Paku to rejoin the workforce

Congtratulations Paku!

After two long years of a modest amount of effort, Paku has graduated from Wharton business school with an MBA.

Paku is now faced with the daunting prospect of rejoining the full-time workforce. And while this is indeed a horrifying prospect, of more immediate concern is Paku's impending move to New York, which is just over a week away.

Paku has found relatively little to recommend about Philadelphia but there is not doubt that it is significantly less expensive than New York City. As a result, Paku is moving from relatively spacious two bedroom, split level apartment in South Philly to a small windowless closet in Lower Manhattan.

But even with all he has to do, Paku can't help but take a few moments to reflect on his b-school experience. It's hard for Paku to believe that it has been nearly two years since he walked through the front door at the Wharton School to start pre-term.

Sometimes during his time at Wharton Paku would attend classes during which he occasionally stayed awake / learned something. Paku is still trying to comprehend the relevance to him of a detailed understanding of the process for moving cranberries from bog to bottle but he remains optimistic that it will become clear in time.








Two controversies dominated the hallways during Paku's tenure at Wharton. The grade nondisclosure issue has been well covered elsewhere so Paku will refrain from a lengthy discussion on that topic here. Of more relevance to Paku on a day-to-day basis was the Au Bon Pain monopoly on the Wharton campus. Paku appreciates the convenience of not having to leave the building for a snack (especially in the rain) but he really doesn't appreciate paying $6 for a soda and chocolate croissant. What happened to free market competition?

But Paku digresses...

We managed to capture a few more of Paku's final moments at Wharton.

Sausage links and.....other links (in which Paku is downright humiliated)

Wary from his last "culinary" experience in Philadelphia, Paku was assured that he could enjoy a delicious and hearty breakfast at the Melrose Diner. His dining companions urged him to fill up, as they had a surprise planned for him later in the day, which they assured him would require some energy!
Wondering what lay ahead of him, Paku bellied up to the counter at the Melrose and found himself in the company of several wizened residents of Philadelphia. He ordered 2 eggs over easy with pork sausage and a side of bamboo. The waitress behind the counter thought she had heard everything!!! She informed Paku in the kind but terse way that is characteristic of this city's denizens that if Paku wanted a side of bamboo he was going to have to try his luck at a different establishment.

Thus rebuffed, Paku declined to change venues, and found that although his meal wasn't his first choice, it was a delicious enough substitute.

After breakfast, Paku and pals piled into the Honda Accord and sped off for locales unknown (to Paku, at least). In order to build suspense, Paku's human pals kept offering him hints as to the activity of the day.

"How far is it?" asked Paku, innocently.

"Oh, its a long drive!" said his human companion, mysteriously.

"Are we going to the beach? Are we going fishing?" queried Paku.

"Nooo...but it does involve hooks!" replied the driver of the Accord.

"Is this something I've done before?" wondered Paku.

"Don't worry, we think this will fit you to a tee!" said the rather quizzical companion in the passenger seat.

Paku's interest was piqued, but he also felt an uneasy sense of impending doom as the Accord sped towards the mysterious destination.

Paku would really rather not talk about how the day turned out.

Paku discovers Washington Monument bears little, if any, resemblance to Washington

When Paku emerged from his metro stop in DC this weekend he immediately asked a passerby for directions to the Washington Monument, one of the capitol's most famous landmarks. Paku was informed "it's just over there, you can't miss it." Unfortunately for Paku, he was unclear as to exactly what he was looking for and he spent a good portion of his afternoon closely examine an endless succession of marble and copper statues in search of one with a likeness to the portrait on his dollar bills. Fortunately a hot dog vendor on the Mall noticed the confused and frustrated (but not hungry (see prior post)) Paku and directed him to the massive white obelisk that Paku did have to admit was impossible to miss.

Even from far away, Paku doesn't think it really looks like Washington!

Paku overwhelmed by Sunday Brunch buffet

Ever eager to experience the traditions of his adopted country, this weekend Paku partook in his first Sunday Brunch at Georgia Brown's in Washington, DC. Paku's inaugural brunch got off to an inauspicious start when he was informed by the omlette chef that it would not be possible for Paku to have a bamboo and feta omlette.

Paku had heard that DC was a panda friendly city so this revelation came as a particular shock. However, after a brief period of sulking, Paku turned his attention to the all-paku-can-eat buffet and found more than enough brunch items to over stuff his not readily apparent stomach.