Previous Posts
Archives
July 17, 2006
My Visit to Mexico
Yeah, I am not done with my Country Visits postings of the first semester of this year!
A very special country needs to be shown now now: MEXICO! I flew there after Guatemala and had a one week visit getting really involved on AIESEC in Mexico reality and trying to support one of the "exchange machines" :) of AIESEC in the Spanish Speaking Network to keep growing. They will do so, I am so sure. They have all what it takes ... an MC 05 06 that built very good basis and a new MC, that doubled the size of the past MC with a huge library of actions and "dreams" to make come true! AIESEC in Mexico will also be the host of the next AXLDS 2007 - the AIESEC regional conference of the spanish speaking network.
Meeting with MC and LCPs of Mexico City
Meeting with MC and LCPs of Mexico City
As amazing as to know the mexican AIESEC was to now MEXICO. Normally my work-life balance in country visits sucks, but this was a country where (also encouraged by the MC, thanks) I had to do some tourism. And I feel quite satisfied! TOP THINGS I LOVED FROM MEXICO:
1. TEOTIHUACAN PYRAMIDES
Teotihuacán was the largest-known pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and the name is also used to refer to the civilization this city dominated, which at its greatest extent included much of Mesoamerica.
2. THE FOOD
There is not much to say, it's as good as it's worldwide fame. It's amazingly greasy, but for those who know me, this is not a problem for me, at all.
Tacos, Mole and Mixiote!
3. El MAGUEY!
Ok I now this is quite random, but I was totally amazed by the vegetation, specialy by those HUGE MAGUEYS. It is also known as the American aloe, although it is not related to the true aloes. I had never seen so tall, cactus-like (even if not cactus) plants. There were tones of them right near Teotihuacan. I do not know if some of you (latin friends) have heard about the famous Vicente Fernandez song called "la ley del monte", that says: "Grabé en la penca de un maguey tu nombreunido al mío, entrelazadoscomo una prueba ante la ley del monteque allí estuvimos enamorados..." hehehe - well, it's the same maguey!
4. COYOACAN
Coyoacán ("Place of the coyotes" in Nahuatl) is one of the 16 delegaciones (boroughs) into which Mexico's Federal District is divided. Coyoacán also is commonly used to refer to the neighborhood at the heart of the borough.
Thanks so much AIESEC in Mexico, I am so much looking fwd to see you suceeding and I hope all the delegates of AXLDS will have such a amazing experience as the one I had in your country!
Posted by Oriana Torres at 21:49 | 0 comments
Lebanon and AIESEC
On Thursday last week, a team of AIESEC'ers from around the world were due to land in Beirut, and start the long, tough process of establishing AIESEC in Lebanon. Obviously, given what happened in Lebanon last Thursday, they didnt end up flying in....
Thankfully, everyone is OK.
Chris Bowman (US AIESEC'er, previously Salaam Program trainee in Cairo), who has been living in Lebanon for the last year, managed to get out of Lebanon over road, and is now in Damascus trying to get to Cairo, with the help of Middle East co-ordinator Tamer. His amazing story can be found here.
Nisrin, a half Syrian/half Lebanese AIESEC'er from the United States, is currently living in Egypt, working on the Egyptian MC team. She was supposed to leave Egypt and fly to Cairo last Thursday, and luckily found out about the airport bombing before she got on the flight. You can see her story here....
Stella, a Bulgarian AIESEC'er who has been in Turkey for the last year, also cancelled her flight and is safe and sound at home.
For people interested in getting an AIESEC'er perspective on what is happening, Bowman and Nisrin will continue posting, and nomadlife.org will be updated by all the AIESEC bloggers from the region. For a great listing of Lebanese, Israeli, Syrian and Palestinian bloggers covering the conflict live from the region, check out this fantastic page, at The Truth Laid Bear. And make sure you don't miss the super-cool live map of the region with bloggers listed by location. Amazing.
Our expansion team going into Jordan landed over the weekend and is safe and sound. Annika seems to have enjoyed her first few hours there...
Thankfully, everyone is OK.
Chris Bowman (US AIESEC'er, previously Salaam Program trainee in Cairo), who has been living in Lebanon for the last year, managed to get out of Lebanon over road, and is now in Damascus trying to get to Cairo, with the help of Middle East co-ordinator Tamer. His amazing story can be found here.
Nisrin, a half Syrian/half Lebanese AIESEC'er from the United States, is currently living in Egypt, working on the Egyptian MC team. She was supposed to leave Egypt and fly to Cairo last Thursday, and luckily found out about the airport bombing before she got on the flight. You can see her story here....
Stella, a Bulgarian AIESEC'er who has been in Turkey for the last year, also cancelled her flight and is safe and sound at home.
For people interested in getting an AIESEC'er perspective on what is happening, Bowman and Nisrin will continue posting, and nomadlife.org will be updated by all the AIESEC bloggers from the region. For a great listing of Lebanese, Israeli, Syrian and Palestinian bloggers covering the conflict live from the region, check out this fantastic page, at The Truth Laid Bear. And make sure you don't miss the super-cool live map of the region with bloggers listed by location. Amazing.
Our expansion team going into Jordan landed over the weekend and is safe and sound. Annika seems to have enjoyed her first few hours there...
Posted by Tom Gara at 14:55 | 0 comments
July 13, 2006
AI 06/07 Planning Week
We have been in a wonderful place in Tuscany (Italy) for our planning week. It is amazing to determine the direction and actions of AIESEC International in the next year. Life seems to be wonderful when you have the chance to connect with wonderful people in different levels and do the job that makes sense to you and that you enjoy more than any other in the world. One month ago we didn't know eachother really and now we don't only share our work but our lives.
