Yes, yes we just finished the recruitment :) We have 35 new members! They come from all years of studies, some are graduates, they study at different faculties of mainly 2 best universities in Bishkek. But most importantly our members are of 5 different nationalities!! Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Russian, Tajik and Turkmen!! It means that at our induction conference "Step Up" next week we will have 8 nationalities in the house when including MC and guests!
This is something amazing, this diveristy, something that I personally would like us here to use and enforce in AIESEC, make the diverity alive, not only a statistical fact.
First LCM meeting was something hard to describe in terms of feelings. You know, after a year in Polish MC, when I was not close to members, I again felt this thrill of first meeting with newies. Role of us as MC is different here...especially when you know, as I do, that you have only 9 months left to do what must be done.
Last week I met with one Polish guy. He is on a high position in UN here. In 1 hour I got to know a lot about Kyrgyzstan, but more importantly about my own country. Story of his life is one of its kind. He used to study arts in Poland but was kicked out at age of 19 by the communistic government. As he was a sportsman, he was offered a last choice - to join army, and this way he finished Military Academy in Moscow. As a soldier he took part in the War Status (pol. Stan Wojenny) and can tell a whole truth and story which you won't read in history books. In his life he worked with UN in 15 African countries and now is already 2 yrs in Kyrgyzstan. He likes the country and people very much and he always helps Polish people, especially students, arriving here. It's good to know and have someone of your own nationality close in case, especially when this person is not ordinary.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Some news + story of amazing trip
And so time goes, recruitment in full speed, important decisions taken - MCVPER applications will be re-opened. Situation challenging as always. Our EB grows in eyes. With each piece of knowledge and training they reveal their true abilities. I can't wait to see them in their full roles.
I have new system of dividing work and rest days. Usually I work most of time during weekends, or even whole weekends, and after 2-3 such ones I take few days in a row free. This enables travels, which are my main hobby here. I love CA so much and have never ending desire to see more beautiful places. In this way 2 weekends ago I went for 3 days to Kazakhstan :)
First day I spent as a typical tourist, with Lonely Planet in my hand exploring srteets of Almaty in chase of "Recommended to see". I am this kind of person, that when I go somewhere I wanna see as much as possible. Now I can say Almaty I know thoroughly.
But main attraction of they trip was on Sunday. With Dennis and some interns we went for an organized trip to Charyn Canyon, located some 220km from Almaty in the middle of the rocky desert. Wow! 
That was something, one of those places you susually watch on National Geographic channel :) 2h of relaxed walk down the canyon, pictures taking and lunch by the river. And then 1,5h climb back. Thomas, German intern, wanted to kill me for the speed of climbing back ;) Tired, suntanned and very happy we were back home at 9 p.m.!
Last day I used to visit Polish Embassy in Almaty. Was pretty shocked with the building, very big and modern. People where very nice, I talked with Consul. Why I went there? Cos on Oct 21st we have in Poland parliamentary elections and while being abroad I have a right to vote in embassy, so I needed to get to know how to subscribe for the voters list. Now I just need single entry visa and of I go to vote and of course once being in KZ again, to see 1-2 new places.
Currently I am busy writing my project for university, thanks God I am in half way already, I hate Financial Planning. On Saturday spent an evening out roller-skating, met Polish intern of @KZ...
now I run to prepare for KG leaders meeting today, keep fingers crossed for @KG :)
I have new system of dividing work and rest days. Usually I work most of time during weekends, or even whole weekends, and after 2-3 such ones I take few days in a row free. This enables travels, which are my main hobby here. I love CA so much and have never ending desire to see more beautiful places. In this way 2 weekends ago I went for 3 days to Kazakhstan :)First day I spent as a typical tourist, with Lonely Planet in my hand exploring srteets of Almaty in chase of "Recommended to see". I am this kind of person, that when I go somewhere I wanna see as much as possible. Now I can say Almaty I know thoroughly.
But main attraction of they trip was on Sunday. With Dennis and some interns we went for an organized trip to Charyn Canyon, located some 220km from Almaty in the middle of the rocky desert. Wow! 
