AIESEC International Congress 2007

So, AIESEC International Congress is one of the world biggest educational conferences, and was the reason why I went to Turkey. Through a series of discussions and seminars with global business, cultural, science, political, GO and NGO leaders, over 700 students from 100 countries have a unique opportunity to exchange opinions and discuss the most relevant issues affecting today's world.

I was one of them. This wasn’t my first IC (my first was in India in 2005), but definitely I was much more prepared to live such experience and to enjoy it to the fullest than in 2005.

The first 3 day of those two weeks were spent in Central and Eastern Europe Region Pre-meeting. As I had to represent AIESEC in Croatia because my president was unavailable to go, most of the time I was among the Presidents. Nevertheless, this was a great experience because I had the opportunity to meet better the AIESEC International Team and such.

The best part of these days was to meet again Pita, the person who chaired the conference, and who influenced and inspired me in so many moments during my path in AIESEC. Also, it was a great feeling to meet again other Portuguese people, and I even felt difficulty in speaking my own native language at the beginning. How easily can a human being adapt?

Then the first day of the conference started… It’s impossible to put in words how does it look a plenary of IC in its first day. So much energy, diversity, sounds and people. It’s empowering and intense.

We had a long opening plenary with all countries roll-calls with traditional music and dances, innovation and creativity, and for the first time I went to do a roll-call from other country other than mine :)

Afterwards, we went back to Europe (heheh) and to the famous Global Village where each country has its own stand and shares its culture traditions, foods, symbols and costumes. It’s unique.

The next days of the conference seem now to have gone so fast. On the second day I had the opportunity to participate in a gathering of ex-Yugoslavia countries. Basically I’ve watched around 15 people singing, drinking and celebrating their common language. Despite the fact that they are from countries that some years ago were just one and that went through many years fighting between each other everything was normal… I felt privileged to participate in such moment.

On the fourth day we had around 30 collaborators from 2 partners of AIESEC delivering sessions and interacting with delegates. It’s amazing to experience such occasion and IC itself because you really see how much these companies value the AIESEC Experience and it’s impossible not to feel that definitely this is one of the best experience we can have at this age (in this IC 200 externals participated from at least 30 different companies and organizations).

The fifth day was the most amazing day of the conference, the Alumni Day. Basically we had 3 panels of Alumni that shared their generation challenges when doing AIESEC. Again I felt so privileged to live that moment, to understand that AIESEC is not about doing what’s easy, but it’s about doing what’s right by defending what the organization stands for at any cost.

At night we had Middle East and North Africa party, and due to cultural differences, and above all respect, in that party there was no alcohol. So the Portuguese people gathered in some benches outside and I had a great time singing songs and having fun… in Portuguese :)

The seventh day was one of the most intensive days because I had to get prepared for Legislation where I had to represent AIESEC in Croatia among the Presidents, which means a lot of reading, talking and deciding. It was very stressful but Legislation is closed to MCP’s, so I was very happy to be able to attend this meeting. The only problem was that at the same time, other delegates were having one of the best parties, the CEE party…

The legislation lasted from 10pm until 6:30am and I don’t want to say more.

At day eight it was already possible to feel some nostalgia among the people because IC was coming to an end…

It was a very good day to finish some contacts, share some ideas, put on paper agreements. And to close this day there was the Official Dinner with Awards Ceremony. The dinner was a bit random and the place didn’t have the best conditions to receive so many people, but that dinner is always memorable. Among so many photos I had to choose these two, a photo with my successor of AIESEC Lisboa ISCTE and also great friend, Inês and all the Portuguese present at IC.

Then the last day... Saying goodbye, make sure we have transportation to train station, packing, running, last sessions, hugs, business cards... And then the closing plenary…

That is one of those moments that you don’t want go through after so much. You just don’t want to leave and go back to normal life, especially because you never know when you will meet so many amazing people in the same place and when will you meet again those particular people that already are part of your daily life.

IC is not an easy conference: it’s very long but very fast, with too many people and very easy to be carried away. It requires people to take an active role, to appreciate the beauty of each conversation and the uniqueness of that particular moment. It requires determination and energy, and with a bit of passion, it can be the best conference ever, otherwise it can be very disappointing. I can happily say that I had the time of my life.

Turkey

From Beograd to Istanbul took us only 26 hours by train. But it was an interesting experience: to sleep in a very instable bed, crossing Bulgaria, stop in Turkish border at 3am to wait for a stamp for one hour outside the train and to party with Serbians :)

We were received by the organization at the train station and we went directly to the first dorm where we would be staying.

During that trip with tram and bus, we were immediately surprised with this image:

Now, that was impressive!

After that we went to Taksim, which is consider one of the centers of Istanbul (in such a big city, there is not only one center), which is basically a huge street with restaurants and shops in every door, and all kinds of people you can imagine.

Near that street we went to the top of a building with an amazing bar where you can have Turkish coffee, Turkish tea, and off course sisha/nargila. With an amazing view, that was one of the best moments that Unur (our Turkish guide and friend) made possible to happen.

That day we also had the opportunity to visit the huge office from MC in AIESEC Turkey, to dinner Turkish food and to party in a club.

The day after the Study Tour to Istanbul, organized by the Local Chapter of AIESEC in Istanbul, started with approximately 160 people. In that day we went to Topkapi Palace and to Blue Mosquie:

And Hagia Sophia: After the dinner and party, during the last day of that visit we went near the sea to a very rich palace, a sort of museum, the Dolmabahçe Palace: After we went to Basilica Cistern and then to Gran Bazaar:

Then we crossed a bridge that took us from Europe to Asia. What a feeling (please notice the guy in the beginning of the bridge selling a typical bread):

So, to wrap up, Istanbul in an incredible city: it’s full of special places to visit, hundreds of Mosques, amazing views to the sea, always with something to discover, filled of historical symbols; on the other hand it has too many tourists, too many people and too many people that don’t speak a word of English, it can be confusing and it makes one feels very small, but it’s impossible not to feel passionate about that city with such atmosphere that it’s possible to feel in every conner…