>>
>>> --
>>> Sent from my mobile device
>>>
>>> You can't be what your not but you can be what you want.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Narbik Kocharians
>> CCSI#30832, CCIE# 12410 (R&S, SP, Security)
>> www.MicronicsTraining.com
>> Sr. Technical Instructor
>> YES! We take Cisco Learning Credits!
>> Training And Remote Racks available

Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
Received on Sat Nov 14 2009 - 16:54:03 ART