Back in the DDR
Ha, this is not a musing on that famed former half of Germany, a saucy salient of socialism that met its maker just 20 years ago. It is instead a confession of confusion. I've spent the past year essentially applying for jobs in Afghanistan and in the development world in general. However, I have found that by this point in the game, the folks picking teams are more interested in experience and actuall skills and not just a generic ability to DOMINATE. Fair enough. As a plan X kind of guy, I've been looking at various schools, considering what I'd like to study, how to relate that to what I'd do in the future. Heard a podcast about the Sudan and stumbled on the field of Disarmement, Demobilisation and Reintegration or what to do w/ your military/militias once you decide to stop killing each other. Something I'd never really considered, but is a critical part of swords back into ploughshares.
Hey, great something that interests me, even sweet schools like LSE, King's College, School of Oriental African Studies, all in London, great place to launch research into real world challenges and to spin those into real work. Of course what do I do in the mean time? Work at Taco Bell? Work some where for 6 mos? Or do a year plus and do the school later? You know, some real world experience and then a bit of study then back to work.
Ah life and its many paths. In this frosty season I guess it is appropriate to be conflicted about what path to take. Now which one is less trod...
Comments
I realize that this advice should be applied to myself as well, who is not only searching for a fitting line of work, but has less "real world" experience than you do, but why not harness those formidable reasoning and consequent solid sriting skills and blog your way to a pot of gold? People of a less vociferous and opinionated nature do it every minute of the day and even people with less talent than could be contained in your miniscule bladder. So, get on it and make us all proud. I'll do the same and then we'll compare pots of gold as we sip champagne on the Seine...
Posted by: Bryan Dusszzzyyynski | January 6, 2010 10:42 PM
Cool post! How much stuff did you have to look up in order to write this one? I can tell you put some work in.
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Posted by: Albert Fang | February 6, 2010 09:45 AM