That was something, one of those places you susually watch on National Geographic channel :) 2h of relaxed walk down the canyon, pictures taking and lunch by the river. And then 1,5h climb back. Thomas, German intern, wanted to kill me for the speed of climbing back ;) Tired, suntanned and very happy we were back home at 9 p.m.!Last day I used to visit Polish Embassy in Almaty. Was pretty shocked with the building, very big and modern. People where very nice, I talked with Consul. Why I went there? Cos on Oct 21st we have in Poland parliamentary elections and while being abroad I have a right to vote in embassy, so I needed to get to know how to subscribe for the voters list. Now I just need single entry visa and of I go to vote and of course once being in KZ again, to see 1-2 new places.
Currently I am busy writing my project for university, thanks God I am in half way already, I hate Financial Planning. On Saturday spent an evening out roller-skating, met Polish intern of @KZ...
now I run to prepare for KG leaders meeting today, keep fingers crossed for @KG :)
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
The long awaited update :)
orgAnd so it happened. It's already 2 months as I am here. I can't believe. Time passed so fast!! They were crazy but I would never change them as they brought first successes of our term, borught some of biggest challenges I ever faced, made me realize my own value and value of friendship as well enabled to visit some breath taking places!!
So how AIESEC KG is doing?
First ever LCEB of LC Bishkek was selected!!!!!Jyldyz Sattarova is leading the LC as LCP. Artyom Zinchenko takes care of @KG members development as LCVP TM & OGX and Cholpon Koshoeva develops relations with organizations as LCVP ER & ICX. This weeks we spend almost all afternoons together on education and planning. I love the feeling that there is a second leadership team to achieve goals together with MC, love the feeling that now LC Bishkek is finally their..one of those important steps for the future.
We have hosted 2 CEEDers :). Kamila, LCVP Communication from LC Gdansk, Poland helped us with communication area, ER and LCEB education. Here you cna read more about her experiences in KG. Ruby from Taiwan is still wit us supporting us to reach Chinese companies in KG, develop ICX skills of our members, educate LCEB and develop cy-cy relations.
Another great news is that we are getting close to our X membership criteria as EP matching is really progressing - AIESEC in Bulgaria will host 2 our EPs soon :) Also 2 more ppl will put their EP froms to iXP this month :)
It is amazing feeling when things start moving :)
Ok, ok...things do not come without hard work. Each thing here requires real patience and faith, step by step, slowly ahead. But it give a very special feeling when each step is made, feeling of having made a real difference, feeling of being in core of what AIESEC means.
Then was IC - cool for what it included - practical and new information, real support to country management, inspiration from the past and for the future, for it's spirit, expansion track, MCP track :) Cool beacuse KG was represented by 3 ppl :)
And of course magic Turkey! I spent amazing 3 days in Istanbul with my Polish friends. Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus cruise and many more. I met again my best friends: Svetka, Iritzi, Oksi, Asia, Koni...and got new ones :)
Polish Emigration spirit and team was born ;) I was crying on a flight back to KG. I will be missing you people and I cant wait to IPM to meet at least some of you. 
And how I am?
I am great. And I enjoy my time and especially the country. In August I managed to visit 2 amazing places in KG, ones you call "top 10 must to visit".
First of them was lake Issyk-Kul. It is a second deepest lake in the world, located 1600 meters above see level. Crystally clean, blue waters surrounded by high mountains. I could not believe I am not in some Mediterranean resort...views are breath taking. After 5h trip through mountain to reach it, I spent 3 days sleeping in Yurta's on the beach, sunbathing and enjoying my time. Yurta is a traditional nomad house, see the pictures. I got terribly sun burned...but it was worth it. 
We also visited host springs and red rocks.
Then on a weekend before IC we took bus for 1,5 trip to Burana tower. It is not so old, but quite nice especially that there is of course a whole legend behind why it was built and so on.Definetely I love the country and whole region. This week I am heading of for my second visit to Kazakhstan and I have a whole list of places to visit in Central Asia, Kaukasus and western China. I only hope that will have enough space in passport for visas ;)
Enjoy the pictures :)
So how AIESEC KG is doing?
