Kyle Berg

Many times events do not unfold as we had planned. After returning from my visit home and recognizing Vanesa and I would have to go different ways, I knew life in Buenos Aires would not be the same. I wanted to be upbeat and believe that life without her would go on as it had when I first arrived. But it didn’t and I missed her companionship and how she tied me into the culture. A few friends I had hoped to make had moved and one had a baby. Jobs didn’t pan out as expected and many applications went unanswered. Even the photography class I joined was canceled because only 3 of us signed up for the Saturday class. Go figure. And while Maria is an excellent Spanish teacher, she is exhausted from her two jobs and really needs a vacation.

For employment, I could stay here a while and look for more English students, but it’s not in my heart to do so. I could also pay US$1000 and go through the 3 month process of obtaining employment papers for certain jobs. But when looking at the opportunity cost and my emotional state, the desire to go home is greater. I had planned to develop a website with tips for tourists coming to BA, but even this fell by the wayside as my heart was not in it and I realized about how long I’d have to live here to make it work.

I don’t say all this in a whining fashion by any means. However, I can unequivocally say, “I miss home and need to return sooner than later.” I continue to love learning Spanish, but staying in BA another year or two just to practice the language is too much for me at this point and I know it will be time to move on. Perhaps God will bring something different, but for now, I’m trying to look at how to plan for going back to the United States. I enjoy many aspects of life here, but it’s not my home. I need social interaction with my own people and my family.

In the meantime, my next task is the DELE exam on November 9th and 10th. I’m a bit nervous about the oral examination. Though it will be brief, I have to work on my nerves. I also continue to teach English once a week as a volunteer and really enjoy it. I’ve also found some additional information for an orphanage and a neighborhood project. We’ll see how they respond. Sometimes it’s hard to be approved for work with children. I completely understand their concerns and desire to protect the kids from sickos, but if they will allow me, I’d love to work with some more kids. Additionally, Matias and I will begin English classes this week.

After taking the DELE, I would like to visit Iguazu Falls. Most people stay there 2 days, but I think I’ll go for 5-7 days and despite the heat, spend all day outside taking pictures and taking in the scenery. Upon returning, I plan to study intensively for the GMAT exam in November or December as this is a necessary step for a future possibility.

I am seriously considering attending graduate school to get my MBA as I believe the training would be an extremely worthwhile investment. My current education does not set me up for many opportunities, and while I know God has given me talents, many of them are raw and need development and credentials. I am a leader and would like to learn how to make myself more valuable whether I involve myself in church, government, business, or another sector. At times, it’s strange to think about an MBA because I don’t have a desire to climb the career ladder or obtain the highest salary. But I am young and training can open up doors in the future. I also know one day I will have a wife and kids who will depend on me, and the better equipped I am, the better our family can adapt to difficulty or opportunities God brings.

At first I considered taking graduate classes online. But the more I examine the programs, the more I realize the enormous benefit of the personal interaction graduate school offers. I do better when in an environment where I can make friends and grow. This can happen online. But for me, the personal interaction is the better choice. Also, the respect that comes with attending a well established school and the recruiting opportunities they provide far exceed those of any online program.

This is still a relatively new thought and I’m praying for God’s direction. With the application fees of $75-250, I would have to be selective in my applications. Here are a few schools I’m considering:

U of Minnesota – They have a strong program. But more than anything, I can’t tell you how nice it is to think of being close to home and spending weekends and holidays with family. After living in Tulsa, Washington D.C., and Argentina, it might be nice not to move again for a while.

U of Indiana – One of the best business schools in the country, especially for marketing, finance, management, and entrepeneurship

U of North Carolina – Impressed with their emphasis on leadership development

U of Virginia – Very well respected program and I like how they describe the learning process and their methods of teaching. My former boss from Heritage is in the program and raves about it. I need ask him for more details.

Thunderbird – #1 in the world for international business. Located in Phoenix. If I were to study with an emphasis in international business, they’re the best. I like what I’ve heard and the fact that it’s a business only school.

Stanford – I just had to put this on here to feel important. Who wouldn’t want to go to Stanford?

For now, I’m going to enjoy being in South America and plan to travel for at least a few months before going home. I may also try and work in a stay or two as a missionary along the way. There’s also one other possibility I’m considering in the U.S. We’ll see what happens.