Planning needed...

These days I'm thinking a lot about summer break and how I can use best the weeks between July 7th and September 23th. There are some set AIESEC events, such as the LCP weekend and ACT, but still, I have many options for the rest of the break.

During the last two semesters I've been neglecting my studies quite a bit, therefore I really need to spend some time on studying and on writing at least one paper which takes three weeks. Apart from that I'm pretty free. Friends from Berlin have invited me to visit them. It would be cool as well to travel to Finland (and attend SCALDS with my EB) or visit my Japanese friend I got to know in Shanghai in Tokyo and explore Japan a bit. Then there's still the slight chance to attend IC '07 in Turkey (depending on the MC's decision which LCPs can join them). Hmm, nevertheless I've soon to decide what my summer will look like...

Some weeks back I actually thought I would spend about 6 weeks in Beijing with studying Putonghua (Mandarin), but then I realized that due to my studies and AIESEC I cannot just leave everything behind for so long. Last summer I spent one month in Shanghai and it was absolutely amazing, the best time ever, so it's even more a pity that I cannot revive these times. But hey, you cannot have everything. I really want to take some time for AIESEC and reflect on the first half of the term and do things I didn't have time for during the semester. My summer won't be bad though, there are many exciting opportunities waiting for me, I just need to make up my mind and pick some of them!!!

Reflective times...

Once more I came back from a great AIESEC conference, once more I'm going through a process of intensive reflection, once more I question many things around me. Where will the path I chose lead me? What do I want to change in the upcoming weeks and months? How do I get closer to my goals and dreams?

KICK-OFF 07 was an awesome experience for me, my first conference as a leader of LC Bern. Besides connecting with other LCPs and VPs, learning about strategies and functional knowledge, attending workshops delivered by externals, designing the LCP-jacket :-) and loads of randomness, I realized how much I value the experience I'm having right now.

It was great to see how the Newies got familiar with AIESEC and its culture, to see how they enjoyed the conference more and more every day. This was very rewarding after weeks of hard work during recruitment and induction.

One of the best and most emotional moments of the conference was Awards Night. I'm so glad for those who won the awards, they really deserved it. During the ceremony I realized how much of team the EB has become over the last couple of weeks and how much I like and appreciate working with them. The moment when LC Bern won the "LC Development Award" was just over the top, I felt so happy and was overwhelmed when I looked in the other's faces and felt the energy in the LC.

Now I'm very much looking forward to the next months and to everything that may come. I'm positive that the EB can keep up the good work. I can't wait to start new projects, to implement innovative practices and to see the Newies (or now Teamees) taking on responsibility and starting their AIESEC experience.
After this reflection process it's now time to get things done again, to bring ideas to life...tomorrow's EBM will definitely be a start!