Strange...

International Congress 2005, Agra-India...

...what can I say... for sure an impactful experience in many ways! However I couldn't help thinking of a few ideas after some really amazing conversations with some individuals.

As an international board member you're always the outsider, you always have to perform better than any other local. This is nothing bad, it actually gives you an amazing challenge.
However the one thing that I started questioning is the fact whether I am still the AIESECer that I used to be when I was still working on local level...

I always thought that I was a great AIESECer, open-minded, cultural sensitive, reflective, yeah I was the best. Always there for any trainee, member or the LC in general. And then I started working for a foreign national board... suddenly your whole world changes.
Shock after shock, surprise after surprise, up to the moment that you actually start questioning your own abilities. Are you actually that open-minded, or cultural sensitive, or the AIESECer you thought to be?

Difficult... questions, thoughts, reflections too many things to think about! So many emotions and contradicting ideas... What to do? Where do I get the motivation from? What is my personal drive that still makes me continue with what I do?

Although so many thoughts and ideas, I did find the answer to one of the question at IC in India...

My passion and personal drive is still meeting those individuals that just catch my interest, those people with whom I can talk for hours and hours and never get bored. People who challenge my worldview, who break down barriers inside me. People who I start loving even though I got to know them only for a few days. People who are out of sight but never out of your heart.

"Many people will walk into your life, only true friends will leave footprints in your heart"

Thank you...