My KG eXperience....

KG @ Family enlarged :)

2007-10-08T13:28:00.000+06:00

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.

Some news + story of amazing trip

2007-09-24T17:42:00.000+06:00

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 :)

The long awaited update :)

2007-09-12T17:12:00.000+06:00

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 :)

First 2 weeks on KG land!

2007-07-23T09:40:00.000+06:00

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 :)

You cant be always lucky...

2007-06-26T01:39:00.000+06:00

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

CEECA rocks the house!

2007-06-20T15:32:00.000+06:00

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 :)

I think, my KZ brother Deniss can confirm all things I write ;)

Allrighty...gotta run, preparations continue. Keep fingers crossed ppl and await post from KG!

excited and nervous,

sandra

People, it's all about people

2007-05-27T03:31:00.001+06:00

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!

Expansions' future discussed - yeah!

2007-05-27T03:06:00.000+06:00

Exciting times came...in just one week, and few hours, with group of few extremely active expansion individuals we made it...we created first version of input to global expansion strategy and Central Asia region cooperation :)

I never thought I will be creating input paper for AI ;) and now it happened. I am happy that during whole term I will work with so passionate people, who like me, care so much about future of our baby AIESEC countries, and future of whole AIESEC network ;)

So ladies and gentleman...await public version of the input paper :)

happy MCPe :)

Countdown has started!

2007-05-13T03:35:00.000+06:00

Today I bought my ticket to KG. Yes!!! Wow! I can't believe!
It's for 23th June - route Gdansk->Copenhagen->St.Petersburg->Bishkek...cheapest possible flight. Without a return ticket ;)

So the countdown has started - 43 days to go! 43 days to beginning of my adventure!

I still can't imagine flying with luggage for whole year and airlines limit o 20 kg...God bless SAS and Russiya Airlines!

My mom panicked a bit when she got to know the date :( Now have to figure out how to pass exams, go for CEEPM and manage to be at least a week at home before flight...I will be missing her so much!!!

The closer to departure, the more aware I am about what it means to leave home country and close people for a year...

World belongs to adventerous, that's what they say. I will check if I really am adeventurer in 43 days at the airport....

Getting to know my destination and a surprise

2007-05-09T02:47:00.000+06:00

Learning more about Kyrgyzstan, looking for support

You know those moments when you feel amazing inner power, when you feel joy from all aspects that your work brings...I feel liek this right now...and I love the feeling. No matter how many challenges will come I can't wait for them.

I know I write recently a lot, but that's how it is right now...crazy time which I enjoy a loooot!

Last few evenings and nights I spent on online researches: infos abt the country, Poles in KG, contacts to Polish companies exporting to KG market to ask them for finanical support of my flight and stay. I never thought that I will find as much as I did!

- tons of docs from UN abt the country's development & info abt 2 Poles working in UN KG, I am in progress of writing to them...
- crazy movies at YouTube about Bishkek (movie 1, movie 2) and Kyrgyzstan, and blog of Polish tourists (in Polish)
- blog of Polish student currently doing thesis reasearch in KG, he gave me cool contacts and we will meet in May when he is back :)
- Polish company specializing in cooperation with KG and supporting other firms in it...

I only now start to realize that going to KG is sth really special..I am gonna be one of few Poles who spend there more that a touristic stay...and I will experience a totally different culture...and let it be post-soviet republic in way things work and Bishkek looks...it's a tiny aspect of what i gradually learn that this country is. And the amazing thing is that this society really needs impact which we can give.
So now you can expect finally my post abt the country very very soon! For now more pictures must be enough ;)

Surprise
In the post on MC take-off...I was wiritng that I felt amazingly great during our first MC meeting and after it and I am wishing so much that my team feel the same...
Today I saw Lumi's descriptor at Skype - "MC KG 07.08 - Happy by choice."
...I almost had tears in my eyes...

First things first?

2007-05-07T05:33:00.000+06:00

Last week was crazy. National holidays. Went home. But instead of relaxing and having fun I decided to spend those days on sth more important for me, sth much more exciting than any entertainment ;)

That was first full week when I was working on my MCPe job :) Days passed so fast in designing planning process, transition, creating structure and Job Roles, planning LCEB creation moment, talking with team mates and current MCP, spending time online at youtube watching movies abt Kyrgyzstan and Bishkek, reading docs abt the country....

