Pura vida TtT

An expression to describe how I feel about the TtT is the quintessential Tico expression: Pura vida!

University of Science and Technology is were the Train the Trainers conference took place this past weekend. It's in a part of Hong Kong that is away from the city, very close to where my old school was. I love the serenity of the UST campus. With the mystical spring fog shrouding the sea view from the spacious campus, the inner-peace I found in being in that setting reminded me of how much nature means to me. - magistic seaviews everywhere. And at night in the sky unlike the more urban area where I live, if you look up, there are actually stars ;)

During the 'showtime' portion of the TtT conference, where the delegates present a 15-minute presentations utilizing the skills they were trained to do the last two days. Each presentation was creative, and I see them applying a lot of what they have learnt. It's a rush of a satisfying feeling that brought out a giant smile within me. What was especially encouraging was the pro-active environment with a very willingly contributing individuals.

There is a bright future for these talents. And the world will be a brighter place just because of them. Proud of these newest trainers! I'm one pura vida alumnus :)

Decision made.

Yes, I'm here. And so is the blog. =) Still alive in Hong Kong now after an intense experience in Russia to say the least ;) Will be back, will definately be back. That is a promise.

My brief perception of AIESEC in Russia?
The members are super friendly and very smart! I think one of the (many many ;) shocks was the age of the AIESECers. I met many 16 year olds during the conference, and I was later explained that you start university at age 16 or 17.

The experience for me was quite extreme as I fell ill, but I think I learnt a great deal. I was also reminded how caring and accomodating AIESECers can be, and how positive thinking is a valuable attitude. Спасибо AIESEC Россия! =D

Me, Katia and Masha, during a very beautiful snowfall in Ufa!

I have made lots of decisions recently, and one of them is take on the 'Head for the Future' of my AIESEC experience rather than go on an internship to launch my career. Yes indeed, I have decided to stay in Hong Kong. Many factors built up to this decision, the most important one being Family.

There is a traditional Chinese saying which I believe in:

修身、齊家、治國、平天下

Self, Family, Country, Universe

If you want a peaceful universe, a country well-led, a happy family, you will have to start from the core, which is yourself.

This is quite similar to the Circle of Influence model, or as Ghandi put it: ´Be the change you want to see in the World'

I remember clearly one of my euphoric emotions I had after my first AIESEC conference in Canada back in the Autumn of 2003. I came back and told my friends I had a dream to change the World, and I had found my first stepping stone to reach my goal.

So am I still living a 'nomad life'? After so much change, the inner voice within me is crying outloud for some stability...and it's only fair to satisfy it. No matter how much we say we can get used to change, (I, myself, often claiming so!) it's innate for all of us to be actually looking for that stability.

Since that long weekend in the autumn 4.5 years ago, I've hopped from one stone to the next, from the next, to an other: through my experience during my years in locally as a member in Queen's, as an intern of UCR, as a member of CAS and Southern Cone, and now of Hong Kong...I don't know how many faces I have come across, how many lives I have made an impact on... in retrospect, I am quite content with how much I have discovered and developped on this platform. Thank you AIESEC, I've had the time of my life.

Now I feel I've reached the edge of the current stepping stone in life. Looking for the next stone, in the hope of changing more lives on the way. Ready to take that next leap!

Hmmm...Maybe tomorrow being involved with AIESEC Hong Kong's first Train the Trainers conference will be a good start as a responsible alumnus =)