Instant gratification is just boring. Which is why Columbia decided not to give me a real answer and made me wait until now. But I forgive easily, especially after seeing the “Congratulations” on my application status this morning.
I’m in! Clearly today will be an unproductive day.
Happy Valentines Day to you too, Columbia.
I gave myself about two days to do absolutely nothing besides enjoy the thought that I will be going back to school in a few months. I made it through the middle of the second day before I began planning all of the other things I have to tackle before I can really put this whole application process behind me:
Other Things I Should Do:
wow. it has all been worth it. All of it, the moment I saw the “510″ number on my phone. I’m IN!
GO BEARS!
I both love and hate how much of my life is based on unknown, changeable plans. Yes, I bought into this when I stepped on the consulting bandwagon years ago. But I don’t think “change” is something you can ever get used to - I for one, still struggle with the ‘normalcy’ of constantly not knowing where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing this time next month. And recently, it’s not by month, but by week. And this is happening on several fronts:
Work
Since I’ve come home from my international engagement 4 weeks ago, I’ve been sitting around (or ‘on the beach’ in Consulting terminology), waiting for an official start date on my next project, which keeps being delayed with the expectation that the contract will be signed “in a few days.” Because this project involves extensive travel to Seattle and South Africa, I’ve decided to postpone moving myself back home to New York until the project is over. And thus passed an entire month, upon which I look back and think about just how much I could have done with the time had I not been waiting by the hour to hop on a plane the next day.
With all this delay, I’ve seriously considered going to another project and beginning my move. Just as I am about to put my foot down on this decision, I received notice that YES the contract has been signed! What does this mean? That within 1-2 days, I should pack up my bags to spend the next entire month hopping between continents. But hey, this is no one’s fault - it was completely within my power to say no, to find another project. I actively chose this kind of lifestyle, really. And with this lifestyle, I also bought into being okay with having an extremely ‘flexible’ personal life, and having friends no longer expect me to show up to anything. But with these sacrifices, I’ve been able to travel around the world, work hand-in-hand with key players to make positive impacts, and most importantly, gain a personal perspective of today’s global landscape. And with this perspective, I’m able to confidently test, evaluate, and reformulate my own values. And this is the source of my love-hate relationship.
School
As if things aren’t confusing enough, I bring it upon myself to add a new dimension of stress by applying to schools this year. What I hate about the application process is more or less expected: months of studying for an exam that tests neither my management ability nor my career interests. Entire weekends spent with eyes glued to my laptop, writing and rewriting pages of application essays. If my job as a consultant had left any inkling of personal time, the applications took it away.
What I love about this whole process is less apparent, but valuable. In the months spent drafting pages of essays, I’ve been ‘forced’ by the application process to do a detailed and thorough evaluation of who I am, in every aspect, from every angle.
All of this. and so much more. Which makes it obvious as to why this application process is a complete headache, and yet, a valuable experience.
And now, as I pack my bags for a weekend interview on the West Coast, while waiting in anticipation for official news from the East Coast, I think about the ‘crazy’ lifestyle I’ve gotten myself into, and the irreversible amount that I’ve grown as a result.
I spent several hours at the bookstore reading Stephen Colbert’s I am America (and So Can You), finding myself bursting into uncontrollable laughter, and undoubtedly embarrassing myself to no end in the process.
I can’t help it. The book is hilarious. If you watch/like/heard of his show, you have to check out his book. If you have no idea who Stephen Colbert is, you still have to check out the book. You don’t even have to read the pages in order, it’s that good. Better yet, if you want to read as little as possible, just flip to the middle of the book and try to get through the survey.
Excerpt:
How would you describe your body shape?
a) Apple
b) Pear
c) Starfruit
d) Human
Every year at about this time, I like to plop myself at a cafe and reflect on the year that’s about to come to a close. This year is no different, as I’ve definitely gone through quite a bit in 2007. However, it’s a bit nerve-wrecking trying to plan for 2008, as I’m currently waiting for several key decisions that will determine pretty much everything I do in the coming year. So my 2008 plans will temporarily assume that everything happens according to plan :)
2007 in Retrospect: Last year, I have…
2008 in Anticipation: This year, I will…
If all goes well, 2008 should be an amazing year :)
…me? I’ve been relaxing at home and getting fat. Our family celebrated the holiday as we do every year. We have our big dinner during Christmas Eve, which is more or less my responsibility. Although I used to be semi-decent at cooking, after moving to the city my kitchen repertoire consisted of well-organized delivery menus and recipes that involve either a microwave or toaster oven. So then my repressed inner chef breaks out every year during the holidays, when I temporarily take over my parents’ full-sized suburban kitchen and cook up a storm.