One of golden rules of effectiveness is "first things first"...suprisingly I realized that in my case it is not applicable. It is a strange and challenging experience to design processes for country in which I am not based, which has current MC completely local...I look at my Polish MCPc and MCPe, their transition and I smile...it is so natural and logic...whereas I sometimes feel that I am giving transition to myself :)

And as much as challenging it is, as much developing it is as well. This or other way these are first decisions which will create the marks in @ KG, marks which whole our team wants to leave.

It's good to be, it's good to be.......:)

Take-off in the air!

2007-05-06T22:14:00.000+06:00

Since I was elected I was wondering and envisoning how the first team meeting will happen. I was asking myself questions what I want it to be like and I was impatiently waiting for it.

And finally this moment came on Friday :) I donno how to describe the feeling that I had...I was happy and excited, felt this positive thrill of talking with all my team mates for the first time together, hearing all voices at one time!!! Lively and cheerful Shehu, confident and always asking questions Masha, caring and committed Lumi, responsible and fast learning Irina - my dear VPs :)

Skype conversation linking ppl in 4 countries was full of challenges, but nothing could spoil the atmosphere of the situation...at least that's how I felt, and I hope my team did as well.

First meeting was our take-off, since that day we have our first priorities, we have calendar of events, we started planning process and we start getting to know each other...and all that happened in the air...

It will never substitute physical meeting...but I will always remember this meeting for what it was and for how it made me happy. That's when you really start to feel MCP...I wish all leaders such meetings.

Lumi, Irina, Masha, Shehu - thank you!

Masha and Ira in Poland :)

2007-04-23T20:29:00.000+06:00

I am just back from Multi Take Over conference...traditional yearly conference for new LCEBs. This year it was uniqe for me, as Masha and Ira came to attended it! :)
I am so happy and so proud of them!!!

This was a very important moment for our KG team, moment in which girls got a lot of knowledge and for the first time saw how AIESEC looks like in developed form :) It's like a take-off point for my MC team...and sth that makes me sure that whole team is on a same page with AIESEC understanding.

At conference we also showed movie abt KG...and ppl were quite surprised with it, with beauty of the country first of all :)

Now girls went to Gdansk LC - partner LC of Kyrgyzstan to get more knowledge and integrate with members! I already miss them..

Can't wait to online MC Day in May...

I have my TEAM - KG MC TEAM!!!!

2007-04-03T15:45:00.000+06:00

Friday March 30th, 6 a.m. Polish time I was making phone calls...the most exciting calls in my AIESEC life...calls with results of MC selection!!!

I will always remember those emotions and reaction of people on the other side of the line ;)

Out of 7 applicants...4 extremely diversified and special people will work with me to build strong AIESEC in KG!

********Shehu********************Maria*********

*********Lumi*********************Irina*********

Yeah!!! Adventure starts!

In 1 hour...

2007-03-24T22:09:00.000+06:00

...I will start first review board with candidate to my MC team...
This week was special for me...chatting with candidates, reading their applications, preparing for review boards....amazing emotions.

Right now, exactly now at SpringCo in KG, KG members vote... a vote fo trust for the candidates...I await sms from Elina with results...getting nervous...

Yesterday I recorded a movie...3 minutes in which I expressed how I feel abt @KG and members, what I wish them...my words to members who are thousands of kilometers away...I felt so happy doing it!!

:)

Things become reality...so far away...

2007-03-23T08:29:00.000+06:00

It's almost 4 a.m...I love this part of the night. Whole MC house is quiet and asleep. I listen to some calm music and relax, as often today I also reflect. At his time at night my thoughts are the most pure, enthusiastic and positive. I feel great and powerful. Today I reflected on Kyrgyzstan, I realized that's it is already a months since I've been there...it seems so long ago.

I enter KG community almost each day, I read about events and upcoming SpringCo, read articles in KG newspapers in which AIESEC or projects were covered. I get to know the visions of newly started projects, I track progress in recruitment. I check @KG mailbox and see many ppl applying to facilitate SpringCo, I get to know that guys from Kazakhstan are coming too! I get mails from Elina telling abt ER proposals being prepared for selling, I see her great work at community towards MC elections....

This is just a minor piece of what is going on really there in Kyrgyztsan... I feel so badly limited to sources of information that reach me, I miss seeing it all on my own eyes :(
But it does not matter that much. It does not matter cos I know that things that happen there right now are things which I supported or recommended during my visit. It is a great feeling!! Feeling of being part of AIESEC in KG already now, feeling which I need. Feeling of having a real influence. This influence of which I dream so much, this impact for which I decided to go to extension country. I feel proud of guys in KG, and I miss them terribly...

