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"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
Monday, December 29, 2014 @ 10:13 PM
As Confucius says,"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step"
Last Sunday, began my preparation for the Global Citizen Program that I have been enrolling myself into since last October. I must say that due to my poor time management, I have yet to be matched by any countries of my interest yet which are either Czech Republic or Poland.
A few days before the Outgoing Preparation Seminar (OPS), I had met with my Exchange Program Manager, the sweet Yan Mei to discuss about all the stuffs that are needed for my GCP.
A few days before the Outgoing Preparation Seminar (OPS), I had met with my Exchange Program Manager, the sweet Yan Mei to discuss about all the stuffs that are needed for my GCP.
So we both checked if I need a Visa to get into either of these two countries and Alhamdullillah I don't need to have a Visa to get into any of those countries. Yes it was a relief for me because in a way I could save my expenses for this trip. Not only that, it was a new knowledge for me because I have never known about Visa let alone have my own passport because I have never traveled outside of Malaysia -- *unbelievable right?*
So I've told Yan Mei that I'm interested in 3 projects:
- The EDISON project by Czech Republic
- World Talks project by Poland
- International Kindergarten project by Poland
So she has approached all 3 projects and expressed my interest in their project and I am just nervously waiting for their response.
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| Exchange participants are introduced to AIESEC's square dance |
During the OPS, I met with other exchange participants of whom some of them are matched, some are still waiting for replies while others are just finding for projects that they're interested in.
I was surprised and excited to know that one of the exchange participant is an IMU student. I though that he had known about the program from my post in IMU's Facebook group but he said that he knew about the program through his friend. Regardless of that, I'm glad that he found out about the program and decided to join the program :) Other than him, I met a lot of other Taylorians who are in the same program as me. Two of the girls that I talked to plan to go for exchange in Poland too and I was so happy to find out about that because I'll be having friends in Poland during the winter peak exchange. Yay!!
During the OPS, we were thought about a lot of things which includes:
- Introduction to AIESEC and AIESECs' cultures
- Knowing yourself better and how to work with others
- Importance of knowing Malaysia's issues and the world issues
- Exchange program policies
- Things to bring during the exchange program
- Change the world through exchange program
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| One of the session that taught us how to work in a team of different personalities |
All in all, I must say that the most valuable lessons that I learned throughout the OPS were:
- It is important for us to first know about the history, socioeconomic and the political status of our country because we're not only representing ourselves, our institution but more importantly, we are representing our country, Malaysia. It is our responsibility to be an ambassador to our country through this program to promote Malaysia to others and indirectly change some of the negative perspectives of others about Malaysia and its citizen.
- Other than that, AIESEC inspires every AIESECers and exchange participant to be responsible for the world by knowing the world issues and take ownership and actions to change the status quo by helping the society within your chosen exchange country. This will in turn help change the perspective of others towards our country, its citizen and also to Islam as I am a Muslim exchange participant.
And I must thank non-other than AIESEC Taylor's University for trusting and believing in me to go for this program by granting me the Member Development Fund (MDF).
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| AIESEC Taylor's University MDF recipients |
Anyways good-luck with everyone who have yet to be matched! Good-luck to myself too! Until me meet again! <3
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WHY Exchange?
Thursday, December 4, 2014 @ 5:56 AM
| Traveling Gives New Perspective|
To tell you the truth, believe it or not -- I have never been outside out Malaysia, at all! Even to Singapore and this is an actual fact.
For those of you who're reading this blog and wondering why I'm writing about exchange, let me put you guys in context of what I will be writing from hereon.
First of all, as I said earlier, I haven't had the chance to travel outside of Malaysia and basically it's because of the usual reason which is financial. But fortunately since I joined this global youth run organization, AIESEC in Taylor's University I have been very lucky to be able to join one of their exchange program called the Global Citizen Program (GCP) and I will be going for an exchange program to Czech Republic in February 2015! *so exciting*
Anyhow, like many of us, one of the main reason as to why I would want to travel the world is because of this word: D I S C O V E R Y.
I am very fortunate that even though I didn't get to travel the world within my 22 years of my life, I have been surrounded with people from almost all corners of the world, who have traveled to a lot of places and they're just happy to share about their discovery, what they've learned throughout the entire journey and the insights that they've gained from the people they've met.
Listening to their stories really inspired me to travel the world to gain new perspectives about life, about other people's culture, religion and many more!
This quote by Rick Steves really nailed my thoughts about traveling:
"Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate souvenir is a broader perspective."
I certainly ought to learn to seeing things in a different, positive way as I travel the world.
But it doesn't stop there!
Just so you know, the difference between GCP and many other exchange programs is that the international exchange participants in this program will get to choose to be placed at an non-government organization (NGO) within the country that they'll be traveling to throughout their exchange program to do good and creating value to the societies in that particular country. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!
That leads to my next sentence, there have been some people who have asked me -- why would you go for traveling when you need to work?
And this was my answer to them:
One of my life purpose is to grow myself and at the same time to help grow others around me as well.
I believe when you're able to grow yourself and help others grow, you would be able to make an impact within that community and eventually when they do the same as you do, the whole world would be a better place to live in.
Isn't it good to live in a world where everyone is helping each other and we all live harmoniously? I believe so :)
Through this exchange program, I believe I will be able to achieve my life goal and make an impact to the world.
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I want to leave my footprints everywhere I go.
I want to inspire and meant something in somebody's life and only the hearts that I've touched will be the proof that I leave that I've made a difference.
I just want them to know that I will give them my all and do my best to help them grow.
I would also want to bring someone to happiness and live their life a little better just because -- "I was here".
So girls and boys,
Adventure is calling me and it's time for me to go and travel the world. Let this first exchange experience lead to many more interesting and meaningful traveling experience soon-after. Cheers!
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