A lot has happened, but tell you later (this week)

Really a lot has happened since my last real post in this blog. Obama took over, and as one of the first things signed the fairpay (not fairplay) act; Peter Senge sent a letter to mr. new president of the universe from China; and, speaking of which, the Chinese year of the ox started.

These are all important metters but, to be really sincere, everyone already covered (much better than me) these things. So I will tell you what happened in my life, which the New York Times is not interested in. I will speak about my election as president of AIESEC in Norway, about the selection of my team for next year and about my one week vacation in Gran Canaria.

But, as the title of the post says, not now - later this week. I promise.

A lot has happened, but tell you later

Lots of things happened, but I can't tell you know, I am heading for one week in Gran Canaria tomorrow. See you! :)

AIESEC interns making a difference in China

News from the Financial Times: (AIESEC) Interns help open China to the outside world.

Using the words of Vedana, the guy who sent this news to me: AIESEC's relevance never stops to amaze me.

AIESEC Norway elections coming up

On monday (5th/Jan) I will go to Trondheim, a city up north in Norway where AIESEC Norway national conference (called Achieve) will happen. These conferences are always very brigth times, because it gets together AIESECers from all around the country to discuss, work together, learn and teach.

But this one is even more especial to me because AIESEC Norway votes for its new president (the term from July 2009 to July 2010), and I am a candidate! If I get elected, this means I will stay in Norway one more year and be responsible for the organization to grow and achieve the 2010 vision.

But it's not only especial to me, but also to other 9 individuals who are applying to be vice-presidents - the executive team of the president. It's really amazing to read their applications, think of their ideas, check their past results, read their endorsement letters... Wow, I can't believe the election will be in less than one week.

Well, let's go!

Happy new year? How come?

I bet that even if are one of the most unfriendly humans around, you did receive at least one message saying "happy new year" or anything like that (unless of course your year is not ending in your calendar - and even so, maybe yes). Well, I am no exception, and as AIESEC is a very extensive network, I did receive quite some messages wishing a good new year.

But, after one of those messages, a brilliant girl that I know replyed something very touching. I will copy & paste her e-mail (not showing the name or anything):

"Hi All,

I would like to wish you as well a Happy New Year, but its really hard for me to think of it as a happy new year, with all whats happening in the world now. Am sure you all heard about GAZA and whats happening there from killing, and mass destruction. Its just not possible for me to think of a new happy year while I am few minutes away from whats happening there, I can't think of a happy new year while I don't know whats happening to my family there, if they are alive or dead, since there are no means of communication at all.

Its just at one point I started to think of whats my role in this, we feel "in Jordan" like totally crippled. We've organized centers to donate blood, clothes, food etc, but we can't pass them through. We've been protesting for three whole days, and signing petitions, but no one can hear us.

I don't think there is any law in the world that justifies this. Its a total violation of any human rights. I think of myself as a future leader, but this whole thing is just making me think again.

Am sorry guys, but I seriously felt like sharing it with you.

Take care wish all the best of health and a happy new year."

The world seems smaller because all of those communications in real time and blablabla, but, in reality, the world is as huge as always was - and people away from the problems are mostly emotionally disconnected from it. A war is always something that people pity, but they carry on their lives. But, if you have friends there, then things totally change perspective. That's definitely one of the magics in AIESEC. You have friends every where, it's impossible to not be touched by it. You get worried. You ask questions. You seek solutions. You don't understand how someone hates so much other people.

AIESEC changed a lot since it's foundation in 1948, but definitely it's main role is still intact, up and running: peace and fulfilment of humankind's potential.

Please, sign in the petition for a paceful solution in Gaza.

Nobel Peace Laureate recalls his AIESEC Experience

From Juan's blog:

ROTTERDAM, December 16 th, 2008- Speaking to AIESEC in Finland, Martti Ahtisaari recalled warmly his time in AIESEC, as a university student. Mr Ahtisaari was a member of AIESEC in the early 1960’s and continues to endorse the relevance of working with young people to build peace and international co-operation.

Check the video:

The joy of achieving what really matters

End of year, tomorrow is Christmas eve and I decided to review my life plan - or, how I like to call it: my Happy Life Map (yeah, it sound very cheesy, but it's just like that to me, a map to be happy and feel good about myself and others). The first time I started it, in 2005, it was dozens of pages with lots of stuff. In the end, I could never focus on what really mattered. Then I started simplifying it more and more (making it less and less extensive). Now it has 3 pages (but if you removed all the inspiring quotes that are in there, it would be 2 pages).

Now I just put there my mission (what I consider it to be at th moment at least) and some small phrases with vision for each key area in my life, like career, family, friends, own behaviour, love, leisure and so on. And in each of these areas of life I put 2-3 milestones. Some are more long term, others more short term, depending on what I think is appropriate.

I was reviewing it today and my eyes sometimes were shining of happiness, after looking how I achieved at least half of the milestones (around 80% of what I desired to achieve in 2008). These are the things that really mattered and it's very very good to feel I am walking in the right direction. Of course, the path to happiness never ends, so I will keep walking, while enjoying the view. Of course in some parts, I had some drawbacks, for example, love, but that's usually the way it is to me: when it relates to people I am not that good, but I am improving. Being concious of the need for change is the beginning of change.

Now that I refreshed a little each vision (to be more accurate to what I really want) and reviewed the milestones, now it’s time to make the plan. Be prepared, here I come, mr. 2009!