In 2 days at GA members of @KG will vote. This will be vote of trust for MCVP candidates. I am soo nervous. And soooo excited. Elina wrote me just today and asked to send a short movie...the aim is to introduce me to newbies at SpringCo. When I read those words I had tears in my eyes...I realized that I can't meet them, but they are already my members...

I can't wait to share those thoughts with my team...

For now I just want to say: thank you guys in KG! I miss you!

7 brave individuals applying for AIESEC KG

2007-03-20T05:03:00.000+06:00

I was counting the hours to deadline...nervous to see who will be ppl applying for MC in KG. People brave and committed, who want to drive the extension in heart of Central Asia.

ANd now here there are!
I am extremely happy to introduce 7 applicants for MCVPs of AIESEC in Kyrgyzstan in term 2007/2008!!!!

Shehu Alliu (MCVP, Nigeria)
Luminita Crivet (LTT Coordinator, Romania)
Nellya Djamanbaeva (MCVP, Kyrgyzstan)
Irina Misheeva (MCVP, Kyrgyzstan)
Adam Payne (LCVP, US)
Ksenya Roznichenko (LC member, Kyrgyzstan)
Maria Sapozhnikova (MCVP, Kyrgyzstan)

I am soo excited :)))) I could never dream that at first elections in KG I will see so many great ppl applying! In a week time AIESEC in KG will have a full MC team! My team! Dreams start to become reality...!

Proud to be MCPe ;)

Trip to IPM - the luckiest day of my life

2007-03-06T23:41:00.000+06:00

Around 6 am I arrived to airport in Bishkek to have my flight to Moscow at 7:30. It occured that it is delayed for 10 hours!!! Could you believe it?? I was shocked. Such delay meant that I would not be in Moscow on time to take my booked flight to Cairo for IPM.
So went to airlines office asking of they can rebook me for other flight. Answer was negative.

We checked in the information that at 10:30 there is cruise to Moscow by other airlines, but 1. I do not have money for ticket, 2. there are no free places. Seemed as a hopeless situation. I was alreading seeing myslef staying in KG and missing PAI elections :(

Suddenly comes a solution - the biggest luck of life :) Elina's mother friend occured to be a pilot on that cruise. He borrowed me money and found place on the flight. I reached IPM on time.

It is so amazing, and Kyrgyzstani :) People treat guest as someone incredibly important and are very open to help, they really care. I love them for that. This a great part of culture of Kyrgyzstan. And till the end of my life I will be grateful to Olek for his support!!!!!!

Visit to my new home

2007-03-06T23:07:00.000+06:00

February 11th, 16:00 I boarded on my flight to Kyrgyzstan. The story began. I was amazingly excited that in less than 10 hours I was to reach Kyrgyzstan :) I read most of websites about KG, sent friends all the photos I have found...but this is nothing as long as you do not see things on your own eyes.

So at 6 a.m. I was there (shitty time difference) :)

Elina (current MCP) came to pick me up. By car we reached Bishkek, capital of KG, and AIESEC seed in the country :) I spent there 5 awesome days which enabled me to get to know people, country and my AIESEC. 5 days were enough to fall in love with Kyrgyzstan. And that's what I was doing there...

Day 1
After short sleep I had in the morning which enabled me to survive time change we gathered at the MC meeting. All the girls from the team were very nice and open to providing all the information. We discussed the current state of AIESEC in KG, what was done, what worked and what not, what are the perspectives. Then I had individual meetings with most of MCVPs during which I was going into more details abt the area and advising and feedbacking on the current activities as well as what should be done till June. In the evening I had my welcome party :)

Day 2
Things were getting more and exciting. This day started with meeting with one of main partners of @KG - EdNet - Network of Education Institutions of KG, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. They are organization aiming at development of higher education and linking education with business (btw. cool NGO to work in). They cooperate with many other NGOs also business associations and grant givers.They support @ currently with links to main universities, support in promotion to students through Career Centres, took an intern, provide training and places to meet. At the meeting we created a draft of cooperation for nearest year which basically enlarges scale of cooperation to eXchanges (OGX done togther with USAID organization (members of AIESEC have internships in companies in KG followed by internship abroad) and ICX (internships at EdNEt and Career Centres), recommending and introducing @ to main business of Bishkek by giving us chance to promote at round tables and business orgs' events and giving contacts to major companies with their recommendation, running students interest survey togetr with Career Centres, enabling us to attend fairs in May during which unis promote themsleves to high schools students so taht we will eb also able to promote ourselves. They will also help us to solve exchanges legal issues till teh period when we reahc agreement with migration ministry. This is so cool!!!

