Road to MBA

It was not so long ago when I found myself sitting on the four corners of the room along with other 19 hopeful MBA students. The four corners became my haven and, whether I like it or not, the-place-to-be every Saturday for the next 16 months of my humdrum life.


It was exciting but sometimes boring. Could be sometimes easy but most of the time difficult while cracking your brains, strapping you down in the chair for the next three solid hours. It was fun, tedious, creative, informative, self-sacrificing, nerve-wracking, sleep-depriving and humbling experience for me.

That's how I would describe it.

But of course that doesn't include how stressful it was when we took the comprehensive exam for two days and the oral revalida that would make me shrink in jittery at the mere sight of the five panelists. The best part is, we all emerged in the "torture chamber" smiling and joyous with the result.

The last part of the journey? Applying for graduation.

I can finally say that sleepless nights are finally over. It was tough but the end of the road is just as sweet... And I'm looking forward to the crisp smell of my diploma. :)

The "So" fad that is soooooooo annoying

I'm not gonna beat around the bush... Here's the case:

I have this classmate in MBA who constantly, abusively, excessively, overly and extremely uses the word "so". Like every sentence that comes out from his friggin' mouth should / has to start with : "So, ................."

I noticed it at the start of the semester when we had our individual reporting. And then I noticed there are actually two of them who have this chronic, annoying... can I call it behavior? I mean, I can't come up with a better word. "Impediment" would be too harsh.

Really guys. We should trade places. Try sitting on my chair while I stand in front and do your "so" behavior. Let's see if your ears won't bleed.

Come on! It's not like you can't use that word EVER, coz I use it too when (1) I'm trying to emphasize something, (2) what I'm about to say next is very important that you have to hang on to my every word, (3) when it's necessary.

But for you to use it EVERY.FUCKING.SENTENCE.IS.TOO.MUCH.FOR.A.HEADACHE.

Just SO you know, it's NOT a LINKING VERB. Why the heck you use it like this? :

"So I was on my way to school when I passed a bunch of bummers. So I stared at them trying to tell them hey what are you gonna do with your lives? But I know it's not a good idea So I forced my way to school. So when I get to the school building the class is about to start so I entered the room and sat on my chair. It was my turn to do the report so I stood up, gathered my report materials and made my way to the front. So I start to discuss my topic and I can't help say So, So, So at the start of every sentence. Maybe I'm not aware of that so forgive me.

So I didn't know that my classmate janjan is jotting down how many times I uttered the word so. So this girl is really a bitch. So who the hell she think she is? She's not perfect either!

So for every 10 minutes, I use the word so in my sentences 55 times. So??? Does that bother you? If it does, then don't listen to my report. Let's see if you will pass the subject...

So normally, in a masteral class, a single report can last up to 30 minutes. That's maximum already. For one reporter. So imagine if I talk 30 minutes straight. So that's 3 X 55, because on average, I use "so" 55X every 10 minutes, so that's roughly 165X. Wow!!!! So, can you do that? Huh? Huhhhhh????? "

Now guys, I'm sure you can feel what I feel.

So?

Ok fine! I stutter…errrr… stammer!

Hey I’m back!

Uhm, just thought you should know. :)

Anyhoo, I’ve been meaning to write for the past days. I have so many things to share, so much had happened but I’m too busy to log in to blogger - too exhausted to gather my thoughts, too lazy to write.

But today is different. I decided to sit down and tap my writing mode. I need to acclimatize myself once again with my comfort nook. I need to get that feeling, the need to keep my thoughts flowing and ideas growing. I need to get this stress out of me.

I wanted to write something...

Yesterday I went to school. It was the second session for my masters degree. I have 3 subjects for this semester. The first one tackles global business management, the trading system and, yes you don’t want me to start talking about it. At this early, I have a feeling I wouldn’t be interested in the topic. I mean, come on! I was never interested in economics. I was never into World Trade Organizations and how it affects oh no don't get me started! I’ll leave it up to the business-minded, to the CEOs, to the thinkers. Duh! I’m more interested in algebra and physics than studying the global economy.

When the next subject rolled in, I was more than happy to learn that it speaks my language. I took that up in college, only that it was named differently. But the principle, the framework –man, I can actually guess the next thing that the professor would say. It was like listening to my college instructor all over again. It was like re-reading the same page in the book. The only difference is that I took it on a different level now than I did before. I understood it clearly now than I do before. I guess this is what they say experience is the best teacher. I learned more in the battlefield.

The most dynamic subject of all is the effective communication. The professor made us read 9 tongue twisters. We started with “The big black bug bit a big black bear at the end of his big black nose.” It was as easy as closing our eyes. Then the fourth came with “A twister of twists, once twisted a twist, and the twist that he twisted was a three-twisted twist. Now in twisting this twist, if a twist should untwist, the twist that untwisted would untwist the twist.”

Fuck it man I couldn't finish the first line without stammering. What’s up with this twisting twister? It totally twisted my tongue! For heaven’s sake I always ended up pronouncing “twist” with “twits”. Damn you twitter. I secretly hate you now. You’re the culprit!!!

The last one was even harder, (for me) “A tooter who tooted a flute tried to tutor two tutors to toot. Said the two to the tutor, ‘Is it harder to toot or to tutor two tutors to toot?”

I hate you letter TTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

Then the professor said we will play a game. A challenge of who is the best tongue twister(er) in the class. The student who can read all nine with the least time and less stammering will get a free handbook (which she had written, of course). So when she looked at me, I abruptly told her: “nah, I’ll just pay for the book.”

And she laughed so hard.

I'd rather sing than do the tongue twisting.