One mammoth journal entry coming up
Okies. AIESEC is a global student organisation with loads of people and chapters in over 90 countries. The aim is foster cultural understanding by providing traineeships to members to go abroad for some time, and work in a company there. This not only gives the trainee work experience, but it allows them to experience a different culture in a different country. And they'll be going to an area with an AIESEC chapter, so they'll have friends there already.
AIESEC also provide services to companys like Sun, where the traineeship isn't through AIESEC, but only sponsored by them, in order to obtain the relevant visas. So, whilst not a member of AIESEC, I'm still affiliated with it as a trainee.
This weekend I went to ROKS, which is basically a training/orientation event for members, where members are told how to go about applying for traineeships, how to help out with the local chapter, and how to do sales and servicing (obtaining traineeships from local businesses to be made available to AIESECers the world over). Even though I'm not a member, and none of those applied to me, it was still great to go there and meet a bunch of people not just from here, but from all over the west coast, and I was able to share something of the British culture too, which is what AIESEC is all about; cultural understanding.
I wanted to give something of a background so you guys know what I'm talking about when I mention AIESEC in my posts. Now onto why this weekend rocked ma socks.
I was picked up by Marija (trainee from Australia), Helena (trainee from Brazil) and Patricia (trainee from Dominican Republic) mid afternoon on Friday, and we spent about 5 hours driving up to Lake Tahoe (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Newark,+CA+to+South+Lake+Tahoe,+CA&hl=en though we actually took the I80 through Oakland, not the I205) listening and singing along to cheesy music. Was excellent. I also made a powerpoint presentation in the car about Britain for the Global Village (a sort of collection of stuff about different countries). Stopped off for food just after Sacramento at a Denny's.
Arrived in Tahoe around 9pmish, where upon I registered, dumped my bag in my room, and wandered around meeting new people. Very few people were actually around then (most didn't arrive until 11-12ish), so I grabbed Mads car and went to the local superstore to buy some batteries for him and a 24 crate of Corona for me.
More people were there by the time I got back, and I started drinking... things started around 11.30 with the introductory talks and stuff, and then the Global Village started, where people wandered around, looked at the countries displays, and asked the people from the country questions, etc. Around 1am, and (maybe) a little tipsy, I managed to get everyone (almost 80 people at this point) and I did my presentation. Considering I made it in the car on the way there that afternoon, it went *very* well, and I think I managed to make it fun and interesting. Maybe cos of my comments about how we ruled half the world, and stuff.
Anyway, the party continued through until about 4am, and I met loadsa new people. Was excellent.
Woke up around 7.30 on Saturday, had breakfast (bagels), and started the day by doing Roll Calls. A Roll Call is a way for an LC (local community, chapter, whatever) to introduce itself to the rest of the LC's present. I had to write the San Jose (the LC I'm with) Roll Call, as I was made their mascot. I had re-written Monty Python's Lumberjack Song (I know, shame on me.), and it was excellent. Much goodness.
The rest of Saturday was taken up with informative sessions, training, and learning stuff. I chaired a discussion on how American Foreign Policy affects other countries perception of America, which went well, and I generally contributed how and where I could.
I obtained another 24 crate of Corona too, seeing as I had finished most of the other crate, and a bunch of straws.
At around 10pm, the sessions finished, and ROKS itself was over... and then the party started. Used the straws to torpedo some Coronas, and was, too my horror, beaten my Anh. The shame :[. I went around meeting loads more people, and, uh, getting to know other more. Games were played (The Boat Game (lots of drinking) the 0-0-7-BANG game (lots of hitting each other)), songs were sang (Abraham has 7 sons was the funniest), and dances were danced (Cotton Eyed Joe! I love that song!). The word "bisoun" was discovered, and used with great effect. I also found out that I could get away with anything.
The party kinda slowed down around 4am, and I was in bed by 5 (after the clock change though, so 6am body-clock-time), and was up again by 8am. Had breakfast, tided up, and was leaving the cabin by 10am, even though there was still a general round up thing to be done, and awards given out (I got the award for Most Active Trainee... woohoo!). It was really really sad to leave without saying a proper goodbye to everyone.
However, Marija, Helena, Patricia and I, with Gary (another Sun trainee staying in Newark) following behind us, then went on a loop around Lake Tahoe. It was unbeliveably stunningly beautifully fantastic. The scenery was just simply awesome. It took as 6 hours to do a 2 hour drive, we were stopping so much. And what made it just so much better was chilling out in the car, listening to excellent music, and singing along all together, and just experiencing such wonderful things with friends. I was so, so, so happy.
I have bunches and bunches of photos from both ROKS and the trip around Tahoe, and I'll let them speak for themselves. It was just unbelievable, words don't do it justice.
After that, we started driving back to San Fransisco... was really difficult to stop myself from dozing off in the car, but I played a whole bunch of music, and we all sang along again, and it was good. We stopped for food about 20 miles past Sacramento at iHoP (excellentest food anywhere. mmm, pancakes), where I switched out of the girls' car and in with Gary, and we headed back to Newark.
Arrived back around 9pm, sorted out emails an LJ and stuff, and then crashed into bed.
And that was my weekend. It was simply so unbeliveably excellent. Lake Tahoe was stunningly gorgeous, and travelling around it with friends was sublime. And ROKS was similarly excellent; I've met so many new people, and I really, really hope I keep in contact with some of them.