Then I was in office. It is really tiny. in 40m2 meters there are abt 5-6 student organizations, each of them with one desk and one computer, printer etc. spaces are divided with wooden movale walls. It looks really nice and is a good start to develop better office.
In the afternoon I had meeting with members where I was sharing my vision for @ in KG, they where asking me questions abt it and abt my person. It was really nice.
And in the evening I had meeting with MC during which I was sharing with them what AIESEC is like in other countries, what are main initatives done globally, what opportunties are there for them, how it links to the future of AIESEC in KG...
generalling it was sharing and motivating meeting with aim to bring them knowledge and excite abt AIESEC as they are currently in a period of slight tiredness and demotivation.

I saw a bit of Bishkek. Basically it is a typcial post communistic city, I feel like in Russia, no cultural shocks. I enjoyed it, especially the view of mountains.

Day 3
The longer I was there, the more I felt at home.

I had 2 meetings with partners. First of them was Ministry of Education - Department of youth policy. Basically there is a possibility for AIESEC to cooperate with them on realizing conferences and seminars on different topics what we can use to build LE around issues and not only (they have budget for it). Moreover they are currently running sociological reserach which will information on how young people perceive their future, how they see work perspectives, what are their interests etc and the results will be available to us. They also gave me picture on current issues raised by other youth organizations.

Second meeting was with Career Centre of one of unis where @ operates. They are already currently supporting @ in promotion of activities. We discussed how they will help us in the recruitment in march (for example tomorrow I go to make presentation/speech abt AIESEC for one group of students). They also told us what are main interestes of students of the university. It came out that lady in charge of it studied for 1 years in Poland and she speaks quite good Polish and loves Poland :)

Then I spent some time in the office socializing with members. There are some bright people among them. Potentials for MC and OCPs. I also had individual meeting with VP PD devoted to recruitment, especially selection - competencies assessment.

In the evening I met with half of MC team - Elina, X and PD and we had a strategic meeting. I initiated discussion abt AIESEC to check their understanding. I will only say that it was the best thing I could do as there were many gaps to be closed. Also in both those areas team was envisoning the developemnt and state for @ in KG to reach in next 1,5-2 years.

Day 4
23:00 I was back to Elina's flat coming straight from the dinner we had with 3 perspective members in traditional Kyrgyz restaurant (food is cool). This was the best moment of my visit there. Those guys are so amazing. We were talking with them abt AIESEC, what it is, what it means for them, what plans and goals they have, what opportuntities they may take, sharing our xps.They are so motivated and eager to develop. I was missing such conversations and now it was also so special as with each word being said here at the visit I know I am helping, I know I am opening perspectives and minds, I know and hear from them that I inspire them. This is a cool feeling.

Today also I spent half a day with Elina discussing MC team management, development of members, must do's for the nearest months, conference for members which will happen in march...basically MCP advisory. We created a plan of the crucial actions for Feb and March.

We also attended one class at university where we were invited by the teacher and for 45 minutues we were talking abt how @ develops people and what for and what are opportunties etc. and promoting recruitment.

I had meeting with 2 MC members on startegic planning of their areas as well as individual meeting with VP F on current state and her goals.

Day 5 and the last one
Last day fo my visit started with interview at The Times of Central Asia - independent newspaper covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This was first time in my life to give an interview. It was devoted to what organization AIESEC is, how it operates in KG and why, what initatives it undertakes. Journalist got really interested in starting long term cooperation by covering AIESEC events in Kyrgyzstan or event maybe taking amd intern.

Later we had meeting with another 4 perspective members, just like on the evening day before.

Another activity of the day was my meeting with VP X on InisghtXP and AIESEC.net usage.

And in the evening came time for summary of my visit with MCP. Visit was over. I was happy and excited, I was feeling that I found my place which I will be missing in all those months till start of my term.

Why blog?

2007-03-06T22:59:00.000+06:00

So here I am, starting my own blog. I think that such amazing experience as being MCP of Kyrgyzstan cannot stay only in my mind :) After only one month since being elected I already have numeorous thoughts and reflections to share...so it is the best time to get it started!

So have a nice lecture :)