Posted by Mo at 00:19 | 0 comments
July 07, 2006
My visit to Guatemala
I cried in the plane when I left Guatemala. And this I guess is the best way I can start this post about my visit to this awesome country, then it has been the only country where I actually after some time did not feel like leaving, at all. Many people that I told asked me why? what was so special in Guatemala, and the answer is difficult but easy at the same time: EVERYTHING, I love everything, but specially ITS PEOPLE.
De Guate para el mundo
De Guate para el mundo
Since there are so many things I love about Guate, I will write this post in a different way, than the way I have described my other visits so far! Chapines, I am sorry that I took so long to mail this post, I owe it to you! So here we go:
TOP 10 REASONS WHY GUATEMALA ROCKS
REASON 1: AIESEC in Guatemala organizational culture. AIESEC in Guate has been one of the most inspiring AIESEC countries I have ever interacted with. Open minded AIESECers, will to learn, ability to 'walk the talk', simple AIESEC yet well focused, A NEW GENERATION, lots, lots of motivation, nice office, frienship, hard work, joy, optimism.
Gabi (MCP 05 06), Renee (MCP 06 07) and myself
REASON 2: These boys ... I love all members of AIESEC in Guatemala, all of you. But there was a group of guys that were JUST HILARIOUS. Funny, intelligent, lovers of life, pure potential: Luis Mario, Tito, Christian, Niño (Edgar), Amit ... I actually think I connected very well to these "muchachos" since some of them also graduated from a german school as myself, but anyways also because they are crazy and I needed a lot of fun by that time. Thanks for singing songs at the closing of the LDS, for being so attentive, for such good parties and specially for meaning so much for your MC and LC.
Pic 1: Niño, Ahmid, me. Pic 2: Tito, Christian, Luis Mario.
Pic 1: Niño, Ahmid, me. Pic 2: Tito, Christian, Luis Mario.
REASON 3: AIESEC in Guatemala MC. Workoholics, at least the time I was there. Sweet people, yet straight forward. Caring. Streteching. Never tired. ALWAYS TAKING NOTES. Always asking. Always candid. Action oriented.
MC girls (a mix between MC 05 06 and 06 07)
MC girls (a mix between MC 05 06 and 06 07)
REASON 4: THE HOST. Thanks Luis Ma for hosting me in your house! Comfortable bed, single room (isn't this luxury for a director on country visit?), awesome internet conection (when you are a director on travels oh this is important), awesome trou around Guatemala city, extremely caring person, more hospitality is just imposible.
REASON 5: THE LDS. My very last AIESEC conference as a member on a leadership role. I was chairing and facilitating. Chaordic conference. Passion. A new beginning. Interesting Externals. New members getting its full membership status
AIESEC in Guatemala
AIESEC in Guatemala
REASON 6: The social life. For those who know me, I am not a party animal at all. Believe it or not, I mad a record in Guate. I went to bed at 5 a.m. one of the days of the conference. Why? Because even if it was aprty, it was such a chill out and authentic atmosphere. It's about people playing games, playing the guitar, conversing, nobody absolutely being "pasado or pesado" (as you would say in spanish, nobody really drunk until a point that is annoying, pure enjoyment, was nice ... and so all social spaces, relaxed, people really wanting to get to know each other.
REASON 7: ANTIGUA GUATEMALA. One of the most amazing colonial cities I've ever been. Meeting with indigenous cultures. Impressive architecture. Culture. Great food.
REASON 8: MODERN GUATEMALA CITY. Clean. High sense of urbanism. Perfect climate. Organized. Practical. Green. Beautiful at day, beutiful at night.
REASON 9: THE CLOTHING. Simple, fresh, yet always calling attention given its colours. Sold and done by indigenous people. The market is a place weher you can lose send of time. It's a travel into textures, arts and an amazing culture.
REASON 10: My favourite guatemalan expressions (some of them I was saying naturally): Va! , CABAL!, De Plano!
REASON 10: My favourite guatemalan expressions (some of them I was saying naturally): Va! , CABAL!, De Plano!
Thanks so much guys for such amazing week. I will NEVER forget and I promise to come back to Guate, there still so much more to discover. I bring you all in my heart. Keep changing the world.
Posted by Oriana Torres at 01:17 | 3 comments
July 01, 2006
Here it to the new SSGN Board 06 07
Araz, Filipe and Piret
Besides giving transition to Araz, my sucessor, in the past weeks two very special guests for us and for AIESEC in Spanish Speaking Growth Network have been in Rotterdam to also receive transition and specially, plan as a team with Araz the way they will deliver on their role in the next year; these people are Filipe Balbi, brazilian and Piret Potisepp, estonian with one year experience in Ecuador and the two of them are the full time members of the SSGN Board. Filipe will be manageing the Corporate Responsibility Talent Development Program and Piret, the Social Entrepreneurship one, job that includes giving continuity to the so far called Explora Program, taking into to the next level.
The guys are working animals (yeah!) and I am sure they will move the GN forward, specially given the common understanding the we seam to have that GN initiatives are senseless if countries' key performance indicators are not going up because of them.
Transition and planning - even on weekends!
Also the SSGN crew of the next year hosted last week a cool "brazilian" dinner, the same day of the Brazil - Japan game, cooking a pretty fake feijoada, but offering as well an awesome caipirinha - so it was fine. Of course all the SSGN people joined this evening to cook: Martis, Ricardo and myself. Majority of both AI teams were there - even the ones that were supporting Japan :)
A new team, a new start for SSGN!
Here are some pics of the brazilian evening ...
Martis, myself, Filipe, Piret and Araz buying the ingredients
Everybody doing its part and in the end everybody toasting together before guests arrive ...
Posted by Oriana Torres at 21:21 | 2 comments