Also, I was up at 8 this morning, and ended up pushing Colin's car around in an attempt to start it after he had drained the battery by leaving the keys in the ignition overnight. Just the start to the morning I needed :P
AIESEC also provide services to companys like Sun, where the traineeship isn't through AIESEC, but only sponsored by them, in order to obtain the relevant visas. So, whilst not a member of AIESEC, I'm still affiliated with it as a trainee.
This weekend I went to ROKS, which is basically a training/orientation event for members, where members are told how to go about applying for traineeships, how to help out with the local chapter, and how to do sales and servicing (obtaining traineeships from local businesses to be made available to AIESECers the world over). Even though I'm not a member, and none of those applied to me, it was still great to go there and meet a bunch of people not just from here, but from all over the west coast, and I was able to share something of the British culture too, which is what AIESEC is all about; cultural understanding.
I wanted to give something of a background so you guys know what I'm talking about when I mention AIESEC in my posts. Now onto why this weekend rocked ma socks.
I was picked up by Marija (trainee from Australia), Helena (trainee from Brazil) and Patricia (trainee from Dominican Republic) mid afternoon on Friday, and we spent about 5 hours driving up to Lake Tahoe (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Newark,+CA+to+South+Lake+Tahoe,+CA&hl=en though we actually took the I80 through Oakland, not the I205) listening and singing along to cheesy music. Was excellent. I also made a powerpoint presentation in the car about Britain for the Global Village (a sort of collection of stuff about different countries). Stopped off for food just after Sacramento at a Denny's.
Arrived in Tahoe around 9pmish, where upon I registered, dumped my bag in my room, and wandered around meeting new people. Very few people were actually around then (most didn't arrive until 11-12ish), so I grabbed Mads car and went to the local superstore to buy some batteries for him and a 24 crate of Corona for me.
More people were there by the time I got back, and I started drinking... things started around 11.30 with the introductory talks and stuff, and then the Global Village started, where people wandered around, looked at the countries displays, and asked the people from the country questions, etc. Around 1am, and (maybe) a little tipsy, I managed to get everyone (almost 80 people at this point) and I did my presentation. Considering I made it in the car on the way there that afternoon, it went *very* well, and I think I managed to make it fun and interesting. Maybe cos of my comments about how we ruled half the world, and stuff.
Anyway, the party continued through until about 4am, and I met loadsa new people. Was excellent.
Woke up around 7.30 on Saturday, had breakfast (bagels), and started the day by doing Roll Calls. A Roll Call is a way for an LC (local community, chapter, whatever) to introduce itself to the rest of the LC's present. I had to write the San Jose (the LC I'm with) Roll Call, as I was made their mascot. I had re-written Monty Python's Lumberjack Song (I know, shame on me.), and it was excellent. Much goodness.
The rest of Saturday was taken up with informative sessions, training, and learning stuff. I chaired a discussion on how American Foreign Policy affects other countries perception of America, which went well, and I generally contributed how and where I could.
I obtained another 24 crate of Corona too, seeing as I had finished most of the other crate, and a bunch of straws.
At around 10pm, the sessions finished, and ROKS itself was over... and then the party started. Used the straws to torpedo some Coronas, and was, too my horror, beaten my Anh. The shame :[. I went around meeting loads more people, and, uh, getting to know other more. Games were played (The Boat Game (lots of drinking) the 0-0-7-BANG game (lots of hitting each other)), songs were sang (Abraham has 7 sons was the funniest), and dances were danced (Cotton Eyed Joe! I love that song!). The word "bisoun" was discovered, and used with great effect. I also found out that I could get away with anything.
The party kinda slowed down around 4am, and I was in bed by 5 (after the clock change though, so 6am body-clock-time), and was up again by 8am. Had breakfast, tided up, and was leaving the cabin by 10am, even though there was still a general round up thing to be done, and awards given out (I got the award for Most Active Trainee... woohoo!). It was really really sad to leave without saying a proper goodbye to everyone.
However, Marija, Helena, Patricia and I, with Gary (another Sun trainee staying in Newark) following behind us, then went on a loop around Lake Tahoe. It was unbeliveably stunningly beautifully fantastic. The scenery was just simply awesome. It took as 6 hours to do a 2 hour drive, we were stopping so much. And what made it just so much better was chilling out in the car, listening to excellent music, and singing along all together, and just experiencing such wonderful things with friends. I was so, so, so happy.
I have bunches and bunches of photos from both ROKS and the trip around Tahoe, and I'll let them speak for themselves. It was just unbelievable, words don't do it justice.
After that, we started driving back to San Fransisco... was really difficult to stop myself from dozing off in the car, but I played a whole bunch of music, and we all sang along again, and it was good. We stopped for food about 20 miles past Sacramento at iHoP (excellentest food anywhere. mmm, pancakes), where I switched out of the girls' car and in with Gary, and we headed back to Newark.
Arrived back around 9pm, sorted out emails an LJ and stuff, and then crashed into bed.
And that was my weekend. It was simply so unbeliveably excellent. Lake Tahoe was stunningly gorgeous, and travelling around it with friends was sublime. And ROKS was similarly excellent; I've met so many new people, and I really, really hope I keep in contact with some of them.
Also, I was up at 8 this morning, and ended up pushing Colin's car around in an attempt to start it after he had drained the battery by leaving the keys in the ignition overnight. Just the start to the morning I needed :P
posted by Nebhead at
11:56
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