kchanealealeo:

I am in AB COM and I am currently working at a Science Museum.

——In China—-

Learning about other cultures through a different medium.

[Photos taken by Claire Fuerte]

-Claire Fuerte,  X+L

romaniawithlove:

I went camping in the Carpathians a few days ago. The car ride was two and a half hours of landscape morphing from

sunny fields

to cold, blue mountains.

Romania is amazing. A lot of untouched parts, unlike the grimy landscapes you see on the way to Baguio. If Romanian landscape was…

- Forest Candelaria, X

Backtrack to about 3-4 weeks ago.

APXLDS in Vietnam

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Asia Pacific Exchange and Leadership Development Seminar in Vietnam along with other Filipino delegates, meeting AIESECers from 25 countries. Attending an AIESEC conference is always an experience. You go through long days filled with sessions, never-ending AIESEC Dances and a great set of new friends. This was my first international conference and it was definitely something else. It’s amusing to realize how different youths from so many regions of the world can actually communicate in a common language, made possible by this global platform. It brings me back to one reason why I am so passionate about this organization. Change needs to happen in the world and in AIESEC, you are not alone.

Very exciting shifts towards AIESEC 2015 were introduced, including the new AIESEC Experience and Programs! It is an exciting time to be starting my term as Local Committee President. Definitely challenging, somehow scary but more than anything, I am excited. It was a great primer before the start of another year—my 4th year in AIESEC. 

SEA Leaders Summit

Cambodia - Vietnam - Thailand - Singapore - Malaysia - Indonesia - Philippines

This was a very productive meeting with MCPs, MCVPs and LCPs from the 7 countries plus Jenni from AIESEC International. We were able to discuss growth paths over the past few years, initiatives and our next steps as a subregion. It was a very interesting group and I definitely learned a lot from everyone. We also had a meeting with H.E. Khunying Laxanachantorn Laohaphan President of the ASEAN Association, Thailand, Former Ambassador aid Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations and Khun Aphichai Former Executive Director, ASEAN Foundation, Jakarta, Indonesia! Pushing for ASEAN to be an AIESEC partner across the 7 countries and it’s happening in the next few months!

romaniawithlove:

Romanians are extremely warm people. Sure, people stare at me when I walk down the street, but I’m sure it’s like that anywhere. I can’t help but stare when I see a Caucasian walking around in the Philippines, and it’s not racism, it’s just different.

Anyway, Romanians are extremely warm people. My friend Golo invited me to his house for Easter to spend Easter with his family. I had only met Golo two or three days after getting to Romania, which means we were only acquaintances for a little over a week, and friends for just a few days, and yet I was invited into his home. I was practically a complete stranger, and his family took me in.

We had a barbecue, and some bread. There was chicken, pork, beef and lamb. Also, it seems as though they drink wine with everything. Awesome. The food was amazing, and the people were amazing.

So Golo, if you’re reading this, thank you.

I am very much not used to the cold weather here. Thank god that Romanians are such warm people.

firstdwarf:

This is our goal.

We will make it happen.

romaniawithlove:

I arrived with a backpack and my camera to my dorm room. Empty. Five beds, and there was only me. 

This would be my life for six weeks. I would sleep and wake up alone in a room made for five. 

Challenge accepted.

- Forest Candelaria, X

I wonder
if you find me so interesting that you would talk to me.
Got me googling
‘Winking in Vienna’
becuse I don’t speak that language…
Where is the charm?
Is it in cobblestones, red brick walls of the street
And the cold city air that can summon
A feeling more tragic than loneliness?
In counting chances of ever being alive again?
I am here
But my heart is bungee-jumping in Australia
I pass through the cafe where you bade me
‘Hallo!’
Like the boutiques down Mariahilferstrausse
Your manifestation is on sale
Subtle yet intense
I am here
But my heart is sky-diving in Dubai
Maybe I lied about the pettiest things
How long I’ve stayed and where I’m living
And how you are totally fucking me over with your
indecipherable antics
Maybe I was truthful
but I never told you
The Ottakringer
on a marathon under my skin
in my dysfunctional nervous system
will be the only witness to the absolute disaster you havocked 

Waldeneinsamkeit is my favorite word
The feeling of being alone in the woods
I am here
But my heart was left on the stool
by the bar on the alley at Schronbrunnerstrausse
You poured me beer from the tap
And asked for tip
Here’s a euro
For all the service I was worth

- Arbie Baguios, X+L

It’s been more than a week since I first landed in Oradea and so far, the experience has been very eye-opening and beyond expectations.

The AIESECers in this place are just so accommodating that I already feel like I’ve already been part of their LC for so long. I’m with them every day and they really know how to take care of their trainees. Free food, free accommodations, but the good stuff does not end there. More than anything, it’s the enthusiasm and sincerity when they bring us around the city, when they call us up to see how we’re doing, when they take us to our places of internship, when they take us to the pub, and when they give us the hugs and handshakes at the end of the day, that have made this experience incredible.

Of course, there is also Oradea itself. This place is just so great to go around in and though I’m not really a fan of taking pictures, over here, it’s just so hard not to. The baroque designs of the buildings, the scenery across all their parks, the very respectful Romanians, and the cold yet sunny weather makes it so hard to just stay in the dorm. In fact, this Holy Thursday is the first night since I got here that I’ve been home before midnight. And finally, the food! Well, let’s just say they had me at the chocolate milkshake and goulash soup. =)

I’ve been in Oradea for more than a week and I’ve been able to facilitate financial literacy sessions already at least once. Yes, still got a long way to go, but with AIESECers and Oradea being so inviting, I think I’m going to enjoy the next 6 weeks. Stay tuned for my incoming posts.

- Vince Murga, X+L

FOOD FOOD FOOD

Been eating a lot here in Malaysia everyday and the food is awesome! Had a food day and ate cendol, rojak, taro ice from Snowflake and loh shu fan all in a few hours! Also particularly love Nasi Lemak and Ramli Burger!

Thank you to AIESECers for taking me to the best places!

Will blog about work in my next post! :)

- Kathleen Kho, X+L