This year was no different - in fact, after being out of the country for so long, I spent half a day walking up and down the aisles of Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, ogling at the perfectly shaped produce from every season, and at the endless varieties of every kind of food. After I thoroughly amused myself by looking at all 200 types of of snack bars that has surfaced since I last stepped foot inside an American supermarket, I managed to drag myself back home and put together a pleasantly delicious, mostly organic Christmas Eve Dinner menu:
And on Christmas day, we followed our yearly family tradition by going out to watch a movie - Juno, which by the way, is an excellent film that had me laughing and tearing simultaneously without feeling odd since everyone in the theater was doing the exact same thing.
and now, another Christmas is about to be over. Soon it will be New Year’s Eve, during which I’m assuming I will spend several hours at some cafe, writing about this past year and thoughts for the next year, as I do every year. And pretty soon, even that will be over. Ever since I’ve come back home, time seems to be moving at an incredibly fast speed. It has been a good year. And if I can help it, next year will be a great one.
I’m at home in the Maryland suburbs, visiting family for the holidays. Except I’m not - I’m actually sitting at a Starbucks, with my tall Americano and a “maple oat nut” scone, reading a sprinkling of news articles from the WSJ, Economist, and NYTimes.
Since I’ve come back, I’ve woken up every morning, gotten in the car, and driven 10 minutes down the road to this single Starbucks within pretty much a 15-20 mile radius to have a cup of coffee and read the morning news.
This drives my parents insane - but there’s coffee and internet connection at home! But it’s not that. And it’s not specifically Starbucks either, not really. Old habits die hard. I love/have to start my mornings at a cafe, and in New York, this would be nothing out of the ordinary. I guess it’s the smell of roasted beans, and the routine bustling amongst familiar strangers in the morning. On a good day, I’d hop out of bed and out for a short morning jog, then drop by the cafe next door for a morning fix. Or on a sluggish day, I’d roll out of bed, and drag myself down to the cafe - the best part of waking up. Everyone does this!
But as I sit here and watch the empty tree-lined streets, it is slowly occurring to me just how odd this habit would be if I actually lived here - to make an entire trip out of a simple morning routine (which makes me realize that the baristas here must wonder why I’m here so often!) Morning activity happens within the privacy of one’s own home, nothing is left out to the public until all is washed, polished, and ready to be presented. So suburban.
Man, I miss New York.
(One of the things I’ve done since coming back, besides attempting to overcome jet-lag and contracting a cold virus, is catching up on half a year’s worth of news. And of all the newsworthy events, Ron Paul’s campaign is at the top of my list. I’m captivated not only by the man’s beliefs, but by the amount of energy the American people have generated in showing their support.)
Today is the Ron Paul Tea Party, a campaign fundraising event that has been creating completely by the general public, with a goal to drastically increase Paul’s donations through the internet. it’s currently 7pm EST, which means there is 5 hours left before midnight. I have my fingers crossed - Ron Paul is going to cross 4 million in one day… again!
I have previously not been too active in politics, but after listening to his positions, I feel almost as if I had an obligation as a patriotic American to do my part to push for his candidacy. This man may just be what our country desperately needs right now.
Go Ron Paul!
-edit- nevermind, he’s crossed $6 million - this now officially surpasses John Kerry’s record of $5.7 million one-day fundraiser in 2004. What a Revolution. May the energy continue!
I’m back! After being abroad for almost 7 months, it feels surreal to be back in my old room, and comforting to walk around the streets and realize that after circling around for so long, I’ve returned to familiar sights and sounds and smells. And yet, it’s no longer summer, and autumn has come and gone away. I’ve come home to holiday lights. To red Starbucks cups. To busy streets with busy strangers wrapped tightly in scarves and wool coats. Yes, things have changed, but they are still the same.
The mystery and intrigue of the outside world will continue to tempt my vagabond tendencies. But as my plane swooped above green fields and city buildings against the blue sky, and as I hold on to my navy blue passport and the packet of airplane peanuts I’ve long since given up on trying to open, the only sounds I heard were the words from Michael Buble’s “Home” on my iPod, the only thing on my mind was how happy I am to be home.
Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I want to go homeI’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I’ve got to go homeIt will all be alright
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home
