I made a webpage for it here: www.aiesec.pk/nsc08

And have put some nice pictures here …I didnt make too many of general “people pictures” and actually have to put them online…

What should I write about the conference to give it sense for people who have not been there, consider it to be just an another conference or dont even care too much about AIESEC conferences?

Well, lets try it like this:

• each Local Chapter came with between 2 and 6 different dances to mostly bollywood songs but also random 70s disco.
• The conferences in Pakistan are officially decided to be without alcohol, but it was fully fine, because we had galons of Pakola and sheesha to socialize with.
• The conference was on the hills in Murree and thus sometimes we had been quite freezing.
• The hotel (Shangrilla) is a few star hotel that I would never be able to efford.
• On the last night a bunch of guys have decided to follow the tradition that on last night there is no sleep, they have been hanging on the swings till morning.
• The official night had more than 20 externals participating and was covered by Dawn TV.
• The conference made a profit that will finance the LC for at least half a year.

________________________________________________________________

See the footage here on YouTube:

AIESEC Pakistan, NSC 08, Dawn TV footage

I have been dealing with an HR+training company called Navitus for the conference (and beyond), one of the basic things I noticed at these guys is that everything is possible – whatever You suggest, their reply is: sure, sounds cool, just send us some more info and we see what we can do…

One of the things they gave AIESEC Pakistan (without us even considering such an option) was that a guy called Sarmad Tariq would come and deliver a speech at the closing plenary. Who is Sarmad? A guy who lost everything he had – purpose of life and ability to move anything apart from his head, but didnt give up. He has gained partly both of it, he still cant walk but he has a damn interesting life…

And he told us a few things about him and his view on life…

Quote 1:
I dont want to stay/go to place that reminds me about what I cant do, but a place that challenges me and gives me satisfaction about what I can do.

Quote 2:
Pain is temporary, pride is for ever.

Quote 3:
There is a physical law: “every action causes a reaction of same power but opposite direction”. The only difference between objects and human beings is that humans case the reaction doesnt have to be in the opposite direction – humans can use the action, make it stronger, make use of it.

I dont intend to tell You about the agenda of it, if You are interested in that, just ask me for the Output (I dont have it uploaded on the server any more).

What I want to tell You is how does it feel to be culturarly shocked in a way I didnt expect. When Kartik, the chair, asked about how should he behave and how will the people be, me and my team tried to prepare him for the worse. “Most people will go to sleep straight after sessions”, “Dont expect rollcalls and dancing in general will be rare”, “A part of the people will be not very much in fun and will be rather withdrawn“…

The truth was quite shocking, in a positive way. Kartik forgot about all what we have told him as soon as he entered the plenary (which was 4 hours late, like always). He started to cheer and be really outgoing and as soon Islamabadis unleashed their dance… Suprises had no end

I can tell You that after 6 years in AIESEC I have not seen a conference with so many jives, friendly talking and night random fun… and that all without alcohol and behaving all appropriate. Was actually also the first time I have properly been an ambassador of Slovakia, explaining where is it, how is it, even why is it (as the chapter of separation of Slovakia from Czech republic was of an apparent interest to Pakistanis).

Thank You guys… Was a very deep experience, ups and downs, deeps thoughts and pure random fun, and a State of Emergency, but thats a different story… actually my next post.

There is city of Hyderabad both in India and Pakistan.

The most I was interested in the Hyderabad fort, which is right now a part of the city, in other words, its not that just people live in it, it has become just a “big house” in the middle of other houses. Hydarabad had a very interesting history. Sadly we didnt have time to go there… next time soon!

You can read it whole here on wikipedia. But some excerpts:
- was once called Paris of India, its streets have been washed with parfume every day
- the Hyderabad fort built in 1700s and today fully inhabitated
- biggest producer of bangles in the World
- seat of Bombay Bakery, one of most famous bakeries in Pakistan

It was quite OK, but more people have been expected… Lets hope that we can get more for the other infosessions… cross fingas

Pic: I had at least time to play with a cute kitty

Andrew Webster from UK has arrived… At 5 am. After welcome at airport we went straight to a real pakistani breakfast and than for a looong sleep as the night before we have spent tidying our flat (started at midnight and finished at 4 am) and have not slept at all.

Straight after that we went to a party. We actually had no idea who is inviting and what is it about It was actually a party of “ambassadors” in a house of one of the bunch of serious, but funloving people… I can tell You, Pakistani beer tastes weird, can not say bad, but weird…

Click on the pic to see more…

There is one thing very specific about IC, whatever You expect You get something different

I have met so many friends and familiar faces that I have not expected there, that feeling of “WTF are You doing here?!” was really fun

IC also gave me a lot of ideas and a more clear image on which way is AIESEC going… some of the things I am not sure about how they will work out, but it is one of the atributes of AIESEC that we try new things and are not (too) afraid to fail. I will do my part in reaching those goals…

I have been able to get there thanks to a few people: Nida, Taha and Sohaib and You, members of AIESEC Pakistan… Thank You.

If You ever have chance to go for an international conference, exchange, CEED or just trip DO WHATEVER IT TAKES and count on my support and help !!!

