mixed feelings

I'm torn between my excitment and my sadness of going to Cono Sur and leaving CAS. As I'm preparing the last AIESEC conference of my CAS career for the upcoming weekend, I have realized I don't see the AIESECers so much as work buddies, but really as friends. Transition is in full swing, and the Panamanians have arrived well in advanced this time to bond with the Costa Ricans as we reunite once again as a region.

Believe it or not, but after 11.5 months, last night was the first time that the current regional MC team all met together in one room. All 7 of us were there 2 weeks before the end of term. Even the MC elects have had the teambonding 1 week earlier than we did! As we don't live together, and are split into two countries, throughout the year, there is always one of us who couldn't make it to a conference. So there we were...doing a teambuilding, playing bowling all 7 of us. It was definately a lot of fun...not to mentioned I was riping the bowling alley with my strikes and spares, kicking some asses... It was a gongshow. =)

Costa Rica has really been where I have lived in for 1.5 years. It was been a year full of experience, memories, definately has constructively molded to be the Martin I am now. I know that I am a different person when I arrived in Panama City as an intern 1.5 years ago, than the one who I am today. I am spending my last days here treasuring all the Tico moments I have. Eating my favourite dishes, going to my favourite places, dancing salsa, taking the train for the first time, going to the football stadium, listening to reggaeton at a bar, and getting happy with Imperials...you know. just living the pure life.

It's going to be real tough to leave my home.

Next home: Buenos Aires!!!

So...it's confirmed, I got selected as the MCVP Talent Management of AIESEC in Southern Cone 07-08!!!

This is extremely exciting, as like what I am doing now in Central America South with two contries...I'm going to be working in 3 countries!!! Argentina + Chile + Uruguay!!! Best of all, it's my area of passion - Talent Management/People Development...The current MC has done such excellent work in strengthening the region, and it is up to the new MC to leverage on that!!!

I will be based in Buenos Aires from June onwards, living and working with the regional team for a year. Though I don't know the people I know well yet, but from the little that I know...it's gonna be an awesome year with Sebas (Colombia/Mexico), Svitlana (Ukraine), David (Colombia), and Walter (Mexico)!

So after 1 year and a half in Costa Rica...soon I will be relocating to Buenos Aires as my adventure moves south...

Cono Sur!!! WOOOT WOOOT!!!!

Sad to leave and excited to go...I'm completely mixed with emotions. All I know is I am going to make the best of my last month and have a Pura Vida May...a place I have been calling home, and will always be one - Costa Rica

Costa Rica: National State of Emergency

The president, Oscar Arias, declared last week that the country is in a National State of Emergency!

Well, it isn't as dangerous as it sounds. No bombs, no fighter jets flying around, so all is safe. It's more of an energy crisis where the entire country recieves no electricity or water for some hours each day.

Much of Costa Rica's energy comes from some hydroelectric plants.

During the past year, rainfall has been exceptionally low, and it has caused the water level where the waterdams are placed to decrease. This forced the country to use diesel as their main source of energy since December.

With the over-reliance of the diesel plants the past months, some of them finally broke down last week, and has caused a big energy problem across our country.

For myself, I have had random blackouts that last 3-4 hours at a time in my home. And well, you can imagine myself being at home for 3 hours doing nothing construtive in the dark, burning the only candle I have left. There is supposed to be a timetable of the blackouts according to the area. The schedule, though, has not been respected accordingly, but have been rather random. This has created a lot of problems, especially with businesses, and traffic (no traffic lights!).

This has been the hot topic around the country, as well as in my classes. A lot of my students opinioned that they were spend more quality time with the family (without the distraction of TV, internet..etc), and got them to reflect on our society that is so dependent on electricity.