My amazing life recently...

Ok...this is what happened to me in the last week...
On Saturday I was a model, ramp-walking in front of all Alcatel-Lucent in NCR employees and their families (around 2500 ppl). Being groomed, dressed up etc etc.
It was so much fun!:)
I had late conversations with what i believe is a God-sent ambassador. He saved me from ruining the happiness of someone that means a lot to me.Made me realize once again how hard it is to really love. And how far I can go for love...
Emo, my ex-team mate from the Bulgarian MC called in and we met and chatted for this and that. People we know and their lives around the world. Our own amazing lives...Feels good to meet someone that u have shared so much with in the past :)
I had a wild Friday night out with some colleagues. Almost went to extremes...I needed that!
Today I met Alcatel-Lucent global CEO - Ben Vervyaawen. Very energetic and charismatic man! Had breakfast with his wife who is so nice :)No star-attitude, very pleasant to talk to...
I also made a decision to move to Delhi. Try to shift my social circle a bit.
A friend of a friend from Bulgaria called. She is gonna live in Delhi for the next 4 years. And she seems quite a nice person. So exciting I am going to have someone that speaks my language here :)
All in all...pretty amazing :)
Now what is left - to get peace of mind...seems to hard at the current state of affairs. I am more and more learning how to use mind control over feelings...Let's see how long I will manage...

India...the beginning

It has been I long time since I haven't updated this blog. The reason is one – no time for blogging, as I am in India already.
I arrived in Gurgaon (some 20 minutes by car from Delhi) early on Thursday morning. My first adventure was getting to my place, as there was noone to pick me up at the airport. It was a bit scary to travel in a taxi in the dark, deserted streets of a completely unknown town. But – all's well that ends well and I reached safely and was met by Andre (I felt a bit guilty on waking him up), my collegue that will be working for Alcatel-Lucent in Bangalore. Honestly, he is really precious – helped me a lot in my first days...Just now it is that I fully realise how important it is to help someone integrate when on a traineeship. And this is, undoubtedly done best by other trainees, who have experienced that before.
I already had some taste of Delhi nightlife, as Friday night we went to a very nice club – Urban Pind. AIESEC interns seem to hang out there a lot...and there is always a bunsch of colourful expatriates I was told.
During the weekend we explored Delhi and went to a craft-festival in a nearby city – Faridhabad. It was so awesome – colourful, crowded and beautiful. And it was really huge – we were going around the place for 4 hours!
I am slowly starting to arrange things for my stay here and getting into daily work routine. It is really interesting – i already attended some of the meeting in the Corporate communications department. I still need to do so much reading, but I guess I will handle it fast. And the people at work are really positive and friendly, which makes learning easier :)
Well, this is about the end of my update. Actually, a strange melancholic mood is overcoming me the last two days – maybe because I am starting to miss home. Yet, I will get over it – a huge adventure lies ahead :)

Matched!

It has already been two days and i still cannot believe it! Everybody was telling me how hard it is to find a proper AIESEC traineeship, that it takes so much effort and long months of sending e-mails.
Well, I got matched to the first position I applied. Maybe it is beginners luck :) Maybe it is destiny!
Ta-da-dam!
Alcatel-Lucent in India, here I come.
One year in Corporate communications in one of the most amazing countries in the world.
Working along with a Brazilian guy and a Lithuainian girl as AIESEC trainees in Bangalore and Chennai. Challenging myself. Learning a lot. Living a different culture.
The journey will start in less than two months.
I have always believed that there are roads that have to be followed.This is such a road. It might be difficult, unexpected, uncomfortable, dirty and long. Yet I have already stepped on it and I will walk till the end. Sure it will be an exciting journey!

