Why I wish I were starting business school this fall
You'll be glad to know that Gailor called to say she was back in the States.
Faithful readers will remember that she's started business school at Northwestern, and the first week was a group bonding experience in Brazil. She wasn't allowed to take a cell or laptop with her, but I did get this e-mail from her. It's not like I remember school: ...
"I'm sitting at an internet cafe in Buzios, a beach town about 2-3 hours from Rio. We spent the morning on a catamaran with high winds, but beautiful water. We jumped in and swam to shore at one little beach. The highlight was when a little rubber boat pulled up next to us and a local climbed onto the boat with skewered fresh shrimp with limes. It didn't appeal in the heat, but I ate them anyway and they turned out to be fabulous. Shell and all. I don't have long to type, but I´ll give you a few highlights.
"Yesterday. The big birthday. We left Rio in the morning and took an air-conditioned coach here to Buzios. After lunch (crepes with cheese that day) we did "beach olympics." A group bonding thing with five events. We came in second, although I still think we were robbed. ... We ate dinner at an outdoor restaurant with traditional Portuguese food. I had a cod dish (they call it Christmas cod) with olives, onions, rice, and a bunch of other stuff mixed in with the cod. After dinner, they brought out a huge chocolate cake and everyone sang happy birthday (for the second time -- the first was on the bus the night before at midnight on our way home from a samba club in Rio -- more on that later). It means a lot to me that everyone has made the day such a big deal all week. ..."
Comments
Wow, school sounds a lot better than when I went!
Actually, I probably would have hated the forced "group bonding" stuff.
Posted by: Hal Laurent, VoR | September 1, 2008 9:31 PM
Yeah, I would hated the forced social bonding stuff, but, dang, this is nothing like the orientation I went through. I had a jr. big sister, and an elf and all, but definitely nothing involving traif with lime on a beach....
Posted by: Lissa | September 1, 2008 9:48 PM
When I was a freshman in college, people in the dorms thought I mysterious because no one knew who I was at first. I took one look at all the organized forced socialization and found something more fun. Plus I met a dance therapy major named Helena my first day there. The company I used to work for had team spirit crapola when two regions merged. I say you get a bottle of bourbon, some throwing knives and see where the evening takes you.
Posted by: voodoopork | September 1, 2008 9:58 PM
When my lifelong best friend went to Frostberg, they had some type of bonding activity that consisted of throwing the smallest freshmen around in a parachute. She was lucky enough to be chosen for this honor and wound up home needing knee surgery. The administrative arm of my company frequently has bonding retreats which entail all kinds of wierd activities involving trust issues, only to then; during budget crisis times try to cut each others jobs. I'm mistrustful of forced bonding! (and administrators).
Posted by: Joyce W. | September 2, 2008 5:36 AM
In my old office, bonding consisted of gathering around the salsa bar and discussing the merits of the various fresh salsas we would bring in. All the while dipping chips in salsa and chowing down. Used to buy tortilla chips by the case, and Ro-Tel in the 28-oz can.
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | September 2, 2008 9:26 AM
RiE, No double dipping!
Salsa bar at work? At my last job we had our hands full just trying to figure out what to do with the hostages. We dint haff no stinkin salsa bar!
Posted by: OMG | September 2, 2008 9:54 AM
Is all this included in the tuition or is it extra? I know Northwestern is extremely expensive and now maybe I know why.
Subsidized but not included. About 80 perecent of the first years do these trips in groups of 25. EL
Posted by: Elite Elephant Lover | September 2, 2008 1:27 PM
Heh, at least she knows WHAT highlights to hit when she is writing home. I wish my friends/family would tell me about the food they ate when they go on and on about their trip. I usually wind up saying after the diatribe, "Yeah, but what about the food?!?"
Posted by: Maggi | September 2, 2008 2:22 PM
"Yeah, but what about the food?!?"
I have the same problem, Maggi. Isn't it amazing how few people really have their priorities straight? Don't they know that it's all about the food?
Posted by: Rosebud | September 3, 2008 8:13 AM
Yes, it is all about the food. Most people return and complain about the "stupid foreigners - they don't understand me no matter how loud I speak!"
Posted by: Rob in PCB FL | September 3, 2008 12:48 PM
I'm going to Iceland in a few weeks. Not even for all of you will I try hakarl, let alone admit it.
Posted by: Lissa | September 3, 2008 1:38 PM
Lissa - I want the lowdown on Skyr! Don't blame you - don't think I could eat hakarl if I was starving to death! Did you know that nothing can be built within miles of the place where they "ferment" those sharks because of the odor?
Posted by: Joyce W. | September 3, 2008 2:12 PM