A Preview of Coming Attractions

So...I'm at IC...just 1 more day to go really. I can't easily, or at least concisely, describe everything that's happend, or been happening, and I'm too tired to get into everything right now.

But this has by far been one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. It hasn't been quite as impactful or inspiring in the same way that MENA LDS was (I don't know that anything ever will be) but IC is by far such a unique experience, there is no way to really compare it to anything else.

I think of MENA LDS as something similar to flying, or riding a certain roller coaster for the first time... but with IC, I see it as directly connecting to the mission, to the reason I joined...here is where the opportunities for exchange/cooperation happen, here is where the things we decided to do as/between AIESEC countries can clearly demonstrate how we truly are changing the world (slowly but surely)

I was sitting in our country meeting with Colombia the other night and we were talking about a new partnership we're developing directly with them to create quality exchange and I saw it. With the success of this program comes a completely new perspective on Colombia, and on relations between Colombia and the US...making the difference

Trust me, there will be more about these experiences later (and there are plenty other examples) No matter what issues there are between @US and AI or between the LCs and the MC within @US, we are still heading in the same direction, we are still being true to the founding philosophy of this organization and that's what matters most. (the rest is just politics, and because of who we are, because we are aiesecers, i trust that we can work it out...)

Ok, nap time (at least I hope it's just a nap, I want to have more conversations later)

Jumping the ABCs...

Okay, so I haven't actually jumped the ABCs...yet (I'm sure I will eventually), but with all the adrenaline pumping through me right now, I kinda feel like I have...sorta...on the inside. [FYI: this refers to jumping 3 waterfalls around Durango, Colorado: Adrenaline, Baker's Bridge, and Cascade...the smallest of which is about an 15-18 ft. drop from Baker's]

I am soo excited, so excited right now. The kind of excited where you can't sit still, can't concentrate on the mundane routine, can't sleep, can't relax - excited.

Tommorrow night I leave for the national conference in Chicago. I get to DJ so I know that the parties are going to be off the hook and everytime I listen to my music I think about it and get excited all over again. (which kind of kills my best source for relaxation). Not to mention our roll call is gonna be pretty great (at least in my mind).

In less than 2 weeks I leave for IC in Istanbul...I try not to think about it too much because then I really would have to jump the ABCs to calm myself down. I'm just really excited to see those people again who I've bonded with so much from halfway around the world, along with hundreds of new faces from different places offering similar experiences.

On top of that, I'm superpsyched for this semester coming up in terms of AIESEC. My coordinators are kick ass. We may not have done anything yet, but just seeing their enthusiasm and their drive tells me that our leadership team is really going to take our LC to the next level. I just feel totally capable going into this that we can make DC as strong, if not stronger than it should be right now.

You may think I'm crazy to compare jumping off of waterfalls (which people do, in fact, do for fun) to AIESEC, especially if you've been in the organization as long or longer than I have, but so much is going to happen. And the fact that I get to experience it, the fact that I get to be a part of this wonderful team, the fact that everything is becoming real gets me so pee-my-pants excited.

Think of the song "Butterflies and Hurricanes" by Muse...mix it with "Son of Jock Jams" megamix (the one that starts 'oh, america, are you serious?')...and that's pretty much how I feel

Concentration...

So, the concentration of my major is International Development. I chose to do this initially because it involves travel and alleviating world issues, but as I learn more I realize just what this field entails.

If I had a dollar for every time someone started talking about how flawed the foreign aid/International Development system is when I tell them my major...I think my favorite is this: "I don't really understand why people are studying development, we need to be focusing on sustainability."

In fact, a large part of studying development, at least in my program, is discussing the need for sustainability. Thanks to Professor Shepherd and this guy my eyes have not only been opened to the flaws of development, but also the philosophy of learning from others' mistakes.

As I read Easterly's book The White Man's Burden I grow increasingly more appreciative of my involvement in AIESEC. Mainly because it is an organization that focuses on Feedback and Accountability among the leadership and relies upon this to remain effective in it's goals and mission. (something that Easterly claims is the second tragedy of the poor, that they have no one to hold accountable for failing aid programs)

The more I learn about Development and Foreign Aid, the more determined I am to help turn things around. I think (or at least I hope) I am entering this career at the right time in that people like Easterly have started the conversation around change, and now it's up to people like me and my peers to adapt a new approach and stop our countries from spinning their wheels and actually move forward, to start 'walking the walk' and not just 'talking the talk'

All the while, if I am to maintain this notion, I'm gonna have keep this quote in mind: "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster"

This is learning from past mistakes; this is understanding that there is no "great plan" or "one way" of doing things; this is knowing that adaptation and relativity is a crucial part of change; and positive results are indeed preferable to inaffective action.

Doing something is different than accomplishing something.