Long time no see

Well, I admit I am guilty for not writing here, but well...I got so addicted to my Bulgarian blog that it is hard to switch :)Besides, Being on Facebook, Twitter and everywhere else is quite tiring sometimes.One has to keep addictions in a certain limit :) I don't want to end up blogging all day, instead of doing something more meaningful.
Hm...I have some stories to tell. Lets see where I can start and K.I.S.S. (meaning I will try to keep at short and simple as possible)

Been to the beautiful Budapest in the middle of October.
Wonderful Central European city. Magnificent autumn. I would love to go again, along with my collegue Assya, who lived there for a year. She will be the best guide to some nice unexplored places:)Oh, and it is really unnecessarily expensive!
Some pictures:



Started Yoga classes.
It is fun. I can feel my back again. I realize that I have muscles:) The exercises are simple, but effective. I feel relaxed after. Megan says that there are also some side effects ( Hope she is joking actually;) )


Been two AIESEC conferences

I guess you realize when you are going old when you start going only to the parties of the AIESEC conferences. Well, I went for two - at the Local Introductory seminar of Technical University and at ACT. Actually I was one of the organizers of the alumni party at ACT. Surprisingly so many people came - around 50 alumni! Good try for a first time, I should say ;)

Applied for my first AIESEC internship
It is the position of Communications executive with Alcatel-Lucent in India. Passed the first intervew and I am getting more and more excited :) Is my life going to change so drastically? I want it, but in the same time I am a bit scared. It is surely a challenge!

That's all for now...I hope I will find why blogger wouldn't upload my pictures :(

Global village

Today I just thought...
what if I decided to go travelling a bit...
well...I could go to so many interesting places where I have some friends doing an AIESEC traineeship...
...Belgium - I can visit Gery and Belha and of course Maggie
...Poland - Mimka is having so much fun in Krakow it is contageous
...A4o - he is going to Marceille and then to Italy
...Drago - is in Bon, Germany
and Emi - in Prague.
Well, Adi is a bit too far away in Sri Lanka...but there's always a way:)
Tony is going to London soon...
Yep, I guess the promotion message that was on one of the AIESEC posters is true:
The world REALLY IS our playground!

BLDS 2007

I just came back from BLDS 2007. It was really a wonderful experience I will surely remember for a while.
First of all, it was wonderful, because I was invited to speak in a panel with some of the people I admire most in AIESEC - former MCPs that shaped this organisation in Bulgaria and also great personalities. I felt so honoured to be there among them.
Another reason I was happy was that I saw friends - old and new ones being there, smiling and having fun.

I always get so excited when I see so many great people at one place! I just wanted to hug and kiss everybody, to talk to
everybody...Unfortunately time is never enough at AIESEC conferences to do that!
I wish I could keep the spirit longer.
And I should say that...
Thank GOD that I enetered AIESEC and met all these amazing people!
:)

AIESEC and non-AIESEC emotions

In the last few days I was
...excited about AIESEC, as Emo invited me on the official panel of BLDS. It is really an honour to be among Koceto, Krasi, Kalin:)
...happy because of AIESEC, when I saw the people applying for LCP of LC Plovdiv. I remembered the old days back in my home LC Varna.
...sad because of AIESEC,because the way the same elections in Plovdiv were organised and ended
I was also excited for I had to take a major risk at work. I had to decide if I am willing to change my field. I did it and I do not regret.
I would never forgive myself if I had missed the chance.
Better regret for decisions made, then for decisions not made...

About Plovdiv and accidential meetings :)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I went on a trip to Plovdiv for the weekend. I just needed to get out of Sofia, to collect my thoughts, so I can take one very important decision about my career.
Well, I dunno if I managed to decide. But for sure I had fun and I am inspired.
Yesterday morning I managed to wake up at around 8.30, shower and pack my bag with basic survival stuff - you know - towel, toothbrush, camera and MP3 Player, a book and a sketchbook (it seems I will be back to drawing) some colour pens (I didn't have much time for that, though :( ).
Boris was really kind to meet me at the bus station (frankly didn't expact that someone will bother to meet me...)We had lunch and a fast walk-around the old part of Plovdiv.
I really like the atmosphere of the place, yet I cannot get rid of the feeling that the old part of Veliko Turnovo is more well-preserved, more tourist appealing than this one.

