An unforgetable experience in Sri Lanka

My inspiration comes from observing the people of everyday life. AIESEC has always been part of my life since the first day I got myself into this big family. I like meeting new people and see new things. I'm really lucky because my surroundings provided the perfect outlet for this needs. IC 2009 was a great experience but it has come to an end and I realize that I have nothing else to do in AIESEC anymore which is really weird because deep down in me...I know I still want to do something for AIESEC. Right in time, an offer came to me and I will not say no. I was invited to chair the national conference in Sri Lanka and I knew this is going to be increadible. I was counting the days that I will be there. I anticipate that my experience in Sri Lanka would bring me something new..

October 15, 2009 at 6.30am, I board the plane and I'm ready to say HELLO to Sri Lanka. My arrival in Sri Lanka was greeted by very funny gestures at the immigration counter. He spent 10 minutes integorating me. From my name to where I come from ( isn't it obvious when he has my passport?) to what I'm doing in Sri Lanka and lastly to something that I could not believe! He ask if I have an email address! It was really awkward..

Then I met with Buddi ( the MCP of AIESEC in Sri Lanka) outside the airport. Then, we head to the bus terminal to catch a bus to Badulla, the place where the conference is held. It took 3 hours from Colombo to Kandi and another 3 hours from Kandi to Badulla. The bus ride was very interesting!! It's completely different from the express buses we have here in Malaysia.

Finally after long hours in the bus, we reach Badulla. Then I had my third First Time, it was the Tuk Tuk. I've never ride on a Tuk Tuk before so it was really fun! Then we arrived to a bungalow and met with the rest of the facis of the conference. They are a bunch of friendly and funny people. Never a second I felt strange or lost. * Thank you facis *

The next day was the official start of my "Chair" experience. We had a short get-to-know-each other. It was amazing as I met people who doesn't eat Dhal, who doesn't eat grapes and who was still using Baby Bottle until the age of 14! We laughed and we joked...It was a great start and I knew this team will do something great..We arrived at the conference site in the afternoon, I took a good look of the surrounding..It was very serene. We were surrounded by tea plantations..It smells green and fresh :) Later in the evening, we met the unbeatable group of people. They are the OCs - the people whom we thanked for making this conference happen. Without them, there will not be NLDS 2009. They may look tired but I could still see the excitement in their eyes.

The conference has finally begun when Buddi said " I declare this conference open". I could hear the joy, the cheer and the incredible energy and it makes me feel so so great. Like I've said, my inspiration comes from people around me. The delegates and all the facilitators were truly inspirational. I admire their enthusiasm, I admire their passion and I admire their dreams. From them, I learnt not to take things for granted. From them, I learnt to be grateful and from them, I found a new meaning of AIESEC...Thank you guys for teaching me a great lesson :) Time flies and is time to say goodbye...I will surely miss all of them.

Before we head back to Colombo, we took a short trip to Dunhinda Falls. It was breathtaking ( facis, you know what I mean *wink*). This time, we didn't take the bus home, we took the train instead. It was another first time for me. The ride will take about 12 hours to reach Colombo..They played UNO, I read my book, we joked and we role played! It was hillarious...it's definitely a train ride that I'll never forget..

On my last day in Colombo, I had a great time. Gayanga and Niradh came and we went to Odel, the Independent Square, the museum. We bumped into the delegates, we went for Dominoes, we played pool and we tried the bowling. After so much fun, I had to say farewell to Buddi. I can't thank this good friend of mine enough for the opportunity he has given to me..It is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life..For that night, our last stop for sight seeing was the buddhist temple. It was WOW! No words can explain..

My last dinner in Sri Lanka was very nostalgic. I met with a friend of mine whom I got to know few years back when he came to Malaysia. My dear friend, Sapumal. A friend who has 10 initials in his name! He was kind enough to bring us for dinner at the Cricket Club. After so many days of rice and spicy food, I finally had a spaghetti carbonara. It was delicious :) Sapu and I manage to catch up and we were joking of the days he was in Malaysia. After the dinner, he was kind enough to send me to Niradh's home which is about 30mins away from where we were. Thank you Sapu. Although it was only 2 hours but it was great :)

I know that I'm digging my own grave if I tell this part of the story because it is already happening when I barely do a thing! So, Niradh was kind enough to host me for that night. His mom was really sweet and helpful. His dad was very thoughtful and basically he has a great family. They treated me with great hospitality and make me feel like home. Niradh, please tell your family that I'm very grateful :)

7 days have gone and is time to say good bye to Sri Lanka. I had a great time here. I met many great people who have left a mark in my life. They've painted a picture that touches my experiences and memories. It's beautiful. I left Sri Lanka with a new hope, with new dreams and with new inspirations.. This story will be a nostalgic reminder of where I come from and hints of where I will be heading to...

