OwenBloggers: Isha - MBA '08

The break is over

Not literally, but practically that strange moment has come when I am closer to flying out then I am to have flown in. But it was time well spent. However, I still have my doubt if I have slept enough over the last couple of weeks, but that is purely my issue of trying not to convert to the local time. Regardless of my personal opinions, it was beautiful! Southern Poland that is. I was lucky enough to have white Christmas. Warsaw was, and still is, horribly gray. Granted, it was a bit on the chilly side, but worth every gasp of fresh, cold, and unpolluted air. Poland is known for its stunning soft rime formations, and lately the conditions were spectacular, fog and temperatures falling below freezing point.

But everything must end at some point. So I left behind the beauty of snow covered fields and came back to the city to catch up with some old (and new) friends. After a year long absence there are so many new husbands and children to see it’s strange. And on top of there is a new portal that is bringing school friends together. Unlike classmates.com, Nasza Klasa is a free portal that is based on existing connections. You can message anyone you like, none of that you got to pay for it stuff, post pictures and no one asks you your complete work history. There isn’t even space for it. It is just a bit weird to see people you haven’t seen or heard of in about 20 years and realize that they have all grown up to be normal people, with normal families and kids. For better or worse, there are some things you just can’t imagine as a teenager…

Flying with babies...

When it got dark all the babies went to sleep. That is a good thing. However when the lights came back up, one baby woke up. Guess which one, you got it, the one sitting right next to me. I am surprised how much patience I had. The kid kept on crying, but there was one thing that kept me going: large quantity of gin and tonic and ear plugs… All I can say about ear plugs – life savers! I always knew they were wonderful when I was using them in the library to muffle the noise and distraction, but on a plane with a screaming baby they are irreplaceable! They are quintessential in travel and they are readily available through the flight attendants. All you got to do is ask.

Quintessence of fear

A question was asked today „how do you feel with only six months left at Owen?” Actually as of today it’s only 147 days till graduation. That’s roughly 4.9 months. Not six. I wish it was six, it would give me another month to find a job of my dreams and not worry that May 22 is the pay the loan day. That is scary. I knew since I started Owen that I would hate May 22 of 2008. Silly, isn’t it? There is a date out there that screams reality check.

But am I really afraid? I don’t think so. I am excited. I love Owen. No, I love being in school, but it’s not the goal of this little enterprise of mine to be in school forever. If it was, I would have applied to all of those nice PhD programs that I was considering. But I miss making money. I miss the joys of not dreading May 22, 2008.

In two days I go to Poland. Ahead of me are three weeks of hard work. Three weeks of research (that’s if I can get away from my family long enough to sit by a computer and actually do it) and, in a way, soul searching. I admit, until now it’s been a bit of testing the waters and seeing what’s out there. But practice is over, it’s time to get out onto the playing field in full force and play the game. Play to win.

So what is May 22? It’s just a reminder of my alternative reality. Nothing more, nothing less.

Song of the day:
David Bowie – This is not America