Hi.. Eva's in the house!!

Since I came to Cardiff University I knew that AIESEC is right society for me. From very first beginning I was very involved in AIESEC-first in ICX, project management abd external relations. Then in summer 2004 I got chance to work for AIESEC UK full time for 6 weeks. AIESEC UK offers Summer Exchange Programme (SEC) – it is a program where you work as a part of MC. It was great experience and I learnt a lot. In my second year I was involved in OGX and again in project management. Moreover, I got elected to be a part of executive board 2005-2006.

On 22nd March 2005 I got a phone call. That day was my birthday. Suddenly I hear AIESEC voice from MC. Eva, do you know where you going on your CEEDership?? I was very excited because I wished to go to Malaysia. And suddenly he says, You going to Malaysia. I was crying….. because I was so happy. It was my best birthday present ever! One of my biggest dreams was going to Malaysia and see this beautiful country! And finally my dream came true and I got to go to Malaysia. I couldn’t wait to come here. I heard a lot about country. People were saying that it is the most beautiful country in the world. Waiting to come was very long. I still had exams to go and needed to concentrate on them.
After few weeks suddenly I am here. How brave is that? Going alone to different country somewhere thousands miles away from home, family and friends. I dindt know where I am going, didn’t know where I am gonna to stay, didn’t know whether gonna be able to adapt and didn’t know anybody. One thing I knew. I am going to see AIESEC family and therefore I wasn’t afraid of anything. Because AIESEC is one big family no matter where you go. You might be going to South America, Africa, Europe or Asia and AIESEC culture is the same everywhere.

Finally I got to Malaysia in the beginning of July. I was very warmly welcomed by Leonard and Mei Mei. I was so glad meeting them. Immediately we got on well like I knew them before. My first impressions of Malaysia were very good. People are very nice and friendly, food is fantastic even a bit spicy to my taste but I really enjoy it, my flat mates are great and funny…..

My first week in Johor Bahru was about adapting to environment, getting to know people and discovering Malaysian Culture. Second week I was almost everyday at university which was very exciting being there and see the students and the university system. Third week was very hectic and exciting week. We got a trainee coming here from Germany and two Ambassadors from The Netherlands. So I was looking after them,hehe. You know guys they always need someone who takes care,hehe. First few days went to university to do recruitment. It was s great fun. We all really enjoyed it. Our Local Committee told us that if we meet target then we can have two days off, so we were working very hard. On Wednesday we met target. So Wednesday night after MIA we went to Mersing where we stayed over night and then on Thursday we took first speed boat to Palau Tioman. We went there only three of us-two Dutch guys and me. The journey by speed boat was a bit scary because the sea was a bit wild. One huge wave hit me and I was completely wet. And this was just beginning of our adventurous trip. Eventually we got safely to Tioman.

The first day in the morning we went Jungle tracking which was great experience. I have never been to jungle before so it was very exciting for me to see something like that. In the jungle we found a waterfall so we jumped in. It was amazing. After 5 hours of being in the jungle we got on the other side of the island. We met there two very nice girls from Switzerland. We had lunch together and then we took taxi back to Terek. From Terek we walked to Panuba where they stayed. We stayed there too. It was already evening so we couldn’t go further. Next day I woke up guys at 7.30am. I know it was very early. Suprisingly they didn’t make any fuss getting up so early. We just got up and went to the beach. We saw there whole family of monkeys having breakfast-Durians. The sun rise, monkeys around us, the blue water and calm sea. Just like in paradise. After breakfast we rented the equipment for snorkeling. I have never done it before neither. I felt like in aquarium,hehe. Such a variety. Never knew that there is so much to see under the water. Then we went to jungle again and we came to Monkey beach. Very nice and calm place. Then our trip came to an end and we needed to get back to Mersing. We didn’t want to go back to reality. Finally we got back Friday night. Saturday was another exciting day. We had AIESEC event – COLOURS. It was a day full of activities, games and tasks. Very good fun. We met lots of nice people and made lots of friends. It was very nice to see when people are so happy and they enjoy themselves. All of them seemed like had really good time. Now I look forward to first AIESEC meeting to see most of them again.


Eva