Before I leave...

It is time to pack and get ready for my two-month trip. For me, a trip to Peru has happened every 1-2 years for the last 12 years but now it feels different. For the first time, after I left the country 20 years ago, I will be staying for an extended period of time. In addition, unlike all of my other trips to Peru, the main reason for going now is not to visit my extended family but instead it is to conduct some research. I will be assessing the current country ecosystem for a possible post-MBA opportunity through an independent study. For all of these reasons, I’m a little anxious about what awaits, both the expected and unexpected. My personal, professional, and educational experiences will undoubtedly be valuable in completing my independent study but I am aware that the business culture in Peru will be different than the way we do business in the US. My knowledge of the local culture at a personal level will help but I know I still have a lot to learn.

I am excited at the opportunity to share time again with my extended but close family members. I always remember the family gatherings we had every week and this part of the culture is what I’ve missed the most. Peruvian cuisine has been rated as one of the top in the world, so I’m also looking forward to the wonderful food! Living in Peru again, now as an adult, will be a different experience and it will allow me to assess the possibility of living there again post MBA.

In preparation for my trip, I’ve scheduled meetings in Washington, DC with different development and investment organizations that work in my focus areas and region. The meetings will take place immediately after completing my final exams and before I leave the US. The objective is to understand the work they have already done and are currently doing, as well as to learn from their experiences and listen to their advice before my departure. In addition, I’ve already been communicating with different organizations and individuals in the country whose missions are aligned with my project objectives. Meetings with them have been scheduled for soon after my arrival. I will officially start my project on January 6th, 2009. Before this time, I will be visiting and spending time with the many family members still living in Lima. This in itself is a full time job!

Leaving Fuqua for two months to be in the “real world” will teach me lessons I will not be able to learn in the classroom. However, I will definitely miss the many friends I’m leaving behind. The time spent at the Duke MBA has been incredible. The lessons learned there are invaluable and I know they will help me be successful in this new endeavor I’m about to embark on. I will rejoin my friends in March for our last term at Duke and will make the last two months there the best two months of the MBA!