Reconnecting

An organisation called AIESEC has been a part of my life for the past 5 years or so. I do not really know a clear way to explain my relationship to it or even what the whole concept of it is. I can thank this funny acronym for so many wonderful things that my past five years have included. I have gotten to experience a whole lot, and more importantly I have met many great people with whom I can share these experiences. Coming to this country is definitely one, if not the most important experience this acronym has provided me. There has also been a great deal of frustration in connection with this word. Looking back as an old, and supposedly experienced member, all that frustration has well been worth it. Now, when I think, there would have been space for even more frustration, if that would have been the price for many more learning experiences and other great things.


Last weekend I went to a local AIESEC seminar together with 5 other trainees to facilitate in a session called BODAS (be one day as...), which aim was to teach the Czech @-members something about one's country and culture. This seminar was for the newly recruited members of the local committee in Brno. I so much enjoyed watching the young new people learn about what lies behind this acronym. And knowing what all this organisation has to offer, I really hope that at least some of them do embrace the chances and go for getting the most out of it. It was great to interact with so open minded people. There really aren't that many cultural differences between the Finns and the locals, but surely I could notice some little things. Like people weren't all that shy towards us foreigners and also one a bit annoying thing... People liked to dance to slow 'n' cheesy music and especially the boys seem to enjoy dancing with all the different gals. I mean in Finland you only hear like max two slow songs in nighclubs and, those are to chace the people off before closing. Hehe, I was getting a bit bored, but at least I had some nice blokes to spin me around :) Anyway, hopefully I'll have a chance to contribute further to the local AIESEC activities during my time here. Please find uploaded some morepics from the seminar as well as my surroundings.

Looking Through a Lense

In a foreign country one comes to realize how dependend we are on one another. Going abroad is supposed to be a sign of a desire for independency, showing that I can detatch myself from my usual surroundings just about whenever I want. I'd say that on the contrary, you notice how the people around you become so important. Being independent (in this context going abroad) requires a vast amount of self-confidence, which again you retain by letting yourself admit that you are weak and so much longing for contact with your peers. It is all about establishing, being open to the extreme. Something that can be hard for us stiff Nordics (there can be exceptions!). But I am enjoying it , breaking my boudaries and steadily crawling my way into the social circles.

Already in a week I have learned about myself, my character and my way of doing things. I have discovered that there are prejudices to be broken, some habits to be changed and defenitely some reflecting to be done. Going to go and start with some sweet dreaming :)

Landing smoothly

Feeling the yellow liquid smoothly running down my throat... Nope, not talking about any sleezy golden shower porn movie, but of course Starobrno, the local beer, which I've already fallen in love with!! Hehe, that's about the only thing that I've had time to experience about the Czech Culture. That and oh, the language barrier. It is, apart from the few words that I've managed to catch, extremely hard. For me this is a totally new language family that I will seriously have to dive into. But I will do it! I have set a target to learn at least the basics so that I can survive in shops etc. Otherwise it seems pretty much like another European country. Brno is a compact city with a small walking center and many picturescue buildings.

I also started work on Monday, and oh, it was a very tirening day indeed. I was together with two new operational managers and I guess the program was mostly targeted for them. So I received a HC amount of general info from even the chief dude himself (a very pleasant Indian guy). By the way the company I am working for is Infosys. And more precicely I am working with a client in the field of insurance. And to be even more accurate with a Swedish customer. So intensive language training will be in place.

I live quite cosily with 4 other people. The flat is not that very big, but it has everything needed. There's even a fully equipped kitchen, albeit small. We are one Finnish girl (that would be me), one Polish girl and one Romanian girl. Accompanying us are two boys, a belgian gentleman as well as a nice fella from Cameroon. We are a happy bunch all together. By far I have only been working and running aroud trying to get the necessities, like bank account, phone card, buss card etc. organised. I guess tomorrow I'll have to go make a city tour and take some pictures to post here.

Hejdå! Ahoj! Moikka! Take care! Hasta luego! Wiedersehen! Czesc!

About to Fly

Here goes... I'm sitting in the Helsinki-Vantaa airport using their splendid (albeit slightly expensive) wlan service. Somehow this activity makes me feel like a true global citizen! Yey! About to start my journey to Brno. My plain takes off in less than an hour. Heading first to Vienna then by bus to Brno. As I watch here all sorts of plains landing and taking off, I truly feel like this is my place, this is how I want my life to be for the next few years. Taking off and landing, discovering new places, new realities. On the way to the airport it hit me for the first time after returning my thesis... There are so many opportunities! The excitement grows...