Hi All,

I have had a most interesting day during my first day at HBS.  I feel a little like I am on a different planet.  Today, I moved into my little space and I have included pictures of my room - yes, that is the whole room!  It's clutter free and not much to keep clean.  

My living group is all international - India, Singapore, Slovakia, Trinidad, Dubai and South Africa.  Until 8:00 tonight, I had been the only woman, but another woman showed up from South Africa, so there are 6 men and two women.

The stories I have already heard are but a taste of what I think I will learn.  I had my indoctrination into case study today and I am already overwhelmed.  We will be tackling 4 case studies a day and you want to be prepared because they have the "Harvard Cold Call" and I will be called upon to comment on said case.  So there will be a lot of reading and studying going on.  I have also included a picture of the work they have given us.  The white stack on the right is hundreds of case studies and they promise more.

The fitness center is three floors and outfitted very nicely.  If it ever stops raining, there are beautiful places to walk.  And I will be walking very soon, because I forgot a razor and we all know how much I hate stubble.

Of course, I have had the opportunity to tell the "Chick filla" and "Chick alet" story many times.  I also met a neat Christian woman from Trinidad.  

There is no break in the action outside the dorm either.  I watched the Harvard crew teams practice on the Charles today.  I want to be the one behind them in the motor boat yelling the instructions.  Yes, they were rowing in the rain and 40 degree temps.  And then I heard a horrible screeching sound on the highway directly below me and looked out to see to cars collide right under my window.  I quickly went to dinner as I didn't want to be a witness to a car accident between two Bostonians on my first day here.  

They gave us an Ipod tonight to keep up with the e-mail here, announcements, class schedules and even case studies.  Between the Ipod, blackberry, camera, laptop, and pulse pen, it took me about an hour to plug in all the chargers for all the gadgets.  I guess I will have to get up 30 mins earlier to unplug them all.  The funny thing is, I don't see how I am going to have time for any of them.

Please pray for me as my living and learning group is a very interesting situation.  

Trying to be salt and light in a very interesting place,

Blessings and love to all,

Dee Ann

I'm Here! Or As They Say in Kenya: Nikko Happa!

Well, I am not really where I am going to end up, but at least I made it to Cambridge.  The funny thing about these blogs is that you really wonder if people want to know all the details of a day.  I think not, so I will hit the highlights~

Our flight to Boston was delayed by an hour tonight because of weather in Boston.  There was a four hundred foot ceiling on the clouds.  It was a rough flight and a rougher landing, but all ended well.  

My cab driver was from, of all places . . . Kenya!  My first friend in Boston!  He still has children in Nairobi and he grew up in NE Kenya.  (I told you people don't want all the details.)

Tonight, I finally ate dinner at 10:15.  I had the first, of what I think it will be many, bowl of seafood chowder.  I am spending the night in rather nice accommodations tonight, before I move to what I have been told are much more sparse conditions tomorrow at HBS.

The temp is 41 degrees and it is raining.  I could see, even in the darkness tonight, that the trees are bare and there are no blooms.  Maybe God has blessed me with two springs this year.  I was able to see cherry blossoms and dogwoods bloom before I left Atlanta and I will likely get to see something bloom here in Boston -- whatever that may be.  The lights were on in many dorm rooms and apartments with people studying -  I began to immediately start feeling smarter in their presence.  The street lights and building lights cast a beautiful reflection on the Charles River.

The highlight of my weekend was to have all my boys with me (Ashley, Trenton, Trevor, Trey and the dogs - Copper and Smokey)  and my parents to celebrate Trevor's birthday a little early and give me a send-off.  The other highlight was to arrive in Cambridge and open a special package from Trey - words and gifts for my journey.

Tomorrow is the big day . . . I will keep you posted~

And mom, you were right, my nails are already splitting~

Peace, love, joy and blessings to you all,

Dee Ann

Getting Ready to Go

For several days now, I have begun my preparation to attend the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program. I have been studying finance, accounting and economics. I have also been packing everything I can think of for my "extended winter" in Boston. I have mixed emotions about leaving home. Part of me is very excited about this new adventure and part of me is anxious about leaving behind all that is familiar for nine weeks.

I don't think I will have too much time to blog, but I will try to keep you all updated at least once a week on how I am doing, what I am learning and drop a picture in every once-in-a-while.

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, and I will be doing the same for you.

Dee Ann