Ramblings of the Wingnut

Lockdown! Noro virus brings my MBA education to a halt. Yes, Babson is in quarantine, at least for the next 4 days. Norovirus is not kool; making those exposed to it throw up yesterdays lunch, get Gippo guts (for Americans that’s what happens when you eat bad McDonalds after a nights drinking – or just from the drinking), fever and see images of the Teletubbies doing the Macarena. Mind you, those symptoms sound similar to seeing JZ naked…yuch…give me a moment to get that imagery out my head. But seriously… this virus thing is like a stomach bug - I mean we have cholera, HIV/Aid and Malema outbreak - much deadlier….weeny Americans…

Beside the lovely health saga, I decided to start running again. Yes – I know it may be surprising to you to read, but I used to run – and not after the Wildebeest through the Savannah or cos I was chased by a lion – though that did happen. No, I used to run – for fun. And while the MBA has many pro’s, one of the cons (along with forgetting what real life entails – sitting in front of the TV, spending time with normal people, not reading 165 pages of economics in one week) is getting out of shape – or in shape: Round.

Anyway, so basically ran everyday this week – and now I am dead. Who knew that 8 months of reading and sitting in front of a PC would do that to you?! But like a fool, I’ll endeavor to carry on with this “running” thing as Spring is fast approaching and means a scorching 15 degrees centigrade – whoohoo!

OK, that’s it for me – that funny looking guy in the space suit is coming around again to spray stuff. What’s that? I need to be stripped naked and sprayed with a water gun to ensure I am not contagious….

So yeah. Spring Break. And now it’s over – One week, thanks. That’s about it…

OK, so there was more. I went down to New York with a buddy of mine – yes, I have made friends with American’s – don’t shun me. They’re people too. In fact with what I read about the world today, I would say that these Americans at Babson are OK. Not the prime rib on the menu, like the sirloin, but defiantly better than the all you can eat ribs, especially when you can’t even see they’re ribs (yes, I have eaten random pig parts at all you can eat ribs buffet).

New York is fun….um….different….interesting…and still the same from the last time I was here (see a previous entry – I’d say which one, but I’m too damn lazy to reference it for you). I got to meet my mates god sister and some friends and it was great. Unfortunately I also realized just how totally untrendy I am. Me and my flannel jacket, corduroy jacket white socks, black shoes and 1955 dogfighter helmet are just so out of touch. At least I know why I am a social outcast – any here I thought it was cos of a lack of personal hygiene.

After New York we drove Niagara Falls. That’s far. Like the distance from Jack Black’s right hip to his left across the front of his belly – that far. 7 hours far. Then one night there and another 8 hours back to Boston. To make matters worse those damn Canadians wouldn’t let me into Canadia without a Visa to see the Niagara Falls from their side. Sheesh. No wonder the Americans see them like we see the Zimbabweans. Nice people (well those that stay their side of the border), but damn….they give us in Southern Africa a bad rep.

And now back to work. Yes, the start of the final mod an already I’m 100 pages, a valuation an entry strategy into China for Coca Cola – welcome to the land of no sleep yet again. P.S. To you new Babson kids reading this – don’t be scared. It’s ok. If I of all people can do it (and you’ll get to know me better soon enough), you can. I over dramatize everything – or do I…..MUHAHAHA…

P.S. He’s just a friend. Nothing special just cos we went to NY, Niagara, and shopping and listened to “The Fray”…just friends…nothing more….I still (and always have and always will) like girls….so shut it….

Alright so I actually have a space moment to update you. You should be thrilled, normally when I have some spare time I shower or use the um…”facilities”, but I guess those are now relegated to luxuries along with food and sleep. I feel that daily I am being transformed into one of the Borg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg_(Star_Trek)) willing to become a mindless slave to the joys of powerpoint, excel spreadsheets, data modeling and all the other things that would get you stuffed into a locker or um…”facility” at high school.

I never realized that simple pleasures like eating KFC, double greased artery filler rounders would be so missed. The good news, is that I am still to indulge in the pleasure of the U.S cultural food – McDonalds. Yes, thus far I have rejected the calls by Ronald and friends to partake in his happy meals and plastic, recycled meat products between buns o “unidentified” wheat product – wait, I don’t think there’s wheat in those buns.

Speaking of buns…Man I am so out of shape. Stupid MBA. No time to do anything. Mind you that’s my own doing too. Like the genius I am (insert sarcastic tone here), I had once again overloaded my plate with more duties than the petrol price. Beside the MBA, I am also trying to lead a change initiative to open clear lines of communication (we won’t use Telkom) between faculty and staff in my role as VP (that’s an abbreviation for Veril Perousus – latin for the Wingnut-is-an-ass-for-doing-more-things-than-he-has-braincells.), am about to start an on campus job and volunteered to be a business consultant for Ghanaian kids in Ghana (yes, I know – shut it). Anyways, what that means in practice is I don’t have time to be a normal person – I know I was very “unhuman” before (not inhuman, those are people to force their pets to wear clothes), but this is bad. Oh well.

Its fun though to be around peers who are just as crazy busy as I am. Normally I’m the only headless chicken running around into cows and sheep. Its quite funny to see all the 1^st years stress about fun topics like company valuations, cost systems, data modeling (I’d prefer to date a model), technology systems, etc. The best part is that we are all doing internship searches now too. It blows being an alien in the US. No wonder E.T went home.

I have applied for like 30 internship positions nothing. Not a thing. Its like looking between our good friend Malema’s ears and seeing darkness and hear the ocean. The best part is that I got a rejection reply for a position I applied for before the deadline was over. That’s like being dumped before you’ve even gone on a 1^st date…Sigh… don’t ask about whats happening on that front either. I’m as unattached as the umbilical cord of a geriatric.