This is my AIESEC experience in Sri Lanka...this is my story.. Thank you AIESEC in Sri Lanka..I wish all of you great success in life.

Look in the mirror first

I have a very interesting thoughts to share..

I think it is common that when something bad happen, your finger is always pointing at someone else. For example, when you got into an accident, you will always say that is not my fault. Either is the other driver's fault or is because of the heavy rain or is because of the pot hole or is because of the road. It is everything else but is not my fault. I'm not saying that is a sin to think this way. I find myself behaving like this too but I'm lucky to have good family and friends to teach me to look in the mirror first.

If a problem arises, one should look in the mirror first to understand why it happen. What have I done? Like the saying, " it takes two hand to clap". I have known some friends who were completely ignorant about their own mistakes or weaknesses. They never felt that they have played a part for such things to happen. It was never their fault. It's always YOUR fault. What amaze me the most is that these people, will go around and tell everyone that is not their fault. Why are they doing this? To get sympathy? Or to just prove that they are right? I really think that these people should stop being self centered and start to look in the mirror first.

For something to happen, there must be a reason. If that something is related to you, then you must have done something that causes it to happen. So please, take a good look at yourself and stare deeply. Stop pointing finger.Stop playing the blaming game. Accept the truth, learn from it and life goes on. That way, you will be happier and so the people around you.

But if you enjoy playing the finger game then don't be frustrated if you have no more friends around you. Life is fair so the decision is in your hand.

The best 14 months of my AIESEC Experience

It was a super amazing experience. It is by far the best AIESEC experience I've ever had. I had the best 14 months of the lifetime. After the conference, many people came to me and ask how I feel about the experience, about IC 2009 and what I'm going to do next. At first, I really didn't know how to answer because I was not ready to say goodbye to IC 2009 especially to my beloved CC team. I was still living in those moments.

But now, I'm ready to share with you how I feel. I'm sharing with you an email I wrote to my friend..

I feel really so grateful for the people who have supported me directly/indirectly on my journey. I had the best 14 months of my AIESEC Experience as the CCP and I can't thank god enough for sending me 49 amazing individuals to make this dream come true. Many people ask me during IC why I look so relax or at least I don't look too stressful. I knew it was a compliment and it's all because of my team. They were truly prepared and way too hardworking so I didn't need to worry too much! All the things that I envisioned for IC came true...from the songs that I wish to be played during Opening Ceremony to the settings of the Gala Dinner..It was perfect!! For this time, Gala Dinner was not a buffett! Delegates didn't need to queue for food. They get to be served and look pretty:)

I felt so emotional when I was walking in to the ballroom for Opening Ceremony. I wished the song of "Malaysia Truly Asia" to be played...and it really happened. The feeling was amazing - I teared..

14 months of struggle..challenges...difficulties...finally paid off. I promised that no matter what, IC 2009 will happen and it will be a blast. I kept my promises. The conference finish in just a blink. We spent 14 months to prepare and it took only 10 days to end. We really missed it and wish it will last longer or maybe...forever?

Then,CC begin to feel emotional because they realise IC 2009 is soon going to end and is time for them to say goodbye. I didn't feel so sad about the farewell because I knew some of us are going to travel a bit together but when the last CC member left, I felt it. It was at the airport, looking at them walking down to the departure hall and I was reflecting what has happened in the last 14 months.. The next morning when I woke up..for a moment, I felt lost and weird. I feel that the meeting I had with the Director of IYC ( CC pre stay venue) was just yesterday and IC hasnt happen or maybe I was hoping it hasnt happen.

The Malaysian CCs still get to meet up almost everyday for lunch/dinner and we keep in touch with the rest through facebook or Skype. Spend hours and hours on Facebook to upload pictures and commenting them. It's so funny.. I wish you could feel what I'm feeling because is so amazing! I remember telling my CCs at the last CC core meeting that IC 2009 may have ended but our friendship and the memories we shared is forever, is a lifetime. They are not just my team mates but they are my friends. Once we are friends, forever we will be. It is indeed an experience that I can never forget and it will surely live in all of us for the rest of our life. IC 09 may not be a legacy but this EXPERIENCE is a legacy :)

Now, is time for me to move on with life. I will go for an AIESEC internship to create many more experiences and great stories for myself and the people around me.

Hope this email is not too long. Can't wait to hear from you.

With love,
Geralynn

I hope you've enjoyed the story. It is a true story and is real. I'm happy to share this with you. If at any point of time you need help/advices/guidance or just someone to listen to you, you can come to me. I'm always happy to help and share my AIESEC experience with you. I'll be off to somewhere soon to share my AIESEC experiences and I really hope many more young people out there can live such power experiences - experience of a lifetime :)