So it's been a while...

Indeed it has been a good amount of time that has passed since I last posted.

I want to thank everyone who supported me during the whole process in applying for the MC. Since finding out the results for the Pakistan MC, I've had to spend a good bit of time contemplating available opportunities for the next year. I was surprised at the swell of responses from other MCs or MCPes asking me to apply and it was pretty exciting. It was also good to hear of my friends getting onto MCs, people who came into AIESEC the same time as I did, like good ole Mariano from Italy VPER elect CAS or Benedikt, MCPe for Austria.

So what does this next year hold for me? Well, it was a long hard fight but I have decided not to apply for another MC. A main reason is that I knew I really wanted to be on an MC, but other than that, I was impartial to any country. It took a lot of research into Pakistan to get passionate to want to create an impact there. I didn't think it'd be fair to do be passionate about the work but not about the country.

But more importantly, I had to think about after AIESEC. I'll never be able to accomplish my AIESEC mission by just staying in AIESEC. I need to get somewhere in the world, impact from there, and be able to contribute more to AIESEC and whatever my circle of influence is.

So, here's the plan. I plan on working 4 different jobs in 4 different countries (minimum). Maybe about 3 months each. It's long enough to get a taste of the culture and a feel for the job. I'm going to pursue all those areas I, as of now, only have an interest in and get some experience to help me figure out where my passions lie.

But I'm certainly not done with AIESEC. Many know AIESEC US is very large, so it's harder to get a glimpse of how AIESEC is run on a national level, the interactions internationally, etc. So what I'm really interested in doing is getting experience with MC CEEDs as well or in the least, helping or learning from MCs informally. I'll be able to see how AIESEC works in different countries and different realities, learn about different initiatives and varying ways of doing things. This will give me a better understanding of the consistencies within AIESEC, and how it is run internationally from different perspectives. So I won't have an official title, I won't get to go to IC, etc. but I think the learning experience is greater, at least for me.

So here it is:

Summer: Nairobi, Kenya - Microfinance TN (hopefully)
Fall: Middle East/Pakistan CEEDs
Spring-Summer 08: working in India and China

I have an interest in microfinance and have always wanted to see Kenya. I want to visit the Middle East expansions to learn more about expansions as well as see how the US does it. I haveto go to Pakistan =) . I want to get working experience in other areas in India and China since I fell in love with India, it's a strong AIESEC country. China because I know some of the language and with India, I'll get the emerging markets, which is good professionally.

So there is the current outline. Expensive, most likely. Awesome, for sure. Will it happen, it better. The End.

*LC awesomeness - 12 members across 5 int'l conferences this Spring. Tip - when they join, ask "What are you doing for Spring Break?... Int'l conference?!?" It works!*

*Ah, also, I went on a cruise to the Bahamas and got a horrible sunburn but it was so relaxing*