Finally done with my MBA!!! Well....sort of.

So 10 intensive months later, here I am heading to Croatia for some physical, mental and most of all emotional recouperation after finishing the academic portion of my MBA in Geneva. What a year and man, what a party! I am in need of much detoxing, in every sense of the word.

In order to get my degree however, I still have a 3 month internship and an internship report to write up by the end of the year. To that end, as mentioned previously, I am heading off to South Africa to get my hands dirty with microfinance institutions on the ground. As sad as I am to leave the amazing group of people that have come to be like family to me (a pattern that I seem doomed to keep repeating) I am super excited for what is ahead.

I've wanted to go to Africa for a long time, and South Africa in particular has called to me the last few years. It seems a good place to start exploring the continent! As a result of working with the Zimbabwe Advocacy Office the last two months I also really want to visit Zimbabwe now as well. If all goes as planned and I manage to get a visa and some work (critically needed given that my internship is unpaid and I am crazy in debt after the MBA), then maybe I'll get to stay in South Africa for the next year or so and will get a chance to hop over and visit neighbouring Zimbabwe as well. All in due time though.

However, I was not able to renew my Geneva Student B permit due to time constraints and some silly Swiss rules so now more than ever I hope I can stay in South Africa. If not I may have to slink back to Canada after all -- which is absolutely at the bottom of my list. If I have to, I have to however. I will manage. And as soon as I get my feet back on the ground I will be finding ways to get myself off the North American continent. The next time, if there is a next time, it will be for good!

Sitting in Vienna, on my way to Croatia, I already miss my classmates from this year, whom I've come to share so much with. In a strange way, I was also hit by a renewed missing (yes I have invented a word, try to love it) of all the people that I know and love who are all over the world. I guess sentimental emotions come all at once. If I cannot get the job that I really want in Africa however, I have resolved to find a way to get rich as quick as possible so that I can just visit whomever, whenever I want. That, and my dream of the surf beach bar needs to happen as soon as possible. At 28 I think I have found the meaning of life -- to be free, surrounded by people you love, and living somewhere with lots of natural beauty close by. That is the goal I am now sailing towards.

My last update before Africa will be post Croatia. Till then, to my classmates, congratulations on surviving an amazing year on the unique and crazy IOMBA programme!! To everyone else, keep tuned in for what should be a very interesting 3 months. Might even be more dramatic than the Hills. I cannot believe I just made that connection, but ah well, these are the times I suppose. Love, love, and more love!

GFSC and Desmond Tutu!

Well the Geneva Forum on Social Change has come and passed and it was a wonderful event! GFSC was mainly organized by fellow IOMBA students Patrick Huber, Violaine Beix and Marshall Sitten -- and they did an amazing job!! I'm sure they all need to catch up on weeks of sleep. For my part, I helped organize a panel discussion called "Peacebuilding in the Classroom -- Education in Conflict Zones". It generated some great and interesting discussion, and I definitely learned a lot. The highlight of the event for me however, was meeting a very, very great man: Archbishop Desmond Tutu!!

Not being religious myself, and being of a very socially liberal bent, I tend to regard religious leaders with a great deal of suspicion at times. I have absolutely no problem with people believing anything they want to believe I should point out, but I do take issue with them forcing those views on others in negative ways. Sadly, this happens all to often in our world. For me, many extremist religious views seem to be completely judgemental and restrictive -- something that often seems to contradict the underlying good moral messages that many religions have at their core. Archbishop Tutu however, is a perfect example of an amazing, progressive man who also happens to be a high ranking religious leader. He believes that women and homosexuals should be allowed to be ministers, and accorded all equal rights, for example. He believes that love overcomes hate. He preaches inspiration rather than damnation. Now that is a religion I can live with and admire!

In other news, 3 weeks of school to go!! Crazy times ahead with my head slowly trying to dissociate itself the work to come (and of course I am currently procrastinating studying for a Financial Accounting exam by writing this blog....). I wish I had more time to reflect on the year that has passed, but alas it will have to wait till July, when I go to Croatia for some much needed R&R on the coast! Good friends, truffles, beach, sun, culture and lots and lots of wine ahead! Then, off to South Africa for more of the wonderful craziness that is my life.