And to wrap up, these four things are the most important for me:
1. if You are committed to the organisation, You should be committed also to the goals of the orgasation, do Your part the best way possible
2. You try and might fail, but if You have not even tried… You have failed twice
3. the strongest learning is mostly not in the amazingly delivered”sessions”, but in those averagely or even badly delivered ones, its Your “taking-home” that makes them excellent
4. the four rules of our lifes should be:
a) PLAY – what is no fun, is not all You can get
b) MAKE THEIR DAY – making others feel fine/excellent is the best way for You to feel good
c) BE THERE – whatever You do, be there, by body, soul and mind
d) CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE – if You feel frustrated/happy/sad/demotivated/angry, its not the place or situation, its You who accepted (=chose) that feeling or attitude

How to start… maybe by timeline…

__Day ONE
I and Emad (exMCP Pakistan, faci IC) go by same plane Karachi-Istanbul, its 1 hour late by arrival. When I get out a promised pick up is not available so I put in my old Slovak SIM (that has roaming) to find out whatzup. I reach Lenka and she tells me that the CC of IC will pick me up…

Waiting, finding CC, CC has no idea:) Taking a bus to agreed meeting point. First impressions:
1. minarets and skyscrapers – they are like dandelions popping out of grass, everywhere, very few in Karachi
2. sky – it so blue, so bright and so BIG, maybe because of smog but Karachi sky looks to be much “lower”
3. sea – crystal clear and calm, unlike the dark restless Arabic sea in Karachi, open wide…

We visit the LC Istanbul office… That office wins the award for most beautiful view… You see the little houses, behind them the port and blue sea, and out of the sea rising up the peninsula of the oldest part of town with Hagia Sofia on top. Whole wall is a window, not at all surprising…

Meeting Akin, the best host EVER. He didnt just offer a helping hand, but also his flat, kitchen, money, time, computer, phone… I have a big dept to pay to You man!

We found out that Istanbul IS a HUGE city, not as big as Karachi, but close. It took us nearly two hours to get to Akins place… and than we fell asleep, literary fell.

__DAY TWO

Since morning we go and explore the old city of Istanbul. First coming to the office and checking routs, deciding not to join the official study-tour and walking out for the bus stop from where to take bus to Old city… We somehow miss the stop and finish walking to the Old city

Pure 6 hours of walking and enjoying… Hagia Sofia, blue mosque, grand bazaar, donner, turkish tea, parks, tiny streets and grant bulvaars. We came back to Akins place tired like dogs but with huge eyes…

__DAY THREE

We ask Akin about some special place, something that is not that often seen, as we have been sightseeing too much to be even MORE impressed and amazed… and he suggested Princes`s Islands, a chain of beautiful islands between Europe and Asia.

Me, Lenka and Akin took the boat (part of public transport like buses and minibuses) and went there. The islands look like out of time… The first impression I had was that this is how houses at the river Mississippi looked like, white, wooden, beautifuly decorated, only horses and bikes allowed (only police and ambulance has cars)… What a place…

We climbed a hill in the middle of the biggest island Büyükada with a church on the top… I can tell You, going up in the heat was a real deal. But the sight and bottle of beer on top was worth that.. The way back, nearly night was also worth a couple of pics

Only thing that was sad was that it was not possible to get to the sea and swim without paying terrible money (10 USD and more)…

__DAY FOUR

We woke up really late and missed all the botes But we had a great lunch with Akin and his friends (e.g. Bilgin)… Thats why we went for a walk around the port, waiting for the boat and after that we went again to Princess Islands. This time an another island (Heybeliada) and without Akin, but we didnt get lost and after a looooooooong walk found a place where I could go for a swim at the sunset.

….and than…

Lenka went to be a faci at YouCan and I joined the delegates group of IC….. but I can tell You, beautiful, amazing, relaxing time

But that is not the topic of todays post.

I want to tell You, all who care, that I am a little drunk, on my own (and not sad at all about that), as all others went to sleep, smoking shisha and listening to Massive attack on the roof of my flat, from where I can see the lights of a city of milions of people, Karachi, and feeling SO alive.

I love every second of my time right now, I love You for reading this, its not about the alcohol or shisha, but its just that I feel happy.

Well, there were more chapters of this story…

1. The way there took whole day, 18 hours to Lahore and from there another 4 hours to Islamabad. A trip that might have been boring if there would not be my MC members, Cluedo, Hundred years of solitude and a great sight of the window with me. Click on the pics to see all of them…

2. The conference was great. I have expected more people based on the original materials but the simple math I could have done also for myself It was cca 40 people out of the 100 of members of Pakistan, when taking holidays and internships in concern, it is still a good number.
The atmosphere was good, eventhough only at the end we (faci team and chairs) have found out what was missing – noise (if we dont count the waterfight at 5 am on Sunday, but even that was rather calm.. next time a lil more planning and NOBODY is going to stay dry!!!)!

But dont You worry… next conference will rock the house !

The most amazing part was that the official dinner took place in a restaurant right above Islamabad. Actually there was a long talk if to go or not as there were security concerns but at the end not a single thing was risky, except of the risk of falling in love with that place

And for AIESEC in Pakistan the most important thing was that Islamabad was finally accepted as Official extension… These guys are really great to work with (they made a dance that we, MC, tried to use at IC but failed terribly due to technical problems ) and I am sure they will catch up to the others very soon!

3. The stay in Islamabad before and after the conference. A very quiet time in Nidas house. Great food, nice place and lovely people…

4. Way back home through Faisalabad, taking another 18 hours home Again very enjoyable for me and offering lots of interesting sights…

If there is somebody who gets to read also this post, than You shall know that we have already had our first LC visit – in LC Karachi, that we are, slowly but still, doing MC transition, analyzed the Pakistan 2010 vision (or is it Envision?), am in charge of a national conference in a month and YES I DO LIKE IT HERE AND THE PEOPLE AND MY TEAM.

From right to left (just like Arabic or Urdu): Sohaib (MC X and Fin), Taha (MC ER), Marina (MC CEEDer from Canada), Emad (MCP 06/07), me (MC TM and LCD) and Nida (MCP)…