robinson starts off one chapter with the following…
If life inside the classroom was intense, life outside the classroom was not a lot of yucks, either. I started fall term with the notion that my classmates and I would do what students do, getting to know each other, going out togther for burgers and beers, and throwing parties. I ws counting on some relaxation and fun from time to time. But relaxation and fun were not to be had.
It was as though we were all on a bizarre mission to outer space. Every day we would suit up and eventure outfor a spacewalk, floating to the classrooms, the cafeteria, and the library. We were aware of each other’s presence, and we might even wave as we passed. But it was hard to make much of a connection when everyone was concentrating on staying alive.
At night we entered individual black holes.
he got that one right. most of the time, even stopping in the hall or talking in the computer lab for a few minutes felt painful because you could be using that to read or something.
he mentions a conversation he has with a woman who had been talking to a second year student who told her he had studied 6 nites a week and only went out for a beer one nite a week. they were both freaked out by that.
that was my existance during my first semester. i’d get calls to come out but i’d be like ‘no! must study’. sad…
There’s an earlier quote, during the orientation, where some woman prof tells them to think of their days in 10 minute blocks and not to waste a single block. he thinks she’s joking. but i understand what she means. when i go to pilates, i always take reading material along out to the studio. i might have to sit in the lobby for a few minutes or lay on the reformer til the instructor comes in and those are minutes i can use.
his illustration is the parking lot. he could pay to park in lot a which was right by class or he could pay $125 less and park in lot b which meant a 15 min walk to class. those 15 min (one way) was enough to make him pay for lot a.
so anyone out there thinking of doing an mba? have i (and this book) scared anyone off yet?