After that Angel drove us to Boris's place, where we had nice coffee and I finally met his so-much-talked-about (or famous) dog Uma. She is rather sweet, just the type of dog I like - not very small, yet not a huge one.
Angel and I went to the "Education fair" and I saw (finally) the famous Plovdiv fair. I really liked it - it looked like an University campus or some big open-air museum...

We walked around a bit, then met with Tony,Svil, Desi and Boris and had dinner. Then - we headed for Angel's place to watch a DVD. The choice of the film was rather...hm...strange "There is something about Mary". Quite a stupid one, yet we had fun.
Angel has a nice white kitty, but I think the poor animal is a bit stressed by him. He is too anxious and she feels that. I took her and I tried to stay calm...so she calmed down too.I like cats falling asleep in my arms:)
Angel's place was really so cool...and the bed was lovely...eeeh...
But sooner or later you just have to wake up and go to EB elections.


These LC plovdiv EB elections were a bit unpreparied, but I stayed only for the LCP speeches. Both candidates seem to me wonderful people, but it made me a very bad impression that their speeches were rather too short, lacked structure and profound message.
Anyway. AIESEC for sure is not what it used to be. Sadly.
Then, I made a wonderful walk alone. I explored the Old Plovdiv ...as you can see by the pictures.Nice place. Feels like home. Angel asked me what do I like about old house so much and I said - I guess their history and atmosphere, the stories they tell...
I managed to get to the bus stop at around 3,30...and while I was wondering how the crowd of people is going to fit in the bus...I thought I saw Gery standing some meters away from me. No, it was not possible!I must be halucinating. Gery is in Belgium, on a traineeship, not in Plovdiv...Such an accidential meeting couldn't be!Well, it seemed it could!It was her, and we travelled back to Sofia together. She had been to the wedding of one of her friends in Plovdiv and is going back to Brussels on Tuesday!

Oh, I love meetings like that so much...
Now I am home, preparing mentally for the working week, trying to take a final decision on the question that is bothering me, willing to draw a picture or two, listening to Madredeus (very nice music), trying to upload some pictures on flickr ( which wouldn't upload, I dunno why). Ah, back to reality, but everything seems so different. Like a rebirth...
Enjoy your week:)

It's a GIRL!

The new PAI is Gabriela Albescu
also known as
Gabiza!!!!
A girl with one of the most wonderful smiles I have ever seen!

WOW - and - the first woman-president of Aiesec since 1998!
I'm sooooo excited to see what she has got to show us!
Go girl and good luck:)

On this day ...

Sometimes you have a feeling for things before they happen...
Today I felt quite retrospective.
Remembering IPM in the Netherlands.
Thinking how time has flown for me.
365 days have passed since my first post here - I found that while searching the archives.



A lot has changed.
I feel AIESEC quite distant now.
I am working a completely different job from I had imagined - yet quite challenging and interesting.
I was disillusioned.
I am excited.
I will not be at this IPM , but still I am really excited.
Cause some people I can call friends are running for AI.
Cause my successor has chosen the difficult path of building something from scrach.
Cause Egypt will gather 200 great people at one place and the feeling will be amazing.


