A Residential MBA

Repeatedly, I was told by some people that the school is more important and not the experience - the brand of school, the academics, the placements etc etc.... This was way back when I gave first try for MBA... However, I was stubborn and wanted to go to a different city for MBA... And see what I got... a entirely different country....

Living alone for the first time without family is difficult not because you missed loved ones but how they are inherent part of your daily lives... Picture this an ideal day at home

Normal Office Day
8:30 AM
Wake up (mostly after Mom trying for atleast 5 times)
8:30 - 9:30 AM
Get Ready (The clothes are washed, ironed and arranged nicely; if one shirt is not ironed properly ask Mom to get it re-done. My mug of milk is ready - perfectly warm to drink)
9:30 AM
Leave for Office. Mom has already packed my bag with the lunch box and newspaper
10:30 AM to 7: 00 PM
In Office
8:00 PM
Get back home. Freshen up. Night clothes and towel is kept ready for me.
9:00 PM
Have Dinner. Ask mom for snacks to complement dinner.
10:30 PM
Fruits are being cut and served by mom.
11:30 PM
End of the Day

Now picture this - a reality far away from home

Wake up when you think you are not really late... but in reality, you are always rushing to catch the 8:00 AM shuttle... While getting ready, you try and heat the milk in microwave... most of times its still cold and sometimes its too hot to handle... if its cold, you gulp it down without any taste and when its hot, you are still trying to drink while wearing shoes... The clothes are washed a day earlier and but not ironed coz of laziness.. but now ironed it should be and you still cant get that one strong crease on the shirt to disappear... Just when you are about leave, you have double check all the important things are there with you including keys, lappie, chargere, wallet, specs etc etc... Somehow you manage to get in line for the shuttle... Btw, you just realise that you havent had breakfast... And you are stomach is growling coz you havent had a good dinner last night.....

After lectures, lunch is managed at the univ but its strictly edible and it will give you the strength to walk around... nuthin like maa ke haath ka khana.... you while away your time at univ coz there is nothing to do and more imp if you go back now, then dinner is a big problem... so these days, the dinner is by 7 PM... too early by Indian standards!!! Now the dinner isnt that great but its better than lunch....

You get back to hostel and see that the laundry pile is getting bigger by the week and you really need to get it done tomorrow... and God forbid, if there are couple of shirts the ironing has to be done as well...

And that was for weekday... for weekend, the issue is even more uncertain... the lunch is uncertain and so is the dinner.... Cooking, i have realised, is not an issue... the aftermath is bigger problem... cleanin up takes as long as to cook and eat... so these days its goin fine when I have lotsa time on hand... Ready to eat does not solve problem either..... you still have to clean up.... And then add on the weekly activities cleaning the house, changing the mattress etc.

After all these, you need to study as well!!!!!

But if you think I was cribbing - its not true!! I am loving this part of my life! The freedom to do anything but the responsibility to do everything! Its these experiences I was looking for in a residential MBA! Away from home to get me out of my comfort zone! I definitely see this as part of my MBA life which I would not have got had I went to a local MBA course... I am gonna emerge as a different Jaimin with a toughie attitude... Rather attitude which says... "Can do, Will do"!