What an amazing day!

Today was honestly the best and worst day that I have experienced in a long time. It is clear to me that AIESEC US is due for some tough times in the near future and that this will frustrate me to know end. People are starting to come and go.

I am sitting on pins and needles, waiting to hear if I am elected to the MC of Cono Sur. I want this position quite badly and I think that I would be able to develop myself and help others in a really amazing way! If this doesn't work out, I think I will try to apply to other MCs in Latin America, although CS is my first choice without a doubt.

Now for some of the stuff that is a mess. It really pisses me off that Sara was mistreated at AP Expros. AI has a responsibility to empower members from all GNs and Countries, including controvertial ones. But I'm glad that this was worked out.

I am also interested in how AIESECers in the US will run our organization as I see it coming to a tipping point. So much great stuff to learn that isn't being learned.

What really made my day and my week has been the experiences that leaders from Cornell have had at International Conferences. Nick had great time and was selected as OC of SSC, Pinar and I shared encouraging texts about the conference, and Luke and I briefly spoke about his "life changing experience."

This is what it's all about. I can't get caught up in the drama and the politics when such beauty occurs so regularly.

We are developing global leaders. I've seen it today and I'll see it tomorrow.

As Matthew Neagle says, "yes."

Post Expros

I'm back at Cornell, which is currently sunny? after a great week in Prague. It is tough to articulate the experience that I had at this conference. I am proud to say that I now feel like a full member of AIESEC as an organization, so I suppose my induction is now complete. I am tired of ranting about the state of the AIESEC world. I know what is happening globally and I like a lot of it even though it's not tailor made to the US reality, and I understand the context of AIESEC US and why we as a country are moving the way that we are. There are parts of both directions that I don't like and I feel as though throwing around blame is counter productive in every way.

I hope that Cornell can unite these two directions and become a best case practice for the US and the world.

While at Expros, Farid made a very interesting observation that I partially agree with given the location and business reality of Ithaca, NY. There are countries that are becoming SN countries and there are those that are more TN dominant. This entire year I have been very focused on the TN side of the LC, because I thought that good balance between outgoing exchange and incoming exchange was mark of a good LC. I still agree with this, but it is as important to take advantage of your competitive advantage, which at Cornell is clearly the SN pool.

I want Cornell to become the best LC in the world at OGX in five years. We have the people. Right now it takes the right product positioning.

blah blah blah...

I find out about my Southern Cone MC application this weekend. This should be cool because I'm planning on going to Michigan for Casino night this weekend, which would be the optimal place to celebrate and the best place to be consoled.

I can't wait for everyone from Cornell to get back from international conferences so we can discuss everything. It should be excellent!

yo from expros

Holy shit!
EuroXpros is an amazing conference! I am so overwhelmed with information right now that I don't know what to do! I have been so impressed with the facilitators and the conference in general. I have learned more about AIESEC in the past four days than I have in the last two years. Balanced Scorecard, Issue based experiences, critical success factors, global focus areas, library of actions, Learning network IGs..... so much in one conference.

I have been doing a lot of work explaining to people the current reality in the US and I have concluded that very few people know very much about the country geography, they don't understand the business culture, and have no idea about the education system. After this is communicated, there is a lot more understanding and a lot less tension around many issues.

This conference has been very emotionally draining. I have gone through periods of extreme anger, disappointment, confusion, clarity, and extreme hunger and fatigue. The challenge does not really exist during this conference, but more so what I do afterwards when I get back to the states with in my LC and nationally.

On a different note, I was part of amazing discussions today about sustainability and the energy Learning network. After thesustainability session, which was facilitated by a nutty ecologist named arthur dahl, I had an amazing discussion with a german girl, who is currently on the Swiss MC, and elected to the colombian MC. This is a testement to how amazing side conversations can be in these conferences.

More to come later

applied and now on to life

I just submitted my application for MCVP PD of the Southern Cone and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I really want this position because I think I would be able to make a huge difference in the region. I have not stressed out this much about an application since I applied to college. PD is the most important job there now so there would be a lot of pressure on me, but I have grown to like the pressure, which is kind of cool. I also hope there are other applicants for this position. I'm a firm believer in the idea that the job should go to the person with the most potential to do a good job. Of course I think I'm a good candidate, but the development of AIESEC there is much more important than my aspirations. Anyway, wish me luck! Now on to studying for my multivariate stats exam on Wednesday. Gotta love Cornell!

My application for MCVP PD of the Southern Cone is finally in and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I really want this position because I think I would be able to make a huge difference in the region. I have not stressed out this much about an application since I applied to college.

PD is the most important job there now so there would be a lot of pressure on me, but I have grown to like the pressure, which is kind of cool. I also hope there are other applicants for this position. I'm a firm believer in the idea that the job should go to the person with the most potential to do a good job. Of course I think I'm a good candidate, but the development of AIESEC there is much more important than my aspirations.

Anyway, wish me luck! Now on to studying for my multivariate stats exam on Wednesday. Gotta love Cornell!


-Arthur

Prague here i come

So that's it, enough is enough, I'm off to EuroXpros for spring break. All is decided and booked. I will have another adventure with Andrew martin and Farid, which never fail to be entertaining, and Heather will be there too. I was on the fence between trying to get into AfroXpros since Cornell gave us so much money and I've already been to Prague, but i decided that a free trip to an amazing conference will suffice and it's not worth my time and energy to get myself into a very difficult and unsure situation. The reasons are complicated, but all that matters now is that I'm at peace with my decision. I know I will regret this in 20 years, but that's life.

This weekend should be great. I'm going down to the city to see my family, possibly attend the 30th UNIS-UN conference, and party it up with AIESECers from around the country.

Things at Cornell are ok right now. ROKS was a bit disappointing, but I think we will figure it our. Also, I'm nearing the end of my term as Community Leader or LCP, which is kind of cool. I'm going to apply to an MCVP position in the Southern Cone of Latin America and see what I get. I want to work in people development or ER. The entire project seems really challenging, but there is so much potential in that region that I am not put off by the challenge and welcome them. I think that people development is pretty challenging no matter how established aiesec is when you are a foreigner. The skill I am most excited to develop is listening and not strictly going on my instincts.

I'm going to apply and hopefully have the opportunity to join a great team!

It's getting late and I need to get up for a 10 o’clock.
Peace and love.
A