Like it was at our MCP "crying" session in the Netherlands.
I remember everyones face. More than 50 people and almost everyone with tears in their eyes.
Grateful tears.
I am so happy to have been there.
And I am quite sure these people have stayed as great as I knew them. I sincerely hope they are all OK, no matter where around the world.
Among friends, who could not be OK :)

New AIESEC generation is coming

Previous night at two a.m. one of the leaders I admire most in AIESEC in Bulgaria - the MCP in term 2001-2002 Pavel Panov (Pafo) became a father for the first time.
His sweet wife Dony gave birth to a daughter - Gabriela.
I really wish her to have a very happy and sunny childhood and ...who knows...maybe when she grows up she will become an AIESECer as well:)

AI 2007/2008 Candidates

44 people applying and so many people I like and care about on the list:)
It seems I will have to read lots of applications (thank God they have some limits to their writing:)
So - PAI candidates
Hm...Nice surprise with Jarda - I think he is a very smart and balanced guy so - he is a strong one:) Go CEE!!!
Gabica - well - that is cool - I dunno when AIESEC had a woman president for the last time.
Ryan - I don't know him very well, but my impressions from the IPM 2006 presentation and talks during the conference - he is also a strong candidate.
Dey - no comment. I cannot say i am surprised. I always believed that repeating mandates contributes to sustainability in AIESEC :)

Directors:
Some people - I knew they were going to run for that - Deniss and Ali.I already wished them good luck, I will do it again now. But Ioana, Ivan, JC, Lars and Tamer were a surprise:)

Vice-presidents:
Here I cannot be objective:) especially in the ER field. Irka, I believe in you, I wish you to show the best of you at the presentation. I know that if you wish for something really strong - it happens :)

So- good luck to all. I am really sad that I won't be able to see the speeches, cos the ones on IPM 2006 held some of the most inspiring minutes in my AIESEC career.

Nevermind. Let the right people be at the right positions - to move AIESEC forward. Or to move the rest of the world forward too...

Shorties

I took the famous BBC Brain sex test on Saturdy and...the most interesting of the results are:
-my brain is balanced man and woman thinking ( I knew that I am a real man from the start)
- I like more feminine faces ( haha - what a surprise:P , whou would guess...)
***
On Sunday the new MCP of AIESEC in Bulgaria was elected. His name, as you already know is Ivaylo Dimov - a nice young man, which I bet is quite hardworking and ambitious. It was a rather calm election procedure (compared to the ones I have seen) though I was once again convinced this is not the AIESEC I was happy of being a part of.Tout est cool, mais...some things are just not done like that...
***
Touday I got really upset that my Dad seems to be soo worried that I do not have a serious boyfriend. I got an offer from a friend to present him as a "fake" one. I also didn't get the support of another friend. Men...

Business ideas for AIESECers

I found out a very nice business idea, especially suitable for AIESEC people.
It is not anything new, in fact I believe a lot of people are practicing it (maybe without knowing) :)
It is house swapping.
I go to your house while you stay in mine.
No one pays rents and everyone feels (or at least is supposed to feel) "at home".
Why is it so good for AIESECers:)
Well, we can utilise our network and with our understanding of cultural sensitivity - we can make it easier and more pleasant for people willing to swap their homes:)
What do you think?
Anyone enthusiastic?
You can read The Times article on the topic, below are some websites of companies working in the field.

When you loose faith in one of your dreams...

I had a dream.
It was called AIESEC Bulgaria.
I think I lost faith in it yestreday.
I had many hard times, went through lots of hardships, but I also had good times, great fun and great friends.The thing that hurt me the most was the ugly way politics was done by some people in the organisation.
Without any style, just ugly...
I was elected MCP, and the people that wanted to join the MC team just said - we have a different vision.Well, I guess it was harder for them to admit the truth - that they did not believe in me.That for them, it mattered to be a team of friends, not a team that anyone trusts in.
Then I found that our "leaders" had done not so beautiful stuff I couldn't classify as leadership...like hacking my e-mails. Like smiling in my face while stabbing me with a knife in the back.
Well, all forgiven and forgotten.These people will never change, and luckily...I will never change and become like them.
But what I lost yesterday was the belief that something can be changed in this organisation. The belief, that, after all, my efforts to change some mindsets were not in vain.
But mistakes were repeated.
And I just lost my faith and I decidet to close that page.
I am not blaming anyone. I know that the MC had very good intentions. The LCs as well I guess, the MCP and MC candidates too.
Yet - good intetntions are not enough to make mature choices obviously...
I wish you good luck, AIESEC Bulgaria.
You will surely need it in future.

