With classes complete and the job search just starting up, we needed a break.
The United States wasn’t looking ideal for a post-completion celebration, and neither Andrea nor I really wanted to stay in Ireland for the time being. Ideas were bandied about, itineraries considered, and a final idea settled on. Bulgaria!
We start our journey in the airport, on the planes, and with a lovely little robot keeping the floors of the airport clean.
(Ed. note: Ben had completed classes at this point, but hadn’t actually officially graduated – that would come later, in October)
One of the big events of the MBA is the Negotiating for Value module. A week-long event, off campus, where we’d learn the theory of negotiations, while getting to put that theory to practice with a whole pile of day-long lectures and practical negotiations.
It all started with a flight from Dublin, a lovely jaunt above the Irish Sea, over the UK, across the English Channel, and into Belgium…
On July 4th, I learned that the robots have started taking over Austria.
I hadn’t expected to learn this, of course – so far I hadn’t seen any hints of an AI overthrow while in Vienna. Just normal people, everything running smoothly… I should have known it was too good to last.
As I walked through the Vienna airport, looking for a good spot to settle in and have some breakfast, I heard a beeping ahead of me, and saw one of those floor cleaning things puttering along… though its driver seemed to be taking a break, because I didn’t see a person on it.
Of course, the reptile part of my brain got curious, and told me to jump on and take it for a spin while the driver was away… I wouldn’t do that, obviously, but the call of the void exists whether we listen to it or not. As I got closer though, I noticed that it was moving… and that there was caution tape around the seat. It wasn’t that the driver was taking a break… the machine WAS the driver! The caution tape proved it, reading “Caution: Autonomous cleaning in progress”.
So yeah, robots. Takin’ our jobs.
Aside from that, the flight to France was lovely and quick. I had a lovely Viennese brunch, read a bit on the plane, reviewed a whole ton of photos, and even got some climbing recommendations from the guy sitting in the row with me.
Got some great views as we descended into Marseille, and… yeah. Definitely a nice and lovely flight! Fully recommend both Vienna and Marseille airport
