Summer School

I've been slow to up date my blog for a variety of reasons. 1) I've had a bad cold so not much energy, 2) realizing this is totally public so wanting to think more about what I'm willing to say in a public space and 3) there is so much to say I feel I need an hour or more to blog.

So, I am committed to shorter updates and hope it creates a picture over time.

Last week we had 4 sessions with Brian Mandell who teaches negotiations at KSG, on Globalization--a word that is not in spell check for this blog. I was especially taken with how he used the themes of this VERY high level overview to help us think about OUR tasks for this year. He named 5 things for us to pay attention to, specifically:

1. Systems: Get smart about them--how do they work, how do you leverage systems? Pay attention to how systems work with each other or against each other. What is the impact on me? And, to the point: what do I need to learn about systems this year?
2. Learn more about International economics. Develop basic literacy about how it affects the price of what I buy, my personal and family financial security. How trade forces affect my work and how they affect local issues here and abroad.
3. Learn to work cross culturally and collaboratively. Old model: Heroics of "I'll do it myself," the lone ranger. New model: do it together and cross culturally. Fortunately, we have a large number of International students and a big mix of different areas of expertise so we will get lots of practice in this.
4. Redefine my identity, my brand. Look at our adaptability quotient and our resiliency quotient. Also, how capable am I of "learning how to learn?" So, I'm no longer "jack of all trades, master of none," I'm " Highly adaptable, very resilient and a true life-long learner with cross cultural competency." I'm also wanting to get better at Naming and Framing--a key skill in todays world. Whoever names the dialogue (The WAR ON TERROR or "You don't want to reward people for coming into the country illegally" sets the platform for how we think about the debate--not always in helpful ways. He also talked a lot about the ability to to explain in understandable language, complicated subjects. That is definitely an area I want to spend time on this year.
   
5. Get literate about the US electoral process. In a non-global world, it wouldn't matter so much to non-US, but today the US President matters to all of us. AND, sad to say, we still have trouble counting the votes, even in the Electoral College, ala 2000.

We had a fascinating discussion among the class on the last day. He asked what International colleagues want US colleagues to know about how they see the US's Roles and Responsibilities in the world and then for US colleagues to say what we want Int'l colleagues to know about how we see it. Things got a bit heated in a good way--hints of very interesting things to come. The context was a US Army officer from the US saying, it IS in our strategic interest to be in Iraq and the Middle East and getting challenged, 'is it REALLY in US interest' to be there in the way we currently are, from a Palestinian woman. Very engaging dialogue and lots of ongoing discussion about it later.

Got to go....another fun social outing. Tonight to Jamaica Plains for bowling and pizza followed by karaoke for those who can stay out that late. Tomorrow is a slow day--only of couple of things to go to and no homework due till Thurs. We got our course catalog for the year so I've spent quite a bit of time looking at how to fit in the 20 classes I want to take into a schedule that allows 8, maybe 10 courses, max. More on that in the next update.

Triumph and Tragedy

It's been quite a week. We started our year last Wednesday, Aug 1. It was an exciting day with 190 new faces, beginning a year long program at the Kennedy School. We are all 'mid-career' so older than the average grad student. Our class has an average age of 39---I bring it up quite a bit! They told us several times that we really ARE the right people; they didn't make a mistake, that all of has have the capability of doing the work. I think many people really do wonder if they will get tossed out the first day. Anxiety runs high because we spend up to 3 hours taking 'placement tests' in quantitative methods and economics the first day.

I'm happy to report I am in the above average class for quantitative methods--probably average or above for econ but not sure. It doesn't matter--the goal is to get each of us ready for the classes we want to take in the fall. We have lots of class time, homework and feedback so it is really a great system.

I walked with some new friends to Peabody Towers where many KSG students live. Enjoyed seeing their units and realize I could easily have lived there. Most of the International students live there so it is quite a wonderful community.

I got home Wed eve and the phone rang immediately. It was Katie S, a fellow KSG class mate and a State Senator from MN. She was on her way over to use my land line and to watch the horror unfolding in Minneapolis. I was so stunned I think it was morning before the reality of the bridge collapse really settled in. I found it hard to stop crying. My first lesson in how hard it is to be away when tragedy strikes. My classmates have been really supportive and asking the 3 MNtans how we are doing with all of it.

The week has been SO busy---190, 15-sec intros, lunches, picnics on the lawn, out to movies, bars, concerts. Lots of classes all starting at once, homework, trying to keep the apartment going and not turn in to a trash pit.

The focus this summer is definitely on meeting each other (more on that later--it's a FAB group of people) and getting the dust blown off the brain cells. I hope to start writing more often and do just paragraph or two. Stay tuned....