Category: I’m waiting on my CCL video to format, and I thought I would share a few words with you. If you are reading this, you already know what I’m talking about…or you are gonna find out by August.
So here we are again, on the cusp of a new term and another country. My hangover from Delhi, Agra, Kathmandu, and Nagarkot is but a distant memory now. As some of my classmates have already mentioned, we are at the halfway point of our short MBA careers (or life, or whatever you want to call it).
So what happened last term? This is what I remember; I remember seeing a new world. I remember that India was so unique in its way that I had no other land or culture to compare it to. I remember that sleep was tough, that 10 hour difference is just tough to overcome. I remember being impressed with my two professors in ways that I didn’t think possible (yeah, I know, I’m saying that just two days after turning in our finals…shameless plug). But let me tell you what I really remember…
I remember being (still) awake at 4:45 am, and ending up on a bus 15 minutes later to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. No picture can ever show you how grand, beautiful, and overwhelming the Taj really is. I remember seeing Gandhi’s gravesite…more powerful than I could ever write. Even in death the man has more power than most people alive. I remember seeing the poorest, middle, and rich on my first day in India. That gave me a new perspective what it really means to be poor, and a new respect for the people of India for what they are accomplishing given their challenges. I remember seeing Mt. Everest. An awe-inspiring moment that I will take to my deathbed. And again, no picture can really tell you what this great beast is like.
Which brings me to today. For all the great things that we have seen, there is a price to pay. Here we are at the halfway point; exhausted, beat up by a stats exam that was tough as nails. I miss my family, I can’t travel to see them because I have to use my vacation, sick, and personal time for the school travel. I miss my friends, I haven’t spent any time with them in ages. Every time someone calls me to go out I reply back with “I have a test, assignment, or paper (or some combination of) due today.’ I miss my hobbies…the winter has not been helpful in my love of cycling, camping (not that I can spare a weekend), or golfing. And finally, I really miss my weekends. I miss sloth Sunday. I miss not getting out of my PJ’s till 6 pm on Sunday.
For all these negatives, I still can’t wait to travel to Shanghai and see my classmates, for these are the people that I am humbled by their presence on daily bases. And I can (and will) endure this time till we finish our last day in December, and walk across the stage together in May. Eye on the prize boys and girls.
See you in the ‘Hai…
Impeccable post Wasim...the depth of your writing helps visualize the experiences we have shared and increases the excitement looking ahead to Shanghai. For me, when I am heads down in course work, I can't wait for it to get done. However, when I think back to the residencies and the people I have shared them with, I want it all to slow down. Can't wait to be back together with CCMBA 2010d in Shanghai!
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