Corporate brainwashing and AIESEC

Today I came to think of the following.
When AIESEC was created, it started with the simple enthusiasm of several people, who wanted (rather naively and idealistically) to change the world. It is good to have such people, yet nowadays it seems to me that they getting less and less...
Maybe AIESEC is one of the last places where you can find so many of them together.
I was thinking - we did change a lot as an organisation through the years.However - did we change into the right direction, did we manage to be flexible enough to deliver to society the "positive change" we promised.
True, a lot of corporate leaders may be influenced by AIESEC, yet isn't AIESEC influenced too much by corporations?
We, as an organisation are so proud of the people we are producing - yet - are they really changing something? Or we are just boasting ourseleves on being "the best, the most, the biggest"?
AIESEC is so simple, as all great things.Yet, during my years in the organisation I saw a tendency that is gaining more and more influence. Things have been complicated, strategies have been developed, difficult terms used, words ruled over actions.We have become the BIGGEST YOUTH-RUN BUSINESS NGO.
Yet, if we are produsing the people that the busenss needs - how NON-CORPORATE are we?
Isn't the whole idea of AIESEC experience and vision 2010 just a preparation for the big CORPORATE BRAINWASHING that we are preparing ourselves for?
Because - let us be honest - we are not staying in AIESEC and striving for excellence only to "save the world", but to make ourseleves better and easily sold to our PARTNERS.
When this thought dawned on me...I was shocked.
I am not against AIESEC Brainwashing,nor against brainwashing in general.
I was just shocked to realise the complexity of the world I am living in. And my inability to change something drastically.

I will miss her...

My dearest Mury, a friend from my first year as EB in LC Varna is going away.
I will miss her...And be happily surprised when I receive a postcard from a part of the world I have no idea of ...When she went to the ocean liner for the first time I received a message "I love u so much even in Sothhampton".Without a signiture. I was wondering who could love there...until she called and the mystery was solved. We are lauthing every time when we remember. Then, the postcards really came at the most unexpected time, when I was really overwhelmed with AIESEC work and problems. And they made my day.

Good to have such friends, that you know will be caring for you even after a lot of years, even if you are miles away. Still,it hurts so much sometimes when u see that they are unhappy or confused with their lives and u know that u do not have the right to interfere...to give advice, to make decisions instead of them.
As, I strongly believe, no matter how close you feel to a person, no matter how much you love and support each other, you are alone in your hardest times, the decisions you have to make that change your life you make them alone. That is the price of being a free man.

AIESEC and the difference

After two weeks of my real job I got to realize that I have lived in a dream while being in AIESEC.
True, I have held positions and took a great deal of responsibility.Still it felt like I was as if I was in one big family.I knew that whatever I did, even if I screwed up...they will forgive me.
Now it feels different.
I have to learn a lot of new things. I have to take the lead and search for the answers I need, as nobody seems aware of the fact that I am a bit lost. Here, AIESEC attitude helps a great deal. Asking, searching, being proactive...But if I was in AIESEC, I would have a person - alumni, or a teammember - helping me realise what is actually happening, leading me through my learning.It seems I have never realised that the words about mentoring,learning process and competency model are more than theoretical stuff. I just realise how important they are.
And the attitude. AIESEC is warm, like staying at the fireplace in a cold rainy day. Well, this is in most of the cases...We are trying to be business, but we are still holding on to our dreams that we can change the world. We are actually living these dreams, and therefore feeling like a huge family.
I remember that during my President term a lot of times I wished that people in the organisation worked as real professionals, made less mistakes, were more responsible. Well, now I miss the warmth of my family, in the real business world where everyone is so polite, smiling, yet rarely caring.