CONGRATULATIONS AIESEC CANADA!!!

A wonderful email over the Canada community:

****
Hey Canada!
Exciting exchange news! AIESEC Canada is about to enter its first period of growth in five years! For the past two years, the annual exchange results (fiscal year June-May) has been 130 exchanges realized. Today, we stand a few exchanges away from 130 with over 2 months to achieve growth. Congratulations to all LCs that have contributed to a fantastic year so far!
****

Congratulations to the MC 04-05 team and the 28 LCs! As an alumnus, I am proud and excited for where this organization is going! AIESEC Canada is HOT TO GO!

RANDOM QUOTE:

"Be yourself. Everyone else is taken."

This is the random quotable quote from yesterday's Employee Recruitment and Selection class, courtesy of one of the ladies. My class is made up of people in their late 30's to early 60's...people that are taking the course to continue learning, looking for a career change or just interested in HR. They're fun, sometimes random and each person comes with their own set of experience. These are my people. It's like I've known them forever-- and funny, most of them were my age the year I was born! I have made it my goal to instill some spunk and creativity in class-- so bring on the coloured markers!

World Water Day

World Water Day
Originally uploaded by melissatiro.

"Anything else you are interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air or drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet." (Carl Sagan)

Water (or the source of water) is something we take for granted. Who needs to when most of us have the access to fresh drinking water? However, think of the many world issues and somehow water is related to the issues such as poverty and conflict. Water is everyone's issue, afterall everyone needs water to survive. I found out today that even in my city, water is a challenge. I can only imagine other cities around the world...

The theme for World Water Day this year is "Water for Life". How are we going to ensure water is abundant for the rest of our lives and the generations after us?

For Sheila (Traveller Extraordinaire)

Simatai Adventure
Originally uploaded by melissatiro.

This is our trip to the Simatai site of the Great Wall last July'04. It is the furthest Great Wall site from Beijing and probably the most rugged and beautiful, definitely worth the 4 hour bus ride. In the picture is Sheila, myself, Chris (MCP, now AI-elect!) and Rohit (The best chicken massala cook ever). We were also joined by Justin (my CEED partner in crime) and Patrick (CEEDer from Switzerland).

I promised Sheila a Simatai post...and this is the best picture I can come up with...I have my head down because after a whole night of card games, I still haven't won a hand. The phrase of the night was "I am so unlucky!" First uttered by Chris and then just repeated around the table...well mostly by me :P. Good times, good times!

When I get back to China these guys better watch out, my game will be better! I've been practicing my poker face ;)

Old jeans; new jeans

Just like many people on this community leading a nomadic lifestyle, I am also trying to understand where I am going; where the next adventure lies. I have been thinking that although the last few years have significantly changed me, it has also become too comfortable--- like an old pair of jeans. You love it so much- it fits you just the way jeans are supposed to fit. It doesn't matter if it has a lot of holes or the material is worn out--- there is no doubt in your mind that it's the right fit. New jeans are always a pain- you need to break them in. You need to put them through the wash at least 3 times before they fit right. They take time; the material if worn new can be itchy. But nomads are always seeking that new pair of jeans.

So, what do I want these new pair of jeans to look like to take me to my next adventure? I want it to be funky, something that will show my creative side (I know it's hiding somewhere). I want it to tell the world: "Hello, I'm here, ready for you!". I want these jeans to be sewn with parts of the old jeans-- experiences that will help me in my upcoming adventures!

First adventure starts tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will be starting classes-- just some courses for the next 2 months to keep me up to date. It's been 2 years since I've been in a classroom. I'm quite excited-- just like I'm back in gradeschool again. My pens and papers are ready, my first chapter already read. Yeah, I am a geek but there's something about the smell of new text books, the sight of new stationary and the feel of that first time you walk into a classroom!

So enough talk about jeans and scaring you with my geekiness :D I'll leave you with a quote from CSI and Heracleitus: "It is in changing that we find purpose".

Quotes of the Day.

ON TAKING IT LIGHTLY
Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life. ~Herbert Otto~

ON BEING YOURSELF
What each must seek in this life never was on land or sea. It is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience, something that never has been and never could have been experienced by anyone else. ~ Joseph Campbell ~

ON TAKING RISKS
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. ~T.S. Eliot~

Thanks to Chris Lee (SFU) for sending these to me! Chris, you are AWESOME!

Good friends.

I must have done something really good in my other lives to deserve the people that I know and LOVE in this life. Thanks!

Test...

Great Wall
Originally uploaded by melissatiro.

Finally figuring out how to put photos on my blog (it took me awhile!). Thanks to Mazzy for the virtual coaching! ;)

Reconnecting.

Thanks to Asha for such great advice about reconnecting to my roots. I have been away from home for two years. Now, this may not seem like a long time-- but it is long enough to realize how much things have change, especially in Calgary where the economy is booming-- thank god for steep oil prices! ;)

Some things that I want to do to feel reconnected:

1) Visit my old neighbourhood
2) Call a highschool friend
3) Call a university friend
4) Find the best gym/pool in Calgary
5) Volunteer
6) Find a great Indian restaurant ;)
7) Take public transit
8) Go to the mountains
9) Bubble tea in Chinatown
10) Have coffee with one of my old professors

Who knows, maybe along the way I'll discover more!