My first 'big' jump

Climb on a 40 feet high pole. On the same height, walk on a 10 cm wide plank and jump to catch another plank dangling 7 ft above and 3 ft away from the edge of the plank you are standing on!

These were the instructions mentioned by our guide Anne at the Winshape Wilderness Retreat. I thought she had gone nuts... Only later did I realize that if hundreds and hundreds of people did this over the years, why couldnt I?

Going to Winshape, Rome, GA has been a tradition here at Goizueta since many many years. They take us to this awesome place in the 26000 acre campus of Berry College. Wait a minute... You read that? 26000 acres!!! Thats one of the largest campuses in the world!! And each and every part of the campus is so very well maintained... Just one word to describe it... 'Beautiful'... I was just flattened...

The activities were designed to help us experience the Goizueta core values - courage, integrity, accountability, rigor, diversity, team, community... No doubt the two days were very tiring, everyone of us felt more attached to one another, to the school and to the core values which form the foundation...

It was just so great to see people encouraging their less courageous groupmates and helping them come out of their 'fear' of height... It was great to see entire team repeating their assigned task just to see one of their fellows complete the task easily....

There are a lot many things I wont be able to describe here... Coz they can only be experienced... It was only after coming back from Winshape that I got the reason our Dean called the trip to Winshape as the 'requirement for the admission to be continued'... :) Thanks to it, I am starting to live the Goizueta Experience!

I guess.. We are already started!

You got that corrrect....

After the fun and information filled International Student's orientation, it was time to meet all of our domestic classmates (the US residents). Dean Steve Walton kicked off the 'big' orientation program on Sunday, 19th August 2007. It was our first encounter with him and I personally, found him to be one of the most energetic persons I have ever met... Man... He walks all over the class with a blistering speed! I bet... If he takes 2-3 hours of class each day, he would have surely walked for 5-6 miles... We then had a small 'get to know each other' session on Sunday... Was fun... I saw around 100 new faces, met around 25 new people and remember around 15 new names.... Not a bad start, right?

The sessions on Monday were a bit loaded... We had to prepare a case, which we discussed with Prof Patrick Noonan... He is an amazing guy.. I am already looking forward to take some electives in DIA so that I could attend his class... :) This followed an open house with some of the faculties and the day ended with Dean Walton taking us through the different programs offered at Goizueta and how the Full Time MBA program forms the flagship program at Goizueta... I was actually surprised to find that 'most' of the full time MBA program accross the US, do not make money, inspite of sky scrapping tuition fees!

Well... Its 1:30 AM Tuesday morning and I am 'trying' to prepare the cases we are supposed to discuss tomorrow... Damn... I could have saved some time by not playing tennis in the eve... But nways, I am loving it all... C ya soon....

In the US of A and its already a week!!

Landed at the LA International Airport - LAX - on 4th August and headed for Emory University, Atlanta on 5th... Shifted zones thrice within 24 hours, and I can just say - 'The ride has begun'! :)

Before I mention a word about the exciting experiences during the past week, I must THANK the MBA program office director at Goizueta, Harriet Ruskin for all the pain she took during the course of the week to see us internationals squared with our requirements... She has indeed been an angel! I have already started learning and admiring the core values upon which the foundations of this great school are based... No kiddin... I am seeing them in practice here, and I am proud of my decision to join Goizueta...

Had a great time meeting most of the international students joining this year... The MBA09s that is... The percentage of internationals joining Goizueta every year has been around 35-37, but this year the number is 45!!! And with the class strength increasing from 150 to 178, the recruitment office claims of a very high yield percentage as well!

That was about facts and figures... Now here is something related to the time... It has been flying.. You just dont realize when those 24 hours pass and you find yourself again amidst the coziness of your bed, trying to recall everything you are supposed to do the next day... No doubt, things have always been a bit leisurely as well, as the REAL classes are yet to begin... We have been shopping around for some while, ve have been getting our financial aid and loans settled and ve been travelling through MARTA - the metro... Had a great time seeing new places like the CNN Centre, the Georgia Acquarium and of course, the World of Coca Cola... More on the visits, later...

For now, m happy for being here! :) And m getting ready for the bigger challange... Let em come!