First ever LCEB of LC Bishkek was selected!!!!!Jyldyz Sattarova is leading the LC as LCP. Artyom Zinchenko takes care of @KG members development as LCVP TM & OGX and Cholpon Koshoeva develops relations with organizations as LCVP ER & ICX. This weeks we spend almost all afternoons together on education and planning. I love the feeling that there is a second leadership team to achieve goals together with MC, love the feeling that now LC Bishkek is finally their..one of those important steps for the future.We have hosted 2 CEEDers :). Kamila, LCVP Communication from LC Gdansk, Poland helped us with communication area, ER and LCEB education. Here you cna read more about her experiences in KG. Ruby from Taiwan is still wit us supporting us to reach Chinese companies in KG, develop ICX skills of our members, educate LCEB and develop cy-cy relations.
Another great news is that we are getting close to our X membership criteria as EP matching is really progressing - AIESEC in Bulgaria will host 2 our EPs soon :) Also 2 more ppl will put their EP froms to iXP this month :)
It is amazing feeling when things start moving :)
Ok, ok...things do not come without hard work. Each thing here requires real patience and faith, step by step, slowly ahead. But it give a very special feeling when each step is made, feeling of having made a real difference, feeling of being in core of what AIESEC means.
Then was IC - cool for what it included - practical and new information, real support to country management, inspiration from the past and for the future, for it's spirit, expansion track, MCP track :) Cool beacuse KG was represented by 3 ppl :) 
And of course magic Turkey! I spent amazing 3 days in Istanbul with my Polish friends. Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus cruise and many more. I met again my best friends: Svetka, Iritzi, Oksi, Asia, Koni...and got new ones :) 
Polish Emigration spirit and team was born ;) I was crying on a flight back to KG. I will be missing you people and I cant wait to IPM to meet at least some of you. 
And how I am?
I am great. And I enjoy my time and especially the country. In August I managed to visit 2 amazing places in KG, ones you call "top 10 must to visit".
First of them was lake Issyk-Kul. It is a second deepest lake in the world, located 1600 meters above see level. Crystally clean, blue waters surrounded by high mountains. I could not believe I am not in some Mediterranean resort...views are breath taking. After 5h trip through mountain to reach it, I spent 3 days sleeping in Yurta's on the beach, sunbathing and enjoying my time. Yurta is a traditional nomad house, see the pictures. I got terribly sun burned...but it was worth it. 
We also visited host springs and red rocks.
Then on a weekend before IC we took bus for 1,5 trip to Burana tower. It is not so old, but quite nice especially that there is of course a whole legend behind why it was built and so on.Definetely I love the country and whole region. This week I am heading of for my second visit to Kazakhstan and I have a whole list of places to visit in Central Asia, Kaukasus and western China. I only hope that will have enough space in passport for visas ;)Enjoy the pictures :)
Monday, July 23, 2007
First 2 weeks on KG land!
Finally I find a moment to update the blog and write how I am doing. Thanks friends for all your impatient mails and worries. It is a great feeling to know that I have so many caring ppl all around the world :)
First 2 weeks has gone by so fast that I can't believe. I am fine, even perfectly fine :) Those of you who know the most would probably not believe that I eat healthy food, sleep long and have time for myself each day after 18/19:00 and on weekends :) Gosh, it is so cool! First 2 weeks in few most importnat aspects:
Central Asia as you don't know it ;)
First of all I need to break main stereotypes you may have abt CA. If your only thoughts abt "stan" countries are: soviet union, lack of security, not developed economy etc.- you cant be in bigger mistake. Of course KG is not Western Europe, but it all depends what you treat as most important and how much you really live the value of "Living diversity". And - important - each country here is so different!
View from my window in the morning, hospitality of each even most randomly met person, ambition and openness of people, nature, clean air, modern entertainment facilities, most known western brands and labels in the shops, delicious and cheap food, multicultural and multinational environment, true Asian culture preserved - that's what I love about this place, abt Kyrgyzstan! You should experience it on your own. Although I am here only 2 weeks I already know that I will visit whole CA. Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, KZ deserts and western China in addition...just await the stories guys ;)
When talking abt visiting - last weekend we've been with Lumi to Almaty where we spend time with KZ MC - Deniss and Maya. Amazing weekend which costed us...36$ :) Now, if I didn’t manage to get you excited abt CA yet, with this story you must agree with me on amazingness of CA :) What do you know abt Almaty? Camels? Soviet Union? hm??? Wrong!!!!
