Footprints in AIESEC Polska

Remember I mentioned about doing a voluntary programme many moons ago?  Yupe, this is the one..

I was in Poland from 15th Sept 2010 -> 31st Oct 2010

For more information, please log on to aiesec.org

To be precise, it’s actually an internship abroad a.k.a exchange programme. Many of them don’t understand why i did it, What was i doing there? I tried explaining it but the situation was like the blind leading the blind. Honestly, i knew nothing/not much about  Poland and the project before going there, so it was hard to explain to others. My dad didn’t understand either. So when people asked him,

“What’s your daughter doing right now?”

Dad: ” oh, she’s going Poland for some charity work”

lol.. hmmm.. somewhat true.

and next question will be, why Poland?

Me: “…….  *mumble some vague reasons*…”

I have no idea why, one day my manager just text me saying something like, there’s a project that you may be interested in, and it’s in Poland. I just said, ok.. email me the details.. had an interview with OCP Madga a.k.a boss and voila. The rest is history.

Actually, what i did was called a “Development Training” project. The name of the project in specific is called “Enter Your Future” (google it if you don’t believe =P ) What i did was, i was with other international EPs (exchange participants) conducting workshops in 6 different high schools mainly about the topic Entrepreneurship.

It was a good idea to choose a country at random, you have no expectations.. no disappointment, no idea about the country, for example, i didn’t know that the late John Paul II ( as the polish calls him JP2) and Chopin was from Poland! So everything was exciting, fresh, new, waoh. Of course, i knew nuts about the language as well. (2nd hardest language to learn in the world-.-)

No doubt it was an adventure. Something that i will keep on to me for life.

and something that i will continue tomorrow.. or soon.. because i’m sleepy and tired nao…. dobranots! (nights in polish)

to be continue….

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Alright, so i was working with EPs from Brazil, Morocco, Latvia and Bulgaria, very  international experience indeed. What else can i say? Students were about 16-18 years old.. and i’m 19, so it’s weird. But nonetheless, when students enjoyed the workshops (you’ll know it),  you just feel utterly satisfied despite being fatigue talking for 3 hours. Most of them were keen on the presentation about country, cause yea.. i travelled somewhere half across the world. Everything is alien. Thus, i don’t expect them to know much about Malaysia just like i don’t know about Poland.

Besides that, the travelling is awesome! My initial idea of going for exchange is because, i love to travel! (right to my bones>.<) So, every weekend i was somewhere doing some sightseeing with other AIESECers = happy Malaysian : )

Caught many insights and culture differences, which i shall not bore you by writing it =P okay maybe one, an example was , people expect me to eat rice with chop sticks just because i’m Chinese (born Malaysian) lol. Ang Mohs eat rice with fork, when i was using my spoon as usual, it was strange for them.

During my 6 week internship, i was in a difference town each week, living like a nomad.  But my main base is in Rzeszów. Every alternating week i’ll be in base, whereby we hangout with fellow AIESECers from Rzeszów. Good times.. *grins* I met great people in AIESEC Rzeszów.

Not to mention, i was living with 3 different polish families in 3 different week… I learnt a lot of facts and history about Poland and of course i had a splendid time with them.

In conclusion, i learnt more than i expected, and i love the experience and the people <3 i met there so much more than i thought i would. Sigh, post-exchange always sucks for me. They made me miss Poland tonnes and gave me too many reasons to go back and visit them someday.

Even if i write all my experience here, you can’t feel it the way i did. Therefore, i urge you guys out there. Those who are keen in exchange programme, travelling, meeting international people from all over the world, open to diversity and new cultures/food.

Be part of the AIESEC way.

Did i mention that AIESECers are totally crazy people? They are by the way.

I’m glad i did the internship, I’ve noticed i improved in leadership skills, presentation skills, confidence, sociability, erm.. open minded.. No doubt it’s called a development training.

And to the people i met there, students, teachers, polish fam, AIESECers (you guys are the bomb). Thanks for the priceless memories!!!

As for  pictures…. i took about 3k of pictures in the short span of 6 weeks.=S. it’ll take me forever to post it here.. so what i’ll do is probably make it into a video and post it up. Soon.

Ciao, for now.

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