Being a “mature” student is challenging, but the chance to tackle an MBA in the hallowed halls of Oxford University is the opportunity of a lifetime. Atterbury’s Armond Boshoff is living the dream with his family for a year. He told us all about it.
Adjusting to life in Oxford
It’s a big adventure for the whole family, that’s for sure. The biggest adjustment has been coping without one’s support structure. Friends and family are not a hop, skip and a jump away any more, and that was really hard initially. I am mostly at school so Mari definitely had a bigger adjustment than me. But we made good friends really quickly, and we got Minay into a nice little school, so we’ve found our groove. Our tiny home is very central, which also helps a lot. Accommodation is extremely expensive here, but we lucked out with our little two-bedroomed cottage for the year. The lack of sun in winter is also something to get used to. However, this experience is definitely letting us grow as a family.
I do miss the Atterbury family as well, but at least keep regular contact which makes it more bearable.
A University steeped in tradition
Wow, wow, wow. It’s a beautiful university town, with such diverse people. I often go for a walk and just take in the grand architecture… I realise what a privilege it is to spend a year here. There are so many wonderful traditions! As an example, before we were admitted as official members of the university, all of the new students first had to “matriculate”. It’s a 700-year-old tradition and it entails that your college (which is responsible for your academic life) recommends you to Oxford University. The whole ceremony is conducted in Latin and you wear full academic dress (called “sub fusc”, which is Latin for “dark brown”). We’re also required to wear full sub fusc when sitting for exams. Embracing a tradition such as this is an experience in its own right! I’ve also played rugby for the university’s third team. Believe me, it was a challenge to hold my own among all the teenagers, but I won my “old man” respect!
Academic life
One of the biggest advantages of the Oxford MBA is the diversity of students, professors, and opinions. I think that is the biggest benefit of studying for an MBA at an international business school as opposed to doing it back home. We have students from 58 different countries, covering an incredibly diverse array of backgrounds. Some of the people are “strange” and I don’t necessarily agree with their points of view, but that’s exactly why this programme is so interesting. We have such amazing debates in class! Also, in true Oxford tradition, the business school not only focus on profitability of business, but also sustainability and responsibility of doing business in society.
A year of highlights
There has been so much thus far, it’s hard to single anything out. However, it’s to be expected that everything just works so well here. We don’t always realise how ineffective South Africa’s public – and private – sector is … On another note, Oxford is located so centrally that travel to Europe is easy and accessible, which is a great benefit. And I have to mention the first braai, on a disposable braai, with other South Africans – that was a highlight for sure! Thanks Martin for the Marina Braai Salt!
Home for the holidays
I wrote an exam on 16 December and we went to Cape Town straight after for a family Christmas in Glentana. But it’s back to Oxford early in January for exams…
An Atterbury asset
I am building up such an incredible network here, and studying in this environment stimulates a much broader outlook. I know I’ll bring a new-found maturity back with me into the workplace, which I believe will be beneficial in the context of Atterbury’s expansion.