Almaty is a modern, 1,5 million, city which looks like European capital, it is 30th most expensive city in the world, with prices on level of Moscow or higher, with sky scrapers and fast cars on the streets. It is a financial center of Central Asia with biggest financial 
companies present. That’s not where you should go to gtk CA core and culture, but that’s where you should go to learn what it means economic development and growth and how to do it in 15 years!! Almaty and whole KZ are the leaders of region with other countries doing their best to repeat the success. City is amazingly green and possesses one more added value - the Medeo Mountain National Park which ended to be the main part of our weekend. Some pictures below. Thanks to my costly but useful multiply visa I go to Almaty again in 2 weeks - this time to gtk city's heritage. And all that at reach of 3,5h and 6,5$ :)
Being Polish is so cool!
No, no worries I am not gonna write anything tough. Just that here I feel so cool and at home. When I mention my nationality I always see a smile as a reaction :) Even on passport control at the airport when I arrived. Moreover ppl are usually interested to get to know more about Poland, sometimes abt surprising things. 2 days ago I had an amazing discussion with my member on political situation and recent events (strikes etc) in Poland, and all changes that happened since we are democratic and how similar it is to KG currently. Secondly, first market I entered for shopping I saw my favorite juices and some other products on shelves. Tymbark and Kubus in Kyrgyzstan? yeap!!! :)))
Only one thing is not cool - reading each morning gazeta.pl and discovering another sad and leading to nowhere happening...that pisses me off!! Well, time will come to be a change agent.
AIESEC in Kyrgyzstan - that's called a challenge
He, he that's exactly what I expected coming here. Nothing is obvious and easy. Nothing goes into known models. But not necessarily it's bad. It gives plenty of space for innovation and out of the box thinking. Especially when my MC budget carries a need to fundraise 30000$. Being LCP and MCP at one time is not that bad in the end. It gives me what I was missing - interaction with members and visibility of impact that can be made. Yup - that's extension reality!
I still donno if I will have a place to live and work after IC, donno if Shehu will get a visa, I have capital of 300$ - you can say situation sucks. I agree. Just that surpassingly it does not make me worried, not in negative sense, only in positive. I feel here so peaceful; I enjoy each moment, each single and smallest step ahead. I feel that simplicity is an environment which I enjoy (not only in @, but overally in life), I feel that focus on core is what I like the most. Results? Yup, till the end of the day I dream only about one of them - to increase number of @XPs realized here. Simple and complicated at one time when you realize how many smaller things must be laid down and started to achieve it.
And I love the fact that I must learn all the time and I can share all the time, as I love it so much. This week I was an ER developing products - I never thought I will have to get into that area, but in KG I will have to do much more. For sure its not my field and I need to try hard to challenge myself to become skilled in that, but that can be my biggest professional learning after all. And if @KG requires it, let it be.
Whole week of planning ahead of me, then General Assembly. More and more I feel it's my @. The more I get to know members, partners and reality, the more at home I feel. Still it's a strange feeling to be international MCP.
Life continues. I am usually online from 4 till 12 GMT on skype. I would love to come back to having online chats but I know that time difference kills this. Exception will be next week when I have planning.
That's all folks :)
First 2 weeks has gone by so fast that I can't believe. I am fine, even perfectly fine :) Those of you who know the most would probably not believe that I eat healthy food, sleep long and have time for myself each day after 18/19:00 and on weekends :) Gosh, it is so cool! First 2 weeks in few most importnat aspects:
Central Asia as you don't know it ;)
First of all I need to break main stereotypes you may have abt CA. If your only thoughts abt "stan" countries are: soviet union, lack of security, not developed economy etc.- you cant be in bigger mistake. Of course KG is not Western Europe, but it all depends what you treat as most important and how much you really live the value of "Living diversity". And - important - each country here is so different!
View from my window in the morning, hospitality of each even most randomly met person, ambition and openness of people, nature, clean air, modern entertainment facilities, most known western brands and labels in the shops, delicious and cheap food, multicultural and multinational environment, true Asian culture preserved - that's what I love about this place, abt Kyrgyzstan! You should experience it on your own. Although I am here only 2 weeks I already know that I will visit whole CA. Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, KZ deserts and western China in addition...just await the stories guys ;)
When talking abt visiting - last weekend we've been with Lumi to Almaty where we spend time with KZ MC - Deniss and Maya. Amazing weekend which costed us...36$ :) Now, if I didn’t manage to get you excited abt CA yet, with this story you must agree with me on amazingness of CA :) What do you know abt Almaty? Camels? Soviet Union? hm??? Wrong!!!!
Almaty is a modern, 1,5 million, city which looks like European capital, it is 30th most expensive city in the world, with prices on level of Moscow or higher, with sky scrapers and fast cars on the streets. It is a financial center of Central Asia with biggest financial 
companies present. That’s not where you should go to gtk CA core and culture, but that’s where you should go to learn what it means economic development and growth and how to do it in 15 years!! Almaty and whole KZ are the leaders of region with other countries doing their best to repeat the success. City is amazingly green and possesses one more added value - the Medeo Mountain National Park which ended to be the main part of our weekend. Some pictures below. Thanks to my costly but useful multiply visa I go to Almaty again in 2 weeks - this time to gtk city's heritage. And all that at reach of 3,5h and 6,5$ :)Being Polish is so cool!
No, no worries I am not gonna write anything tough. Just that here I feel so cool and at home. When I mention my nationality I always see a smile as a reaction :) Even on passport control at the airport when I arrived. Moreover ppl are usually interested to get to know more about Poland, sometimes abt surprising things. 2 days ago I had an amazing discussion with my member on political situation and recent events (strikes etc) in Poland, and all changes that happened since we are democratic and how similar it is to KG currently. Secondly, first market I entered for shopping I saw my favorite juices and some other products on shelves. Tymbark and Kubus in Kyrgyzstan? yeap!!! :)))
Only one thing is not cool - reading each morning gazeta.pl and discovering another sad and leading to nowhere happening...that pisses me off!! Well, time will come to be a change agent.
AIESEC in Kyrgyzstan - that's called a challenge
He, he that's exactly what I expected coming here. Nothing is obvious and easy. Nothing goes into known models. But not necessarily it's bad. It gives plenty of space for innovation and out of the box thinking. Especially when my MC budget carries a need to fundraise 30000$. Being LCP and MCP at one time is not that bad in the end. It gives me what I was missing - interaction with members and visibility of impact that can be made. Yup - that's extension reality!
I still donno if I will have a place to live and work after IC, donno if Shehu will get a visa, I have capital of 300$ - you can say situation sucks. I agree. Just that surpassingly it does not make me worried, not in negative sense, only in positive. I feel here so peaceful; I enjoy each moment, each single and smallest step ahead. I feel that simplicity is an environment which I enjoy (not only in @, but overally in life), I feel that focus on core is what I like the most. Results? Yup, till the end of the day I dream only about one of them - to increase number of @XPs realized here. Simple and complicated at one time when you realize how many smaller things must be laid down and started to achieve it.And I love the fact that I must learn all the time and I can share all the time, as I love it so much. This week I was an ER developing products - I never thought I will have to get into that area, but in KG I will have to do much more. For sure its not my field and I need to try hard to challenge myself to become skilled in that, but that can be my biggest professional learning after all. And if @KG requires it, let it be.
Whole week of planning ahead of me, then General Assembly. More and more I feel it's my @. The more I get to know members, partners and reality, the more at home I feel. Still it's a strange feeling to be international MCP.
Life continues. I am usually online from 4 till 12 GMT on skype. I would love to come back to having online chats but I know that time difference kills this. Exception will be next week when I have planning.
That's all folks :)
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
You cant be always lucky...
Saturday morning I arrived at the airport to leave for KG...but I didn't. Due to lack of Russian transit visa I was not let out of teh airport :(
I can say huge thank you to Russian Consulate where I was told I do not need this visa.
I have lost around 250$...for em its much. Still I am lucky to lose only such amount.
I have new ticket already. Unfortuantely I can fly on July 5 earliest :(
Someone said, that we cant be always lucky...for the first time I was not. That's a pity that in such moment.
So, I stay at home, spend time with my family and friends and work. And cant wait for this bloody July 5....ech, life is life
I can say huge thank you to Russian Consulate where I was told I do not need this visa.
I have lost around 250$...for em its much. Still I am lucky to lose only such amount.
I have new ticket already. Unfortuantely I can fly on July 5 earliest :(
Someone said, that we cant be always lucky...for the first time I was not. That's a pity that in such moment.
So, I stay at home, spend time with my family and friends and work. And cant wait for this bloody July 5....ech, life is life
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
CEECA rocks the house!
Monday I was back from the awesome meeting of the only GN which has a subGN ;) or in other words from CEE MCPs meeting in Prague :) CEE+Central Asia (informally CEECA) is a marvelous combination...
GN ambition, cooperation intiatives, visit of our dear PAI Gabiza, fast and effective legislation, time out in beautiful Prague and amazing discussions faciliated by 2 GN directors: Jarda and Ivan really rocked :)
I was hestitating to go for this meeting due to time pressure before departure (btw, I fly already tomorrow....aaaaaa!!) but I am SO happy I decided to go for it. CEE MCPs crew is cool!
The CA branch also had a round of discussions, and we have some cool ideas for cooperation, but most importanly we defined the role of CA extension in the GN :) Allrighty...gotta run, preparations continue. Keep fingers crossed ppl and await post from KG!
excited and nervous,
sandra
Sunday, May 27, 2007
People, it's all about people
I was recently thinking that I write here a lot about my emotions, my experiences, and things that happen..but I do not write much about people, at least not as much as I could.
When my departure comes closer and closer I start to realize that over there in Kyrgyzstan what will count for me a lot will be those few people from AIESEC network who are the most important for me, those who I call my friends...
And I want you to know them, and I wanna tell them what they mean to me. As these are people with whom I spent amazing times in AIESEC, became friends and thanks to who my life is happier :)
So let me introduce you one of them :)
This person is very special to me!
Great friend who: makes me laugh when I want to cry, cares about me when I forget about it, reminds me about the most important things in life, shares my passion to our job...person with who: I am not afraid to speak my mind and share doubts, enjoy successes, learn a lot, one of those people with whom you become friends immidiately because you have common way of approaching things and thinking and because you just feel extremely confident to trust...
The ways we try to live our lifes and experiences are soo similar, we can always find a topic to challenge ourselves and we can always laugh from something.
She is extremely positive, smart and amazingly determined. And, altough I don't know why, she has decided to support me in all things that will happen...sometimes I feel she could be my older sister, she behaves like this ;)
I met this crazy lady at IC, in queue for food on Polish Night celebration, when we talked about changing the world...one of greatest conversations I had...
Oksana Arkhypchuk
Ukrainian with Polish roots ;)
LCP in Lviv, MCVP in Hungary, MCVP in Jordan and MCPe of Jordan :)
Tall, blond and completely crazy!
Oks, thanks for being my friend!
When my departure comes closer and closer I start to realize that over there in Kyrgyzstan what will count for me a lot will be those few people from AIESEC network who are the most important for me, those who I call my friends...
And I want you to know them, and I wanna tell them what they mean to me. As these are people with whom I spent amazing times in AIESEC, became friends and thanks to who my life is happier :)
So let me introduce you one of them :)
This person is very special to me!
Great friend who: makes me laugh when I want to cry, cares about me when I forget about it, reminds me about the most important things in life, shares my passion to our job...person with who: I am not afraid to speak my mind and share doubts, enjoy successes, learn a lot, one of those people with whom you become friends immidiately because you have common way of approaching things and thinking and because you just feel extremely confident to trust...
The ways we try to live our lifes and experiences are soo similar, we can always find a topic to challenge ourselves and we can always laugh from something.
She is extremely positive, smart and amazingly determined. And, altough I don't know why, she has decided to support me in all things that will happen...sometimes I feel she could be my older sister, she behaves like this ;)
I met this crazy lady at IC, in queue for food on Polish Night celebration, when we talked about changing the world...one of greatest conversations I had...
Oksana Arkhypchuk
Ukrainian with Polish roots ;)
LCP in Lviv, MCVP in Hungary, MCVP in Jordan and MCPe of Jordan :)
Tall, blond and completely crazy!
Oks, thanks for being my friend!
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